Skip to main content

The Victory

             The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.” (Numbers 11:23)

           Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (Ephesians 6:10)

          Recruits in the military have two types of power. They have the power that is developed in them, including physical strength, emotional strength, strength of skills developed, strength of routines and habits learned. They also have the power of the US military and (at least in theory) of the US government. The same is true of the Christian. We have the strength God develops in us, the power of the Church, and the power of God.

          But just as there are corrupt soldiers who use the power available to them for wrong ends or in wrong ways, so we as Christians may (and do) use the power available to us in wrong ways and for wrong ends. There are also soldiers who believe that they have been abandoned. They either do not know how to call on the military or the government for help, or they believe that calling won’t change anything. I tend to be in this latter group. According to the author of The Christian in Complete Armour, there are two keys to being strong in the Lord and in His mighty power and they are both acts of faith – of knowing and trusting.

          The first is that one must believe that God is almighty. If He has no power, there’s no use seeking it. The second is that God will share His power, will make it available to you and to me. This is where I run into trouble. I know that He can do anything that is within His character. That is what it means to be God. But I am not as rock solid on His willingness to do anything I ask.

          Part of the reason for this “failure” on His part is that I ask for things that are not within His character to do. I may also ask for things that He is too wise to do. I may ask for things that are contrary to His plans. In the passage in Ephesians, we are told to be strong specifically with regard to standing against evil, not for glorifying ourselves or even for glorifying God (though it does so.) We’re given instructions for our spiritual benefit, not our material benefit.

          And we are given reasons to trust God’s power in these areas: His past record, our present dilemmas, and His eternal desire. He wants us to seek His power. Of the first, this is why it is important for us to not only read Scripture (and Scripture as of first importance) but also to read individual histories of Christians. We are woefully under-educated about God’s interaction in the world. As far as our present dilemma goes, when else are we to ask God’s help? When we don’t need it?  Finally, how would you like it if your friend or your child refused to ask you for help – indeed if they went to everyone else but you for aid?

          So here’s the question of the day. What if victory is achieved because we have beaten back the enemy, but because we have turned to God? What if that turning to God doesn’t provide the victory, but is the victory?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Saved?

  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ” (Matthew 7:21-23) Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” (Romans 3:4)   What conclusion do you draw when someone who was raised in a Christian family and church, perhaps even playing a significant role in a chur...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Shepherd!

                 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep . (John 10:14) God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (Genesis 3:14) The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths     for his name’s sake. Even though I walk     through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil,     for you are with me; your rod and your staff,     they comfort me. (Psalm 23:1-4) For the Jews, it was politically incorrect to make claims about yourself as a teacher (or possibly as anything else.) Teachers were expected to take pride in the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen To Him

              The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him . (Deuteronomy 18:15)           Today, we switch from Jesus’ claims of “I am” to prophecies made about Him. My Bible platform is starting in Deuteronomy. I’d start in Genesis, where we would learn that the one who would save us would be a descendant of Eve (Genesis 3:15), of Noah (by default), Abram and Sara(Genesis 12:1-3). Isaac (Genesis 17:19), Jacob (Genesis 25:23), Judah (Genesis 29:8), and David (II Samuel 7:12-16). There were also references to a new covenant (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:22-32). In addition, there were prophecies about when and where the prophet/Messiah would be born and what would happen to him.           Of course, naysayers will claim that Jesus’ life was retrofitted or reverse enginee...
Post a Comment
Read more