A Call to Arms

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:10-12

What is it that you struggle against?  Is it your job?  Is it your family, or maybe a neighbor?  Is it with yourself?  From conversations I’ve had with friends and what they are concerned with, I would say that most of what we struggle with in this life is either in our mind or with the people around us.  You’re scared that your boss might fire you, or angry at that coworker who continues to harass you.  Maybe your family is abusive, or the neighbor is just plain irritating.  Perhaps just keeping us with the daily chores of a family is dragging you down.  Maybe you have a health issue.  Or maybe it’s addiction or sin issue you can’t get over.  We tend to make the physical things of the world our struggles, rather than the spiritual forces of wickedness.  Tell me, when was that last time you struggled against a spiritual foe instead of a neighbor with a complaint against you?  The root of many of the issues we have can often be spiritual; but, that’s not our focus.  We struggle with what we set our focus upon.  

Worse yet, I’ve noticed that not only do many of us seem to struggle only with the physical world itself, but we seem to be losing.  That’s not how we treat it, but that’s the realization that I’ve come to through what God was showing me.  The most obvious area I am thinking of are the habitual sins we live in.  These are the sins that we know are wrong; that we struggle against with all our might, but then we hit a hard day and we fall to temptation yet again.  This kind of sin is most obvious with addictions.  This is the life story of an alcoholic; however, those addictions can be from many other things: drugs, lust, greed, or anger.  Perhaps it is the father or mother that yells at their child, then tells themselves they’ll never do it again.  It could be gossip, slander, tempers, or even simply our language.  I know I’ve lived through this.  I’ve heard so many stories of others who have these certain sins that they are working on and just can’t seem to conquer.  We use the words of Paul in Romans 7 “For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want” as if this were a reason for our failures.  We admit our weakness as if this is a badge of honor, as if admitting our struggles make us a better person.

But this isn’t what I’ve come to realize.  First let’s look at another reference to the armor of God.

Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.  The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. – Romans 13:11-14

It’s time for us to wake up.  We seem to forget that our life here is not a game, it’s not a leisurely walk through the park; we’re in the middle of a battle.  Why do you think the armor of God is talked about in the Bible?  Or what of all the other references of being soldiers, or of the fight we are in.  When the devil turned from God, this world became a battleground.  As much as we want to look past it, there is a spiritual battle all around us, and we need to join in the fight, not just struggle to survive.

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. – Romans 8:37

Does this sound like us, that in all these things we “overwhelmingly conquer”?  This is what God showed me.  These areas of sin in my life that I want to fix and don’t, it’s because really, I’m not serious enough to overcome.  God has given us the grace to conquer sin in our lives.  So why don’t we?  Often we roll over so quickly to sin and that’s why we struggle so much.   Rather than standing for what we believe and fighting as if this is the fight of our lives that will define us, we treat it as some small struggle, like it’s a scrimmage game where the score will soon be forgotten.  If we fail, it’s ok, it’s not really important.

We need to lay aside the deeds of darkness and the provisions we make for our flesh and put on Jesus.  Put on your armor.  Stand your ground and fight for what God has provided for you.  Make your life count for something.  God has chosen us and equipped us.  Let’s stand up for Him and not just give in to anything that puts a little physical pressure.  Our fight is against the spiritual forces of darkness, and through God we can conquer.

Excerpt from the Greatest Command

This is just a part of what there is below, but something God's really been working on me about. First here's the passage.

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” - Matthew 22:34-38

And sometimes our motives betray us.

“If I give all I possess to the poor, and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing” - 1 Corinthians 13:3

So if I went to the street corner, and emptied my wallet to the man with a sign, then got online and transferred my savings to the Salvation Army, and then sold my house and gave the extra to the Red Cross, but did not do it with love, then it was all worthless. If you’re like me, your first thought would be, how is that? How is it that you can give up so much, and yet it does nothing for you? Because of your motives. It doesn’t matter how it looks, or who you give to, it’s the motive inside that counts.

For man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." – 1 Samuel 16:7

To God, our motives are more important than our actions. Take a minute with me to think about your passions. What are you passionate about in your life? Do you look forward to your paycheck, the new episode of a television show, the next football game, time with your spouse, the vacation with your kids? What is it that you dream of during the day?

Now take those things and compare them with how much you look forward to some time alone with God?

Do they even compare?

When’s the last time you heard yourself say, “Honey, I’d like to go to that movie, but I just really want to spend some time in prayer”, or “You go ahead and start the show, but there’s a devotional I want to do”, or even “Can I do the dishes later, I’ve been waiting all day to get into the Word?”

Now think about times when you chose to do the right thing. Why was it that made you make that choice? Is it because you were taught that way? Is it because you want to look like a good Christian in front of others? Or is it because you would do anything for your Lord?

The choices we make, the time we spend, the things we dwell on; they all lead us to what we hold in our heart.

Captain's Log

So this was actually something I wrote for our Journey group(Men's bible study). Our time was about what the Spirit is hear to do for us and letting Him lead you, but in the end it became a little more inclusive of some of our other lessons as well.

Captain’s Log

Today was another long day similar to the rest. I love my crew, I handpicked them and I know their potential, but it was another day of struggle in our journey. The crew is still headstrong, impulsive, impatient, lazy and self-centered. Granted, there are days when some of my crew are wonderful, where they listen to my commands, remember my instructions, and we make good time. It’s those days I get a little glimpse of the crew that I could have. A single unit, working together, smooth and precise like clockwork. But those days seem few and far between. I sometimes wonder if I should head back to dock and pick up a new crew.

You see, there are days when the crew is out and working, but they have their own agenda. I give orders that no one seems to hear, because they’ve turned their eyes and ears to each other, or to the sea. They see the land of desire, but do not trust that I have a better destination in mind. I could force my will upon them, but I know that they must learn to trust me in their hearts, not fear my wrath, or we won’t accomplish what’s ahead. They must find their place in my love and get their desire from that dwelling.

Then there are other days when they remember the orders given yesterday, but don’t stop to hear from me today. So they heard “Go north” yesterday and keep going that direction, when I’ve sent my wind to push them east. They can’t see the reefs of the impulsive that are coming ahead of them. They forget that our course cannot be straight among a world full of dangers, but that we must be ready to change direction on my call.

Other days some of them just don’t even come upon the deck to work. They are lured by complacency, expecting the boat to take them on their way without their jobs. Without their help, the boat is stalled and doesn’t even move. They become so caught up in their own things, they forget they are a part of my crew and we have a job to do.

And then there are the anchors of the world. They find possessions and goods that they love so much more than me that it weighs down the boot and slows our journey. I ask my crew to cut them loose, but they don’t want to admit that their things could be holding our ship still. They enjoy them too much.

It should be so simple. I even sent my son to work along side them for a while as an example, but they so quickly forget. They are caught up in their own worlds, seeking their pleasure and comfort. They can’t seem to realize that I’ve planned the route, I’ve picked the crew, I’ve given the direction, and I’ve provided their power.

To help their journey I’ve provided my spirit to flow through the air. It will fill their sails and drive them in the right direction. Under their own strength they can’t make ground in the seas of this ocean, but my spirit will ease their journey. If they will hear my voice, and feel the direction of my spirit, they can steer themselves into my way, raise their sails and let me do the work. By following my direction, their burden would be easy and light.

I look forward to the day my crew will come together. One day they will learn to trust me completely, to watch for my spirit to move and join along. They will lift the anchor from the cares of this world, steer the rudder into my will, raise the sails of their willingness for action, and I will drive them forward as never before. They will see me move, feel my love, and change the world around them. One day.

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Lord, help me remember that you are my captain; that you know the path that lay before me. I must always come before you to seek your direction, and not my own direction or that of others, for we don’t know the way. Reveal to me the direction your Spirit is flowing, the actions you are involved in, and I will lay aside the cares of the world that hold me back, and move forward into your will. I’m tired of fighting so hard to try to do what I think is right and yet keep my own desires at the same time. To split my allegiance is to invite issues. No. I choose you. I choose your ways. I know if I want to leave this world changed, I can only do that through following you, moving filled with your Spirit, and showing your love.

Are you this commited to holiness?

I can say that I am not. I'm not saying this challenge below is one I would agree with or do, but a part of my spirit yearns for this sort of resolve to move past my sins and into a closer relationship with my Lord. I grow tired of struggling with sins and not overcoming.

This is from the book Humility by Andrew Murray

A Prayer For Humility

Here I will give you an infallible touchstone that will tie all to the truth. It is this; retire from the world and all conversation, only for one month. Neither write, nor read, nor debate anything with yourself. Stop all the former workings of your heart and mind. And, with all the strength of your heart, stand all this month, as continually as you can, in the following form of prayer to God. Offer it frequently on your knees. But whether sitting, walking, or standing, be always inwardly longing and earnestly praying this one prayer to God:

"That of His great goodness He would make known to you, and take from your heart, every kind and form and degree of pride, whether it be from evil spirits, or your own corrupt nature; and that He would awaken in you the deepest depth and truth of that humility which can make you capable of His light and Holy Spirit."

Reject every thought, but that of waiting and praying in this matter from the bottom of your heart, with such truth and earnestness, as people in torment wish to pray and be delivered from it. If you can and will give yourself up in truth and sincerity to this spirit of prayer, I will venture to affirm that, if you had twice as many evil spirits in you as Mary Magdalene had, they will all be cast out of your, and you will be forced with her to weep tears of love at the feet of the holy Jesus.