“Surprised” or “Relieved” to find yourself FINALLY in the battle?

“For we do not battle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

 - Ephesians 6:12 -

You proclaim to be Christian. Then, like it or not, you are in a battle - a war. "THE" War.

You may try to ride out the war in isolation but God will eventually have you out on the field. You are going to draw fire. Trials and tribulations will assail you.

Job was  a good man who trusted and honored God. All he had - family, wealth, legacy - was taken away from Job in a very breath-taking way. Job was rocked and broken by the experience, yet Job leaned into God in the trial to understand. His trust did not waver in the trial. You and I experience Job "moments" all the time. Perhaps you didn't recognize them for what they were, but they were trials and setbacks that were opportunities to exercise your faith and trust in God. Your sphere of influence, however small you may think it is, was watching your behavior through your trial. Did it honor God? Did you rejoice in HIS faithfulness on the other end of the trial? Or did you simply lament and feel sorry for yourself and shake your puny fists at God? Keep reading - it gets better.

Take courage from scripture which is full of encouragement in trials, against fear, against doubt, against trepidation.

Try: James 1:2-5, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Or try this corollary portion from Romans 5:2-8, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

And what is "hope"? Hope is to cherish a desire with expectation of fulfillment.

My desire is to be used by God in the battle. I cherish that desire with expectation of its fulfillment. Warriors are familiar with hardship and struggle risk and pain. They know fear. They experience the spirit of fear but they practice courage. They prepare and they await orders. They exercise restraint. Their actions are deliberate. They are familiar with pain and trial and tribulation and waiting. Such are familiar companions in their life of overcoming.

Victorious warriors also know preparation. They visualize their battles. They anticipate enemy moves and prepare. They practice. They know their doctrines and they know what they are fighting for. They know the heart of their commander and they know the goal. They also ask themselves this question often and in the heat of battles, “What would my commander do and want me to do in this situation?” Victorious warriors carry their commander with them into battle. Their commander is on their mind, in their heart. They are in constant communication with their commander.

The truth is, if you are drawing fire from the enemy, you are on the right side. Drawing fire is proof of relevance. If you are not a threat to your adversary you will be passed by. If you are under attack you have the power of Almighty God, the Creator of the universe – WITH YOU!

I want to share some extraordinary statements made by military men that epitomize the heart of a winning warrior.

Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller, United States Marine Corps. Born in 1898, General Puller served in may wars and military campaigns around the world. He is considered the ultimate "Marine’s Marine". Perhaps most notable are his exploits during the Korean War (1950-1953).

On being surrounded by an overwhelming enemy assault Puller was reported to have communicated this: “All right. They’re on our left, they’re on our right, they’re right in front of us, they’re behind us … they can’t get away this time. Now we can shoot at those b@%&!!s from every direction."

During the gruesome Korean War battle of Chosin Reservoir, Puller led a historic breakout from an overwhelming invasion of Chinese forces with remarks like this one, “Retreat hell! We’re attacking in a different direction.”

At a recent military conference held in California a seasoned veteran addressed the topic of Warfighting Readiness and "How to win in a gun fight" and reported on information from interviews with both "winners" and "surviving losers" of military combat scenarios.

Surviving losers, apparently, recalled having been overcome by this common thought in the midst of the fight, "they couldn't believe they were in this situation ..."

Winners, on the other hand, had the common recollection of being overcome by this thought, “a sense that they were 'FINALLY' in this situation ..."

Maybe you played sports and you recall contests in which you felt each of those sentiments. Maybe you have been in a real military battle and you know what that is all about. Maybe you are a soldier of God and you have experienced this.

The point is this; The relevance of your walk will be marked by your encounters with conflict.

In the midst of the hardship, in the midst of the encounter with conflict, in the midst of adversity; As for me and my house, I want to be overcome by the feeling that we are 'FINALLY' in this situation ..."

Guidance on preparation for battle is everywhere in the Bible. Here are but a few examples:

·         2 Chronicles 20:17

·         Psalm 27:3

·         Deuteronomy 31:6

·         Joshua 1:9

·         1 John 4:4

·         1 Peter 5:8-9

·         Zechariah 4:6

·         Isaiah 54:17

·         Romans 8:31

·         Isaiah 42:13

·         2 Thessalonians 3:3

·         Ephesians 6:10-18

·         Proverbs 27:17

·         Psalm 66:10-12

Forward – march!

Blessings,

Bill