05/19/2020
Are there people who seek to undermine our faith in Jesus Christ, or who wish to destroy our belief in God? Do we feel less than competent when it comes to defending scripture in a scholarly setting, or standing up to ridicule? Well, whatever comes against us will be defeated, and God’s power within us will prevail because His hand is upon us. No matter our shortcomings, He has filled every crack and chink in our armor from within using the knowledge of His Holy Spirit, and has provided us a sword for our defense hammered out in the forge of His Word.
“no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.””
Isaiah 54:17 ESV
When called by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses felt he was unworthy of the task. When the mighty warrior Goliath stood before the army of Saul, and struck terror in them, it was a simple shepherd, David, that God stood up as His champion; and when God needed and arc built to save his creatures and mankind from annihilation in the flood, he chose Noah who wasn’t a shipwright, but was a farmer, and wine maker. God takes the weak, the humble, and the unlikely, and forms them into His heroes... He will shape us in this same way.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.”
Romans 8:31-33 ESV
There will be no shortage of tempters, nor dearth of enemies who will come against us when we believe, and we will often retreat into our prayer closet shaking, and calling on God to save us, but what will His response be? Will He have His Son Jesus say to us “O you of little faith” like He did to His disciples In the storm at sea?
“And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.”
Matthew 8:25-26 ESV
When our own family turns against us and calls on us to abandon our faith, and turn against God, who will we choose to follow? Will we listen to the small still voice of our Heavenly Father whom we have come to love above all else, or the raucous voices of those we have loved in the world?
““If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:26 ESV
When our earthly desires tempt us to lay with them, what shall we say? How will we resist them, and can we even do so on our own?
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
Our adversary is strong, and unless we are firm in our faith we will most certainly be consumed; torn asunder by the teeth of his temptation. This lion is not new to the brotherhood of Christ, and he grows fat on those whose faith is weak...
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”
1 Peter 5:8-9 ESV
So how will we address these temptations that are designed to lead us away from God, destroy our faith in Jesus, and tear our souls to shreds? We know that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion who seeks to devour us, and that we are too weak to resist him alone, so what should we do? Well, in such times we should Lean on God, pray, and set our mind on the things of God. Then, with our faith bolstered, we will not hear Jesus speak to us in the same manner that He did Peter when He addressed him as Satan...
“But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.””
Mark 8:33 ESV
Perhaps you doubt your ability as Moses did, are unskilled as Noah was, or maybe you are overly confident as young David, but however you find yourself to be... God will Prepare, and strengthen you, and is ready to use you. He will stand you up as His champion against all temptation, and shore up you armor against ridicule. He will give you victory over your enemies; those that attack from within, as well as those in the world. This is your heritage, and vindication! Are you ready to step out in faith?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for using each of us to serve your will. Thank you for taking us in our imperfection, and strengthening us for every task you place before us. Give us confidence Lord, not in our own abilities, but in yours, and when the dark one tempts us to abandon our belief, we pray that you will lift us up, and invigorate our faith. Teach us to love those who would come against us, and give us words to pray for those who challenge our faith in you. Keep our feet firmly upon the way of righteousness, and our hands doing your good work. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who perfects the imperfect, and corrects the course of the wayward. We praise your name Holy Father as you take us, a watery clay, and miraculously make a solid pot from us on your wheel; a pot suitable for your purposes. In your hands we become the vessels in which water is turned to wine, and that lamps which hold the oil that lights the world. Hear our prayers as we thank you, for all you do in our lives, now, and forevermore! Your mercy astounds us, and your grace brings forth hope from within us that will heal the hopelessness of the world. Greater are you who is in us than we can ever be alone.
“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:44, 46-48 ESV
Rich Forbes