11/14/2024
When I was young in the faith I sang the song "Onward Christian Soldiers" as if I were at war with the world. What I missed in those opening lyrics was the word "as". I missed the fact that this was a song of unity and support for one another and the church; not a call to a spiritually founded world war. I missed the message of 1 Timothy 6... The real war isn’t in the world, it is within ourselves.
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
1 Timothy 6:12 KJV
We are fighting battles against such foes as pride, jealousy, prejudice, and so many other forces of our own humanity that separate us from God. The "good fight" is an internal one. As I prayed this morning I was overcome again by how many good men and women the Lord has surrounded me with. I march into this battle within myself flanked on all sides by saints who strengthen me, and who I am privileged to aid in their own struggles. Today I thank God for His Son Jesus, and the many Christian Soldiers He has raised up through the years.
“Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”
James 5:20 KJV
We are at war, but it is predominately a civil war; a war within our own borders which threatens to destroy our very souls, and this is a conflict that we mustn’t lose. There used to be an image portrayed in cartoons in which a cartoon character would have a tiny angel perched on their right shoulder, and the devil on their left. The devil tempted the character to do something bad, and the angel struggled to convince the character to do what was good. This was childishly portrayed, but it was a very real struggle that every one of us faces... it is a constant war for our souls.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”
Galatians 5:16-17 ESV
In the past several days, we have spoken of the armor of our faith, the word of God, correcting one another, and in some cases separating ourselves from the evil in men and principalities that surround us. All of these things are preparations and tactics in the war that is being fought for our very souls... Not to save the physical world (scripture says it will one day perish), but our souls.
“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
1 John 2:17 KJV
So this morning as I prayed I thanked God for the Christian soldiers who surround me, who do battle alongside me, and fight separately within themselves. I prayed that each one of us would win that internal struggle against the temptations and influences of sin, and then I thanked God for His helping us, and for the support and help of the other Christian soldiers who have enlisted in this army of the faithful to fight with, and alongside me, in my own personal war.
Prayer:
Thank you Father for commanding us in the battle for our souls, and for your Son Jesus Christ whom we follow onto the field of battle. Thank you for not abandoning us to the evil that seeks so desperately to confound our lives and take command over our very souls. We thank you Father for your grace and mercy as we don the armor of your Word and hold tight to our belief in your Son Jesus Christ. Lord God, you are the love in our lives and the breath in our lungs, you are the compassion in our hearts and the strong hand in ours as we reach out to those who have fallen, and are losing their fight. Abba, Father, lead us always in your goodness and stand firm with us as we battle daily for our own spiritual victory as Christian soldiers on the field... the same field where your Son Jesus stands beneath your sacred banner and beckons us ever onward towards righteousness and holiness. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God, who is our defender, and He who heals us, and forgives us our sins, when we are wounded. Holy are you who we know has claimed victory over the world, and now looks to expand your kingdom. Send angels Father to strengthen us, and hold our arms up until the battlefield is cleared of the enemy, and is ours completely. Hold our arms up until we can rest eternally with you; basking in the glow of your grace, and lying victorious beside you at your table… satiated, and sufficiently satisfied… having drank from the cup of Christ, and dined on His bread… now at peace forevermore.
Amen, and Amen
"But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword."
Exodus 17:12-13 ESV
“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:57 KJV
Rich Forbes