Brother, Co-Worker, Fellow Soldier
Dear Friends:
The world is very small. When I turn on the news or load CNN.com on my computer, I see images from every continent…all of them fresh within the last week…each of them portraying ugly truths that are frequently hard to embrace.
We live in occupied territory. Paul said in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
As Americans with an abundance of material provision, we easily lose sight of the battlefield. We lose sight of the fact that we live in enemy territory. We participate in fellowship with Christ (as a brother or sister) and we may co-labor with Christ (in a work of ministry), but do we go to war with our Lord? Do we find ourselves in the heat of the battlefield with Christ?
Jesus said, “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.” (Matthew 11:12 – NASB) While we live on this earth, we will witness the violence that the kingdom of heaven is suffering. But, as brothers, co-workers, and fellow soldiers of Christ, we can participate with Him in taking it…by force…even violently sometimes.
Are you experiencing discouragement, setback, confusion, or attack on a front where you feel that God has called you to engage in battle? If so, you are participating at a high level in the calling that Jesus has for you. You are on the battlefield with Him, and He has pre-determined the redemptive outcome.
I want to encourage you to pay attention, this coming Advent season, to the beauty of Jesus coming…covertly arriving, appearing behind enemy lines, and dying a violent death so that “peace on Earth, goodwill towards men” could be ultimately victorious on earth – a place where violent clashes between good and evil are part and parcel of the war torn existence that we live.
May His advent into your place of struggle embolden you to take your position as a fellow soldier with Christ in this season.
Blessings,
Ron
Very thought provoking when you think about the fact that we are co-laboring in the middle of a war. Sometimes we loose sight of this fact.
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I am a big believer that we are on the front lines of a Spiritual battle. The more involved I get in ministries and the more disciplined I become in daily time in scripture and time with God through prayer, the more I know I need to be ON GUARD! Putting on the armor of God everyday is essential to me and for my household.
Thank you for reminding all of us in Christ that the discouragement and negativity that can creep into our minds is of Satan and his emissaries. Stay stong and pray in the Spirit, holding strong the sheild of faith and the weapon in the Word and Spirit of God.
God Bless
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