Weak, But Really Strong!

 Most of us don't feel like we are that good or doing very much for the Kingdom of God, yet the bottom line is that we are precious to the Lord.  Maturity in the Lord isn't always how much we accomplish or how great people think we are, but rather how much we learn to "walk humbly with Him."  

"When I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor 12:10)  Paul was aware of his weakness and actually declared that when He realized his weakness, it forced him to depend upon God, which ironically, made him strong.  2 Corinthians 4:16 sums it up this way, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day."  All life is designed to motivate us to turn away from trusting our flesh and instead learn to walk by faith trusting the supernatural life of God being manifested in and through us.  

In Psalm 8, God speaks of the majesty and greatness of the heavens, the moon, and the stars, which makes the psalmist cry out, "What is man that you are mindful or him?"  Compared to the infinite wisdom of God's creation, we seem like less than a speck of dust.  Then in almost utter amazement, he declares, "Yet man is crowned with glory and majesty. You have made him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put everything under his feet."

Who could possibly be up for such a task?  Absolutely, only with God's power!  Therefore, the bottom line is that we are meant to be constantly connected with the power of God, walking in faith of what God's Word declares, letting the anointing of the Holy Spirit break the yoke if we are to rule over the work of God's hands.  In short, this connection is prayer.

Have you heard the expression, sticks out like a sore thumb?  If you ever had one, you know how it just seems to get hit or rubbed wrong all the time.  You can't do anything without noticing it.  That is the way prayer is meant to be.  Everything and every need, maybe every breath, is meant to keep us in constant touch with the Lord.  In Ephesians 6, Paul reveals the protection of the armor of God, but what is it that holds it all in place?  Yes, the final instruction is to "pray at all times in the Spirit...be alert with all perseverance."  Our awareness of needing God and walking with Him is meant to be an "at all times" experience, just a simple talking and walking with Him through everything.  It is in this dependent relationship that we are strong.   

Need Ammunition, Not a Ride!

When the USA offered to evacuate President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, his reply was "We need ammunition, not a ride!"  God doesn't want us to hide or be removed from trouble but rather has given us the ammunition, the divine power, to overcome the enemy and all his tactics.  God sees you the same way He spoke to Gideon when he was cowardly hiding from the Philistines, "You mighty man of valor!" 

There is a strong word in Psalm 149., "Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edge sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron, to execute on them the judgment written.  This is an honor for all His godly ones.  Praise the Lord!"  The ball is now in our court.  Clearly there is a spiritual battle of gigantic proportions going on with abortion, perversion, lust, greed, persecution, violence, drugs, murder, lies, etc.  The spiritual forces behind these actions are stronger than human nature and natural defenses. We must overcome using God's power and ammunition.  

Just as Jesus pointed out that He has not left us orphans but has equipped us with the Holy Spirit, we have His Word and weapons of divine power to overcome every attack of the enemy.  Praising God and declaring the Word bind and overcome the enemy that Jesus has already judged.  John 16:11 states that the ruler of this world (the devil) is judged. It is our honor or gifted position as His body and representatives of earth to execute that judgment. 

We are called to rule in this life, not hide from it.  Through Jesus living inside us, we are the light of the world that overcomes darkness.  Yes, sin, sickness, and death reign in this world, but notice the victory that Romans 5:17 declares, "For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ."  Much more we reign.  Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.

Rather than just get disgusted and frustrated by what we see on the news and in the world, we are the watchmen God has set up to do something about it.  It is a day to build ourselves up in our most holy faith, pray in the spirit, put on the armor, of God and take authority of the power of darkness. Jesus in Luke 1019 told His disciples, "I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."  God inhabits or is enthroned in His praises.  Praising God and giving thanks releases God's power.  Declaring the Word establishes life--life and death are in the power of the tongue.  Fight the good fight of faith. 

Stand in faith and prayer against the onslaught of the enemy and all that deceived, sinful man brags about against God.  And greater goal, in the process of exercising His power and authority in healing and deliverance, our hearts will grow in knowing Him and the power of His resurrection.  Yes, the ultimate goal is knowing and pleasing God.  Praise God forever! 

Fall Like Lightning

 The 70 disciples came back to Jesus with joy saying, "Even the demons are subject to us through Your name."  Jesus replied, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."  (Luke 10:17-18)  Satan has fallen and is defeated.

Jesus, who declared that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Him in Matthew 28, also declared that we have been given the right to represent Him through use of His name. When He sent the disciples out He called them together and "gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases."  With His authority what could possibly stop us from overcoming?

In the parable of the sower it is revealed that even though the Word is an incorruptible seed, it can be choked by the weeds (other thoughts and cares) that we allow to live in our hearts.  We see the same principle working in the situation (Mark 9) where the man brought the demon-possessed boy to Jesus.  When he asked Jesus, "If you can do anything?, Jesus replied all things are possible to him who believes.  Notice in the man's response that he did believe, but he also had unbelief.  These weeds, contrary thoughts and soulish cares that produced unbelief, choked his faith and rendered him powerless.   

Jesus is not impressed or moved by many words. He even taught us not to pray like the heathen who repeat many phrases or chants. He is moved by those who declare His Word with authority.  "Let your eye be single" suggests that our focus is on the truth and power of the Word, refusing to look at the waves and the wind that would cause doubt.  He who dies to himself, finds life.  Rejecting what our soulish nature, called our flesh, dictates through the natural senses and choosing to hear the Word which is spirit and truth, produces life. 

The Holy Spirit bears witness to Jesus.  He leads us to know the truth of what Jesus has accomplished.  He further pours the love of God into our hearts so we can by faith understand the absolutely awesome gift of divine nature God has allowed us to share in Christ.  So much so that 1 John 4:17 states, "As He is, so are we in the world." 

Jesus established His church to bind and loose things on earth with the same authority and power of heaven, assuring us that the gates of hell would not prevail. He meant for believers who receive His free gift of righteousness to rule in this life.  He also gave us instruction of how to pray, including the imperative commands, "Thy kingdon, Come!" and "Thy will, Be Done!"  We as the Body of Christ are to do the works that He did and greater ones.  

How do we rule?  Jesus is revealed in Revelation as having a two-edged sword coming out of His mouth.  Likewise, Psalm 149 speaks of believers having the high praises of God in our mouths and the two-edge sword in our hands.   God has entrusted to His faithful ones the authority to use the Word, so He can confirm it with power and signs following.  Therefore, the Holy Spirit is teaching believers today to declare His Word over all situations, and to stand in His authority.  The climax of the armor in Epesians 6 is to "stand therefore, and having done all to stand, stand."  1 Peter 5 calls us to resist steadfast in the faith until God perfects, establishes, strengthens and settles us in the victory.  

 Satan has fallen from heaven like lightning.  Jesus made a public example of him (Colossians 2:15) by defeating him through His death on the cross, and triumphed over him through His resurrection.  The battle is finished, and God is looking for those who would believe it in their hearts and declare it with their lips.  Without faith it is impossible to please God.  Speak the Word in faith.  Fight the good fight of faith by refusing to let the weeds of unbelief detract you from standing strong in Jesus' name and authority.  Faith pleases God and causes us to overcome the world (1 John 5:4).