Acts 3 describes a church that was experiencing a great outpouring of the Holy Ghost, was enjoying fellowship with believers, and was having favor with people. The Christians’ generosity to one another and acts of charity to others were smiled upon. However, their exercising of spiritual authority soon turned favor into frowns and stirred up trouble. Suddenly, the peaceful group was under fire. Apostles were imprisoned. Disciples were killed. The amiable band was dispersed throughout the region. It seemed like they were in the crosshairs of the devil’s rifle. They were…but NOT because he suddenly got the upper hand.
We, the Church often sit on the edge of Satan’s fortress like an army sitting on the outskirts of an enemy’s stronghold. Occasional fire is exchanged. A blast here or there results in minor injuries, even minimal casualties. It is only when the army begins to move forward in an act of offense that the onslaught increases. By the same token, when we begin to move into Satan’s territory with increased prayer and wielding of the Word, we suddenly find ourselves being pummeled by Satan’s best weaponry. We FEEL like he has gained strength. We FEEL like he is winning when in fact, the opposite is true. We have the upper hand, and he is afraid. We have moved from being a minor irritation to him to a major threat of his power. Suddenly we have ceased to be “hearers only” of the Word and have become “doers,” actively applying the Word of God. We cease to be about ourselves and Kingdom cause permeates our purpose. We take the offensive, entering Satan’s comfort zone. Our ammunition is authoritative and threatening, so in FEAR, he brings out his best. It is his attempt to defend himself. He has no other recourse.
It is at this point that many Christians give up. The truth of their position is distorted in their minds. They hear the pap, pap, pap of rifle fire. They smell smoke. They become aware of the cries and chaos. Defeat seems imminent. What they fail to realize is they are a “mighty army with banners,” and their senses are misinterpreting the facts. What they perceive as their own destruction is actually Satan’s demise. They are more powerful than they can imagine. They have been given arsenal that far supersedes the enemy’s paltry resources.
That is why we are encouraged to “keep fighting the good fight of faith.” We WILL “lay hold of the promises.” We will inherit. We will be victorious. We ARE winners. The enemy is ALREADY defeated. He was rendered powerless at the cross. What he can do is limited. He yanks out his pop gun and fires away. He uses sound effects. He hurls rocks from sling-shots. He pops rifle fire. But we pull out our big guns. Tanks of the spirit protect us while we volley with rapid-fire Oozies of God’s Word.
Here is a practical example. A person has a ministry opportunity placed before him. He is on the outskirts of that ministry. It is his for the taking. It is a fortress and appears daunting. Pap, pap, pap he sees the flashes of enemy rifle fire and hears its sound in the distance. It is new territory, and the unknown is scary. The enemy tosses a few smoke bombs of self-doubt the Christian’s way. The Christian retaliates with “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” propelling himself forward. Suddenly, he is pummeled with issues that distract. Bam, Bam, Bam! Perhaps finances he had allotted for his new ministry are needed for unexpected expenses, or sickness creeps up and he is mandated to care for himself. He fights on, covering himself with the shield of faith. He presses onward. The enemy retaliates with his big gun of fear. “What am I doing? I can’t do this work!” the Christian thinks, suddenly feeling inadequate for his calling. All around him uncertainties loom, for he is in the center of the enemy’s domain. One by one, group by group, screaming banshees rush his way. Past mistakes surface. Deception looks like reality. The rifle fire of fear wounds the Christian, and his natural inclination is to back out of the fray with an attitude of surrender. “It’s not worth it,” he thinks. “This was supposed to be my open door to ministry. I should give up, besides, I’m wounded.” Instead of giving in to the voices, he remembers that he has a promise. He grits his teeth , and he girds himself with more of the Word and fires back. “God has not given me a spirit of fear but of POWER!” he yells at Satan and watches in amazement as an attacker running toward him falls down mid-stride. The Christian remembers more of God’s Word and shouts, “A thousand shall fall at my side and 10,000 at my right hand, but it SHALL NOT come nigh me!” More fire is exchanged, but it grows exceedingly feeble as the enemy’s cohorts become fewer. Diminished in power, Satan’s attack weakens and the Christian finds himself standing on the hill of the city having conquered, having gained, having acquired the promise. A new ministry is born, an addiction is broken, a soul is won.
The possibilities are limitless and personal, but there is victory for everyone. We can claim the territory the Lord has given us. It is ours for the taking, and we will stand in fullness of who Jesus said we could be, having all he said we could have when we lay hold of the promises of the Lord and fight the good fight of faith. It is a guaranteed win. That is definitely a fight worth fighting.
We, the Church often sit on the edge of Satan’s fortress like an army sitting on the outskirts of an enemy’s stronghold. Occasional fire is exchanged. A blast here or there results in minor injuries, even minimal casualties. It is only when the army begins to move forward in an act of offense that the onslaught increases. By the same token, when we begin to move into Satan’s territory with increased prayer and wielding of the Word, we suddenly find ourselves being pummeled by Satan’s best weaponry. We FEEL like he has gained strength. We FEEL like he is winning when in fact, the opposite is true. We have the upper hand, and he is afraid. We have moved from being a minor irritation to him to a major threat of his power. Suddenly we have ceased to be “hearers only” of the Word and have become “doers,” actively applying the Word of God. We cease to be about ourselves and Kingdom cause permeates our purpose. We take the offensive, entering Satan’s comfort zone. Our ammunition is authoritative and threatening, so in FEAR, he brings out his best. It is his attempt to defend himself. He has no other recourse.
It is at this point that many Christians give up. The truth of their position is distorted in their minds. They hear the pap, pap, pap of rifle fire. They smell smoke. They become aware of the cries and chaos. Defeat seems imminent. What they fail to realize is they are a “mighty army with banners,” and their senses are misinterpreting the facts. What they perceive as their own destruction is actually Satan’s demise. They are more powerful than they can imagine. They have been given arsenal that far supersedes the enemy’s paltry resources.
That is why we are encouraged to “keep fighting the good fight of faith.” We WILL “lay hold of the promises.” We will inherit. We will be victorious. We ARE winners. The enemy is ALREADY defeated. He was rendered powerless at the cross. What he can do is limited. He yanks out his pop gun and fires away. He uses sound effects. He hurls rocks from sling-shots. He pops rifle fire. But we pull out our big guns. Tanks of the spirit protect us while we volley with rapid-fire Oozies of God’s Word.
Here is a practical example. A person has a ministry opportunity placed before him. He is on the outskirts of that ministry. It is his for the taking. It is a fortress and appears daunting. Pap, pap, pap he sees the flashes of enemy rifle fire and hears its sound in the distance. It is new territory, and the unknown is scary. The enemy tosses a few smoke bombs of self-doubt the Christian’s way. The Christian retaliates with “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” propelling himself forward. Suddenly, he is pummeled with issues that distract. Bam, Bam, Bam! Perhaps finances he had allotted for his new ministry are needed for unexpected expenses, or sickness creeps up and he is mandated to care for himself. He fights on, covering himself with the shield of faith. He presses onward. The enemy retaliates with his big gun of fear. “What am I doing? I can’t do this work!” the Christian thinks, suddenly feeling inadequate for his calling. All around him uncertainties loom, for he is in the center of the enemy’s domain. One by one, group by group, screaming banshees rush his way. Past mistakes surface. Deception looks like reality. The rifle fire of fear wounds the Christian, and his natural inclination is to back out of the fray with an attitude of surrender. “It’s not worth it,” he thinks. “This was supposed to be my open door to ministry. I should give up, besides, I’m wounded.” Instead of giving in to the voices, he remembers that he has a promise. He grits his teeth , and he girds himself with more of the Word and fires back. “God has not given me a spirit of fear but of POWER!” he yells at Satan and watches in amazement as an attacker running toward him falls down mid-stride. The Christian remembers more of God’s Word and shouts, “A thousand shall fall at my side and 10,000 at my right hand, but it SHALL NOT come nigh me!” More fire is exchanged, but it grows exceedingly feeble as the enemy’s cohorts become fewer. Diminished in power, Satan’s attack weakens and the Christian finds himself standing on the hill of the city having conquered, having gained, having acquired the promise. A new ministry is born, an addiction is broken, a soul is won.
The possibilities are limitless and personal, but there is victory for everyone. We can claim the territory the Lord has given us. It is ours for the taking, and we will stand in fullness of who Jesus said we could be, having all he said we could have when we lay hold of the promises of the Lord and fight the good fight of faith. It is a guaranteed win. That is definitely a fight worth fighting.
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