S) "17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus."
Revelation 12:17 (NASB)
O) This chapter seems to take a break from the future events, inasmuch as it seems pretty clear that it is depicting the birth of Jesus, and the opposition from satan. The ensuing war, I think, probably takes place over a long course of time, but that's where it gets a little bit more than speculative. Eschatology being what it is, and apocalyptic prophecy adding to the mystery, there's no way to know what all of this means. Anyone claiming to have all of the knowledge, all of the secrets revealed, should probably be avoided. However, taking the chapter together as a whole, the sovereignty and victory of God come through very clearly (especially from v.11). Just as important, to take from this chapter and this last verse especially, is that there is a very real war happening. The church, and every citizen of the Kingdom of God, has a very real, very active, very angry enemy. The enemy of Christianity, of Christians, of Christ, it is not the far left-wing politics of America. The enemy is not the liberality of Europe. The enemy is not Islam, or even the militant tyranny of ISIS (or ISOL). The real enemy we have is the dragon, the ancient serpent, the devil, satan (v.9). Everything else is a ploy. We do not battle against flesh and blood. There is a much bigger, much more important war raging around the globe. It's the only war that matters, the only war that has ever mattered. The war for souls to be rescued from the hatred of the devil. This battle is fought without carnal weapons, but instead with the spiritual weapons of prayer and fasting, learning the truth of God through Scripture, and the boots on the ground are the same ones that bring the gospel to those who are held captive.
A) Nothing frustrates me like wanting to fight, feeling the adrenaline and zeal, but having no actual target. Nothing makes me want to fight, like spiritual issues. Things like, when someone has been believing a lie for a long time. Things like, when someone has been struggling with a temptation for a long time and I didn't know it. It didn't take long as a Christian, for me to realize that those are spiritual issues, because I never wanted to fight a person, per se. It's just that it felt the same as wanting to fight. I learned that the fight really is in prayer. It's also in speaking the truth against those lies, and fasting for freedom, and just loving people like Jesus. Verses like the one above remind me that there is an enemy to fight, and the real issue for me, is to remember that there is a war going on even if the battlefront hasn't hit home. The devil is making war, even if I am not. He has been enraged for more than two thousand years. He hasn't stopped making war, and he won't stop until Jesus comes back to end it once and for all. In the meantime, I know that I will not end his fight, but I for sure won't let him end mine, either. I won't let him end the fight for anyone I love. The hardest thing about spiritual warfare, is that it is so hard to keep focus. It is so hard, because it's easy to be out-of-sight and out-of-mind. I don't want to be reactive, I want to be active. I want to be actively praying for my own clarity of mind, victory over temptation, faithfulness to my Lord, and devout in my obedience. I want to be actively praying for my marriage, for my wife. I want to be actively praying for her through her weaknesses, that she would find strength in the Lord. I want to be actively praying for my kids, and my unsaved loved ones, and my friends, and my town, and my country, and the world. I just need to keep my eye on the prize, remember that I have a real enemy, and then stand up and fight.
P) Father, You have already given me the victory. I know that with the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony, I will overcome. However, I confess that I am easily distracted. I am easily fooled, lulled into a false sense of security. There is a very real war raging through the world, and my house is not immune to those perils, either. But, I don't want to wait for a bombardment for me to take up arms and join the fray. I want to be more active. Father, I must keep my mind on the battle; this is not a game. Open my eyes to see this fight; open my ears to hear the war. Help me be a disciplined soldier for You, my King. Please forgive my apathy and ignorance. Give me Your sword and point me in the direction to start swinging, God. I want to fight for You. I want to fight for myself, and for my wife and marriage, and for my kids. I want to fight for the souls who are in danger, the people I love who are not yet citizens in the Kingdom with me. Let Your will be done here, Lord, on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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