Battle weary but Victorious

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

We are in a new space – you and me. I recently re-listened to a video clip from Steve Harvey as he recounted going on a journey to Africa. He had never been, yet felt the call to visit, taking his nephew along for the experience. As they touched down in Johannesburg, South Africa and deboarded the plane, Tommy (the nephew) declared something along these lines, “We are returning to a place called home, to which we have never been before.” Steve commented on the depth these words struck and the impact they had on the experience. “...Returning to a place called home, to which we have never been before.”

Our growth as Christians has a very similar feel to it. The Jewish teaching of the Sepheratic tree addresses our arrival upon the earth in a very graphic and telling manner. They teach that during the nine months of our humanization, our carnalization, we are wrapped with progressively more and more layers of flesh – the mechanics of the flesh (our human desires and hungers), followed by more defined and finessed tastes (preferences, tastes, styles). When we are completely wrapped in our earth suit, God gives us life. The entirety of our lives is spent, then, on shedding the influences and struggles of the flesh, slowly peeling back the layers and placing them on the altar of God – putting them to death as we allow the spirit man to become more revealed in us.

Scripture teaches us to put to death the works of the flesh. We are to push ever-higher, seek ever-deeper a revelation of the Spirit of God within us. Every period of growth we endure involves this stripping away, this laying aside the skin of the old self and revealing the fresh, bright new outer layer of a new creature. While we appear fresh and new (for we are), and while our colors and newly-formed features appear very intricate and highly-developed (for yes, they are), we are at this point the most vulnerable to our environments. In a very odd twist of design, our bright colors attract the attention of our natural predatory enemies. At the same time, our newly-formed features are still soft and unable to protect themselves. We need time to settle into our new growth, time to learn our new skills, time to adjust to our new abilities. Unfortunately for us, our enemy doesn’t play by gentlemen’s rules – he comes quickly to attack, to distort our development, to abort our growth, to stop us ex-utero before we can fully arrive.

Such is our position right now – both as a Church and as individuals. There has been a shift in the spirit world in the past few weeks and months. Maybe you have sensed it, but perhaps you have not. The Church has been given a new level of anointing – a new sense of understanding, a new feeling of coming into our own, a bright new promise or vision of what we are to be in these last days. Our eyes squint against the brightness of this vision, we struggle to identify anything familiar in our otherwise mundane surroundings, we are trying to establish our standing and positioning in this strange new/old world. We find our prayers are more effective, our spirits are much more active, and each interaction causes new sensations in our being. Sleep, once a place of escape and healing, now becomes a source of mental torment and struggle as we wrestle with these new levels of sensitivity and encounter. Where once we walked our world in comfort and confidence, suddenly we find ourselves hyper-vigilant and on-edge, sensing danger in every step. We are not necessarily afraid (although there are moments of that as well) – we are just super-sensitive, always testing our surroundings in search of a coming attack.

To the average layperson this seems to be rather melodramatic. However, to those who are being called up for service in this critical hour of world development, this is a pretty accurate description of our lives at this time. My awake hours seem like a video game, my resting hours seem more real than reality. My body is racked with stress and torment as my mind faces being torn to shreds in the fight. To those of you not being affected this way, I would beg of you to please pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank God for your calm and quiet spirit. Praise Him for keeping you from this battle that rages unseen around you. Pray the Holy Spirit of God will keep, protect, and empower those who are caught in this tempest of onslaught – that we will survive, that we will win. Paul tells us that this battle is not of the flesh but, instead, is one of pure spirit – a supernatural Battle Royale, a death match. He also tells each of us in Ephesians 6 to take up every weapon (defensive and offensive) God has provided that we might be able to withstand the fight. Once the fight is over, Paul tells us to just stand. How feeble we may appear after surviving such a hell-based ravaging, yet if we can just stand – ragged and worn though we may be – that will testify of God’s power and victory in our lives. We fight not just for ourselves, but for our brothers and sisters. Jesus has already given us the victory before the battle begins; however, we are still called to do our part.

Again, many who read these words will immediately resonate with what I have written. To those of you my beloved brothers and sisters who have been going through the heat of the battle (I could name quite a few of you, but you and I know who you are), I bid you well done. You have withstood the attacks, you have suffered many blows, and yet you have not sinned with your heart or mouth. You have silently endured and come out victorious. We may never know the depths and darkness you have walked through, but today we celebrate you.

Today you stand atop the podium, you stand before your God and King to present yourselves for the crown of victory. We honor you. May God Himself sound your name throughout the hallowed halls of heaven – to be joined alongside our father Abraham, our beloved Moses, mighty King David, and John the Baptist (just to name a few). May your exploits be recorded in the annuls of heaven and may you now get to stand down and enjoy some well-earned rest.

For those of you still in the fray of battle we offer you hope. We pray God’s mightiest protection over you as you fight through these final skirmishes. May you begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel and may that sight give you the strength you need to push through. The blackest days are behind you and the victory banquet is being prepared. Sure there will be more battles to be fought and won in the future, but for now is a coming time of rest in this new season. Take heart, my friend, your Deliverer is standing near and He will bring you through. We have an Anchor, established in heaven, that lies beyond the veil – secure, solid, and sure.

Be blessed.