This is a guest post by Annette’s husband, may you be challenged, strengthened, and encouraged. - Jacob
Battles come to the followers of God. We’ve been told we are at war (Ephesians). We’ve been told to put on the full armor of God. But it seems these days far too many of us have dropped the shield of faith on the ground somewhere, and forgotten the truth that we are girded in.
You see, opportunities come in each of our lives where we are given the option to be faithful to the King and believing of the LORD, or cower (in disbelief and fear) and flee (in unfaithfulness to the King).
Are you in a place where you have a stand to make? Do you trust in God’s promises to the righteous and faithful? Or are you fleeing in disbelief? Does it seem to you that you are all alone?
We’ve all heard the phrase “it only takes one”. Let me suggest to you that though it is quite the cliché, it is truth. If you are a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, it does just take one. It takes one like you to stand on the faithfulness of Almighty God and stand up: for the right thing; for the right way; for the truth untold; for the truth denied. And then to depend on Him who is faithful to come through and win the battle! HE is the one that it takes, not you or I, but the LORD!
HE is the one that it takes. However, he has condescended to use us in His battles. Where is the Elder who will deny “unity” in the board room for the sake Truth? Where is the Pastor who will deny the efforts of sheep to control the shepherd and stand for the WORD at all costs? Where is the student who will stand in the bible study and defy the teacher why denies the authority of the Scriptures?
The war is still waging, the battles are still going on, and the Lord is looking for “a few good men” to stand on HIM, the “rock of refuge.” Two men are very briefly mentioned in the end of 2 Samuel when the list of King David’s mighty men is given. These two men were overlooked by me many times before. But as I was reading through it again, the Lord impressed upon me the need for men like them:
“Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword. And the Lord brought about a great victory that day, and the men returned after him only to strip the slain.
And next to him was Shamman the son of Agee the Hararite. The philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the Lord worked a great victory.” (2 Sam. 23:9-12ESV, emphasis added)
These men were nothing special in and of themselves but they knew 2 very important things:
1) This is Jehovah’s battle.
2) Jehovah is Faithful.
These two truths led them to great resolve. These men, like their King David (before Goliath), stood on the truth that no army who stands to defy the God of this universe will stand. These men knew that by standing firm on the Lord as their strength they could be made to stand when they’d watched all their brothers flee the battle.
So I ask again, are you alone? Are you in a place to make a stand? Do you see the battle waging? You see, the truth and authority of the scriptures are under attack and the battle is waging within the gates of the church! The truth of the Gospel is being etched away by universalism! And, as Eleazar and Shamman witnessed, the men of God are fleeing from the invading army of Satan that stands to defy the Lord Almighty!
It may indeed appear that you are alone! But HE is with you! Pick up that shield and tighten that belt and take the Sword (the WORD) that stirs within you (for He has put it on your heart) and fight! Stand up for Truth dear Elder. Stand for the Gospel of Repentance dear Pastor. Stand for the truth and authority of God’s Word dear Student. Fight hard! Fight valiantly! Fight like you have nothing to lose! And may the Lord honor His Name and the reputation of His faithfulness this day as you provide him another opportunity to bring “about a great victory!”
- Jacob
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