Christian Family Services Ministry

9-12-2019 – A Word to the Wise – Part 2

What, one may wonder is just how are temptations related to being a warrior? A lot. You see the Lord led the Israelites into the wilderness as soon as they were free. Its purpose was to train and to test. The two go hand in hand. One cannot be a warrior without the acceptance of the Lord.

That acceptance is rooted in discipline, brought out in training. Here the focus is on obedience without complaint. We are tested to the breaking point to determine our weaknesses. Our chief compass should be the fear of the Lord. That fear is much like the pillar of fire that guided the Israelites in the wilderness.

It is here when the phrase ‘many are called, but few chosen,’ takes on its unique meaning for our lives. The Lord sifts out the chaff. Three hundred out of thirty-two thousand, is about the average degree of success. Tenacity, fearlessness, commitment, obedience are the qualities which determine success or failure, and the qualities prized by the Lord. Sinlessness is not the determining factor. Rather ones tenacity.

Is there a second chance if one fails the first time? I believe so. Looking at the life of King Saul ones sees a twofold opportunity before rejection. The problem is if we do not set aside the root sins in our lives all the second chance will do is bring about failure.

Now let us turn to warfare and understand what it is really all about. For those who decide that they are meant to be warriors in God’s army then how are things different? It does not take a fool to perceive that one’s behavior on the battlefield is different than ones behavior sitting in church Sunday morning.

The passage “as far as possible live in peace with all men,” does not apply to the battlefield. Turning the other cheek and, do unto others as you wish them do to you are principles not practiced at the gates of hell.

If one is to march into the very depth of hell to rescue the perishing then he best armor himself with the best fire protection he can find. He best be ready to use every weapon in God’s armory. He best be ready to trade blow for blow with a fierce enemy who shows no quarter.

I have known police officers who were not able to confront the evil doer. Though armed with the best weapon and the best training they were unwilling to use it against the evil doer. They had no business being on the front lines facing a determined enemy.

I have known many a preacher who was so full of loving kindness, peace, and joy that they could not find the sword of the spirit to challenge the evil doer. These are not bad people. In fact they are good men, just not warriors.

As warriors there are certain principles important to understand, particularly as to combat in the spiritual arena. First combat is not continuous. There are breaks. There are times one spends on the mountain top with the Lord. There are other times when engaged in fierce trials.

If all of life were trials without an absorbing time we would learn nothing at all. It is natural God having given one their hearts desire that they then feel a letdown.

One feels a letdown or separation from God after intimacy with God. During this period one feels they have nothing of great importance to commune with Him about.

This is the time for the permanent growth to take root and growth occurs. Here one likely experiences a sense of disappointment unless you fix firmly in your mind the fact that real spiritual growth is slow.

Separate your growth from your emotions. Go back and see how much of what you did was on faith and how much was on fear. How much was real trust and how much was really a nothing to lose bargain. How much was received with a deserving feeling and how much was real gratitude. You will be humbled if you do this sincerely. Out of this comes pure humility which is the essence of true spiritual growth.

We experience God in the deep emotional experiences of life. Then after the emotional is pasted we examine our hearts to separate the facts from the emotions because only after the emotion is past can we be truly objective.

Always establish the spiritual growth after you have walked close to God or through any crisis. Otherwise your growth may finally be lost in the tangle of emotions experienced and become just another emotional pattern in your life instead of another link in the chain of growth required to meet God.