Tag: #rebuildingthewall

Rebuilding The Wall Part II

January 15th, 2023

“And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.”

Are you aware of the fact that we are indeed at war? It doesn’t matter if you are a Christian or not. The fact of the matter is that we are at war! You don’t have to believe in a thing for it to be real and the truth. Truth exists with or without our permission. It was extremely hard for me to get this at first. We have an unseen world all around us dwelling on this earth, and it has a ruler. Our enemy. The accuser of the brethren, Satan. He is known by many names: The Devil, Lucifer, Beelzebub, and many more, but I want to call your attention to a specific title; “ruler of the kingdom of the air.”

“In which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient”

Ephesians 2:2 (NIV)

It is why the gospel of Matthew says this:

“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.

“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Matthew 4:8-11 (NIV)

Satan said that he would give Jesus all the kingdoms on earth if he would bow down to him. And Jesus was tempted to do just that. It does not state in the text that it wasn’t Satan’s to give. It actually was.

“We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”

1 John 5:19

“The air” which Satan rules over could mean the invisible realm above the earth. The earth’s atmosphere where Satan and his demons move about.

“We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

Ephesians 6:12

This could mean “the air” is an actual location or synonymous with “the world” meaning Satan’s domain. (gotquestions.org)

Either way in order to win battles we need to know who the enemy is and his tactics. We need to pay attention to his playbook. It isn’t that hard, with The Spirit’s help, of course.

We make a mistake if we don’t think the devil is real or if we think the opposite of that: thinking everything bad that happens to us is the devil. I’ve been guilty of the latter. I later realized what that verse above was saying. Let’s look at the Ephesians 2:2 verse again: “In which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit WHO IS NOW AT WORK IN THOSE WHO ARE DISOBEDIENT.” Do you see that? Whenever we choose our will over God’s will and give into the flesh we play right into our enemy’s hands. As we say, “giving Satan a foothold.” So, our choices make a lot of difference in the spirit world.

On the opposite side of the spectrum we can see that some of the most devout and obedient people in scripture were not exempt from suffering. One of the most popular books on suffering I wrote about in an earlier post is the book of Job. The first description of this man was: “blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.” So, what’s the deal? Why did Job experience pain and suffering if he was a righteous man whom God prized as His own? This is the age old question isn’t it? Why do good people suffer? Believe me when I tell you that I do not begin to think of myself as someone qualified to answer that question but I have read and study the Bible and at the end of Job’s story I can tell you that despite all the questions and gut wrenching honesty that Job threw in God’s face about his condition, God did not answer the question of suffering for Job. No….He firmly reminded Job of who He was and is: The Almighty God! How can we question deity? But we do, don’t we? We question His deity every time we choose our will over His. I believe it’s fine to have questions for God and come to Him with those questions as to help you understand a situation. That is healthy in any relationship. It’s when we interrogate God because we have formed opinions about Him that are based on lies, demanding that He answer us is when it’s not a good idea. We need to know our place. That’s what God does for Job. He helps him to remember who is in charge, and has everything in His capable hands.

It’s so hard to trust when you are in the midst of a trial, isn’t it? But, if you’re reading this I’m sure that God has gotten you through some scraps in the past. Can you see where He was in those situations? We have to pray for the Lord to give us spiritual eyesight to be able to see the battle for what it is, just like Elisha prayed for his servant in 2 Kings 6.

“When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

2 Kings 6:15-17 (NIV)

Satan will use lies mixed carefully with a little truth, so be very careful! He often tells us what we want to hear. So, steep yourself in the truth of scripture and pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Remember that God gives us spiritual armor to put on. He doesn’t put it on us, we have to put it on ourselves. He gives us everything we need, but we must be proactive. Keep building on the promises of God so that all the powers of darkness will tremble.

PRAYER

Father, I pray that you will surround your child with favor. I pray that they would take up their spiritual armor that you gave to them. Help them to be able to stand against any scheme of the enemy, that they would find peace in you. Give the assurance that you are for them and not against them even in the midst of the trials they find theirselves going through. You are their very great reward. Amen.

Small Beginnings blog post #9

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Rebuilding The Wall

November 1st, 2022

“So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.” Nehemiah 4:6 (KJV)

Throughout the ages walls have been seen as defense strategies. Protection from the outside forces.

Truthfully, building walls around myself comes very natural to me, though sometimes not that healthy. As an introverted person and more specifically, an INFP personality, according to the popular Keirsy Temperament Sorter; I am very comfortable being alone or in quiet places. Finding those quiet spots can be the hardest part and knowing when it’s time to leave the ”mountain top” and enter back into the “demon-possessed valley” takes courage every day, as Oswald Chambers described in his famous devotional, My Utmost For His Highest. Like I said, in this world of chaos and clammer it’s harder than ever to find a quiet space. It seems like everyone is looking for inner peace nowadays but not many of us are coming across as peaceful!! It’s true! A great number of us are drinking camomile tea, soaking in lavender bath salts, listening to meditation apps and going to yoga class with little to show for it. As with anything that we need help with..Jesus is the one we should go to first. Jesus even needed to pull back for times of solace. Several times it is mentioned in the gospels that Jesus would rise early in the morning to pray before daylight and sometimes prayed all night.

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Mark 1:35 (NLT)

One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God ALL NIGHT.

Luke 6:12 (NLT)

And, although His plans were not His own but those of His Father and bigger than any of ours…like redeeming the world from sin! Hello? Yet, He was never in a hurry! He could be found meditating and praying before His Father, especially first thing in the morning before light.

I like to wake up before anyone else does too. If I don’t, I usually feel very unproductive. Can you relate? I like to check in with God before I start my day, before people start with their demands for my attention.

So in my opinion our first line of defense:

1. God first. Meditation. Time in His presence. Worship and praise. Thinking of Him and His goodness. Being thankful. This is our first line of defense. Praise and allowing God to fill us with His word and His Spirit. Think of Mary sitting at Jesus’s feet. “Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:42 (CSB)

It takes discipline and a lot of self-control to set a while and just bask in His beauty. We are living in a super fast paced world now. Anyone who lives their lives calmly and assuredly will stand out. We will be noticed. Some will want what we have. Some will take offense and chalk it up as laziness. Never mind. Just keep living your life in freedom, walking with Christ.

2. Our second key to building a fortified wall is: Prayer. A devoted prayer life. No one can take that away from you. It blows me away that The Creator invites us to communicate with Him at any given time!

Good communication is a must in any relationship. My husband has said it a few times behind the pulpit, that “it’s impossible to have a healthy relationship if you don’t communicate. Think of having a boyfriend or girlfriend…If you don’t make them a priority by calling or visiting them, that would not be a healthy relationship.” How can we expect to have a relationship with God if we never talk to Him or never reflect on His goodness in our lives? If we say we have a relationship with God then that should mean we have developed a healthy prayer life. In the popular classic, The Practice Of The Presence Of God, Brother Lawrence was determined to invite God into every moment of his day as a monk in a Paris monastery in the 17th century. Brother Lawrence served his fellow monks at the monastery, doing such menial tasks as the dishes and mending sandals, and he was thought to be the happiest person alive by those living in the monastery with him. Why? He was being satisfied by The Savior. He had a strong prayer life and it was well noted by the monks. It is one of the most quoted books by Christian authors. Here’s an excerpt:

“He does not ask much of us, merely a thought of Him from time to time, a little act of adoration, sometimes to ask for His grace, sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, at other times to thank Him for the graces, past and present, He has bestowed on you, in the midst of your troubles to take solace in Him as often as you can. Lift up your heart to Him during your meals and in company; the least little remembrance will always be the most pleasing to Him. One need not cry out very loudly; He is nearer to us than we think.”

I believe the late great revivalist, Leonard Ravenhill knew the importance of a strong prayer life. I first came to know about him a couple years ago when reading one of Ann Voscamp’s writings and then his name got my attention again when a mentor had quoted him on his Facebook post. Ravenhill urged his listeners to make prayer a lifeline. He would often say in his sermons that, “No man is greater than his prayer life.”

Ravenhill urged serious Christians to make more time for prayer like those men who had a reputation for great prayer lives during the great revivals in our country: John Wesley, George Whitefield, Charles Finney and William Booth.

Lawyer, Methodist pastor, and Civil War chaplain, E.M. Bounds wrote eleven books, nine on prayer, and said,

“What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use, men of prayer, men mighty in prayer.”

Prayer is as important as our next breath.

3. The third defense is to know The Word. There are so many benefits to knowing what God has said. Remember Eve knew but the serpent caused her to second guess what God said. His Word never changes. His promises are still true. It gives encouragement in times of doubt and fear. It brings us solace and help when we are grieving and in dire need, it can rebuke and guide when we have strayed off course. It’s also called, “the sword of the Spirit.” It can divide truth from false, bone from marrow. (Hebrews 4:12) It cannot fail when used rightly and in the hands of God’s precious child. But, remember, your adversary knows what God’s Word says as well. (Genesis 3:4, Matthew 4) I found out that the more I read the Bible the more I want to read it. You grow a hunger for The Word of God. You will find that the more you feast upon it the more will be revealed into your own spirit. This is because God’s Word is alive!

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12

The Word of God is Jesus! Jesus is alive!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:1&2, 14(NIV)

4. Fellowship among the believers would be a major line of defense as well. As much as I hate to admit it, I cannot fulfill God’s calling on my life without others. I tend to want to do things on my own as I described before. I’m always thinking that I might be bothering someone if I ask for help. Maybe if you ask another introvert!! Lol! Seriously though, most people are waiting for connection and Jesus commands us to go and make disciples! It’s not up for debate. We are to make disciples and love our neighbors. A strong body of believers can change the world!

These four strategies should help to build a strong fortified wall of defense against the enemy. It’s important to note that we cannot do anything apart from Jesus Christ living His life through us and He gives us the tools we need to live a disciplined life for The Kingdom of God. In my next post I will share with you some of the tactics of the enemy and how we might better be on guard against them.

Small Beginnings blog post #8

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