All Things New (Part 2): Arise To Victory
Photo Courtesy of Sam Bark
Be STrong
What are you battling right now?
This is a question most of us can answer with relative ease. In fact, if we took the time to write out every struggle, we’d likely end up with a pretty overwhelming list. That’s why it should come as no surprise that we’re often tempted to lose ourselves in the battle.
Sometimes we lose ourselves because it all appears to be too much. Other times we simply take on too much. Thankfully, the only “losing” involved with God’s battle plan is about losing ourselves in Him. Ephesians 6:10-11 (AMP) tells us:
“…be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might.
Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil.”
It’s our “union” with God that empowers us with His boundless strength. It’s when we live according to His Ways that we find ourselves prepared & protected. The good news is, our God is the God of Victory. And as His people—
“…we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
Romans 8:37
After His heart
King David is a great example of a man “unified with God”. We often hold King David in high esteem because of his royalty, but what truly set him apart was his loyalty.
David was completely devoted to the Lord.
Most all of us know the story of David vs. Goliath. We know that David, as a shepherd boy, miraculously took down the oversized giant (Goliath). But even though we’re familiar with “what” happened, we rarely reflect on how & why it’s relevant to us.
It’s relevant because God has made it clear that we will also have trouble in this world. Despite overwhelming odds, God has called us to take heart & remain in the fight. Just as David found success because He was a “man after God’s own heart”, may we also enjoy victory as we embrace our identity as people of God. As we choose daily to be—
a person after God’s own heart.
3 Applications for winning our battles
Hold tight
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”
But David persisted.“I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth.”
The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”
When we only look at the situation before us, we often reach the same shallow conclusion that King Saul did. We think to ourselves, “there’s just no way”. But David had a faith that found confidence beyond his circumstance. He had faith—
in the faithfulness of God.
David recalled how God had come through for him in times’ past. He declared that if God was with him before, then God would be with him again. When it comes to our ongoing battles, we need the same “ridiculous faith” that David was said to have. We need to hold tight to what we know to be true. To take our focus off ourselves & remember that God will come through.
“Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word].”
let loose
“Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”
Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before.
“I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.”
It’s amazing how often people will try to put things on you that are completely unnecessary. People who are weighed down themselves, will often weigh you down with the burdens they bear. Sometimes people offer things that are actually good & right (like armor in a battle), but it’s just not the right time. Here’s the key thing to remember:
“…our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness…”
Therefore, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world…” (2 Corinthians 10:4, NIV). Our battle is never just physical but also spiritual in nature. Conventional wisdom is often rooted in pride & doing things that help you “look the part”. But it’s the Wisdom & Ways of God—
that will truly set you apart.
May God help us let go of the unnecessary weapons of this world. To be free of anything that’s weighing us down & holding us back. Let us only look to you, God, as you keep us on the right track.
“Walk with me and work with me [Jesus] - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Matthew 11:29
Exercise authority
“Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.
David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you. And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear.
This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”
There wasn’t a single person in the Israelite army who would challenge Goliath because they saw it as a “me vs. him” battle. But David saw the big picture. He recognized that when you come against one of God’s children, you’re coming against God Himself. David didn’t battle in his own inferiority—
he battled in the power of god’s authority.
When you are adopted into the Family of God, your battles becomes God’s battles. Your adversity stands no chance in the light of His Authority. The greater the battle, the greater the help. God has given you a higher calling for your battles. And higher callings require higher help. You have the highest help available—
in the lord of heaven’s armies.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Arise to victory
There’s a deeper level of trust that is developed in hard times that you simply can’t replicate in good times. Our battles may be burdensome but they serve an eternally good purpose in God’s ultimate plans for us.
If you feel like you’re being broken down, know that God is building you up. When you feel as if you’re being buried, remember that Christ has raised you up. The stronger the storm, the stronger the rebuke of Jesus. If you and Jesus are in the same boat—
you are going to make it.
At one time, every single one of us were weighed down by the consequence of our sin—the reality of eternal separation from God. But in His Love & Grace, Jesus bore the weight of our sin upon His shoulders when He gave Himself (in our place) on the cross. The same Good God who removed the deadliest weight of all is more than capable & willing to alleviate your current burdens.
“Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
God is calling you to take off your grave-clothes. To step away from any sin, shame, or anything that is burying His Light within you. By faith in Christ, we’ve been given the Hope of our Salvation. Our old life is dead, it’s become a piece of history. Our new life is in Christ, in whom we now—
arise to victory.
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today’s Takeaways
We are more than conquerors in christ.
have faith in the faithfulness of god.
Today is your day to arise in victory.