The Wanderer

If there’s anything I love, it’s a good metaphor. How about I share one before we start our discussion?

We fight an unseen enemy, one not of the physical realm. We are called to the front lines in battle. Many are falling off and listening to weak and cocky sergeants. They forget the commander's battle plan and run into the heyday of bullets while wondering why they are being shot down and crippled in spirit. Those faithful to the commander listen to his strategy only and refuse to be sitting ducks on the battlefield. They wait strategically and attack as they are told to by the head in command. They do not sit in the trenches, nor do they prowl around openly. The enemy attacks the soldiers who have fallen away from the original plan. The direction of fire is unnoticed and unseen as his ranks begin to gain ground. Soon, the platoon is surrounded by an onslaught of attacks. Some are found to be in cohorts with the enemy; some are secret intelligence. Others are found to be straying in sympathy with the opposition. These know no honor. They are weak and do not know the voice of their commander. The faithful and true stick to the strategy and their honor code. They are brave in the face of death. Bombed and made into a wasteland their remnant of a group cries in despair, where is our hope! They have followed everything to the letter, never straying from the mission. Yet, they are in the thick of the battle. They are being attacked the most. They are dwindling in number and courage. BUT That is when their commander arrives. The troops rally to him and recognize his booming voice. Coming in unity under one banner, they advance and take back the stolen ground. Charging further, they take captive the enemy. Unified they are unstoppable! The flame of courage is back! They are obedient to their death and sacrifice their all for their commander and the freedom of those they defend. For them, their life is something worth giving, for they save the lives of those whom they defend in return. 

Alrighty! Yes, there’s no quote because that came from the inspiration department of my brain (little Inside Out reference there). Anyways! Let’s get down to business.

Our enemy manipulates and masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). He makes evil appear good and good appear evil. The true soldiers know he is false. They do not follow behind the sympathizers for they know their commander’s plan. They do not follow them for they know they are traitors. False. Devouring lions. Liars.

Why did I pick a battle scene for my metaphor? Because, we, my friend, are called to battle. We are called to the ranks of the Lord of hosts. We join His ranks and we rally under His Banner. The gates of hell cannot prevail against us. Nonetheless, some in our company have not learned their full potential yet. That is what I intend to discuss today. Let’s begin:

It starts in Paul’s letter to Ephesus…

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Ephesians 6:11 (KJV)

We are to put on the armor of God so that we may STAND against the WILES of the devil. Stand is an action. You do not back down. You hold your ground firmly against all opposition. Is the church standing firm? The wiles of the devil… what is that? It is his cunning trickery. His war strategy. His tactics. Who are we fighting against? I’m glad you asked.

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 (KJV)

Our battle is spiritual. We are called to take down strongholds and fight against the darkness, not against the pawns it is controlling. Our battle is with the forces behind the people it masquerades in. We are to stand. Girded with truth to stabilize our attire. Protecting our hearts with the blood of Jesus as our righteousness. Covering ourselves with faith in God. For He will fight for us. Surrounding our mind and dwelling on His promises and who we are in Him. Fighting with the Holy Spirit, using the word of God as our weapon. Jesus fights for us. God protects us. We are called to stand firm and be still. For the Lord will fight for us. We need only to employ our weapons and trust in them.

We are called to battle in prayer. It is the only defense we have against the enemy: satan. The Lord’s army knows His voice (John 10:4-5). Those who follow the false shepherds, the false christs, they know Him not. Keep them in your mind and do not follow them. Lest you be found a sympathizer while being distracted in the fray of battle. The number of faithful watchmen on the wall and the shepherds is slowly dwindling. The Lord told Ezekiel that He sought for one to stand in the gap. He was looking for His true soldiers. He was searching where their loyalties lay.

And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 22:30-31 (KJV)

When He saw no one. When no Abraham or Noah or Daniel stood up as the people’s representative. When all had fallen away and started listening to the cocky, lying, false, deceiving lieutenants. There was none to be found. So, God poured out the judgment. Are you standing up for the lost in prayer? Are we praying and lifting our brothers and sisters in Christ to God? Satan has no power when the All Mighty, All Powerful blood of Jesus is applied. He has no footing when we demand him to accept his defeat. All things are in subjection to our Lord Jesus.

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood,[fn] the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Colossians 1:14-18 (NKJV)

He is the creator of all. He is their boss. He is the Commander and He holds them in check. Are we following Him? Are we living up to our full potential? Are we demolishing strongholds in spiritual places in His name and His power? If not, we are letting people step over us into hell. The lost are blinded. They cannot see the light.

And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? … But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

Matthew 12: 26, 28-29 (KJV)

We are called as Christians to battle. We are called to be warriors in Him. Put on the full armor of God and start storming the gates of hell. Make satan shake in his boots. It is time for the church to wake up and do some offense. We are weakening. Claim what is ours through adoption. Serve Him and start doing damage in prayer. Satan has no authority. We MUST remind him. The church has been silent for too long. Rally to the Commander and stop following the worldly sympathizers. Take a Stand! Those who delight in Him may slip, but they will not fall. We have the victory. Let us claim it.