It seems like for the last few months I've been talking to injured Christian soldiers; worn down and torn up from fighting this fierce battle with the enemy. Soldiers that are weary and tired. Soldiers who are hurting and disappointed. But my words of encouragement are always the same and they come straight from the Word which tells us that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4). I also tell them that we are not wrestling with flesh and blood, but we are wrestling against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places] (Ephesians 6:12).
Please understand that we are at war! Why are you surprised that you are suffering the stings of arrows and blows? Let me tell you something I learned in my short stint in basic training. I learned that everybody doesn't come to the ARMY to fight! People that I was there with had many different motivations for being there and I soon started to learn that they were not preparing for battle and I surely didn't want them on my side!
But as Christians we have to stop living with unrealistic expectations of our battle buddies. Certainly we must love each other--that is without question! Certainly we must encourage each other to continue maturing, training and preparing for the fight. Certainly we must keep picking each other up and vowing to never leave one another behind. We must do this because we cannot make it without each other in this thing, but the difference between the natural ARMY and Christian soldiers is that this battle to take back the Kingdom by force is not ours, but it is the Lords! That means that He equips us. He puts in each of us the tools that we need to win without struggle. He puts in us the seeds of triumph so that we are able to overcome any adversary and any challenge.
As a Christian soldier you will get tired. You will get weary. You may fall down, but as Donnie McClurkin says, We Fall Down, but We Get Up! The victor of this battle is he that endures. Endure means don't be surprised when folks talk about you! Endure means don't give up when people talk to you crazy. Endure means that what God has called you to do is what He needs for you to do regardless of the discouragement that comes your way. Endure means maturing and recognizing that sometimes your battle buddy just doesn't understand your testimony or your praise because that's not where they are right now, but in spite of all of that you must press on toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. And literally there may be times when you have to go on by yourself.
Please stop acting surprised! You ARE at war! This IS happening! Now like David at Ziklag, get yourself together and encourage yourself in the Lord! While you're encouraging yourself, encourage someone else. I'll end with this story. When I was in the sixth grade my teacher, Ms. Stella Fiddmont, left the room and left me in charge as the monitor. Immediately folks got out of control and wouldn't listen to me. I felt like a failure because I couldn't get them to do what I said. When Ms. Fiddmont returned people were out of their proper places and making all kinds of noise. They were clowing so hard that didn't' even see her enter the room. I saw her and started yelling Shut up! Be Quiet! Ms. Fiddmont came and stood next to me and put her hand on my shoulder to comfort me. She looked down and said to me, You be quiet and they will follow your example. Of course I thought she was out of her mind. How could that work? But she understood true leadership. A true leader provides a real and practical example to follow. That's why folks follow them because ultimately it's not about what you say, but it's about how you live.
So if you are feeling discouraged because of your war wounds, realize that Jesus was persecuted. If our Lord and Saviour wasn't spared by those who were closest to Him why are you surprised when you are misunderstood, misused or abused? Don't be. And don't allow it to move you out of position because every soldier is needed! God is our battle fighter. He is our Jehovah-Nissi. Calm yourself, take courage, encourage someone else, wake up and realize that you ARE in a battle, but that it is the Lords and finally keep pressing and be the one to endure to the end.
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