On the Winning Side

As he stepped out that morning, Elisha's servant could not believe his eyes.  The city of Dothan, where he and his master were staying, was surrounded by soldiers from the army of Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, and he knew they had come for Elisha (see 2 Kings 6:8-17). Filled with fear and trepidation, he ran to the man of God and exclaimed, "Oh, master! What shall we do?" (2 Kings 6:15, The Message). In other words, "How are we going to get out of this? We are surrounded; there is much more of them than they are of us. They are armed and we are not and even if we were, we stand no chance against them.  We are doomed!"

Elisha listened intently. Unmoved by the report, he answered, "Don't worry about it--there are more on our side than on their side" (v. 16). One could excuse the servant if he thought, "What? Don't you get it? There is an army out there!" However, he did not get a chance to say a word as according to the narrative, "Then Elisha prayed, 'O GOD, open his eyes and let him see.'" (v. 17a). Before the young man could even think "MY eyes?," "the eyes of the young man were opened and he saw. A wonder! The whole mountainside full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha!" (v. 17b).

What does all of that have to do with us?  One important principle we take away is that there are eyes that look and there are eyes that see (perceive, discern). The JFB Commentary on this portion of text notes, "The opening of the eyes, which Elisha prayed for, were those of the Spirit, not of the body - the eye of faith sees the reality of the divine presence and protection where all is vacancy or darkness to the ordinary eye." When we look it is easy to be intimidated by what is happening around us; we experience times when the pressure gets to us and it feels there are more of those against us than there are for us. Like the servant, it is difficult to see past what we are looking at. At a time when he thought they were all alone, two against an army, he was unaware of what the psalmist David would later declare: "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them" (Psalm 34:7, KJV). He was on the winning side and he did not know it. 

Years after this incident, when the prophet Nehemiah and the Israelites were threatened by other enemies, Nehemiah told the people, "Our God will fight for us!" (Nehemiah 4:20). Or, as the apostle Paul puts it, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).  We do not have to be intimidated when we feel or are surrounded and overwhelmed. It is worth remembering that as Christians we are not fighting for victory, but from a position of victory. Read that sentence again and get it into your spirit. Because of Christ's victory we are also victorious and as long as we are in the will of God, He will indeed "fight for us" and that puts us on the winning side. Every time.  His track record is perfect; He has never lost a battle.  Is there a better place to be?

Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing

There were seventy-two of them though some manuscripts say seventy.  On this particular day, according to the narrative, Jesus had appointed "and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go" (Luke 10:1, NIV). This was no sight-seeing city tour for He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves" (vv. 2-3), before giving them specific instructions as to what to do on their mission (vv. 4-11, 16).

We do not know how long they were on task, but after a while "the seventy-two returned with joy and said, 'Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.'" Undoubtedly they were all excited about what they had experienced. The sick had been healed and devils had been cast out. These ambassadors of Christ were astonished at the powers they were able to exercise, all in the name of Jesus.  It was in the midst of all this euphoria that the sobering voice of the Master spoke words of caution: "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven" (vv. 19-20). In other words, in the big scheme of things, keep the main thing the main thing.

It is instructive that Jesus did not allow them to enjoy what they had accomplished. He was no kill-joy for Luke tells us that at that time Jesus was "full of joy through the Holy Spirit" (v. 21a).  However, these men were not the main show but rather the table setters.  They had been sent in pairs "ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go" with the message He had given them.  Maybe that is why the Holy Spirit did not see it fit to record any of their names so we could know them. No matter what we are able to accomplish in the work of ministry, it is not as important as knowing that our names are written in heaven.

This presents a challenge for some of us.  We love the "bright lights" as well as the admiration and recognition (titles, special privileges, etc.) that comes with success. We feel slighted and unappreciated when our names are not mentioned, and some of us quit our God-given assignment.  While there is nothing wrong with wanting to be appreciated, in God's economy things are not always that straightforward. We are not defined by what we do, but by who we are. Sons and daughters of the most high God, eternally grateful our names can be found where it matters most. That, more than anything else, is worth celebrating.  Just ask Jesus.

Being Led by the Spirit

Christians everywhere are encouraged to walk in the Spirit; to walk as guided or directed by the Spirit of God. The apostle Paul was so sure of the benefits that he exhorted the church in Galatia, "This I say then, 'Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh'" (Galatians 5:16, KJV). The mining of the treasures in this verse is beyond our devotional scope, but suffice it to say that with the Holy Spirit as our guide, He will not lead us in ways that are contrary to the will of God. What we do not know is how and where the Spirit will lead. It is not always easy following where He leads.

These thoughts came to mind as I read Paul's exhortation to the elders of the church in Ephesus. After some words about his service to them, he continued, "And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me" (Acts 20:22-23). Eugene Peterson paraphrases verse 23, "I do know that it won't be any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead" (The Message). Really? Repeatedly and clearly? Hard times and imprisonment while doing God's work? Isn't this where we get off the bus? How about praying for deliverance from Satan's plans and schemes? Pick your most attractive option!
For Paul, none of these options were viable. The only thing that seemed to matter was that whatever the Spirit had told him was in fact God's will for his life at that point. In other words, God was going to allow him to meet with a predetermined fate. With that in mind, he did not seem bothered by what awaited him for he continued, "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God" (v. 24). In reflecting on his attitude, the one word that readily comes to mind - WOW!

Paul's experience reminds us that God often puts His servants in difficult situations in order to accomplish His purposes. It could very well be that some of the situations we are praying and/or fasting against, binding and loosing, and blaming Satan for, are situations that have been divinely orchestrated for us to experience for our spiritual growth, for God's glory, or both.  Spiritual discernment is important. The apostle's attitude reminds us that above all else it is far better to be in the nucleus of God's will, even in hardships, than to be in comfort outside of that will. There really is no safer place to be.

What would your attitude be if the Spirit of God made it known to you that He would be lead you in a way filled with challenges? Could it be that you are already in that way? Regardless of where we find ourselves, may we strive always to bring glory to God. After all, it is all about Him and not about us. It never was and never will be (see Revelation 4:11).

Dealing With An Anxious Heart

Anxiety. Webster defines it as a "painful or apprehensive uneasiness of mind usually over an impending or anticipated ill;" "an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs (as sweating, tension, and increased pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it." Does any of that sound familiar?

As global economies continue to struggle and it seems we are greeted every day by news of more companies in trouble and people losing jobs, it is in these environments that anxiety becomes even more acute. These are challenging times for many and there are real fears and concerns that provoke thoughts and worry minds. The Christian is not immune from these events, fears, and concerns. If we are not careful, we could easily find ourselves overwhelmed by our individual circumstances. Instead of keeping our eyes on the God of our salvation, we focus instead on the "contrary winds" howling around us. To avoid such a situation, we hear the Psalmist cry out, "Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer ... when my heart is overwhelmed and fainting; lead me to the rock that is higher than I [yes, a rock that is too high for me]. For You have been a shelter and a refuge for me" (61:1,2b,3a, Amplified). When faced with life's storms, a shelter and a refuge are exactly what we need. The good news is that we can find them both in God.

The disciples of Jesus faced their own anxious moments as He spoke to them about His departure (John 13:31-36). We find in His response words that should encourage the heart that is anxious over any circumstances. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me" (14:1). Things may not look too good, but let not your heart be troubled. Bad news every where, but let not your heart be troubled. The pattern is obvious. God is not limited by what the global economies are doing. He knows how to take care of His own and "those who trust in, lean on, and confidently hope in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides and stands fast forever" (Psalm 125:1, Amplified). Now is as good a time as any to cast those cares and fears upon Him. Why not give it a try?