The New Normal

I want to fight!
I may not seem like a fighter, by nature, but I’m a passionate guy. So, I’ll make a stand if need be. I’m not always offensive..but I can certainly be defensive! However, there probably needs to be a healthy balance. Maybe not a complete balance. We might need to be heavier on the defensive but ready with the offensive. Kinda like Christian Karate!
Preparing for the Life’s Healing Choices campaign at Eastridge, I’ve seen a dramatic increase in the spiritual warfare that rages on when something HUGE is about to happen in Kingdom expansion.

No Kingdom ground is gained where it is not defended heavily by the enemy!

Paul addresses this warfare of the mind and soul in Ephesians 6 when he describes the “Armor of God” as a:

• belt of truth
• breastplate of righteousness
• feet fitted with readiness
• shield of faith
• helmet of salvation
• sword of the Spirit.

Of the six items listed above, only one is used for offense. Therefore it appears that our main job (0ver 80%) in the fight is to defend ourselves and let our offense be the Spirit. That means that if we try to take on the enemy ourselves, in our own power, we are very likely to loose. Our job is to defend the attacks and lean on Christ for the victory. It kinda seems counter-intuitive to take the blows that the enemy hurls our way instead of actively fighting him off in the foreground. But that’s just it, WE cannot win the fight..we must become less and HE (Jesus) must become more. Our power to win isn’t really ours at all, but the power of the Spirit inside us.

Victory is in Surrender.

In order to gain victory over the enemy we must surrender..not to the enemy..but to God.

If we are wholly surrendered to the lordship of Jesus, allowing Him complete control, then His word is clear, “For when I am weak, THEN I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10). If I want to triumph over temptation and make wise life-healing choices then I must let Christ have control. This is my hope choice. Left to my own devices I will choose wrongly every time. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

Paul said it best, “I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong..but I can’t help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things.” (Romans 7:15-17/NLT)

But there is hope! And that hope is in surrender. Surrender is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign that I am not in control and I need to give that control to the one who is more powerful. It is Christ in me..that is where my hope is.

“The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace..” (Romans 8:6)

“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.” (Romans 8:9)

I want surrender to be normal in my life.

Lord, I surrender to You today. Let Your Spirit be my victor in every battle I face.