Face the Enemy When Everyone Else Runs

I know I haven't really blogged for a couple of weeks. Sorry about that. I've been having a hard time with life. I might be doing a Bible School, but I am far from being "perfect Christian." I feel like I've had so much rage built up inside of me. It definitely came out in the last two weeks. I tried not to snap at people, but I'm not sure how well I've done. It's all been kind of a blur, really. I'm a little stressed out, to be completely honest. I know that when CSBS is over, I am supposed to immediately move to Burbank. Immediately meaning not even go back to Texas for a little bit. So before 22 June, I have to have a place to live line up and preferably also a job. But it's so hard to do that, since I don't have a car and can't drive. But since this is what God has called me to do, I have to trust that he has a plan for this.

This week in CSBS, we studied Paul's letter to the Ephesians. It really rocked my world. An overwhelming theme is standing when all others fall. First, I wrote about what it means for the original reader (the Ephesian Christians):

This theme of sit, walk, stand shows the Christians of Ephesus that sitting in Christ is the first step to walking in Christ, which is the first step to standing firm when the storm comes.

Salvation comes through grace by faith. It is not the doing of any person. It is only the doing of Jesus. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Christians (both Jews and Gentiles) are of the same body in unity and equality. They should see that as a church, all power and authority is given to them because they are seated with Christ. Jesus’ sacrifice protects them while they are learning to walk in him; protects them from the spiritual attacks that the enemy throws at them to tear them down. While they are sitting in Christ, they are weak, like babies. They cannot protect themselves from the attacks that come at them without Christ’s protection. If they are unprotected, then they will fall when they try to walk, since they will be trying to walk without help.

To walk in Christ is to serve and behave as Christ served and behaved when he was on earth. He served willingly, without question. Walking means that the Ephesian Christians have now moved from being babies, to being children who are growing up. Walking means that they are growing strong in their faith. Since they learned how to walk with Christ’s help, they will be that much stronger when the storm comes and they will stand firm. But if they choose to reject Christ’s power and help, they will fall. If, as a church, they are unified, then when one of them trips, they will not stay down. They will help each other. They will still be under the umbrella of Christ’s protection, so even if it start storming, they will be able to continue walking without failing.

If they have learned to walk in Christ, and they have walked under Christ, then when the storm comes, they will stand firm. They will not be blown over by the fierce winds; they will not be beaten down by the hard rain. If they stand in unity, they will be stronger than if they stand alone. They will be able to protect each other. This does not mean that they are abandoned by Christ, now that they can stand. It means that they have been trained for battle against the enemy’s attacks and they are prepared to take what comes at them, without running from it. Standing firm will strike fear into the enemy. He will see that they are strong. But he will not stop trying to tear them down; to destroy them. They must stay strong. The must look to Christ for their strength, so that they can stand tall, when all others fall.

Then I wrote what it means for Christians in today's world, and what it means for myself:

What are you going to do when everyone else falls down or runs away? The enemy isn’t going to give up. If we run, then he will advance and destroy. So much of the world has been abandoned by people who are strong enough to take a stand. We have left the battleground because we are scared. But do we have a reason to be scared? If we have Christ, and we have learned to walk in him, then we should be able to stand firm. We should be able to dodge the bullets that are shot at us; deflect the punched that are thrown. When people fall, it is because they were not walking in Christ. You cannot stand without walking in Christ. Believe it or not, walking is the first step to standing. You might think it’s the other way around. I mean, when you learned how to take your first steps, you had to stand first. But this is a different kind of standing. To stand like this is to be strong and courageous. If you have the Holy Spirit in you, you have this strength and courage (if you are a Christian, you have the Spirit).

So when everyone falls, you stand tall. When everyone runs from the battle, you face the enemy. Do not run, do not fall. Rely on Christ’s strength for your own strength, and you will stand.

There are so many times when I think I can do it on my own. But I can’t. How can I? I am pathetically weak. There is only way that I can stand firm in this constant battle. I have to walk in Christ. It’s not always easy to do. I admit it. I always find myself tripping. But I have friends who are stronger than me who are right by my side, helping my back up. I want to be the same for them, but I’m not strong enough. I need to strengthen my armor; sharpen my sword (because guns are too mainstream). I’m glad that I’m doing CSBS right now. This is the armory. I’m getting new armor. My sword is being re-forged; my bow restrung, my arrows replaced. This is where I become stronger. This is where I leave for battle.

Timeless Truth of the Week:

Only with God help can we have victory over the enemy.