2 Chronicles 7:12-14 – “Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  NKJV

Solomon had built the temple David desired and his kingdom was growing mightily when God appeared to him a second time in a dream or vision of the night.  God confirmed that He was pleased with the temple and designated it as a ‘house of sacrifice’.  Then God speaks to Solomon advising him that there would be times when God brought conditions upon the land or allowed conditions upon the land that were problematic there was a solution. 

The instruction is prayer, but it has some stages in it and sometimes it seems to me that we have forgotten this solution.  Some will tell me that this only applies to Israel and was time specific to that era, but I will contend that when we are told that we have a better covenant established upon better promises in the New Covenant we have ‘at least’ this in our seeking a solution to the problems that rise up in our land.

Consider the instruction:

• It is MY PEOPLE – – Are we God’s People as believers?  If so, then can we not apply this to our lives and situations?
• It is those CALLED BY GOD’S NAME – – What is the distinction by which we are identified?  Is it not Christian?  So, if we are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise can we not lay legitimate claim to this direction?
• HUMBLE THEMSELVES – – Therein lays the problem too often frequently we are anything but ‘humble’.  Too often we develop an ‘entitlement mentality’ and believe that we have ‘rights’ that God is obligated to provide rather than coming ‘humbly’ before Him knowing that without Him we have and are nothing.
• PRAY – – Not just a passing laundry list of requests but engaging the Living God in prayer with all its aspects and dimensions.  That is evidenced in the direction to SEEK HIS FACE. That is not possible in a quick ‘microwave Instagram tweet’ it requires introspection as well as petition.
• TURN FROM SIN – – He is speaking to individuals but also to a nation and we dare not forget that aspect.  There is a time for national repentance done by individuals.  Individually it is imperative that we allow the Spirit of God to shine the light of God upon our lives, expose our sin, and run to the Cross crying out for forgiveness and mercy.

God says that when those conditions are met, He Will Hear from heaven Forgive Their Sin, and Heal their Land.  In our land today we are in desperate need of Divine Healing for our land.  We need God to send a deliverer to lead us to the Promised Land. 

I am not so naïve that I think that America is pristine and free from sin for we are not.  We need revival in this nation.  We need healing in this nation.  We need forgiveness in this nation.  It must begin individually to be realized nationally and as a people.  So, if we love God, love liberty, love this land we should apply this passage to our lives and embark on the journey of Healing and Forgiveness!

God bless you as you go through your day!

John 21:20-23 – “Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”  23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?” NKJV

I have often read this passage and been reminded of how deeply our egos are involved in everything we do and how deeply the quest for ‘fairness’ and ‘equality’ runs in our human psyche.  Here I believe it is evidenced in Peter’s questions of the Lord regarding John.  Jesus had informed Peter about Peter’s life and death and as humans will do, Peter wanted to know ‘What about John?  If this is my lot; what about him?’ 

Some have suggested that Jesus pampered John but rather I believe it had more to do with John’s spirit and attitude.  God had a work and ministry that required a certain mentality, attitude, and disposition and John embodied all the requirements.  He could be silent when silence was required and vocal when speaking up was required somewhat unlike Peter who was often rash with his mouth and impatient.  Yet, Peter appears to not just have an interest in finding out what John was going to face but wanted to be sure that John was not getting a better deal in his human view.

I’ve watched ministers, church people, and people, in general, fret over what someone else has either in material possessions or gifts of God.  The idea of ‘fairness’ by human definition is foreign to Scripture.  God never said that life would be ‘fair’, but He did promise to be ‘just’.  Life may hand you some terrible lemons and require you to endure horrific situations to survive but if you look at what others are or are not going through or have you will fall into Deception and Despair and lose heart. 

Jesus said it clearly and we should carefully heed His words, “If I will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?  You follow Me.”  Peter twisted Jesus’ words and told the others that John would not die but that is not what Jesus said.  Jesus was turning the focus from ‘comparison’ and ‘human fairness’ to His Will and Purpose!  What God chooses to use you for has nothing to do with His purpose for me.  I will rejoice in God’s using you and refuse to focus on my lack or allow any sense of being short-changed to come into my thinking.

We have a world full of people who are Demanding their ‘fair share’ based on comparisons to others.  There is little consideration to what God’s purpose might be only a sense of entitlement and I want mine.  That is foreign to the biblical description of the Christian walk so Stop It!  Stop worrying about what someone else has or does take stock of what God wants to do and is doing in your life.  Your life is the one you are responsible for and will give account for. 

May God be with you as you go through your day!

Galatians 6:14-15 – “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.” NKJV

Not long ago I was in a meeting where ministers gathered and discussed the works they were leading.  I heard words like ‘the work I have built’, ‘my church’, and ‘my ministry’.  Almost every statement contained the word “I”, “My”, or “Me” and my heart was grieved.  Even as those leading the meeting began to introduce and recognize some of the prominent people there was praise and recognition of what each one had built or the work they were doing. 

What they meant, I am certain, was not meant to be disrespectful to the Holy Spirit but what I heard was ‘flesh’ and ‘boasting in the flesh’.  I fully understand the human element in the work of God on earth and that God uses people but for me, it runs deeper.

When I was a lead pastor in congregations, I would sometimes be guilty of referring to the local congregation as ‘my church’ and frequently the Holy Spirit would bring conviction to my heart. I would in sincere repentance correct myself and say, ‘The Lord’s Church that I am charged with providing human leadership.’  I never want to ‘boast’ in the flesh because there is nothing in the flesh to boast about.  Were it not for Calvary I would be nothing and it is only through the Work of the Cross that I have life and that life more abundant?

I have an ego like everyone else and continually ask the Lord through the Holy Spirit to keep it in check.  Flattery can shipwreck virtually anyone, and a man of God once stood before me and warned that I was falling prey to ‘flattery’ and at first, I was angered by that suggestion but as I weighed it in my spirit, I realized he was correct. 

The church was doing well, people were giving me accolades and I was being recognized by others outside the church and was, without being aware becoming a little full of myself.  God engineered a series of events that brought me back to reality and reminded me of how dependent I was and am upon Him and instead of wringing my hands and lamenting I rejoiced as I recognized the work of the Holy Spirit.  The victory came as did my deliverance from ‘flattering tongues’.  Understand I’m not talking about giving people compliments I’m talking about flattery.  I’m talking about allowing the accolades of man to shift your view of total dependence upon the Lord to your accomplishments.

The old song with the words ‘without Him, I could do nothing’ is appropriate here.  Jesus said, “I (Jesus) will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  I’m just a laborer together with Him.  Any gift or ability I have is directly from Him and I am and will always be Totally Dependent on Him for all that I am, doing, or hope to be or do. 

I hear people in today’s world talk about ME (self) and it bothers me so naturally when I hear people in the faith talk about ME (self) it bothers me even more because we know better.  Some believe that God gives the inherent ability and then just leaves it all to us and others believe that He micromanages everything in our lives.  Regardless of what you believe tell me what do you have that you did not receive as a result of His work in your life?

May God be with you as you go through your day!  Blessings!

Joshua 6:20 – “So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.”  NKJV

I have heard this story related and people read it somewhat nonchalantly without even a raised eyebrow or question mark in their eyes, but I don’t.   I have never read this story without a pause in my reading and thinking.  I do not pause in the fact that the Hebrews took the city.  I do not pause in the method of God for victory – Shouting and Blowing the Trumpets!  No!  I pause at the few words, ‘the wall fell down flat.’  

Stop and consider what happened here what happened.  The mound or ‘tell’ of Jericho was surrounded by a great earthen rampart, or embankment, with a stone retaining wall at its base.  That wall was 12-15’ tall and on top of that was a mud-brick wall about 6’ thick and 20-26’ tall.  At the crest of the embankment was a similar mud-brick wall that shows the base as roughly 46’ above the ground level outside the retaining wall and loomed high above the Israelites as they marched day after day.  All that ‘fell down flat’ and the Israelites charged in without hindrance. 

But there is more!  When I was in Israel a number of years ago, we came to the city and the guide informed us that archeological evidence had found what appeared to be a discrepancy between the Biblical timeline and where the artifacts were found from the ruins of the walls.  But as I’ve studied it, I have discovered that the Hebrew statement that the walls ‘fell down flat’ carries the suggestion that it ‘fell beneath itself’ which could mean that God pushed the walls into the ground.  I am not saying that is what happened, but I do know that this is a major miracle to have the walls ‘flat’ when there would have or should have been an incredible amount of rubble which would have caused significant difficulty for the Israelites to simply rush in. 

Archeologists have also found a section of the wall standing with houses attached and that could well be where Rahab’s house was.  This would be another significant miracle.  What we have in the defeat of Jericho is one miracle after another and that is God’s method of operation.  He is not bound by the Laws of Nature or our frailty HE IS GOD! 

So, I do not know what you need in your life and labor, but we are serving a God who can do anything and will do anything to provide you with your needed miracle.  So, as you go through your day go knowing that OUR GOD is a MIRACLE WORKING GOD!

Blessings as you enjoy this new day, He has given you!

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 – “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.”  NASB

Yesterday we talked about the Name, the Word, and the Blood off Jesus being Spiritual Weapons of Warfare and that we had some launching rockets to propel these warheads into the battle.  Let’s begin with looking at them:

THE LAUNCHING ROCKET OF PRAYER….

I have decided that the only people who do not believe that prayer is of any significant benefit are those who do not pray!  I do not mean to be calloused, but I believe that to be the truth.  In my mind, there is absolutely no doubt of the validity, importance, or power of believing prayer!  Prayer receives its power from the weapon of the Name, the Blood of Jesus!

When we pray the Name, the Word, and the Blood of Jesus we find an incredible release of spiritual power yet at the same time we find it vain to pray meaningless and unbelieving repetitions.  One prayer warrior of old declared that ‘Prayer is the greatest force in the universe.’

I really do not argue that because prayer that carries the spiritual warheads of the Name, the Word, and the Blood of Jesus is armed with the greatest power known.  If you remember the words of Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you did not know…” you understand.  Simply, God has declared that IF we will pray, He will work and bring great and mighty things to pass even beyond our ability to know or comprehend.  In a sense, God has limited Himself to working in conjunction with our praying!

It is my conviction that in prayer we can touch lands thousands of miles away, send help to divine prisoners, minister in every city in the world, and cross every barrier and obstacle.  Prayer can penetrate where human flesh cannot.  Yes, that includes our government (1Timothy 2:1-4). 

When we pray for our government, we are to pray that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life. Good government allows us to have the ability to preach the Gospel freely and openly.  It guarantees civil liberties and protects freedom of speech.  We can do more on our knees than in any other fashion but that does not mean we cannot or should not be otherwise active.  But always remember that Our Weapons are Mighty!

There are Eight (8) Laws or Elements of Prayer.  I will call them Laws for the sake of understanding:

1. The Law of Boldness.   (Hebrews 10:19) – “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus.”  The Blood of Jesus enables us to access the throne room of heaven.
2. The Law of the Blood.  Prayer is offered on the foundation of the Blood of Jesus.
3. The Law of Faith.  (Hebrews 11:6) – “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him.”
4. The Law of Right Relationships.  (Mark 11:24-25) – “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.  25 “Whenever you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.”  NASB
5. The Law of God’s Will.  (1 John 5:14-15) – “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”  NASB
6. The Law of the Holy Spirit.  (Romans 8:26-27 – “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” NASB
7. The Law of Praise.  (Psalm 34:1) – “I will bless the Lord at ALL TIMES, His praise shall CONTINUALLY be in my mouth.”
8. The Law of Right Motives.  (James 4:3) – “You ask, and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

All those are extremely important and explain why sometimes we are ineffective in our praying.  It does not explain everything, but it should give us food for thought and personal examination of our hearts, motives, and lives.

May God be with you as you go through your day!

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 – “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.”  NASB

As I read passages like this I am renewed in my excitement and anticipation in God.  I see ‘unlimited possibilities’ in the Christian walk rather than gloom and doom.  Oh, I am not oblivious to the problems in our present world, but I am also very cognizant of the Person, Power, and Potential in God!  We all either have strongholds or we face strongholdsin our lives from the opposition of the devil.  God offers a solution and gives us equipment to combat the forces of hell. 

I want to focus on three primary weapons in this discussion which will span more than one post.  Those are – The NAME, the WORD, and the BLOOD of Jesus.  It is my biblical understanding and life experience that when the Word of God confronts a stronghold of the devil it renders it powerless and devoid of strength.  When the Name of Jesus is used against the enemy that name prevails every time!  When the Blood of Jesus is brought against a stronghold by the Word of our Testimony, the stronghold is utterly destroyed.  Our weapons are Mighty Through God to the pulling down of strongholds.

You can have a virtual arsenal but if you do have not a delivery vehicle or cannot get those weapons to the battle, they do you no good!  Most all are aware that the Name, Word, and Blood of Jesus are weapons, but the question is ‘how do we get them to the point of attack?’  Let me use something in the natural to convey a spiritual truth.

In our military arsenal, we have ICBM’s or Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles which are extremely large rockets capable of being launched over thousands of miles and destroy a target with pinpoint accuracy.  They are very important to the defense strategy of any nation that has them.  Yet, we must make a distinction between the rockets and the warheads on those rockets. 

The power is not in the rocket but the warhead.  The rocket is simply a vehicle to get the warhead to the proper place at the proper time.  If the rocket were launched with no warhead it would do little damage upon arrival but armed with the warhead it has the capability of destroying a very large target. 

The power is in the warhead!  This is equally true spiritually.  The power is in the weapon.  The power is in the WORD, NAME, and BLOOD of Jesus!  Yet, until these warheads are launched, they do not pull-down strongholds.  They must be launched against the enemy to bring the desired victory.

What are our launching rockets?   Prayer, preaching, the word of our testimony, praise, and worship!  These vehicles launch the spiritual warheads against the enemy and bring the Power of God to bear on the situation.

I want to deal with the launching rockets but will hold that until tomorrow, so until then may God be with you as you go through your day!

Galatians 5:25-26 – “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”  NIV

If we are to reach the place in our lives that we Reject Worry and become people who Pray About Everything we will also have to become people who Praise God in all things and at all times.  Paul instructed us in Philippians 4:7 to “let your requests be made known unto God by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.”  Praise is your way of saying “I acknowledge you, Lord!  You are the victor.  You are LORD.  You are my provider, deliverer, guide, sustainer, and life.”  Praise is focusing on the ‘outcome’, not the “circumstances.”

The Bible has some interesting things to say about what will transpire when we develop this in our lives.  When we learn to ‘reject worry’ and become ‘people of prayer and praise’ what happens?

Philippians 4:7 – “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in You.”

Psalm 23:2 – “He leads me beside still waters….”

I am not talking about something artificial where on the outside all looks calm but a raging storm on the inside.  I am talking about ‘peace in the storm.’  Paul tells us in Colossians 3:15 that we are to let the peace of God rule our hearts.  The word rule here could be rightly translated as ‘umpire’.

Remember the account in 2 Chronicles 20 when Jehoshaphat and the nation are in a predicament?  If you read that you will find that Jehoshaphat did not set himself to ‘worry’ rather he prayed the covenant.  [vv.6-12] He expressed the covenant.  He rehearsed the covenant being honest with God saying, “We are in a mess and do not know what to do.”  He released faith saying, “Our eyes are upon you.”  In v. 13 we find that ALL the men and women of Judah attended the prayer meeting!  It was there that the answer came. 

That is the way it always is, when people begin praying God’s Covenant God Answers!  Jahaziel spoke and said, “Don’t be afraid or dismayed.  The battle is not yours, it’s God’s.  You don’t have to fight, just position yourselves and see the salvation of the Lord. Do not be afraid, for the Lord will be with you.” 

What they were instructed to do and did is nothing short of amazing!  It went against all conventional wisdom and military strategy, but God directed it and in obedience, to God’s directive the victory came!  Imagine putting the choir out in front of the army!  They began a praise service in (v. 19) and as they began to sing praises God ambushed the enemy and routed them!  Jehoshaphat instructed the people – Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be Established.  Believe in His prophets and you will Prosper. 

We have a choice in every situation.  We can worry or trust, fret or pray, rationalize, and complain or repent if necessary and we can praise or grumble.  Praise inspires faith and releases peace in our hearts and thereby affects the situation positively.  So, it is your choice!  Will you learn how to March to God’s Drumbeat, or will you allow the devil to intimidate you through worry and fear?

God be with you as you go through your day!

Galatians 5:25-26 – “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”  NIV

Let’s take another leap into this discussion remembering that yesterday we discussed that it is imperative that we learn to Reject Worry, but How?  Is there something that will enable us to do that?  Is there something that will help us do that?  I’m glad you asked.

If we are going to learn to March and Reject Worry, we must learn to Pray about Everything!  Remember the words of Paul in Philippians 4:6 when he said, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” NASB If we adopt the practice of Praying rather than Worrying, we will move forward, after all, if it is serious enough to ‘worry over’ it is serious enough to pray about.

By Prayer, I do not mean casual inquiry I mean serious seeking of the mind and will of God.  God hears prayers that come from willing hearts!  He is Jehovah-Jireh – (Our Provider).  Remember when God directed Abraham to offer up Isaac in Genesis 22?  God knew the end from the beginning, but Abraham could on see the current situation.  Yet, Abraham was willing to Trust God although what God was telling Him was contrary to everything he believed in his heart. 

In the natural, he had an abundance of reason to Worry but he made the choice to trust God and not Worry!  He focused on what God said not what might happen.  It is impossible to walk in ‘faith’ and ‘fear’ or ‘worry’ at the same time.  They are like oil and water and will not mix.  Remember Proverbs 24:17 tells us that “if you faint in the day of adversity your strength is small.”  Paul reminded us of Jesus’ words in Hebrews 13:15when the Lord declared that He would not ‘leave us or forsake us.’

How should we pray?  I’m not talking about formula but practice.  We should pray according to God’s Covenant and remember what Jesus has ‘already’ done!

• He has Already died for our sins.

Therefore, we can pray that God will forgive us as we repent, we do not have to worry He has already provided.

• He has Already died, arose, and ascended so that we can have the fullness of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives.

Therefore, we can pray for the fullness of the Spirit of God to be manifest and operational in our lives and can expect the promise that the Holy Spirit will be our Comforter, Friend, Guide, and Companion in all things and at all times.

• He has Already purchased us back from the devil so we can be the Head and not the Tail.

We can pray for provision knowing that He will provide and enable us to possess the Land!  He has made us ‘more than conquerors through His sacrificial work on the Cross.  We can trust Him to rule over all the ‘negative’ circumstances in our lives.

That work is already done in Christ and only needs to be walked out by us as we are empowered and enabled by the Spirit of God.  I have a sign that I keep that says, “In Case of Emergency Pray!”  I do not keep it to suggest that prayer is only done in an emergency but to remind me that I am to pray instead of worrying.  I find that is much more productive!  It is necessary to get rid of worry before we can move into faith and become an efficient unit able to March to God’s Drumbeat!

I have one more thing that I want to address regarding this topic but will hold that until tomorrow.  May God be with you as you go through your day!

Galatians 5:25-26 – “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”  NIV

Now let’s pick up where we left off yesterday and consider the first point in this process of ‘Learning How to March to God’s Drumbeat.’

We must develop a sense of trust and develop a mindset in which we Refuse to Worry!  In Philippians 4:6-7 we read, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  NASU Saying it simply would be “Don’t sweat it!”  God is still in control, so it is not necessary and even detrimental for us to live lives filled with WORRY!  This is a conscious decision on our part to resist worry and trust God.

I am not saying that you ignore problems or that you do not have any.  I am simply saying that we can Trust God and place our faith in God, not our circumstances.  Jesus told us in John 16 that in this world we would have problems but assured us that He has overcome the world.  Therefore, we have the conquering King on our side!

We need to make a conscious decision that we Will Not dwell on the problems around us.  Worry is a natural reaction in a time of trouble, at least to most humans.  We tend to become nervous, uptight, and anxious.  We can make a conscious decision to roll our cares on the Lord rather than worrying about them. 

However, if you take them to the Lord and ‘roll them’ onto His shoulders but leave that place of prayer fretting over the problem we Have Not rolled them onto the Lord.  We simply went through a religious exercise to appease our conscience.  I am not talking about ignoring problems or sticking your head in the sand.  What I am talking about is making a choice to Trust God!  Worry is an enemy and it must be confronted directly, or it will consume you.  One of the schemes of the devil is to get us to engage in a ‘Worry Reaction.’

What would happen if a group of soldiers heard loud explosions in the distance and sat down wringing their hands crying, “Oh my!  We will be killed!  We are in deep trouble now!  What can we do?”  That would be an utterly useless army.  Instead, a properly trained unit will hear the sounds, allow their training to kick in, and began to prepare for action.  In a sense, the soldier has been trained to Not to Sweat It! 

If we do not learn to reject worry, we will never become the Army of the Lord prepared for battle. We will be easy targets for the devil and become nothing more than a religious nuisance for him rather than a formidable foe marching in the strength and power of the Spirit of God.

We will move to the next step tomorrow but for now, God be with you as you go through your day!

Galatians 5:25-26 – “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying each other.”  NIV

I chose this version for the words ‘keep in step with the Spirit.’  The others say, ‘walk by the Spirit’ and that is great but the thought in my head and heart is about Spiritual Warfare, training, and marching to God’s drumbeat so it fits perfectly.  I have had some tell me when I speak about ‘spiritual warfare’ that we are not really in a war and that if we leave the devil alone, he will leave us alone.  I’m sorry but I have never observed the devil form a ‘non-aggression pact’ with any Christian, he certainly hasn’t with me, and I don’t want one from him.  I think the price would be way too high!

We are in a WAR spiritually and as the Body of Christ we are ‘The Army of God’ or we are supposed to be.  God has provided us with ‘weapons of spiritual warfare’ that are mighty through God to the pulling down of the devil’s strongholds.  It is important that we realize that we are in a war, in God’s army, have weapons, and learn how to use them.  Repeatedly the Bible writers under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit inserted ‘military language’ in their writings and it is beneficial for us to notice it and study it.

MARCHING in the military is not just an exercise to make people jump through hoops frivolously.  Marching is disciplined, orderly, and efficient.  It is an incredibly effective way to move a sizeable group of people from one location to another in a disciplined and orderly manner and quickly.  For soldiers to march, they have to have discipline and follow orders.  If you have ever tried to march when someone in front or behind, you are out of step you know how difficult and frustrating that can be but when a company of soldiers march in unison it is not only impressive it is incredibly efficient.  As the Army of God, we need to learn how to MARCH!

What I’m talking about is ‘moving’ the Body of Christ from one battlefield to another ‘prepared’ and ‘ready’ to take on the enemy instantly and efficiently.  The objective is for the Body of Christ, especially as is reflected in the local fellowship to move as an ‘efficient unit.’  But how do we do that?

LET ME ADDRESS SOME MYTHS FIRST…

• After You Receive Christ and are Born Again ALL Your Problems are Solved.

I believe that if you have been a Christian any length of time you know that is not factual but in case you have not realized it yet, I say it.  Unfortunately, we are still residents in this present natural world that are touched by the supernatural world.  The average citizen does not learn, nor do they march in unison and ranks.  They do not need it, but the soldier does.  It is the soldier that is given ‘marching orders’ when trouble arises!

• Walking in the Spirit is for an Elite Group of Super-spiritual People.

Again, hopefully, you have realized that this is also false and that it is for ‘whosoever will’.  In military boot camp, No One is exempt from Marching.  God intends for every child of God to live in victory and learn to be a good soldier which includes knowing how to “Walk or March in the Spirit.”

Again, the question should be or could be – “How do we do that?”  I will come back tomorrow and deal with these but want to mention some things in closing for the day:

• We Must Refuse to Worry.
• We Must Learn the Value and Importance of Praying about Everything.
• We Must Learn the Power and Embark on the Path of Praising God in All Things and at All Times.

Those three areas will make a dramatic difference in our lives and we will look at them in a little more detail in the days to come. 

But until then may God be with you as you go through your day!