Tag Archives: adopted

When the enemy has surrounded us

 

Michael W. Smith – Surrounded (Fight My Battles)

 

I heard this song for the first time this morning. I am fond of Michael W. Smith and his music and was surprised how I might have missed this one. Bethany Harris wrote a great post on Sixty-six Books in a Year and made this song come alive in meaning as she shared her thoughts. I wanted to share it too and speak into some of the thoughts Bethany shared.

Let’s face it, the enemey is always surrounding us. We live in a fallen world. There is evil on every side. It might be sickness, temptation, sorrow, tragedy, loss, personal relationships, economic difficulties, personal failure and the one that comes to us all – death. As Elisha’s servant asked, “What should we do?,” the answer is found in faith.

This is where I, a child of God, become aware of God’s presence in my life. God is glorified, and I the disciple am strengthened. I have assurance and peace even in the midst of evil. I have found myself dedicated to live godly knowing my Lord will give the victory. I know it is time to don my armour.

At the end of the armour description in Ephesians chapter 6 there is a final weapon that many fail to mention and I am not too sure why – it is prayer.

Jehoshaphat gives an excellent model of prayer in the context to battle.

O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.  Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?  O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” – 2 Chronicles 20:6-7,12  ESV

First thought: “Are you not God in heaven” – I have to first focus on WHO God is – His character and His ability.

Second thought: “Did you not, our God” – I am to focus on WHAT God has done, especially in my own life.

Third thought: “O our God, will you not…” – I need to focus on what God can and will do for me, presenting my request to Him. If needed, I best remind myself of the promises He has given me.

What do you think of the words in the prayer where Jehoshaphat stated, “Abraham your friend?” God’s friendship with Abraham was the basis for his assurance that God would come to their aid.

I come back to the question of what is a disciple of Jesus and I am called back again to the Great Commission. I also ask myself what is discipleship. It seems I rarely find a someone at the front of the church use the word disciple. They will use evangelise, teach, baptize etc. but that is not the command. The only command is to make disciples. Even the word “Go” is not a command.

Disciples have been adopted by God, disciples are being formed by God, and disciples are empowered by God for life and mission.

I am adopted by God, He is my friend and Father. I pray that I can walk remembering He surrounds me first and thereafter I have no concerns. When I call on Him, He will answer.

 

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Willing to repent and believe that it is safe

 

If we have been taught that there is safety in repentance then we can break through the dynamics that put issues ahead of our desire to seek the kingdom of God. One of those I mentioned earlier was how people think of me. If I do this, I will come to the point where I will not worry on how people think of me.

Now, I could do this or I could do what St. Benedict did when he was trying to erase the temptation of a woman. St. Benedict of Nursia (480-547 CE),  according to legend, cast himself into a thorn bush while naked.

I struggle staying away from the things that take me away from the kingdom of God but I also struggle to do the things that one would do if they were walking in the kingdom of God. Romans 8 I mentioned in an earlier post is the antidote for Romans 7. These truths help me follow Jesus in this area of struggle. Especially looking at my struggle to share the gospel, or an area in my inner life where I hope God does not want to deal with. Then I ask myself what I think it would look like for me to “go deeper” in my discipleship.

This was the promise from Jesus who walked a hidden life with God. He overcame sin and was able to fulfill the incredible plan of salvation for mankind.

 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin,[c] he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. – Romans 8:3-4  ESV

I conclude then that Jesus; taking upon Himself human nature, condemned the sin in human beings, so that I, His disciple, who has the same nature, can now follow Him in this way, regardless of my background, personality, or where I live.

Here are some other lessons I have learned from Romans 8.

  • There is a house analogy describing the Spirit living in us just as a person would dwell or reside in a home.

    • You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus[d] from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. – Romans 8:9-11  ESV

  • In the same verse above there is the Holy Spirit described as the key identifier, the essential possession of a disciple of Jesus.
  • There is an adoption metaphor where the Holy Spirit has put together a connection between us and God so that we are truly His adopted children, and thereby, heirs of all that is His.

    • For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.. – Romans 8:15-17  ESV

  • The verses above also reveal the Holy Spirit providing the inner testimony or the prompting that calls out to God in an intimate way – “Abba! Father!” and provides the assurance that we are His children.
  • The Holy Spirit makes alive our spiritually-dead spirits and connects us to God.
  • The Holy Spirit is the same as Christ’s Spirit and God’s Spirit. They are one and the same.

 

 

 

 

 

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