Warrior, Not A Worrier

02.02.19

I saw a group of soldiers in army fatigues weighed down by extremely heavy backpacks. It was all they could do to army crawl forward, inch by inch. They were advancing at a turtle pace, and looked exhausted. They were using all of their strength to keep moving, but discouragement covered their faces. Then I saw the hand of God, swoop down and take those backpacks. Immediately they began to rise into the heavens, soaring above the enemy territory at light speed. When they shed the weight, they came to a lifted position that allowed them to be more efficient in battle. They started dropping bombs from the sky and quickly eradicated the enemy.

That army is the church. We’ve been so weighed down by grief and heaviness that it has kept us from fighting from our heavenly seat. When the problem seems bigger than the answer, you’ve forgotten the God you serve. The Lord is not pleased by some of the choices of our country, but he’s also not afraid that He’s losing the battle. If you’ve felt burdened, and weary from the news over past weeks, join me in exalting God over the issues at hand. It’s exactly the reminder we need to put things into perspective. Be obedient to his call to war, but do not worry about His ability to win.

Those soldiers, once lifted into the heavens, began smiling. They were enjoying the views and laughing as they took the victory with ease. We have the right to enjoy winning in the same way.

Isaiah 9:3-5 (ERV) says, “God, you will make the nation grow, and you will make the people happy. They will rejoice in your presence as they do at harvest time. It will be like the joy when people take their share of things they have won in war. That will happen because you will lift the heavy yoke off their shoulders and take away their heavy burden. You will take away the rod that the enemy used to punish your people, as you did when you defeated Midian. Every boot that marched in battle and every uniform stained with blood will be destroyed and thrown into the fire. This will happen when the special child is born. God will give us a son who will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be “Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:3-6 (ERV)

Jesus, the one who reigns with God, has called us to sit in heavenly places with Him (Ephesians 2:6)! The enemy wants us to forget that Jesus broke the curse given to man in the garden (Genesis 3). In fact, one of the many deceptive strategies of the enemy has been to make the church think that the curses and disadvantages placed upon him, were the same ones placed upon you and I. That is a lie! Even in our disadvantage and our sin, we were meant to strike from above. The enemy was cursed to wallow through the dirt and to have his head crushed. He wants us to think we are doomed to the same, that we have to be plagued with thoughts and worries that crush our minds. He can only have enough leverage to take us out completely if we choose to put ourselves under him!

What’s even more astounding is that Isaiah 53:5 (KJV) says Jesus took upon himself the bruising. We don’t have to be bruised by the enemy on our heel anymore. Have you ever heard the phrase Achilles Heel? It’s symbolic of a place of vulnerability. The heel represents our weaknesses, and our tendency to stumble in sin. Our iniquity is paid for, so live it out through a lifestyle of repentance. When we choose to soar spiritually, we do not rely on our own strength. Think about it, if you’re flying, your heels are no longer a factor in your ability to move! We can be lifted high above our problems and exchange our heaviness for the weight of His glory!

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (CSB) says, “Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB)

One of the greatest advantages in any war is to become allies with a country that is stronger than your enemy. When a small country has the backing of a larger, more powerful country, it has access to greater resources and armed forces. No matter how small you feel, you carry access to the protection and resources of Heaven wherever you go! As we align ourselves with God on a daily basis, He gives us all the support we need to stand against the forces of darkness! It’s time for the church to stop wallowing on the ground in self-pity, iniquities, and victim-mentalities, and rise up to their rightful position with Christ.

“Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, “GOD has lost track of me. He doesn’t care what happens to me”? Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? GOD doesn’t come and go. God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon GOD get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind.” Isaiah 40:27-31 (MSG)