Walking, Warfare, Worship, and Standing
Walking
Last Friday I was in Washington DC as the Senate conducted hearings about the Supreme Court nominee. I was in the hotel lobby watching the disturbing proceedings and grieving. God reminded me that the real battle is not with politicians and the media, the ultimate struggle is in heavenly places.
I have difficulty remembering that our enemies are not abortionists or cartoonists. They are not politicians or fake newscasters but spiritual forces. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Instead of wringing my hands I set out to march around Jericho. While men were deliberating inside the I decided to walk around the outside of the Capitol and pray. As I made my way around the building I found myself quoting parts of the Lord’s Prayer. “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, “Deliver us from evil,” and “For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory.”
Warfare
I know that “The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:4 ESV). I remembered what Jesus said about the need to first bind the strong man before we can plunder his home. With faith in the mighty name of Jesus I bound the devil. And I resisted him based on James 4:8: “Resist the devil and he will flee.”
I did not want to utter the same prayers repeatedly so I asked God to provide scriptures from the sword of the Spirit and He led me to Psalms 95-99. I earnestly read and mixed with faith such inspired phrases such as: “The LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” (Psalm 95:3). “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised.” (Psalm 96:4) “The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice.” (Psalms 97:1) and “The King in his might loves justice.” (Psalm 99:4)
Worship
As I read and prayed, I also began worshiping God. Worship and warfare go hand-in-hand. “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.” (Ps 149:6 KJV)
The hymn I sang was “Rejoice the Lord is King” and fortunately I know most of the words to this inspiriting song by Charles Wesley. Two verses were especially powerful.
Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore;
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing, And triumph evermore:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; Rejoice; again I say, Rejoice!
His Kingdom cannot fail; He rules over earth and heaven;
The keys of death and hell Are to our Jesus given:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; Rejoice; again I say, Rejoice!
If you have an appetite for worship in the midst of warfare, consider this quote from The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien. If you have read this book you will remember the scene as the cavalry of Rohan thundered across the plains at the siege of Gondor. “Then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City.”
Standing
Regardless of how the Senate votes, I am standing in faith and am committed to interceding for God’s will to be done. I am not expecting the world to pray, but as one of God’s children, called by His name, I am petitioning my Father to intervene in the affairs of men. “If my people who are called by my name 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.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
While I am saddened by the increasingly strident attacks on all that is right and good, I am steadfastly determined to ask and believe God to “let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:24 NLT) I am believing God to have His will be done on earth, just as it is in heaven!
May He grant us each the spiritual gumption to stand with Him regardless of the events of our day. May we be filled afresh with His Spirit so that we may faithfully wage war as we worship. God clothe us in the whole armor of God, so that we “may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ” (Ephesians 6:13) Amen.
Steve
For Your Edification and Encouragement
I am attaching a short study on Spiritual Warfare which is a part of the revised Stewardship Course coming out in 2019. I am also adding a PDF of Rejoice the Lord is the King, taken from Hymns for Family Worship.
>> Spiritual Warfare
>> Rejoice the Lord is King [Sheet Music]
>> Rejoice the Lord is King [History]