Saturday, September 26, 2015

Behind Enemy Lines – Part 2 – Reach the World


Michael continues that America idealizes independence and values the worldly ideal of the Enemy's aspiration of the "self made person." However, the message of God's grace is that apart from me, you can do nothing – John 15:5.  We're on a mission and a pilgrimage:  Ephesians 2:19 says that you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens of heaven with the saints and of the household of God. According to 2 Corinthians 5, you are ambassadors for Christ. As ambassadors, we are called as the highest ranking officials sent from our homeland to represent heaven, our home country, in the midst of a wicked and perverse nation. In Romans 12 it states that since we are not of this world, God exhorts us, "don't be squeezed into the world's mold, but be transformed by the upward renewing of your mind.”

We are in the world, but are not of the world (meaning the God-rejecting fallen world system). Therefore, according to John 17, our joy is not in the things of this world. Our joy is not contingent on circumstances and situations. Rather, our joy is in Him ... it is a joy that cannot be taken away ... it is the joy found in the presence of God and the promises of God that He will never leave us or forsake us. Our joy is in the things above (from God in heaven) and not in the things of the flesh and of this earth. Our joy is in the truth of the Word of God that defines who we are and whose we are. Therefore, covet not the things of this world, for a man's life consists not in the abundance of things which he possesses.  Rather, covet earnestly the best gifts. For though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation, I am nothing – 1 Corinthians 13:1. God has not called us to an easy “escapism”.  Rather, He has called us to love the unlovable. God has not called us to rejoice in the comforts of the flesh. He said “blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven – Matthew 5:11. Our joy is not of this world ... rather our joy is in our heavenly homeland, where Christ dwells on the right hand of God.

John 17:24-26  “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”


Behind enemy lines, the adversary is lurking to steal, kill, and destroy us physically, mentally, and spiritually. He is the accuser of the brethren. Behind enemy lines we will be  accused falsely. The adversary makes us despised as the dregs of the world. However, this world is not my home ... I'm just a-passing through on mission. God has called us to His front lines in the charge of the light brigade (the light of Christ). He has also called us to rest and retreat in Him behind enemy lines. He has called us to be strengthened and refreshed ... God's recreation (re-creation) on the new day. We are called as a peculiar people to be distinctively different ( holy, set apart for His purposes) ... to be outliers from this lost in sin world of darkness. Christians have enjoyed the applause of Americans for about 250 years. These days are fading fast. Christians are now persecuted for being "politically incorrect" in an increasingly secular society. However, we must realize that to be “politically correct” according to our heavenly homeland is to be “politically incorrect” in a world of darkness. Until we reach heaven, we are behind enemy lines. When the crisis comes, God has called us to have such confidence in Him that we will be the dependable ones to wield the light of the Word of God in the midst of the darkness of a fallen world. A light on a hills for all to see.  

Before we can reach the world for Christ, we must reach our own hearts for Christ. For He who knew no sin was made the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him2 Corinthians 5:21. Our refuge and our rest is only in Him. He is our mighty fortress to whom we must retreat. After being equipped, our charge is to stand firm in the spiritual battle and to be His ambassadors and reach the world ... we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. God has called his people for such a time as this.

May God richly bless you.
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

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