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"Embracing the Fight of
Faith: The Sword God Has Given is Nothing Less than the Echo of His Voice
in Us"
Francis Frangipane
www.frangipane.org
comments@frangipane.org
In spite of worldwide conflicts, the Holy Spirit is
guiding the church into its greatest season of transformation. We must not
look at the pressures of our times as though they were obstacles set to
restrict us. For in the hands of the Almighty, these are the very tools He
is using to perfect us.
One of the problems of interpreting end-time events is the tendency to
focus only upon one set of conditions. If we only look at the fact that
Satan will be raging or that there will be lawlessness, wars, earthquakes,
and famines, we might conclude that difficulties and darkness is all that
we have awaiting us until the rapture.
Yet, the same Spirit that predicted the perilous conditions at the end of
the age, also forecasts that, in spite of difficulties and battle, the
gospel of the kingdom of heaven will be proclaimed worldwide to all
nations (Matthew 24:14). The Lord also said that the "crop" of last-days
Christians will reach full stature (Mark 4:29), and those who know their
God will be strong, do exploits, shine like the stars, and lead multitudes
to righteousness (Daniel 11:32; 12:3).
Our focus must remain riveted upon becoming like Christ in all things. One
might argue, "But the world around me is full of sin and wickedness - and
it is getting worse!" Yes, but the Bible tells us that where sin abounds,
the grace of God abounds more so (Romans 5:20). We might be overwhelmed by
the flood of evil storming against our societies. Yet, the promise of God
is that, when the enemy comes in like a flood, God shall raise a standard
against him (Isaiah 59:19).
Is your focus upon the enemy's flood or are you aware of
the standard God is raising up to counter the flood?
Do Not
Forget!
Do not forget, Beloved, that even when darkness covers the earth
and deep darkness covers the people, the promise of God is that His glory
shall rise upon us, and His presence shall be visibly seen through us! In
spite of the appearance that darkness is never-ending, the Lord promises
that at the end of the war between light and darkness, "...nations shall
come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising" (Isaiah
60:1-3).
Indeed, nestled and unfolding in the midst of the panorama of end-time
events, God's word reveals that there will also be an ongoing "period of
restoration" (see Acts 3:20-21). This does not mean that the world will be
subdued by the church (as some erroneously teach), but that the true
church will be fully subdued and transformed by Christ! This final display
of grace will be consummated in a Christ-like church, whose spiritual
maturity shall manifest the person and passions of Jesus Christ Himself on
earth.
Proclaim the Reality of God's Promises
I have written you by way of reminder that, though the battle seems
to rage, God's word shall not return to Him void. Our fight is the fight
of faith: Do we believe what God has promised? Our war is against
principalities and powers: Do we believe the report that Christ shall
"sprinkle (that is, cleanse and bring forgiveness and transformation to)
many nations" (Isaiah 52:12-53:2)?
I, for one, believe the promises of God. God's word is not just a comfort
to me in times of trouble, but a sword that I speak in times of spiritual
war. I proclaim the reality of God's promises over my family, my church,
my city, and nation! Consider His proclamation:
"So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not
return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without
succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." (see Isaiah 55:9-11)
Consider also His commitment:
"...I am watching over My word to perform it." (Jeremiah 1:12)
And His accessibility:
"Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'
(that is, to bring Christ down), or 'Who will descend into the abyss?'
(that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? 'The
Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' - that is, the word of
faith which we are preaching." (Romans 10:6-8)
Take Up the
Sword of the Spirit and Embrace the Fight of Faith!
You see, we are not mere mortals stumbling blindly on
earth, separated from God and isolated from His response to our needs. No!
We are new creatures, born again from above, that have resident within us
the Holy Spirit of Almighty God. And He has given us His word, put it in
our hearts and mouths, and then He promises, "Whoever believes in Him will
not be disappointed" (Romans 10:11). The Lord does not want us worrying
about the future, but to create it through the knowledge of His will,
through the proclamation of His word, and our yieldedness to the power of
the Holy Spirit.
God calls us to a "war mode" in our thinking, where we take up the "sword
of the Spirit," which is the living "word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). Yes,
we labor and intercede, we repent for our sins and the sins of our
nations, but the weight of our victory rests not upon how much we labor
and groan, but upon how truly we believe what God has promised! Beloved,
the sword God has given is nothing less than the echo of His voice in us!
So, do not just whine about negative conditions in the world or sigh
prayers muttered in fear and unbelief - embrace the fight of faith! Pick
up your Bible and speak audibly the promises of God's word. Pick any verse
that I quoted above and speak it out loud with faith and authority. I
guarantee that if you proclaim God's word with faith, it will release
power in and through your spirit.
The greatest weapons in the universe are the promises God has inspired in
His book. He assures us, "All things are possible to him who believes"
(Mark 9:23). Our call is not just to pray, but to take up the sword of the
Spirit and embrace the fight of faith!
A service of Frangipane Ministries, Inc. Copyright (c) 2004 All
rights reserved.
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