More Than Conquerors

What's your memory like?  According to my kids, I don't seem to remember things like I used to, although I do think that's a matter of opinion!  Let me ask you this, what do you tend to remember with greater accuracy, hurtful or pleasant things?  I can only speak for myself...but the hurtful things seem to retain their brutalitiy and clarity more then anything else.  Looking back at the past is not always a good idea, especially if you tend to get bogged down in those feeling all over again.

Philippians 3:13 & 14  "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:  but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

I have learned over the past few years that you cannot move forward if you are always looking behind and getting mired again in the problems that got you into trouble in the first place.  No one wants to live in a continuous state of hurt and depression.  I have found that you have to accept the things that have happened, change what you can, then let go of the rest and just move on.  As Christians God has given us the provisions that we need as we journey in this world, but unfortunately we don't always avail ourselves of His resources.  We find a list of what He's given to us in Ephesians 6.  We are soldiers in the Army of God.  No King would send out his army if they weren't properly fortified against the enemy.

Ephesians 6:11 - 13  "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

We find ourselves every day attacked by Satan.  Unless we are properly attired and ready for battle, we will find ourselves beaten down and defeated.  In our own strength we can do nothing to prevail in this spiritual warfare, yet we try don't we!  It's only in the strength of the Lord that we will have victory.  So what is it that God has given to us so that we can be victorious?

Ephesians 6:13 - 18  "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

We have the WHOLE armour of God, not just some, but all that we need for the spiritual battle.  Take a closer look at this list and you will see something marvelous...everything we are given IS the Lord Jesus Christ Himself! 

TRUTH:  John 14:6  "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life:  no man
                cometh unto the Father, but by Me."

RIGHTEOUSNESS:  Malachi 4:2  "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of
                righteousness arise with healing in His wings:  and ye shall go forth and grow
                up as calves of the stall.

GOSPEL OF PEACE:  2 Thessalonians 3:16  "Now the Lord of peace Himself give you
                peace always by all means."

FAITH:  Galatians 2:16  "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, 
               but by the faith of Jesus Christ"

SALVATION:  Luke 3:6  "And all flesh shall see the salvation (Jesus) of God."

WORD OF GOD:  John 1:14  "And the Word was made flesh (Jesus), and dwelt among us,
                        and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full
                        of grace and truth."

Everything we need for the battle we have in our Lord Jesus Christ!  Ephesians 6:13 also specifies that we put on the WHOLE armour of God, not just some of it, but ALL of it.  What good is a soldier if he has on everything but his helmet, or he leaves off his breastplate?  Every piece is needful to fully protect him.  It would be a very foolish warrior to go into battle without everything he needs for protection.  How often are we foolish, we go into our day without our spiritual swords, the Word of God!  Or we forget our shield of faith!  I want to point out something that I noticed a few years ago.  When you have on the breastplate of righteousness you are protected in the front, there is no covering on the back.  We are meant to press forward, not to turn and run back the way we just came.  There is no protection if we turn in fear and retreat in disgrace. 

It also states that we are to be always praying...always in the spirit of communion with our Heavenly Father.  It is when we are in this close communication with the Lord that we will be the most alert to the dangers around us.  And we are to be watching out for each other.  A good soldier is one who is watching his comrades back. We are to support each other with our presence and our prayers.  There is strength in unity and numbers. 

We find this kind of help displayed in Exodus chapter 17.  Here we find the Children of Israel in battle against Amalek in Rephidim.  Joshua took the Israelites into battle while Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of a hill overlooking the battle field.  In verse 11 - 13 it says;

"And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed:  and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.  But Moses' hands were heavy:  and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he said thereon;  and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side;  and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.  And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword."

We need each other.  The battle against Amalek (a picture of our flesh) was not won by just one person, it was a combined effort of Joshua, Moses, Aaron and Hur...with the Lord's help!  We must stay united with our brothers and sisters in the Lord and support each other with love and prayers.

We all have memories that hurt, memories that want to pull us back into the pit of self pity, anger, depression, defeat and bitterness.  We must resist that pull with God's help, put on His armour and press forward in the battle.

We are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us so.

The Christ Who dwells within us is the greatest power we know.

He will fight beside us though the enemy is great.

Who can stand against us?  He's the Captain of our fate.

Then we will conquer, never fear:  so let the battle rage.

He has promised to be near until the end of the age.

We are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us so.

The Christ Who dwells within us is the greatest power we know.

 

                                       Ralph Carmichael