Preparing for the Battle
Series: Facing Life’s Challenges – Part 2
3. After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo.
4. We sought out the Disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
8. Leaving the next day we reached Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the Evangelist, one of the Seven.
9. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
10. After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'”
12. When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
13. Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus.”
14. When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
Acts 21:3-4, 8-14
Are You Ready?
One of the critical elements of facing a battle or life challenge has to do with preparation. If there is one generalization that we can make of every person is that we do not appreciate surprises especially when they are bad ones. How can you really prepare for something that is uncertain? Not only is there a lack of certainty with the timing, but none of us know what the hardship will actually look like. So preparation becomes a moving target that we have to deal with.
Here is where walking with God becomes extremely important. We don’t know what is ahead but God certainly does. Not only that, but God will also send warning signs to help us prepare for the day of battle. Prior to leaving his friends at Ephesus, Paul had been warned about going up to Jerusalem. Hardships and imprisonment was on the horizon for his life. It was not a question of where or what but a matter of when and how those battles would impact his future.
The Apostle Paul was determined that he would not shrink back from the difficulties that were ahead. In that state of determination, we discover that God grants us confidence that He is with us, and that the battle will not overtake our faith, and that the outcome will ultimately be for the Glory of God. What can we learn from the challenge that Paul faced that will help us prepare for our battles?
First, we learn to not become a ‘spiritual drop-out.’ By embracing suffering as a way of maturity, we realize that there is value in staying in the race even if it means facing a season of hardships. By now, Paul had learned that conflicts are often opportunities for God to do something new in our lives. We never really mature if we always choose the escape route to safety. Perhaps there is more to life than just running away into some perceived safe zone, when God may be providing safety in the storm or conflict. I think about Jonah, who decided that he would avoid going to his assignment at Ninevah because he did not like the people there. Jonah was a spiritual drop-out. It cost him more than the ticket fare to Tarsus to turn away from following God to the next level. It cost him some time away from God’s plan. It cost him suffering and agony in the belly of the fish. It cost him grief and even anger as he struggled with accepting the fact that God is kind and gracious to people like the Ninevites. Have you ever thought about how much it would cost you if you became a spiritual drop-out? Turning your back on God just because you discovered an easier way to face life may be costing you more than what you are willing to pay. Paul certainly was determined to move forward with God no matter the cost.
Another critical step in facing conflicts is to have the mental focus to endure hardships as a good soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without a “made up mind” a person could go through the struggle but become so damaged by the experience that the trauma will do more damage than the actual physical encounter. Then people will tend to wear their pain for the rest of their lives. Always complaining about their hurt and how life just wasn’t fair. Look at Paul’s example of how one should have a “made up mind.” The Holy Spirit had spoken to Paul personally and informed him of the pending struggles. He was also reminded of the future suffering by the prophet Agabus. He took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'” While everyone else reacted with dread and intimidation, Paul had already made up his mind that he was willing to not only suffer but die for the Name of the Lord Jesus.
In addition to Paul being determined to not become a spiritual drop-out and the fact he had a made up mind, there was something else that Paul discovered that helped him face life challenges. Paul discovered that God’s strength is released when we are facing our weakest moment. The Power of God Almighty is not only available but it becomes active when we suffer for righteousness sake. Most of us fail to see it manifested because we are usually focused on the problem rather than on God’s presence. The bottom line is that each time a hardship comes into a Christian’s life, they become stronger by holding on to God’s unchanging Hand. Isn’t that incredible?
A Fighting Chance
With the thought of receiving more of God’s Strength in the struggle, lets focus on some key principles for facing life’s challenges. We’ll take a look at how you get the strength, how to apply the strength, and finally, how to maintain strength in the Lord. All of this centers around the fact that there is spiritual energy inside of you that will never work unless you are facing a battle. God has a reserve of the Holy Spirit’s Power that works best when it is encountering a hostile environment. The Apostle Paul knew all to well that if God is going to show up, then the 911 call had better be a real emergency. That is why he was not worried about what he was going to face at Jerusalem. The warnings were issued, but Paul was not about to back down from the confrontation because he knew that what was inside of him, EXCUSE ME, Who was inside of him was greater than anything that could ever be against him. All he needed was a fighting chance. We sought out the Disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When they arrived at Philip’s home, Agabus the prophet gave another warning to Paul. He took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'” Paul realized an important key principle from the Old Testament, the battle is not yours – it is the Lords.
When you and I encounter some of these same conflicts, rather than to flee to a safe space, we need to stand in the evil day and give the Word of God a fighting chance. Do you recall how Jesus was at His weak moment having fasted for forty days? The devil launched an attack and tried to destroy Jesus’ ministry even before it got started. Although the flesh was weak, Jesus turned on the Word of God and began to battle against his archenemy and adversary. Jesus fought with the Word because the Word is powerful and quick. The conflicts that you and I face will wreak havoc in our lives unless we learn to give God’s Word a fighting chance. How do you do that? First, quote it for what it says. Second, stand on the Word for what it promises. Believe that God is able to perform exactly what He has stated in His Written Contract. Third, pray the Word back to God as your reply that you will be faithful no matter what. Give God’s Word a fighting chance.
Then you must also give your faith a fighting chance. Why would you need faith if you never had an encounter with problems? You don’t need faith if there are no storms in your life. You don’t need to trust that God will bring you through if you are not going through anything. When the storms begin to assail you, that is when you need to give your faith a fighting chance. Paul recognized that his life was threatened but he believed that God would bring him through and if not, he was willing to die for his faith. Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus.” By allowing our faith to have a fighting chance we recognize that God is our keeper and our very present help in trouble. Give faith a fighting chance.
I have also learned that we pray best when we are surrounded by trials and tribulations. For that reason, we need to give prayer a fighting chance. I’m not referring to the “tear” filled prayers nor the “fear” filled prayers we pray when we are upset. I’m referring to the bold prayers like, “Lord, I know that you have all Power in Your Hands.” Or perhaps your prayer will be, “God, don’t allow the enemy tear down what you have built up.” That’s a fighting prayer. An even better fighting prayer would be to use the descriptions of God that are given in the Word. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. The Lord is the Strength of my life – of whom shall I be afraid. Yes, you pray best when there is turmoil around you. That is when you pray real prayers. That is when you don’t mind going down on bending knee and calling on the Lord. Please remember that prayer is not a reflection of what we know nor of what we can do. Prayer’s only purpose is to reveal Who we know and Who we can depend on in the time of need. The best way to give prayer a fighting chance is to call on the Name of Jesus. For the promise is made that whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.
The Apostle Paul knew all of this. He remembered how God had been with him through all of his ups and downs. You might be led to think that Paul was living recklessly, but it was not reckless but righteous. For anyone who will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Jesus said, “blessed are you when men shall revile you, persecute you, and speak evil against you falsely for My Sake.” Then Jesus went on to give one other thing that we should do when we face persecutions – we are to rejoice. That means to praise God even in the times of testing and trials. So, give your praise a fighting chance. I know you love to praise God on the mountaintops but praise Him also in the valleys. I know you love to worship on Sunday morning but worship Him also on those restless nights. Give your praise a fighting chance and watch how God will take you through those tough times.
When everyone recognized that Paul’s mind was made up, they finally got it that the onslaught of trouble was no match for a child of God that has the faith to overcome every obstacle. When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” That is the way it should be anyway. Let the Lord’s will be done and don’t worry about the battle. It is all in God’s Hands.