A Time to Fight the Good Fight

A Time for Wisdom: Part 2 – A Series by Jennifer Miller

On election night I will be frank, I was expecting to hear different results regarding the election.  The evening was ripe with possibility for both candidates to throw the people for a loop with a surprise or two.  However, it became clear as the evening wore on that our president was in the lead despite what our mainstream media was reporting or failing to report.  States were being called as going to one candidate when only a portion of the vote results was counted.  How possibly could a winner be determined when this is the case?  Something was not sitting right with me, and I could not believe my eyes.  The opposition seemed to declare victory too soon.  Many of these states that went to the opposition were clearly leading towards our incumbent.  Suddenly out of the blue, they paused the election results and made time for the opposition to speak to the people and basically acknowledged that it looked like he was going to win, but was he?  Were we being “mind-washed” into thinking the wrong side was winning?  Oh, but things kept getting worse the very next day when ominous signs began to appear.  So many machines failed in one state, multiple states gave the voters a “sharpie” to fill out the ballet knowing that it would not register with the computer, poll watchers could not verify if the ballot was properly signed, some areas experienced more votes than the amount of registered voters for their area, and mysterious bags of votes all tending to face the losing candidate appeared in the middle of the night.  Fraught with problems to say the least.  Fraud was happening right before our very eyes and we are supposed to believe that our vote counted and was noted.  I began to wonder where this would all lead and will justice ever be served, will the guilty ever be punished, among other issues.  Evil has indeed taken root and is misidentified as good.  I could not help but cry and pour my heart out to Jesus.

It can be so disheartening.  “Pray unceasingly” flashed throughout my mind during this whole season.  I faithfully prayed for our nation to repent and turn back to God.  I prayed that He would heal our land and that He would protect us, and our President, from these evil vicious attacks.  I prayed for a second chance to again repent and for Christians everywhere to stand up and be prepared for this war.  However, I hoped for that second chance that now looks bleak.  Like Habakkuk in my previous blog, I had expected different results.  I was not expecting what happened election night.

I refuse to give up.  I still believe in my soul that He is moving, and I know He is in control no matter who wins.  I continue to pray for a revival and for answers to all of this.  Maybe, even though we do not understand, He is making known to everyone the deception(s) involved here, or maybe He has had enough and decided to send judgment instead.  Christians know how the story ends.  We know Jesus died on the cross for our sins and He conquered death.  I know where I am going, but I still have this strong urge that my work here is not yet done and that there is still so much more to do.

In this blog I will outline what we are to do while we wait, and I will also point out what gifts we have been given to strengthen us during this very trying time.  Hope is needed, but we need to focus on Jesus regardless of the difficulty of the walk ahead.  The book of Ephesians will help us do just that.  In the book of Ephesians, we see that Christ was sent to reconcile all of creation to God for we have been chosen by God to serve His will.  Jesus was the vessel needed to accomplish this goal and that is why He was born into humanity.  He does this by uniting the church (elect) with himself.  The body (hands and feet) comes together with the head (Christ).

First, we learn in Ephesians 1:11-14 that we are chosen by God to do His will.  Chosen by Him but be fully aware that none of us deserve this or earned this.  It is a gift from God alone.  We are instructed in Ephesians 4:1-6 to live according to the calling of our Lord.  Each of us receives a calling from the Lord, a spiritual gift to be used to honor His will.

            “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

            “In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory.  And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation.  When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – – to the praise of His glory.”

God has gifted us well.  Before we were born, we were presented with all the gifts that we needed to be equipped to do good works for Him.  In Ephesians 2:4-10 we learn that God is rich in mercy, something that we are not worthy of.  When we accept Christ as our Savior, this transforms us, and the Spirit indwells.  In 5:1 this empowers us to be imitators of God as His adopted children.  Ephesians 2:13 brings us nearer to Christ because we were bought by the blood and 2:19-20 tell us that we are no longer estranged from God, but we are now fellow citizens. We learn in 5:21 that mercy is to be extended to one another – to love as we have been loved. Out of reverence to Christ.  It is a joy to be an instrument of God’s mercy and peace.  We are to love those across various paths God brings to us.  We must walk in the manner to which we were called.

            “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

            “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved childrenand walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

            “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

            “consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”

            “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

In Ephesians 4:15-16 it is explained that the body must submit and in 4:22-24 further expounds this concept by stating that we must work together to achieve this.

            “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows, and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

            “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Out of this knowledge a list of “do’s and don’ts/must do and must avoid” warnings show us how the church is to be the instruments of God’s mercy and peace.  Ponder over these points listed below.  It matters how we live, how we act and how we must think as a Christian if we want to impact this world by sharing the gospel with others.  Now, more than ever, we need to reach as many people as we can.

            First, we need to be careful as to how we are to live (Think first).

            Make the most of every opportunity to know God’s will (Seek out knowledge by reading The Bible).

            Be filled with the Spirit (Lean into and trust His Word).

Be thankful and sing songs of praise (continuously worship).

Be obedient and seek to please the Lord (inquire of His Will).

Be wise (open to learn more to gain wisdom).

There should be no hint of sexual immorality or greed (your character matters).

            No obscenity or foolish talk nor coarse joking (control the tongue).

            Do not be easily led astray by evildoers (make sure not to walk down the wrong path).

Do not associate with darkness but expose it (seekjustice).

Remember that we are born spiritually dead and we are made alive in Christ who saved us for good works.  We have been bought by the blood of Christ.  This is for everyone as noted when the mystery of God was revealed and offered to the Gentiles as well as the Jews.

We are in a spiritual war and we must be armed to fight that war.  We are instructed to stay away from darkness but expose it instead.  As we continue with the election results and the challenges that will follow, I want to ask you to let it play out.  God has not left us nor will He.  He needs to expose the lies to everyone so that it cannot be refuted.  I will go on the record stating this was a fraudulent election, however, it needs to be exposed in a manner of respect and for justice to be served.  This must be done first through the law and not through war.  Our President deserves due process and so do we the people.  We must avoid a civil war until it becomes necessary or it is God’s will.

What do warriors do?  They suit up.  They put on that helmet of salvation (which was secured through our faith).  Add the breastplate of righteousness, cover that with the shield of faith and tighten it together with the belt of truth.  Put on the gospel shoes and do not forget the sword of the Spirit.  We are fully covered when we wear this suit of armor.

We must face the battle head on, be firm and be prepared.  This is a war against princes and principalities, not against the flesh.  It is fought in the spiritual realm.  We fight this war for the love of God, love of Christ and for Christian love.  Do not fear and do not turn back.  My God can do anything, but no one can stand against Him.  Have faith, pray unceasingly for Christ is our future hope, and remember God’s inheritance is promised to all believers of Christ.  Never forget that there is power in Christ.  This centers around His promises and His covenant.   When Christ died for us this ended the dividing wall.  Do not give up and remember from my last blog to “Prepare to be amazed.”  I cannot speak for anyone else, but I am confident on how this will play out.  I trust God and I am willing to wait and then I am prepared to move wherever He calls me.  Take care and God bless.