Gal 6:3-5
3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For each one shall bear his own load.
(NKJ)
I recently had the pleasure of reaching out to someone I care about who has turned from following Jesus and has completely shipwrecked their faith. I knew that what I had to say would be very powerful. Yet, at the same time I knew that it would be a hard word, a prophetic word of warning, and a revealing word. The weight and burden upon my heart for this person had been so heavy for such a long time. What happened next was not the outcome that I anticipated but surely was to be expected. The response was so vitriol, hurtful, and personally painful that if it was my choice, I would rather have endured a good old fashion stoning instead. But as I looked to Lord in the midst of this hard task, I realized that many of those who Jesus had chosen would never be recognized heros in this world. Instead He called them to stand in the gap and in the firing line of the enemy, to pull souls from the grip of Satan, and to reach out and pull eternally destined souls from the fiery pit of hell. If this be the calling, then we can expect a hell-shaking fight. As the Holy Spirit slowly walked me through the book of Acts, I saw that the list of believers who were attacked for standing in the gap of souls. Peter and John were beaten. Peter was thrown in prison. James the Apostle was beheaded. Paul was beaten, scourged, imprisoned, literally stoned, not to mention had death threats against his life and satanically driven evil mobs bent on his destruction. In this time of attack, I had to pull away and draw near to Jesus. I had to take time to deeply pray and ask Jesus to reveal to me the state of this person. Jesus revealed to me the deep wounds that had been inflicted in this person's life. Then I received a vision of a young man who has come out of the midst of a battle in World War I, surrounded by trenches, warfare, and open butchery. And in the midst of the fight, this young man walks out of the smoke, mud, and blood and his body is ravaged by shrapnel and nerve gas. Instead of seeking the healing needed from Christ Jesus, this man instead has turned back and stepped into the enemy's territory. It was as if he was completely lured in and deceived by the enemy to come this side of the fight and he is now fraternizing with the enemy and doesn’t even realize that it was this same enemy who caused the wounds that he is now scarred with. The one, who through others, caused the wounds he received. Now his life is in the stages of self-deluded destruction. And this is a young man who had a call on his life.
Even in the challenges like this one, I have discovered that confrontations are not the real battle. The true fight always comes after the initial conflict. From the moment the words I read from this person hit my heart, I could feel the point of this verbal dagger tipped with poison begin to work its death grip as it freely began to pierce through the veins of my carnal flesh. The fight for survival alarm rang and began to send my flesh into fight mode. Thoughts began to flood my mind. My heart began to pound in reaction to the lies now searing my heart and soul. This is when my pride began it's accent to rise above this brutal unchallenged attack. Our pride can become a monstrous beast of epic size with unlimited power to control. If we allow it one moment to grow inside of us it will cause our flesh to begin to accend to the place it feels it deserves. Pride has one objective and that is to raise itself above all others and sit upon the seat of power over all things; to dominate and control; and to usurp and take what it believes is it's rightful possession. Oh how deceptive our flesh can be. Our flesh feeds on pride, and when or flesh gets a quick taste of pride, it seeks more and more. It takes only one taste and it all begins. The flesh fighting against our spirit to turn us away from God. Our flesh's intention is to convince us that we are being attacked and must fight back. When we refuse to fight back, the flesh will begin an all out assault seeking it's own self preservation. For when we don't give into our flesh and come to the cross of Christ, it will die. When you received Jesus Christ and turned your sins over to God, the Holy Spirit came to dwell in you. And our flesh does not want to die and give up the fight. So subtle are the ways of the flesh that the sweet fragrance of its deception begin to penetrate our minds. By refusing to give your flesh any life, it is forced to begin its greatest deception. Once the flesh has a foothold, it will begin to build itself up. It will take full control and began to convince you that you must fight back. Why? It's honor is at stake. It's justification is in order. It's need for retribution and exoneration must be satisfied. The truth has be told and the lies must be refuted.
If we are to live for Christ Jesus, we must offer our lives as a living sacrifice. The flesh must die. We are to live by the Spirit and not the flesh. This is the only way. Yet within us is a great and mighty foe. If we are going to give ourselves over to the flesh, then we must understand that it will seek only one thing and that is full power and control to do what it desires. Once it has convinced of this, it is over. Flesh feeding on pride within an ever increasing desire to grow larger and larger until it has become great and mighty in the sight of your enemy.
So when the you find yourself in the midst of a confrontation, remember this. The true fight is the one fought in the flesh. Jesus has given us the victory over this battle. For Jesus commanded those who have given their lives over to Him and follow Him are to take up their cross. In other words they are to take up their own load and carry. They are to take up their own flesh and walk to their deaths. For there is only one place for our flesh to die, and that is on the cross. This is the place Jesus has called me to go if I am to follow him. When I have arrived here, it is to accomplish one thing. To bring down the great and mighty power of my flesh.
As for me. I want it to be heard in all of heaven and earth when they look upon my flesh.
O' How The Great And Mighty Have Fallen!
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