In a recent post we saw that Jesus intends the church to be the gathering of God’s people to advance the cause of the kingdom by working to manifest the agenda Jesus declared to his hometown synagogue in Luke chapter 4. A conquering king announces significant change for those who are oppressed. He tells us the kingdom advances against resistance by struggle and force (Matt. 11:12).
As I prepare to preach this week the Lectionary texts remind me of the ongoing struggle and encourage me to stand firm. The Gospel lection finds Jesus still contending with those who oppose him. The hard sayings give many John refers to as “disciples” to have second thoughts, to discontinue association with the rabbi from Nazareth. Jesus turns to the twelve, for whose benefit all this plays out, anyway, and sternly asks, “Are you leaving too?” By this time they have decided to stand firm, because Jesus is the only rabbi with the words of life.
We see Joshua, in the twilight of his life, preparing to hand over reigns to another leader. He speaks of the great conquest they have made to enter the promised land, this gathering of God’s people. As I read I think back with him to the days of invasion, when God told Joshua to be strong, to stand firm. He obediently followed the most outlandish battle plans he had ever heard, and saw the Lord’s power crush the formidable defences of Jericho. I see his voice trailing off as he reminisces of the great victories, one after the other.
As his mind is called back to the present he challenges the people. “Choose today which gods you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” Even at his retirement he is still taking a stand, still standing firm.
Paul tells us how to stand firm. Be strong in the Lord’s power, depend on his grace. He uses the metaphor of Roman military armor, outfitting the strongest armies the world had ever known, to describe the unspeakable strength we possess. The kingdom advances against formidable resistance -- principalities, powers, rulers of darkness of the age, spiritual hosts of wickedness. I think he is thinking of all the worst the adversary can muster against us in cultural mindsets, behaviors, and expectations. The same type of resistance Jesus encountered by the religious officials. Against all that he tells us to stand firm at least three times.
The armor is all too recognizable to Paul’s readers. It protects the well-trained soldier’s body from injury during armed conflict. But in metaphor it represents to us all those things to protect heart and mind from the cultural onslaught and resistance we will face. Pressure to conform. Name-calling. Verbal attacks. Emasculation. All the things the prevailing culture throws at us as “normal.” We resist all these with Christ-like character and the resolve to stand firm as Jesus did.
Armor does not imply weakness. It does not suggest we batton down the hatches and go passive, waiting for the Lord to come get us one day. Armor means we wear protection while we advance the kingdom. Armor means we are out where bullets are flying and we are at serious risk. We are on the offensive.
Paul uses similar language in 2 Corinthians chapter 10. We have weapons that are powerful to the utter destruction of strongholds of thought, belief, and behavior that resist the kingdom. Arrayed in full armor we advance against the defences of death with victory in mind.
Men, our mission is clear. Make disciples by recruiting people into committed learning relationships so that they can be freed from the ravages of living death Jesus described in Luke chapter 4 and be released from captivity, brokenheartedness, and poverty. It is aggressive and goes on the offensive. Forget singing about the sweet by and by. We are in a campaign for the dirty here and now.
The adversary will throw everything he can at you to protect his territory. Whatever he does, stand firm.
As I prepare to preach this week the Lectionary texts remind me of the ongoing struggle and encourage me to stand firm. The Gospel lection finds Jesus still contending with those who oppose him. The hard sayings give many John refers to as “disciples” to have second thoughts, to discontinue association with the rabbi from Nazareth. Jesus turns to the twelve, for whose benefit all this plays out, anyway, and sternly asks, “Are you leaving too?” By this time they have decided to stand firm, because Jesus is the only rabbi with the words of life.
We see Joshua, in the twilight of his life, preparing to hand over reigns to another leader. He speaks of the great conquest they have made to enter the promised land, this gathering of God’s people. As I read I think back with him to the days of invasion, when God told Joshua to be strong, to stand firm. He obediently followed the most outlandish battle plans he had ever heard, and saw the Lord’s power crush the formidable defences of Jericho. I see his voice trailing off as he reminisces of the great victories, one after the other.
As his mind is called back to the present he challenges the people. “Choose today which gods you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” Even at his retirement he is still taking a stand, still standing firm.
Paul tells us how to stand firm. Be strong in the Lord’s power, depend on his grace. He uses the metaphor of Roman military armor, outfitting the strongest armies the world had ever known, to describe the unspeakable strength we possess. The kingdom advances against formidable resistance -- principalities, powers, rulers of darkness of the age, spiritual hosts of wickedness. I think he is thinking of all the worst the adversary can muster against us in cultural mindsets, behaviors, and expectations. The same type of resistance Jesus encountered by the religious officials. Against all that he tells us to stand firm at least three times.
The armor is all too recognizable to Paul’s readers. It protects the well-trained soldier’s body from injury during armed conflict. But in metaphor it represents to us all those things to protect heart and mind from the cultural onslaught and resistance we will face. Pressure to conform. Name-calling. Verbal attacks. Emasculation. All the things the prevailing culture throws at us as “normal.” We resist all these with Christ-like character and the resolve to stand firm as Jesus did.
Armor does not imply weakness. It does not suggest we batton down the hatches and go passive, waiting for the Lord to come get us one day. Armor means we wear protection while we advance the kingdom. Armor means we are out where bullets are flying and we are at serious risk. We are on the offensive.
Paul uses similar language in 2 Corinthians chapter 10. We have weapons that are powerful to the utter destruction of strongholds of thought, belief, and behavior that resist the kingdom. Arrayed in full armor we advance against the defences of death with victory in mind.
Men, our mission is clear. Make disciples by recruiting people into committed learning relationships so that they can be freed from the ravages of living death Jesus described in Luke chapter 4 and be released from captivity, brokenheartedness, and poverty. It is aggressive and goes on the offensive. Forget singing about the sweet by and by. We are in a campaign for the dirty here and now.
The adversary will throw everything he can at you to protect his territory. Whatever he does, stand firm.
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