Fight.

There is war waging; a battle between good and evil, light and darkness. Although the battle appears invisible to some, it rages on all the same, increasing with ferocity and speed.

Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Revelation 12:12 “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

At times it feels like the fabric of society is being torn in two and yet many continue to bury their heads in the sand and milk the world for every pleasure and comfort. Sadly, many will compromise and choose compliance in order to retain comfort.

Genesis 25:34 “And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.”

Proverbs 1:10 “My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.”

Now that we sit in what may be the eye of the storm, (or the calm before the next event) the balance between maintaining a level of normalcy and staying informed about what is truly afoot, is difficult. Daily prayer is essential. Sometimes I dream of escaping to some hill country where I'll bake my own bread, free from the claws of the beast, but I also feel like a hypocrite as I sit here writing on my smartphone.

Where are we headed? I believe in the rapture, I know my Lord is returning, but I don't know when or just how tested the Bride will be before He returns. Whilst we await His return we must be prepared for even darker days and intense persecution. Prepared for the possibility of martyrdom.

Before Covid, many Christians in the West had not truly tasted persecution or had our resolve put to the test; many of us don't even like to hear the word “martyr”. Yet many of our brothers and sisters in Africa, Asia and the Middle East face oppressive and brutal persecution daily, living with the constant threat of violence, malicious and heinous attack, intended to punish, deter or simply eradicate believers. Thousands of Christians are martyred every year. Whether or not we believe we have personally been called to martyrdom, we must prepare our hearts to consider such an end, to allow a space in our hearts and minds where we have it settled that we will not deny Jesus.

Revelation 12:11 “They overcame the dragon by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives unto death.”

There are more and more believers who are waking up and realising how close we are to the end. And there are many looking for answers, looking to rally together to prepare to face the unprecedented challenges ahead. Pretending that everything has returned to “normal” or hiding away in wait does not help these souls one iota. In fact, this kind of “just keep swimming” attitude erodes these searcher's trust in the Church.

We must keep fighting for the faith. And despite the world falling apart at the seams, as believers, we cannot forget our first love or our number one mission:

Jesus Christ and the saving of souls.

The Early Church understood her mission. Brothers and sisters were dedicated to spreading the Good News and the building up of the Body of Jesus Christ. Despite enduring terrible trials, violent mockery, scorn and rejection, they remained focused on the prize. When the Church emerged, her path to success was stained with the blood of those willing to lay down their lives for Jesus.

1 Corinthians 9:24 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”

Acts 7:57-60 “Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

Despite the harsh world around them, the early Christians pushed on, understanding that suffering and growth go hand in hand.

Romans 5:3-4 “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

It's hard for the Western believer to envision this a way of living, especially as it has nothing to do with fancy houses, cars or gaining pots of gold at the end of rainbows.

Mark 10:25 “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

But because the early Church was sold out for God and they lived by faith; great contentment flowed from within their intimate, loving relationship with Jesus. Believers relished in the simple blessings The Father showered upon them. “Simple” is not really a fair description; the everyday blessings that the early Church enjoyed were miraculous. All manner of physical and emotional issues (supernaturally) healed, manifestations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the most amazing of all: hearts of stone being made into flesh- salvation. Despite the great distance of time that has passed between them and us, the wonderful thing is: the manifestations of the Holy Spirit and miracles have not ceased! Some may say, “But it's hard to believe for supernatural healing.” I agree. In the early stages of embracing and moving in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it is hard. But faith is like a muscle, the more one exercises it, the stronger it gets and just as the early Christians believed and obeyed God's Word and command, so must we.

John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

James 5:16 “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Matthew 28:16-20 “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

We must move forward in faith, with prayer and supplications to God. Start small if need be, for a mustard seed has mighty potential. Pray for a headache to be healed, or command a toddlers tantrum to cease! One of the first times I prayed for healing for a stranger was for a shonky knee to be healed. It was awkward praying for a woman I had not long known but by the power of Jesus, that knee came good. If chains are broken at the cost of looking foolish, then so be it, God uses the foolish things if this world to confound the wise.

1 Corinthians 1:27 “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;”

We must be willing to share what Jesus has placed on our hearts to share, whether it be a word, testimony, a prayer for healing, a meal or a just a simple embrace. Holy Spirit once asked me to walk up to a complete stranger and gift them a box of chocolates. I did not know it, but that day happened to be their birthday! Another time I was led to buy a coffee to gift to a sales assistant; when I discovered that she wasn't in that day it was only a few moments before I was called over to the stand of a mobile sales assistant drumming up business for a charity. The sales assistant was working hard and the job was not very profitable. I offered them a little money to bless them but they graciously refused so I asked if I could buy them something to eat instead, they agreed and said; “I'd really just love a coffee, I drink mochas.” I pulled the (still hot) mocha out of my shopping trolley and handed it to them. They were amazed and from there I was able to explain the gospel; the miraculous love of Jesus and as people continued moving, shopping and dilly dallying around us, this person eagerly bowed their head with me in prayer to receive Jesus' love.

1 Corinthians 2:4-6 “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

Romans 10:10 “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

We are here to make a difference in this world by shining Jesus light within us. We season our conversations with grace and salt, we love in all circumstances and allow God's love to move through us. We share the truth. We cannot do this ourselves but by the power of the Holy Spirit. With God, all things are possible.

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

It's time to go deeper in our walk with Jesus, to hunger for more of His love and to share more of His love.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

 Luke 7:38 “and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.”

The verse above is a beautiful picture of how precious Jesus is and how we too should behold Him; love Him so deeply that we are overcome by His goodness and long to kiss His feet. I know I could do with some deep pondering over and gleaning from that verse for more than a moment; to allow it to wash over my heart, for these words are both precious and powerful.

Jesus is waiting with open arms. Our Saviour is praying for us, interceding, encouraging, willing and loving us to grow. And God is not looking for the most shiny, perfected or confident people to be His hands and feet. He is looking for willing hearts. Willing to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Holy Spirit baptism), willing to obey and willing to be poured out in love.

Matthew 3:11 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Many of the heroes and admirable mentions within the pages of the Bible were everyday, average Joe, “undesirables”. Plain Jane’s and forgotten folk that society of the time thought very little of…The underdogs. Moses stuttered, Gideon was afraid, David was a child, Esther an orphan and Rahab a prostitute. But God loves to use the underdog. Why? Because the underdog proves that we have nothing and God has everything! We must all come before God with humility, reverence and in total reliance. Simply as vessels, we are filled with Jesus' power and not our own.

2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”

There is something fierce about a man totally dependent on God. He understands that his strength comes solely from the Lord, that every step he takes is guided by the Holy Spirit, therefore, he can go anywhere and do anything that God has purposed for him.

The words of the Lord go forth as a sword and a hammer, defeating the enemy and those who meet Jesus do not not remain the same: because it is no longer he that is living but Jesus within him!

Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;”

Jeremiah 23:29 “Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Many are looking, reaching, clawing for hope; hanging on by a thread in these uncertain times. The hurting are desperate for a kind word of encouragement, a scrap of love. Hungry bellies are longing for even a crumb of bread, the living bread. The multitude of sick, maimed and oppressed are in need of Jesus’ healing touch and there are so many since the c-vax was rolled out.

1 Peter 2:24 “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.”

The enemy has been attempting to rob us, lie to us, keep us hidden away in apathy and doubt because he knows that we have so much more to give than we realise. We have Jesus! God is living within us by His Holy Spirit, constantly building up our faith, building up His body and readying her to be sent out into the harvest.

Matthew 9:37-38 “ Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

If you are unsure of your giftings, speak with a mature Spirit filled Christian and seek discipleship. Learn from elders and leaders, listen to testimonies, ask for prayer and most importantly, sit at Jesus’ feet and commune with Him- He will teach you and bestow His gifts upon you, by His Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.”

1 Timothy 4:14-14 “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.”

When I first became a Christian, it was my older brother and my Dad who took me under their wing, then I started attending my first church as a born again believer and I was discipled by a lovely Nigerian pastor and his wife-passionate about evangelism. After I moved away to a new area, my next pastor was also very good at building up new believers and encouraging us within our giftings. I saw the pastor move with words of knowledge and lay hands upon the congregation for healing. I became more involved in evangelism and God equipped me for the task, as I put one foot in front of the other. Did I get it all right? NO! There were mistakes, messy moments and doubt. But God was growing me.

Do we want to grow in knowledge of the power of God? Do we want to see people healed, delivered and lives changed? Sitting on our tuchas won't change anything. We need to allow Jesus and His Holy Spirit to stoke a fire within us. We are warriors for God; equipped for good works and to advance the Kingdom. Freely we have received, freely give.

Let's take stock of our blessings, truly embrace the gifts of the Holy Spirit and stand in the authority we have in Jesus. We have all that we need in Him! It's time to take up our crosses, our mantles and put our hands to the plow.

It's time to fight the good fight.

Luke 10:19 “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

God bless you!