I heard a sermon that made be understand one tactic of the enemy. The
pastor said the reason the Roman army was strong is that they stood shoulder
to shoulder. If you wanted to weaken the defenses all you had to do was to
break up the stance of the soldiers. The enemy does this all the time. He
tries to tell you lies about your brothers and sisters in Christ. He tries
to break your rank. We wants you to throw in the towel. He wants you to
forget about where you are seated. If you believe in Jesus you are seated
with Him. He is in eternity and you are seated in eternity as well. Don’t
forget where you are seated. Don’t give up hope! Stand shoulder to
shoulder and withstand.
Published by rko777
I am a novice writer and painter who loves to be creative. I love singing but can't sing without a hymnal, except for children's songs. I love to make up my own songs and love the old hymns. I love to garden and got that love from my Mom and Dad who taught be everything I know from planting to harvesting to canning. I'm happy gardening, walking with my pug, JD Sir Winston Churchill, painting, and crafting. I love to spend Saturday's sitting in my rocker going through a bible study.
I love working with elementary school aged children and seeing them use their creative gifts. I have taught
Sunday school for a number of years and taught in the public schools for 18 years. I might say I'm retired but I spend most of my time subbing and enjoy it immensely.
The kids spark my own creativeness.
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Thank you Rena, for a lesson that’s come just at a time when there are feelings of discouragement rising up about a “thing or two”; things like remarks, attitudes, etc and these from fellow-Christians in the BODY OF CHRIST. It happens too often. And sometimes we are the victims and sometimes we are the perpetrators.
And when this occurs, and let’s face it, the enemy encourages one to
pull away, retreat, withdraw. Just as you are saying in your article. However, there is that ray of hope in the Scripture that says, “don’t leave your post”. Judge the situation for what it is and remember that even if ALL forsake, still the Lord will take up for us and we DO belong to Him. That is so very encouraging. And He forgives if we have brought anything upon ourselves and we can go on with Him, climb back up onto His lap at His throne and re-position ourselves with Him in Heavenly places.
So we must have wisdom when the tests come, judge them, that is,RANK them for what they really are….TRIALS/TEMPTATIONS and DON’T ALLOW THE BREAK TO OCCUR. When ATTITUDE is on display by others, let us guard our own rear flanks!
MG,Where is this happening? Is this in the church (s) in Florida where you have just returned from?
I thought the minister in Rena’s article was talking about the enemy of our soul putting thoughts of lies about others in our minds.
What you have written makes me think you are in a “division” situation and needs spiritual counsel to restore someone back to the body of Christ. I would think the first thing for you would be to determine if this is about you and seek the help you need for restoration.
I hope you are able to go to the person (s) and straighten this out.
for you MG that after putting so much time in going to Florida in excitement to take part in a conference in your families church that you return feeling so discouraged…I can only pray that as you have come to the Daily Lily you will find and hear the sound of the Trumpet; as it trumpets Faith and recieve the Hope that is given and partake of the Love that daily flows from this web site…I know that God is in Control just as we sang at that Dance of Healing Farming Spirtiul retreat we just attended this past July….Hes able to lift you up if you just turn to him…dj
Dear MG, I stand in agreement with Sara in that my pastor was talking about the enemy of our souls. The enemy comes to our minds to do his nasty work. He tells us lies about those we are closest to. The pastor wanted us to be aware of the enemies tactics so that we could pray effectively to overcome and stand as a Christian warrior and follower of Jesus. I would hope that the devil has not brought to your mind such things about us. Please know that we will pray to help you overcome. Please let us know.
Thanks to all for prayers and encouragement. There have been some things that I thought to accomplish for the Kingdom which seem to be thwarted at this time and I know it is the enemy of my soul suggesting that I won’t be successful in these, ever. I have gone to the Lord in prayer and been given Scriptures, again, on overcoming frustrating and hindering, thoughts and taking offense or (being presumptuous ) when none was intended… which the “enemy” uses to torment and hold one back. There was a tremendous deliverance in the DAILYLILY Reatreat ‘o6 but one must walk in that deliverance, every day, every day.
Thank you again for your concern and your prayers. I have new hope that as before, this will be a new step UP in a longer process as I walk out against the sin that so easily besets.
a lesson that’s come just at a time when there are feelings of discouragement rising up about a “thing or two”; things like remarks, attitudes, etc and these from fellow-Christians in the BODY OF CHRIST.
MG can you please answer this as it is very confusing please clarify what you are saying
Thanks MG for answring this question in your above coment. I can only think of a little scripture song we sing so often, “The Words of The Lord are sure word, sure words, tried in the furnance of fire, sure Words.”
Due to my misunderstanding and misinterpretation of, or more likely due to a very annoying habit of mine.(annoying to me and others)… ASSUMPTION …on my part of a pastor’s sincere remarks in praising someone, I wish to apologize to my fellows for the remarks I made on RANKING THE BREAKS. I have been working on this problem for quite a while and am striving to get the victory over it….that is…jumping to conclusions and/or assuming a thing before examining the conclusion or final outcome, the reality of it. And, more often than not, the outcome is not at all what I had imagined it to be; and thus taking offense when none was intended which wastes my time and others’.
I heard a Scripture quoted by June Evans ,a fine Bible teacher, that gives great insight to those who are battling offense, rejection, resentment and over-sensitivity. It is Hebrews 12:12-15. The Word of God states, “Lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees. And make straight paths for your feet, lest you trip up and become lame and are turned away rather than receiving your healing. Follow peace with all men and HOLINESS, without which, no man will see the Lord.. AND WATCH CAREFULLY, AND DILIGENTLY, LEST ANYONE FAIL TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE GRACE OF GOD AND SUBSEQUENTLY A ROOT OF BITTERNESS WILL SPRING UP WITHIN THAT MAN WHICH WILL BRING MUCH TROUBLE AND THUS MANY WILL BE DEFILED.” (paraphrased from KJV)
This Scripture is a healing balm to those who are overcoming this particular problem, because living in offense is living in bitterness. And there is such abundant life awaiting us that it grieves the HOLY SPIRIT when we fail to receive GOD’S grace to live by faith in His abundance and choose bitterness instead.
Thanks for clarifying! May we all live the abundant life, thus living by faith!
Rena, could you give us the name of the pastor and the name of the church or the radio program, etc that this excerpt came from so we could access the complete sermon as this is not too clear to me. Thanks.
Hi Debi I’m working on this.
Thank you Rena and thanks to Pastor Kern for sharing his sermon notes. That makes it much clearer from me to understand.
I appreciate the scripture he cites ..” we are created for good works”. I can see that understanding our position in Christ’s army and engaging in His good works will keep us battle fit and His Kingdom of Light.
Dear Debi,
The pastor was my local pastor, Pastor Kern, Hosanna Lutheran Church. He was so kind to provide notes from his sermon. I hope this will bring clarity.
Notes:
The apostle Paul wrote “Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.” Standing is a defensive posture and as many commentators indicate Paul must have had the Roman army in mind when he described putting on the whole armor of God. They were believed to be invincible if they did not break rank. In his wonderful little book “Sit, Walk, Stand” Watchman Nee reminds us that we first must remember where we are seated in Christ, how to walk or live our life in Christ and finally how to take our stand against the evil one and all his forces of wickedness. The word devil in the Greek is literally slanderer and the word wiles is literally methods. The methods of a slanderer is to lie. And remember Jesus called the devil a thief, a murder and a liar. Simply put his method is to tell lies to you about God, about your self and and about your fellow Christians. The devil’s goal is to drive wedges between you and God and between you and members of the body of Christ, the Church. The end result is that you will break ranks. You will forsake the truth about your relationship with God being based on the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus causing you to despair as you contemplate your own failings or shortcomings. Or, as you look at the your brothers and sisters in Christ and the world for whom Christ died you begin to pass self-righteous judgment and lose your compassion for a world without Christ. Take your stand on what the scripture declares, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. or we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Eph. 2:8-10. The apostle Paul concludes his section on standing in Chapter 6 with a plea to pray for brothers and sisters in Christ and that gospel may be made known. Remember where you are seated – in the heavenly places with Christ! Live in a manner worthy of your calling in Christ- be imitators of God! Stand strong against the lies of the evil one! Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places!
I love the writings of Watchman Nee. Thank you Pastor Kern for reminding us to “Take our stand on what the scripture declares.”
Many times we find ourselves in dark situations. We are not standing against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places but doing all we can do to join them and sometimes not even aware of it. Takes a voice much like that of Watchman Nee, yourself, and Rena to sound the trumpet. Hopefully many will hear and obey His Word and be made whole again.
This takes time, energy, and diligence to remain in this position and not be about talking our heads off with others that have joined the dark side. It seems there are always plenty of voices sounding off and many of us taking our time to join them and then trying to convince others to join. May we all just remember these words of Watchman Nee, “Sit, Walk and Stand.”
A note for thought…I find many especially women telling me that they remain in unhealthy relationships because they feel lonely, a void, and fear. If you would take a few minutes and study this same scriptures you many find the strength, willingness and desire to “Sit, Walk and Stand,” in righteousness and know that Our Father will fill and fulfill His Word to each of us.
Thank You Rena and Pastor Kern for this Sermon…..this goes right along with what Ive been learning from our sunday teachings about Gods glory and how we glorify God through what we say and do…and that we are the light….or we walk in darkness and are dark…no in between….dark or light either or…dj