Dread Champions - Part 2

 

It is time to arise and shine (Isaiah 60:1-8).

Holy Scripture warns that, in the End Times, the love of many will turn cold (Matthew 24:12). We must not let the light of our hearts dim, but we are to be a shining beacon of hope and love, radiating God brightly in a sin-darkened world (Matthew 5:14-16).  If our light is to remain bright, however, we must rally now.  Now!  We must embrace the call to become “keepers of the fire” and defend the flame of the Holy Spirit.

 

This is who you are now, beloved:  you are a people of burning passion, standing strong and filled with true conviction—never cowering, no matter the persecution or attack.  Although we are observing an all-out attack to undermine the foundation of the Church and our nation, you are called to burn brightly with passionate love and radical obedience, true to the King. This is the call of the dread champions!

I challenge each one reading to answer one question as honestly as you can.  Let this soul-searching question—a question asked by a young David—echo within the depths of your heart:  “Is there not a cause?” (1 Samuel17: 29).  In other words, is what you have worth fighting for?

In this passage of scripture from 1 Samuel, we see the cowardly heart of Saul’s army clearly revealed. Saul’s men had run from battle.  They were cowering in a ditch, fearful of their foe. Suddenly, a young shepherd lad approaches with a very different heart—the heart of a true champion.  As the young David ponders the proceedings before him, Goliath taunts and threatens Saul and his troops, but David is not intimidated.  He boldly asks, “Is there not a cause?”  And again, he asks, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

 

What are we to learn from this passage?  As the armies of Saul, we, too, have been intimidated by the foes we face.   We have retreated into the ditches while the ACLU and other antichrist groups remove our privileges and rights as Christians!  In some places in America, it is against the law to pray in public or to read one’s Bible.  This is America—not a communist nation!  If we don’t take a bold stand, who will?  “Is there not a cause?”

Our spiritual heritage is at stake—the legacy we will leave for our children and our children’s children, the legacy for which our forefathers fought and died in WWI and WWII.  We can’t just sit by and let our nation spiral deeper into deception and darkness.  

 

Why is this happening?  The prophet Isaiah warns us of this very day in Isaiah 5:20, a day when people will call good evil and evil good.  In our attempt to be politically correct, we have lost our goal of remaining Biblically correct. We see a culture that has contaminated the truth of God’s Word, accepting what is forbidden in Holy Scripture, voting for same-sex marriages and installing gay clergy, following New Age teachers, consulting horoscopes and psychics, practicing yoga, drinking to excess and considering violent, pornographic and God-mocking films as acceptable entertainment.  Some who call themselves Christians are even accepting other ways to heaven than our Lord Jesus Christ, believing that there are “many ways up the mountain” (Acts 4:12; John 14:6).

 

We must heed the severe warning of Christ:  

“Straight is the gate that leads to life and few there be that find it, because broad is the gate that leads to death and many go in there.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

There will be many who call out to the Lord in that Day, explaining that they prophesied in His Name, cast out demons in His Name and did not just some, but “many wonderful works.”   This is a fearsome Scripture indeed!  For “many” will hear not a word of welcome, but a word that will cause them to gnash their teeth:  “I never knew you, depart from Me, you workers of iniquity” (Matthew 7:23). 

May it never be, Lord!  That we may be known by You!

 

Yet, the Scriptures warn us that “even the elect” may be fooled in the End Times.  We are in just that time.  This is a season of confrontation and spiritual warfare on a level not experienced in our lifetime. The spiritual landmarks are being removed and destroyed.  It is time for a spiritual revolution!  Now is the time to take a strong stand.  As Scripture reminds us, “Having done all to stand, stand” (Eph. 6:10-18).

 

No one can exempt themselves from this war as a conscientious objector.  No one is too young, too old, too weak or too unlearned.  Simple, everyday believers are being called to the front lines—and simple believers have always performed enormous exploits for their King. Scripture reminds us that “It is the people that know their God that will display strength and take action doing great exploits for God” (Daniel 11:32). Such bold and brave examples should motivate us to resist the foes we face, and not just resist and hold the fort—but to take the land!  Ponder the great exploits of the mighty men revealed in 2 Samuel 23:8-12:

“These are the names of the mighty men whom David had:  Josheb-Basshebeth the Tachmonite, chief among the captains. He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed eight hundred men at one time.

And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder, or pick up the spoils.

 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils (beans). So the people fled from the Philistines. But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

These believers fought until they were weary, until their “hand stuck to the sword.”  They contended with their very lives—with their entire strength—for the glory of their King.  These reports are almost unbelievable, yet this history is reported accurately in the Holy Word of God.Just look at what these believers accomplished:

Adino was such a warrior that Scripture reports that he killed 800 men at one time.

Eleazar fought when all others fled.  He stood his ground and defeated the Philistines until his hand cleaved to his sword.

Shammah took his stand in a bean field and defeated the Philistines.

These may have been called “mighty”—but we also have the example of Gideon.  Here was a man of God who cowered and hid…until the Lord put on Gideon “like a glove” (the original Hebrew translation)—and prevailed!

These men were champions because they were true to their calling.  The Lord gave them the heart of a warrior and the soul of a true champion—and they refused defeat.

 

The characteristics and conduct of these gallant, lion-like warriors of God serve as a prototype of the coming champions who are now being raised up.  God’s Spirit is once again calling forth the gallant Gadites to become part of a victorious band of believers. These passionate warriors are the overcomers who stand strong for God’s Kingdom (1John 5:4), who defend the King and His Kingdom, no matter the consequences or persecution.

Remember the promise, “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Knowing this truth will allow us to stand boldly, confident in the Lord’s Presence, no matter what situation we face.

Paul reminds us that we are “More than conquerors in and through Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:37). Many of us don’t feel victorious—but it is a disastrous mistake to consider our feelings as our guide to truth. We must walk by faith in the promises of God’s Word and bring our feelings into alignment with His truth, not our subjective experiences. 

 

Practically, how do we manage our emotions in these End Times, when tempers flare, the news is gloomy and the darkness grows darker?  The essential key is for each believer to maintain a consistent walk of forgiveness—a forgiveness lifestyle.  

 

How do we walk in a forgiveness lifestyle?  When your feelings stray away from God’s peace, even to the smallest degree, don’t deny your feelings, but ask the Holy Spirit to reveal where the root lies in your soul.  He will indeed reveal a wound or open door, most often a wound or door resulting from unforgiveness and offense.  Then, simply ask the Forgiver to come and release forgiveness to the person who caused the offense that opened the wound.  That person may include a loved one, a stranger, yourself—or even God.  Ask the Holy Spirit to take the “ground” that you had given to the enemy with His Spirit and Truth, and your feelings will inevitably shift to the Lord’s peace!   It’s guaranteed.

 

We must renew our minds and hearts in this manner so that the peace of God may rule and reign in our innermost being.  Become a champion for your own inner healing by pursuing forgiveness in every single area of your life.  This is the first and most important step to becoming a dread champion. 

 

When you are free from unforgiveness, you will be able to boldly declare, “Let the weak say, I am strong” (Joel 3:10).   And to declare these mighty words of victory from Psalms 44:5:

            Through You we will push down our enemies;

            Through Your name we will trample those who rise up

            Against us.

Amid the conflicts and confrontations, we will maintain great peace, knowing that it is the God of Peace who crushes satan under our feet (Romans 16:20).You, beloved, are an ambassador for Christ, a divine catalyst to bring the Kingdom of God to earth.  You are salt and light in a sin-darkened world.  For the true followers of Christ, this is our finest hour!  Prepare to see multitudes brought into the Kingdom of God.  Now is the time to shine brightly, to rejoice and to be very glad! We are now in the age of the great harvest! Dread champions, arise to contend and defend!

 

 

Bobby Conner

Eagles View Ministries

www.bobbyconner.org