Still Standing!

God's timing is impeccable. As you can see below, the theme of last month's blog entry was "Staying Centered at Christmas." Little did I know how critical these lessons would be for our family this holiday season.

Two weeks before Christmas our son-in-law, Gabe Hancock, was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma, an unusually nasty and potentially deadly form of skin cancer. Our immediate reaction was shock and alarm, of course. But in a few, short hours we found ourselves moving quickly into full-scale battle mode. It became increasingly clear to us that this was a direct attack from Satan himself, designed to defeat and destroy a young couple in their first year of full-time ministry, with their first child on the way. The message was clear: "This means war!" (cf. Rev 12:17) Our battle cry was equally clear: "Lord, deliver us from evil."

Over the next two weeks, we found ourselves repeating this prayer over and over as Gabe underwent major surgery and an intensive series of follow up tests. Finally, just two days before Christmas (which also happened to be Gabe's 23rd birthday), through the amazing grace of God and the fervent prayers of His people, Gabe was pronounced completely cancer-free!

It is now one month to the day since we began celebrating Gabe's Christmas miracle. As I pause to reflect on this extraordinary series of events, I am reminded that many of you are facing similar battles in your own lives and ministries as well. Some of you may feel like you have been suddenly thrown into the front lines of this spiritual battle with the forces of evil, much like we did a few weeks ago. And like us, you may be wondering how to best engage the enemy. While we are far from experts on the topic, we have been reminded of some life-saving lessons regarding spiritual warfare, and we are eager to pass them on to any of you who may profit from them as well.

There is an episode recorded in the Old Testament that contains some indispensable insight regarding spiritual warfare. It is found in 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, and it revolves around an attack on the kingdom of Judah during the reign of King Jehoshaphat around 850 B.C. Like our family, the king was naturally "alarmed" when he received the news of an imminent attack from his enemies. But like us, he was called to move quickly from panic to prayer: "We don't know what to do, but our eyes are upon you" (20:12). As Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah sought the Lord together, He responded with a clear and uncompromising battle plan:

"This is what the Lord says: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's ... you will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you... do not be afraid; do not be discouraged ... the Lord will be with you'" (20:15-17).

"Stand." That's all they needed to do. Stand and watch the Lord deliver them from evil. The word "stand" is repeated seven times in this passage, and each time it is connected to a specific action indicating that this is not a call to passive resistance, but strenuous engagement in spiritual warfare. Like Jehosaphat and the people of Judah, we are called to stand firm in God's mighty power in the face of adversity and conflict. Specifically, we are called to ...

1. Stand firm in His presence through prayer: "We will stand in your presence ... and will cry out to you" (20:9).
2. Stand firm in His position through obedience: "Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you" (17).
3. Stand firm in His praise through worship: "Then some Levites ... stood up and praised the Lord" (19).

The Lord did, in fact, deliver Jehoshaphat and his people from their enemies that day, in a place that would be forever known as "The Valley of Praise," just as he delivered our family from evil this Christmas. And both stories serve as tangible reminders that, while the enemy of our souls comes only to steal, kill and destroy, the Lover of our souls comes to give us life, and to give it in abundance (Jn 10:10).

Whatever adversity, conflict, or manifestation of evil you may be facing today in your personal life or in your public ministry, know that you have a God who is on your side. So don't be afraid, and don't be discouraged, my friends. The battle is the Lord's ... stand firm in His mighty power and watch Him fight for you!

*For more on this topic, see "The Holy Whisper, part 4: Discerning God's Call through Conflict," available on the Barclay College chapel webpage (www.barclaycollege.edu/Students/Chapel.asp).