Personal Matters
Over the last week I encountered a range of believers who had been traumatised by the pressures of everyday life. One was made to feel ignorant and foolish by the arrogant attitude of a technical expert, another felt bypassed in a matter of crucial information sharing at work and a third treated was treated as inferior by fellow staff of higher rank. In each case the response, whether of grief, humiliation or anger was a sign that the Spirit of God was trying to impart a deeper but hidden spiritual reality. A little later I myself was tempted to become annoyed and self-righteous when someone slept through what I believed was an important appointment with ME. None of this is coincidental; I believe that the Lord is alerting us to a simple strategy by which he is seeking to illuminate his presence in all things (Eph 4:10).
Seeing the Invisible
Peter rebuked Jesus for prophesying his death, but Christ saw in the apostle’s words the work of the evil one, “But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”” (Mark 8:33 ESV cf. Acts 13:9).Similarly the discernment Jesus possessed into the spiritual realm enabled him to identify Judas as “a devil” long before his open betrayal (John 6:70). Paul taught the Church to recognise the hidden dynamics of spiritual conflict, “Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Eph 6:11-12 ESV)
Our real problem is not employers, spouses, children or whoever give us trouble in the work place; we must look behind the visible reality to the spiritual realms that govern human behaviour, this is the constant conflict between “the dominion of darkness” and “the kingdom of God’s beloved Son” (Col 1:13). What is at stake is the manifestation of Christ’s sole Lordship. We commonly fail to recognise that embedded in the trials of life are the vicious attacks of demonic powers seeking to make Christ look powerless through our reactions to daily testing. The demonic strategy is to make us feel small and powerless by intimidation, bullying, and humiliation, so denying the manifest victory of Christ in the presence of those amongst whom we daily live. The only remedy for such failures is a greater consciousness of the indwelling Lord.
Jesus on Trial
When Jesus was on trial he was mocked, ridiculed, beaten, spat upon and slandered, but through it all possessed an amazing poise; “But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.” (Matt 27:14; Luke 22:63-23:12). Christ’s incredible bearing was a reflection of his heart knowledge that indeed possessed the status for which he was in fact crucified, that of King (Matt 27:11, 29, 37, 42). It was in the confidence of this sovereign Lordship that Jesus never reacted to life’s circumstances, and bestowed on the outcastes and broken an immense dignity. All of this seemed shattered by his defeat in death. The resurrection however revealed that Jesus shared the eternal worth of God himself; he has conquered everything that would demean the status of humanity. “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.” (Acts 2:24 ESV). Our call is to continue this testimony in the world.
The promise of his presence was very specific, ““And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”” (Luke 12:11-12). This pledge might not seem applicable in our comfortable Western cultures, but every trial we face is a trial of faith; “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37 ESV). Whenever our reputation, ability and integrity seem to be questioned, what is really at stake for us who bear Christians is the honour of Christ (James 2:7). In a culture increasingly creating its own “rights and wrongs” we are not contending for our own rights but for the righteous reign of Jesus. We are called to enforce the victory of Christ in every situation; not by some display of strength, but by the poise of the power of the cross. This because we share in the dignity of the Lord himself.
Priests and Kings
Our role in revealing the present reign of Jesus from heaven is brilliantly expounded in Revelation; “from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (Rev 1:5-6 ESV). The slain and exalted Lamb ruling from his heavenly throne has ransomed us to be “a kingdom and priests to our God, and they reign on the earth.”” (Rev 5:9-10 ESV). We are called to mediate Christ’s presence in the world in the ordinary situations of living by standing against the wiles of the devil through the dignity of a crucified and risen Life (Eph 6:11 cf. Acts 3:15; 2 Cor 2:10-11; Rev 12:10).
In this battle we are called to stand, not in our own self-esteem or authority, but in the dignity of the indwelling Jesus. Paul puts it like this, “For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” (Rom 5:17 ESV). To “stand” with poise in the heat of the everyday tribulations of life is only achievable through a faith that places Jesus at the centre of EVERYTHING, even the most “mundane” things of life (Eph 6:11, 13, 14). Many are hoping that spectacular manifestations of power will bring spiritual change to our land, but I am anticipating a rather different sort of revival.
Expect Trouble
In the midst of a severely compromised Church my heart longs for the day prophesied by Malachi; “Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.” (Mal 3:18 ESV).
The sovereign Lord has a strategy for dealing with our spiritual superficiality. In the good purposes of God (Rom 8:28) the intensifying anti-God culture in Australia will provide increasing opportunities for Christians to stand their ground in the likeness of Jesus. This has very little to do with preserving the Christian heritage of Australia, but everything to do with revealing Christ as King. As believers live this way the sharp line that separates light and darkness, good and evil will become increasingly clear in our midst. The cost of this will be significant, but the fruit will be glorious.