Introduction:
I love the Psalms. These ancient songs were memorized and sung by the Jewish people (and still are, among many) at appropriate times and seasons. The Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134) were sung by pilgrims travelling to Jerusalem to worship or when ascending the temple mount in preparation to worship there. The themes of these Psalms are the strength and the power of God. They are expressions of worship of a God whose voice calls creation into being and into action. They are songs about the protection and provision of a God who is able to call the wind, the rain, the waves, etc. to do His bidding. Ultimately, they are expressions of the worshipers dependence on the strength and power of their God to stand against all the challenges that threaten them. These Psalms are expressions of faith in an Almighty God, against whom no force or enemy can stand.
I don’t know about you, but I need to return to these reminders, often. When the challenges of my life want to overwhelm me, I need to hear and sing songs that tell me the truth about my God: He is my strength. I depend upon His power to deliver. His strength is perfect, even in my weakness. No weapon formed against me can defeat my hope and faith in God. The armor, sword, and shield He provide will withstand even the vilest attack of the enemy of my soul. I can stand strong, because He is God. I am not.
In the coming weeks, we are going to focus on what God has provided so that we may stand, as fathers, mothers, children, etc. victorious against anything the devil will throw at us.
Study One: God Is Our Source
READ:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15 As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16 With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.
-Ephesians 6:10-18 (NRSV)
DECIDE:
Weakness is frustrating and dangerous. It is frustrating because we often come against weakness in our most demanding tasks and times. We often have to swallow our pride and seek help to do the heavy lifting in life, whether that be figuratively or in actual practice. It can be dangerous because weakness can cause a collapse or break. That weak link in the chain can mean the difference between life and death. That frayed rope can mean destruction. That seemingly small crack can mean catastrophic failure.
In life, our weaknesses can do a great deal of damage. A weakness of character can destroy trust, or mean broken relationships. A weakness of will can mean a failure that will bring financial loss, or mean a lack of success in many areas of life.
Without realizing it, we can allow our weakness to rule and reign over us. This leads to continual frustration and failure. That is why it is important for us to honestly confess and address our weakness, even seeking counsel from a trusted friend who may see a weakness we have failed to see in ourselves.
Ultimately, if we are to overcome, we must depend not upon our own strength, but depend on the Lord.
DECLARE:
One of the most covered songs ever is Just A Closer Walk With Thee. Patsy Cline, Elvis, Willie Nelson…some pretty “powerful” singers and personalities have sung the first line: “I am weak but Thou art strong.” Certainly, there is a difference between saying, singing or mouthing those words and actually meaning them from the depths of our hearts and souls.
The song continues: “Jesus keep me from all wrong/I’ll be satisfied as long/As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.” This verse echoes a familiar prayer, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” There is always something interesting about these kinds of prayers…they are prayers of dependence on God to act on our behalf against and in the midst of our weakness.
Maybe this week is a good time to declare this at the start of each day:
“(Fill in Your Name), be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His power.”
DEVOTE:
Read Psalm 121, aloud:
A Song of Ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.
PRAYER:
Lord, God, almighty. You are good and faithful. You are my help and my keeper. I am amazed that the maker of heaven and earth would be mindful of me. You are, though, and I trust You to be my strength in my weakness. Thank You for the promise of protection and power in the face of anything the enemy would use to defeat me. I am strong in You! Amen.
Study Two: Armed & Dangerous
READ:
11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
-Ephesians 6:11-12 (NRSV)
DECIDE:
“The suspect is to be considered armed and dangerous.”
This warning often comes with the report of a suspect who is being sought after by authorities who want to prevent further violence or threat to our communities. Spiritually, there is a “crime family” that is seeking our destruction. The devil and his demons are at work, always. They are armed and dangerous. They are seeking to devour and destroy your life. They will stop at nothing to destroy your witness, to undermine your faith, to rule your heart and mind with fear and chaos, and fill you with everything but what God intends for you. If there is any doubt of their power and presence in this world, all you need do is turn on the news. On some networks, there is twenty-four hour coverage of the activities of rulers, authorities, cosmic power of this present darkness and spiritual forces of evil.
Our decision is to stand or fall. God’s intention is for us to stand…tall…prepared…armored against this evil…and ready to go on the offensive at any time. If we are going to stand, it will not be in our strength or wisdom. We must stand, putting on the whole armor of God, every day.
DECLARE:
The devil is a wily enemy. One of his greatest weapons is deception. The seduction of the “bait and switch” is a strong force. Our enemy has a gift for making evil look good or giving great rewards. The end, however, is chaos and death. From the beginning (Adam and Eve) the enemy has perfected the art of deceiving people with half-truths and smoke screens. That is why we must depend upon God’s word, the truth, to be our guide.
Jesus declared: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
Jesus declared: “If you are truly my disciple, You will abide in my word and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.”
Our enemy hates the truth. His every intention is to undermine the truth and destroy the very freedom God intends to give.
When the lie is whispered and temptation comes, we must practice this weeks declaration, adding an additional phrase:
“(Insert Your Name), be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
DEVOTE:
Read Psalm 124:
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side
—let Israel now say—
2 if it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
when our enemies attacked us,
3 then they would have swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
4 then the flood would have swept us away,
the torrent would have gone over us;
5 then over us would have gone
the raging waters.
6 Blessed be the Lord,
who has not given us
as prey to their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird
from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
PRAYER:
Lord, God, almighty, you have never abandoned or forsaken us into the hands of our enemy. You are here, even now, our shelter and defender. We would have long ago been swept away by the flood of temptation and evil had we not found ourselves in Your protection, Lord. You are our help and defender. You are our strength in the face of all that would defeat us. You are our wisdom in the face of anything that would deceive us. We are thankful that we can declare with David, “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who make the heaven and earth.” Amen.