God's Got Your Six - Encouraging Words for God's Warriors

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

– 2 Timothy 1:7

Ever feel surrounded by an enemy? Warriors are sometimes outnumbered, surrounded, with the outcome in doubt. These are the risks of being in a war. Having eyes in the back of your head would help. But God didn’t create us that way. Some have served in the military and experienced actual combat. The closest most of us come to war is politics, school board meetings, and maybe Thanksgiving dinner. Warriors war; they aren’t content to let lies and falsehoods go unopposed. They are by nature those who have a deep abiding desire and passion to make a difference for good and righteousness and holiness in this dark fallen deceptive world. Are you a warrior of God?

The warriors I’m talking about are people empowered and inspired by the Holy Spirit to shine light into darkness and resist deception with the truth of God’s word. They aren’t restricted by borders or intimidated by opposition. They have mountain moving faith and can leap over obstacles.[1] They take their orders from King Jesus.[2] Their God ordained mission begins with “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all thing that I have commanded you. . . .”[3] This mission translates into, “Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints”[4] and ends with “to the glory of God.” [5] They do all this under the Code of Conduct of love.[6] They press on no matter the odds or opposition because they are comforted by the truth that “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”[7] These are God’s warriors.

Maybe you’re at peace with the recent elections and the results, but many of God’s warriors don’t feel that way. Many are concerned, even fearful for their country because of the rise of Islam in cities, our local communities, and in government. Many are concerned with the rise of antisemitism, anti-Christianity, overall darkness. The Bible warns us of such developments in the latter days.[8] Signs of a terrible Tribulation are on the horizon.

But God’s warriors don’t tremble. They are not intimidated by God’s enemies unless they are relying on their strength alone. One of God’s warriors of past Church History once wrote:

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God has willed his truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we can endure, for lo! His doom is sure; one little word shall fell him.[9]

The Spirit in us is greater than anything the devil can throw at us (1 John 4:4). If we resist the devil in the name of Jesus, he must flee (James 4:7). Yes, the time is coming when the God of peace will crush Satan under our feet (Romans 16:20). God’s warriors know this.

But why are there so few of God’s warriors? Why do so few enlist in God’s army? Why do so many hunker down in their bunker homes and settle for others spending their lives to do their duty? The answer I believe is fear. The Bible clearly states, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). The word translated “fear” in the original Greek is deilia which refers to cowardice, timidity, fearfulness. It’s a word that speaks of an overwhelming or at least a trepidation at the nearness of the enemy and possible attacks. Are you feeling fearful? That feeling is not from God. If you are fearful I want to encourage, I want to put courage in you, with this message.

Fearfulness or cowardice is not from God; it is a tactic of the enemy of our souls. What God has given us is “power” (Greek dunamis) which is the power to do what God calls us to do. God has given us a spirit of “love” (Greek agape) or a spirit of benevolence to do good to others, affection for the Lord which motivates us [10], and “a sound mind,” (Greek sophronismos) or a mind that is in control of itself, a disciplined thought life, a Biblically sound worldview. These are the weapons and tools God gives us to be more than conquerors in the battles and skirmishes of this world. Truly, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19). We needn’t be intimidated. We needn’t be reduced to cowering Christians who hide away behind closed doors. We can be bold as a lion in the power of the Spirit. We are the “standard” God desires to raise up to resist the foes of God.

Always remember we are never alone. God’s warriors know this. This truth is what makes them fearless warriors of God. For example, a servant in the Old Testament was intimidated and fearful when the Syrian army came up against Israel. His eyes were merely on the visible. The prophet Elisha, a warrior of God, encouraged the servant saying, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16). The prophet prayed and God opened the servant’s eyes and he saw, “the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17). Chariots of fire! These are the forces of God. It’s a good account for us to remember when we feel outnumbered and are intimidated by the enemy. It’s a good answer to the question, “Who’s got your back in the battles of life?” The answer to that question is what this teaching is all about.

Today is Veterans Day. It’s a day when we remember to be thankful and express our appreciation to our veterans who are a national treasure. Veterans Day, though I never served in the military, reminds me of how I almost did. When I first went to college I had hopes of becoming a lawyer. My only problem was, how was I going to afford to go to the undergraduate and graduate education and law bar requirements necessary to practice law? As I was crossing the student center on campus one day my eye caught a trim Marine in full dress standing at a table. Always having an appreciation for the military I was naturally drawn to his table. Once there, I learned that if I enlisted, they would provide a way for me to get my law degree. Now this was in the mid to late 1970s and the Vietnam War was just finishing up so, while I was always patriotic, I didn’t know if that was the route for me to take to achieve my goals. The reason I share this is because I’ve always and still do have a deep appreciation for anyone who has or is serving in the military. I came very close to being drafted into the military in the final stages of the Vietnam conflict. Military stories and documentaries have always been of interest to me. Knowing soldiers or veterans and interacting with them had led me to pick up on some of their nomenclature or ways of communicating.

One of the ways soldiers communicate with one another in the field is to use the clock to indicate direction. For instance, twelve o’clock is straight ahead, three o’clock is to the right, 9 o’clock is to the left, and six o’clock is behind you. When on patrol in enemy territory it’s always important to know that someone “has your six.” It’s an important part of military tactics in the field to be aware and make sure that someone is looking out for your blind spots. For us, in this spiritual war, God has our six. God looks out for us and covers our back. God takes care of our blind spots; those attempts by the enemy to attack us and blindside us. As we live through the enemy territory of this life, it’s a comfort to know, God’s got your six.

The Apostle Paul, a great warrior of God, always had a burden to share the gospel with his brethren the Jews (cf. Romans 9-11). This was a fervent desire for Paul. One day, the Lord provided an opportunity for Paul to fulfill his heart’s desire, to share the gospel with his brethren. Paul bravely and boldly and in the Spirit shared his testimony and the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 22). But the response from his brethren was not what he must have hoped for. They not only rejected Jesus and the Gospel, but they rioted and tried to literally tear Paul apart. It was a scary scene. So great was the tumult caused that the Roman military intervened to save Paul and put down the disturbance. It must have been a heartbreaking experience for Paul.

As I write our Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria are being persecuted in a genocide by Muslims. Thank goodness we have a president willing to denounce persecution of Christians and is willing to use his powerful influence to stop it.[11] Christians are outnumbered, intimidated, and persecuted on a regular basis in the mostly Islamic Middle East. For those who would ameliorate Muslim involvement in such atrocities by saying it is only “radical” Islam perpetrating such things, I would ask, “Where then is the outcry of these more moderate Muslims decrying the crimes against humanity of their radical brethren?

Christians are persecuted in China, other countries on the continent of Africa, and throughout the world. Christians are being persecuted in unprecedented ways throughout the world. [12] Christians are being persecuted more and more in the Land of the Free. When we see such persecutions within our own borders, will we be counted among those who make up a part of the Home of the Brave to stand up to expose it and oppose it? That remains to be seen.

Christians are being marginalized, isolated, and painted more and more as the pariahs, the cause of people’s problems in our nation. [13] If you don’t believe me, just try sharing the gospel in Dearborn Michigan or in Minneapolis Minnesota where the Muslim call to prayer is now broadcast at all hours.[14] Try sharing the gospel in one of the many Muslim “countries” within our country and see what happens. Charlie Kirk used to say, “Immigration without assimilation is invasion.” I think to a great extent he was right.

If you try to share the gospel in one of the rapidly rising Muslim enclaves, you’ll likely be accused of spreading hate speech and be ushered away by Sharia police or local police. Leftist communists have aligned with Muslim conquistadors to form a red and green alliance.[15] This is nothing new but merely an age-old tactic of invasion used to topple governments and “fundamentally change” societies. The philosopher Santayana was profoundly right when he said, “Those who do not learn history are doomed to relive it.” [16]

Because our educational system has been greatly infiltrated by those who are anti-Constitution and anti-West and anti-Christian in their worldviews we see stiff resistance to accepted norms and traditions of our nation. Because generations of young people have been indoctrinated in revolutionary socialist/communist ideas more than educated in the facts of history or, perish the thought, Christian ideals, we are seeing unrest in the streets, limiting of freedom of speech, and opposition to the ways of our nation that made us exceptional. But what we are seeing is a tried-and-true tactic of the enemy manifested in a spirit of revolution that would burn-it-all-down rather than actually pray for guidance, examine with a critical mind, and make changes that are more in line with the truths of God from His word. But all of this is nothing new. It is a repeat of history. I invite you to look into history yourself to verify this.

Such situations should not intimidate us. Intimidation is a tactic of the enemy. No, regardless of the obstacles to sharing the gospel, we need to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. And when we do, even in dangerous situations, we need to remember, God has our back. God has our six.

Sometimes you can do all the right things in sharing your testimony and the gospel and it still results in an uproar. Just because we obey God and follow His plans doesn’t necessarily mean people will receive the gospel and get saved. Sometimes sharing the gospel leads to conflict. No matter what the outcome, if we, like Paul, stay calm and trust the Lord, He will not only use the situation, but will protect us through it.

When God’s warriors find themselves in a tough situations, what should they do? How should we handle rejection or religious riots? How should someone led by the Spirit respond when people reject Jesus and the Gospel? How should we respond when our lives are put in danger? Turn with me to Acts 23 to answer those questions and to observe a Spirit guided strategy to follow when encountering enemies in this world. In this chapter we find one of God’s greatest warriors setting an example for us to follow.

Acts 23:1 – “Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”

Paul doesn’t address the Jerusalem council with formalities. He does not formally recognize the members or head of the council. Instead Paul opts for an earnest heartfelt response. “Men and brethren,” communicates a familiarity and equality. This is a council that Paul once possibly belonged to himself.

Being earnest is a mark of the Spirit. Paul was a spirit-filled and empowered Apostle. As we look at him, we can see characteristics of what the Spirit-filled minister looks like. One of the marks we see here is that of earnestness. It’s always a good idea to speak “earnestly.” “Earnestly” (Greek atenisas – Aorist/Active/Participle of the verb atenizo) means to look intently, fix one’s eyes upon. Paul’s gaze at the council communicated the seriousness with which he was addressing them.

Having a good conscience before God. Another mark of the Spirit-filled person is having a good conscience. A good conscience is one that is sensitive to the direction of the Spirit as well as one that relies on the leading of the Spirit. A good conscience is not one that is wracked by guilt due to self-reliant shortcomings that result in us feeling guilty about the way we’ve done something.

Your conscience is that part of you built by God which tells us if we are inside or outside of God’s will. The word “conscience” (Greek syneidesis) refers to inner moral consciousness, that which distinguishes between moral rightness and moral wrongness. Everyone has a conscience (cf. Romans 2). Our conscience is part of the image of God created in each one of us. Our conscience is used by God to show us where we stand with Him. The Holy Spirit uses our conscience to draw us to Jesus as He convicts us of sin and points us to Jesus as the means of dealing redemptively without sin.

Having a “good conscience,” one that is free from guilt or conviction that sin is present in life, is evidence that one is living rightly in the Spirit. It should be said that sometimes a person has an overly active conscience that paralyzes them from living as they are stifled by the thought of whether they are right before God. That is a type of fleshly or carnal condition. When we are right with God and our conscience good, we are balanced and assured by the Spirit that that is the case. When the Spirit is in control and our conscience is good, we will be at peace with God even though false accusations and upheaval may be all around us like it is here with Paul.

That Paul testifies of his “good conscience before God until this day,” and is not contradicted by those he was addressing, is a testament to his character. Paul was a man who said what he meant and meant what he said. He was honest and true and sincere in all he did. How about you, can you say you have a “good conscience before God”?

2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

The high priest Ananias was known historically for being a corrupt political scoundrel. He was a devious devilish man. The historian Josephus described Ananias, “as insolent, hot-tempered, profane, and greedy.” [17] And so, when he commands Paul to be struck even though Paul is speaking earnestly, it probably wasn’t a surprise to anyone in attendance.

3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?”

Even Spirit-filled servants can react with anger to injustice. Paul reacts to the unjust action against him. Just because you are Spirit-filled does not mean you won’t react in anger to unjust actions against you. It is possible to be angry and not sin (Ephesians 4:26). Righteous indignation is a valid Spirit-filled response to injustice. Paul doesn’t go into a rage here. But he does not back down or let this blow of the corrupt go without a response.

A “whitewashed wall!” refers to the practice of painting sepulchers with whitewash to help Jews to not defile themselves by stepping on them. One of the things Jesus said about the Pharisees when he was indicting them was that they were “whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27). In other words, Jesus was calling the pharisees out for their hypocrisy. Paul was calling them out for their hypocrisy of sitting as symbols of law and justice but unjustly having him struck.

4 And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” 5 Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ”

How could Paul not know he was in the presence of the high priest? Some refer to this verse as evidence that Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9-11) was an eye ailment like conjunctivitis that clouded and blurred his vision so that he did not know the high priest was there. Possible. But Paul would not knowingly accuse the high priest of hypocrisy and then himself act hypocritically.

Why hadn’t Paul recognized Ananias as the high priest? The Bible Knowledge Commentary states:

This could hardly be because of poor eyesight because Paul had “looked straight (atenisas, lit., looked intently¯) at the Sanhedrin” (Acts 23:1). Paul’s words could be irony in which he was saying he could not recognize such a violent man as priest. However, the word “brothers” (v. 5) renders this interpretation improbable. Possibly there was such confusion the high priest was not identifiable. Certainly he was not wearing his priestly garments. It is also probable Paul did not know Ananias personally because the apostle had not had contact with the Sanhedrin for many years. The high priesthood changed hands frequently . . . At any rate, Paul recognized the position of the high priest even if he did not respect the priest as a person.[18]

Respectfulness is a mark of the Spirit. Be respectful. Paul showed respect even to those who did not deserve it. The minister of God is not to show disrespect even to the opposition. If we disagree, we should do so respectfully. Respectfulness is a mark of the Spirit.

Humility is evidence of Spirit-filled servants. Notice, Paul was human and may have reacted angrily toward those who struck him (23:1-3), but he was humble enough to admit he was wrong and apply the word of God to himself in self-correction, and that even before his enemies. Paul came around to being polite and showed respect for even his enemies. There is no place for belligerence and harshness in the Spirit-filled disciple. We are called to walk as Jesus walked and follow in His steps (1 John 2:6; 1 Peter 2:21). Jesus spoke the truth in love, sometimes forcefully, but always constructively and in the Spirit. This is the pattern we should follow.

6 But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.8 For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.9 Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”

Spirit-filled servants are perceptive and cunning. To be Spirit-filled is to be alert and aware of your surroundings. Paul was not devious or deceptive, but he was aware of his opponents and wise enough to use their tendencies against them.

Paul was perceptive. He was cunning. He was aware of those he was speaking to, especially how they were grouped. He used this to his advantage. Paul used his identification as a Pharisee to raise confusion in the council ranks. Pharisees believed in the resurrection and an afterlife. The Pharisees were the religious conservatives of the day. They believed in the scriptures and adhered to the law legalistically. The Sadducees were the liberals of the day, humanists, and did not believe in resurrection or miracles. They didn’t believe in the afterlife. For them, when a person died, that was it, they stopped existing. Unfortunately, the Sadducees were the ruling class at this time in history, and the high priest was a Sadducee.

As soon as Paul mentioned his affiliation as a Pharisee and that he believed in the resurrection “a dissension arose.” Naturally, the Pharisees sided with Paul who they saw as one of their own. The Sadducees didn’t accept this one bit. A conflict arose.

Paul had been away from Jerusalem for about sixteen years. His heart had always burned with a desire to share the Gospel with his brethren. The opportunity had come, but it ended in disaster as we see in Acts 22. Paul’s testimony was rejected by his brethren. Here in Acts 23 Paul has the opportunity to share with the ruling council, before many men who no doubt had attended the school of Gamaliel with him. They knew Paul’s zeal and intellect. But all his testimony achieved was a riot among the Jewish people and a riot among the ruling council members. It was an apparent total abject failure. This was probably a low point for the Apostle Paul.

10 Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.”

The Spirit has our back. The Holy Spirit is in control of Paul and this situation. The Holy Spirit is influencing those involved to protect Paul. When we are serving the Lord, the Spirit will protect us. Sometimes He will do this through arranging circumstances or allies He brings our way. Sometimes He does this like here, through third party factors that serve to protect us.

Also notice that, even though Paul doesn’t get the favorable response hoped for, the Spirit still has his back. Even when we fail or people reject us and the message we share, the Holy Spirit is still watching out for us. That’s because we have His favor and are not earning His favor by whether we are “successful.” More on this later. But you can always count on the Spirit to be with you when you are sharing Jesus and the Gospel.

This was no little disturbance. Those of the council did not assail Paul with words alone but “the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them,” indicates they were outright violent. So the commander “commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them and bring him into the barracks.” The Roman commander’s prime responsibility was keeping the peace and especially protecting Roman citizens (which is what Paul was). And that is what he did.

Your testimony is not going to always be accepted. Many times your testimony will be rejected. Don’t be surprised if your testimony results in not only rejection, but conflict, maybe even a riot. When that happens, take heart, Jesus is nearby. God has your six.

11 “But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”

Jesus is always with us, even when we fail. Jesus’ promise to those seeking to fulfill the Great Commission is that “And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b). Jesus spoke to Paul on the Damascus Road at his conversion (Acts 9). Jesus also comforted Paul when he was in Corinth. “Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night vision, ‘do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9-10). Jesus may not speak audibly to us like He did with Paul (or He might), but we have the word of God through which Jesus speaks to us.

The Holy Spirit uses the word of God to direct, assure and comfort us in difficult situations. That’s a good reason to memorize scripture. You can’t access scripture for comfort that hasn’t been downloaded in the mind and heart. Memorized scripture is ammunition for the Holy Spirit.

There are numerous scriptures relevant to opposition encounters like we see here. Here are a few:

Psalm 27:1 (NKJV) – The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 44:3–8 (NKJV) – For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them. ⁴You are my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob. ⁵Through You we will push down our enemies; Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us. ⁶For I will not trust in my bow, Nor shall my sword save me. ⁷But You have saved us from our enemies, And have put to shame those who hated us. ⁸In God we boast all day long, And praise Your name forever. Selah

Psalm 46:1 (NKJV) – God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV) – The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV) – Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Be aware of the temptation to test God’s protection. Beware, Satan will at times tempt us to test God by putting ourselves in unnecessary danger just to see if He will protect us. Satan did this with Jesus and even quoted Psalm 91 in the temptation (cf. Matthew 4:5-7). Jesus’ response to Satan’s temptation was to rebuke him affirming that “You shall not tempt the LORD your God.”

Be aware sometimes it is God’s will to suffer. We should also acknowledge that sometimes suffering and difficulties and pain are part of God’s plans and may serve a greater purpose of the LORD. We see this in the Book of Job and Peter speaks of the occasions when suffering is part of God’s will for us. “Therefore let those who suffer according ot the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (cf. 1 Peter 4:19).

Be assured God’s grace is always sufficient. Even when we suffer, God has our back. His grace is always sufficient and is indeed perfected in our weakness. Remember these inspired words delivered through Paul:

2 Corinthians 12:8–10 (NKJV) – ⁸Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

This was the low point in Paul’s life. His heart’s desire to win his compatriots to Christ had crashed and burned. His hope for a revival among his brethren was squashed. In the face of fanatical opposition the Lord comforted Paul by telling him He wasn’t finished with Paul. God still had work for Paul to do in Rome (23:11). The comforting words of the Lord confirmed that it was God’s will for Paul to have gone to Jerusalem (compare with 21:4 discussion). Paul had three other such visions (9:4-6; 16:9; 18:9-10).

The temptation for Paul was to wallow in rejection. We often turn inward when defeated. But that is not the way of Jesus. Jesus has a better way for us. Jesus is in control, even when we are rejected, even in apparent defeat.

Jesus is there. Jesus is always there in our lowest valleys. Jesus is always there in our darkest nights. Paul learned this from the beginning of his encounter with Jesus. When Jesus knocked Saul down off his high horse, His first question to the persecutor was, “Saul, Sau, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4). Jesus identified with His persecuted people. He intervened on their behalf. Yes, the early Church Father Tertullian said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” This is sometimes true. There are times when we must take the course of martyrdom like Stephen. But if we are called by God to do this, He will give us the same grace as he gave Stephen, and all the other martyrs of Church history. He was with the three warriors in the furnace of persecution in the Old Testament (Daniel 3). He was with Stephen in the New Testament. He will be with us if the cross and physical death is His will for us. We need not fear even this.

When we feel most alone, Jesus is there to say, “Be of good cheer Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” It’s as though Jesus is saying, “Paul, don’t let their rejection of your testimony get you down, I’m not finished with you. I have more work for you to do.” Jesus always meets us when we need Him most. He always comes with the perfect words. And His message to us is not to dwell on our defeats or rejections. Instead we need to listen to His call and move forward. Life is not about how many times we get knocked down. Life is about how many times we can get knocked down, and still rise to press on. Victory awaits the one who takes strength in Jesus. We may be pummeled, but if we press on with Jesus our Savior, we will experience victory.

Jesus has our six! We don’t need to go through life fearing a back stab, ambush, or surprise attack. For those licking their wounds after political defeat, remember, politics is important, but it is not the ultimate answer, Jesus and His Gospel is. You aren’t going to always have all the answers. Sometimes you’ll have to humbly admit that. Sometimes you will have to leave the fray, pray, and better prepare yourself for next time. The trials of defeat are some of the best motivations for better preparations. It isn’t that Jesus doesn’t have the answers we need. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). In Him are “hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). But there are times when we simply have to admit, “How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33). We are finite and falter. Better to be humble, admit your limitations, go to Jesus, grow more, regroup, and return stronger. There are times for retreat, so we can fight another day.

So, I encourage you to enlist as one of God’s warriors. Jesus is watching out for us. You don’t have to be perfect to enlist in His army, you just have to be willing; you just need to exert a little faith. If we are taken by surprise, if we are stumped by a question or forcefully shut up, with Jesus by our side, we are promised ultimate victory. “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). We know what the final chapter has His victory celebration. Yes, Jesus has our six, He has our six, our twelve, our three and our nine. Jesus has us covered in every direction. His grace is sufficient. Trust Jesus for the blind spots and keep following Him. Take a step of faith. Be one of God’s warriors. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

[1] Matthew 17:20; Psalm 18:29

[2] Matthew 28:18

[3] Matthew 28:18-20

[4] Jude 3-4

[5] 1 Corinthians 10:31

[6] John 13:35; 15:13

[7] Matthew 28:20

[8] 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 3

[9] https://hymnary.org/text/a_mighty_fortress_is_our_god_a_bulwark#google_vignette

[10] See 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

[11] https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/trump-threatens-nigeria-with-us-military-action-if-it-doesnt-confront-killings-of-christians-5938489

[12] https://www.opendoorsus.org/en-US/stories/10-most-dangerous-places-Christian/?gad_source=5&gad_campaignid=22295892143&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn-Kf_ZfqkAMVUEL_AR1g4yOuEAAYASAAEgIGG_D_BwE