Facing Our Enemy

I believe that anyone that reads this today is going to be fully aware of the darkness that has flooded our wonderful nation.  Months ago we were faced with a pandemic that swept around the world.  It reached our shores sickening almost two million people and killing tens of thousands.  Our government reacted by doing what they believed to be the best for us all, based on the little knowledge they had.  History will eventually reveal if what was done was for the best or not.  For the last few weeks states have started to open back up slowly, people are coming out of their homes and trying to live again.  But many businesses have been destroyed and millions of people need to get back to work in order to pay their bills and feed their families.  

But completely aside from all the sick and dead as a result of this virus, there is all the carnage that is not really being discussed.  There are people so disheartened from the loss of their jobs, financial issues, and the unnatural state of being “sheltered in place” for such an extended time, the number of suicides have skyrocketed – even young people that desire and need to be in social situations are succumbing to suicide because they have been cut off from their friends.  The incidences of spousal abuse and child abuse has risen to horrible levels.  People are anxious – having panic attacks.  People are depressed and trying to resolve that with stronger and stronger medications.  Alcohol use has risen.  Drug abuse has risen as a way to escape and resulted in many deaths from overdoses.  The enemy that walks around seeking to kill, steal and destroy us is truly in his glory right now.

As things were starting to improve the enemy struck again.  I would venture that everyone has seen the video that came to light a fews days ago showing a police officer acting in the most horrific way a person of trust should never act.  The result of his actions cost a man his life and caused outrage all over our nation.  We now have a nation of people with pent-up depression, distress and anger that want to express their feelings about this injustice.  As Americans we have a God-given right and a constitutional right to voice our opinions and people wanted to do that.  However, the opportunity to peacefully speak out turned and turned quickly from protest to anarchy.  Unfortunately, there are those that are at the ready to go into places of unrest and turn a peaceful group to an outrageous, unruly mob in a matter of minutes.  They stir things up until the people are in a frenzy and destruction ensues.  This result has absolutely nothing to do with achieving justice for the person and his family that was wronged.      

To turn on our televisions and see cars and buildings being burned, businesses looted, police being derided and attacked, people being beaten almost to death adds more fuel to the fire of the people that are already on the brink of personal distress.  Fear sets into the hearts of people that do not know what is going to happen from minute to minute.  

What we MUST remember is that Satan uses anxiety, worry and fear as weapons against us that can cause unbelief.  When we become too anxious, worry too much or become fearful we give credence to the enemy that desires to harm us – we give him a foothold in our lives.  We forget to exercise our faith; but we must NEVER forget…our faith is SO much more powerful than the weapons that our enemy wields!  Our God is SO much more powerful than the enemy!!

Today is the day of Pentecost – the day in history when the disciples of Jesus Christ were gathered together waiting for God to visit them – to fill them with the promised power from the Holy Spirit.  Our God did not disappoint.  They were all filled with power and began to preach to those that gathered around them.  Many people were converted and the church began to grow and flourish.

As Christians, we have that same promised Holy Spirit within us, so we too have that same power that was given to the disciples of old.  We cannot allow that power to diminish by allowing our enemy to fill us with anxiety, worry, fear and unbelief.  We can and must stand up to him in faith praying for God to give us the strength we need to stay strong and then step away allowing God to move in and destroy the enemy.  He WILL fight the battle for us if we will only move out of the way!    

There is a church in Redding, CA called Bethel Church and out of that church has come a music ministry with a label for worship music called Bethel Music.  Their music is all phenomenal.  When I went for my walk this morning and was listening to worship music, there was one song in particular that caught my attention – it’s called “Raise A Hallelujah”.  I googled it when I got home and found the history of it so amazing.  I found the song on youtube and on that video before Jonathan David Hesler (the artist that wrote the song with some others) taught the song to the congregation at one of their services he told the story about where he got the inspiration for the song.  There was a family in their church that had a little boy that was seriously ill just a few days before Christmas and the church was praying for his healing.  A couple of weeks later Jonathan received a text from the boy’s father saying he was serious and might not make it through the night.  Jonathan said that after he read that message it was as though a giant of unbelief was standing in front of him and his thought was “Jaxon’s going to die tonight, I’m not going to see the miracle.”  He then tells about how as he was facing that giant of unbelief this song just started forming in him.  I hope I am not breaking any laws with this – I have given the appropriate credits below.  (I did take the liberty of not showing a few of the repetitive lines), but I really want to share the words of the song with you and I would encourage you to go to youtube and search using the song title and listening to it because it is so very powerful.

“Raise A Hallelujah”

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm

Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar

Up from the ashes, hope will arise

Death is defeated, the King is alive!

I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me

I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee

I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery

I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm

Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar

Up from the ashes, hope will arise

Death is defeated, the King is alive!

Let’s sing a little louder (Let’s sing a little louder)

Sing a little louder (In the presence of my enemies)

Sing a little louder (Louder than the unbelief)

Sing a little louder (My weapon is a melody)

Sing a little louder (Heaven comes to fight for me)

Sing a little louder (In the presence of my enemies)

Sing a little louder (Louder than the unbelief)

Sing a little louder (My weapon is a melody)

Let’s sing a little louder (Heaven comes to fight for me)

Sing a little louder!!

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm

Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar

Up from the ashes, hope will arise

Death is defeated, the King is alive!

Oh, I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm

Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar

Up from the ashes, hope will arise

Death is defeated, the King is alive!

Just begin to raise your own hallelujah

I can’t do it for you

There’s a song written on your heart only you can sing

And when you sing enemies flee

When you sing prison walls come falling down

When you sing heaven invades the earth

So just begin to lift up your hallelujah

Raise it like a banner

Raise it like a flag

Raise it in the middle of the storm

Let it rise, let it rise

Like a symphony to the King

Everything needs Jesus

We raise it all up

Sing a little louder!!

Writers:  Johnathan David Helser, Melissa Helser, Molly Skaggs, Jake Stevens

Lyrics © BETHEL MUSIC PUBLISHING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by Lyric Find 

It does not matter if the giant standing before you and gripping your heart is anxiety, worry, fear or unbelief – we have the power – the power that is so much greater than anything the enemy can attempt to use against us.  We only have to pray, believe and move out in faith!  I hope that the scriptures I am going to share with you below will encourage you.  There are so many more that I could have shared but had to stop somewhere.  I encourage you to do a search for yourself to find the words that will give you faith and help you to dispel the weapons facing you.  And…Raise A Hallelujah!

Jesus speaking says:  “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”  John 10:10 NLT

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”  1 Peter 5:8 NLT

“Yes, be bold and strong! Banish fear and doubt! For remember, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9 TLB

“Do not be afraid—I am with you!  I am your God—let nothing terrify you!  I will make you strong and help you; I will protect you and save you.”  Isaiah 41:10 GNT

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”  Phillipians 4:6-7 The Message

Jesus speaking:  “I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.” John 14:25-27 The Message

Let today be your own personal day of Pentecost – allow the power of God to flow into your life – take control away from your enemy!  Face that enemy with prayer, praise and faith knowing that your God is able!

Written by Karran Martin – May 31, 2020 

P.S. I forgot to mention, shame on me, Jaxon recovered and is a beautiful little boy enjoying his life with his very grateful family and a praying, praising church of believers!