pushing back the darkness

I’m reading the book of Joshua right now. Whether New or Old Testament, there are lessons to be gleaned on taking possession of the land God has given title to; just because God gave us the title to the land, doesn’t mean we automatically get to live there. We have to fight for that, or for those of you that would like a less militaristic note to sound, we must “labor” or “contend”. But truly, there is opposition and that means struggle.

Even Jesus comments on the nature of the spiritual violence that takes place in Matthew 11:11-12, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force.”
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At the cross, the enemy was vanquished. Title to the earth was reclaimed. But we still have to push back the darkness from stubborn occupiers no less than did Joshua or the Apostle Paul. Until Christ’s return we must fight to take possession of our land of promise.

So what does fighting look like in the kingdom of God? Well, a good first clue is that Jesus said in John 15:5, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” It all starts with Jesus. He is the foundation stone upon which we build. In the last year of my being district attorney, I felt deeply impressed that the key to my success was in my ability to hear God’s voice. Now, almost a decade later, I am all the more convinced of that. Hearing God has always been at the core of our fight to obtain God’s calling upon our lives.

And it’s awfully tough to hear God’s voice whilst careening through life. Jesus refused to careen – even when the applause was at its loudest and the crowds at their largest. He was always willing to push “pause” and step away to the mountain to hear His Father God. If Jesus had to do this – shouldn’t you? Are you pushing the pause button? The devil does not want you hearing God’s voice. He’s even willing to give you gifts of success to keep you from it. They are just not the gifts God has for you. 

Let me encourage you to live that examined life and ask yourself the question, “Am I even listening for the voice of God in my endeavors?” Or, like so many, are you just careening through life, on autopilot, too busy and burdened to listen; stuck doing business like everyone else? Whose voice exactly is whispering to you that you are too busy to hang out with God? Duh…
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In the kingdom of God, there is nothing more important than hearing and meditating on the voice of God and His word, for in that, God tells us in Joshua 1, will we find our true success.

Wes Lane
President, Salt and Light Leadership Training (SALLT)

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