ENCOURAGEMENT IN THE BATTLE

Gaining Ground, Feeling the Heat
Mark Faggion, 10:00pm on January 22, 2007

Psalm 128:1 - Blessed is the man everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways..."

As I interact with many of you who have attended the bootcamp, I am hearing a consistent theme - "I am making progress, but in some ways it has become more difficult."  Should we be surprised?  Not really.  As we sharpen one another and commit before the Lord to take serious steps toward change, the world, the flesh, and the devil have not taken any vacation time.  

THE FLESH - As we grow and pursue change, our flesh will not like it - AND in reality - there are probably blindspots we have that will need to be exposed to the Light of Day.  The more we grow, the more we see that we have more growing to do.  Only in the fear of the Lord can we find and endure the humility we must have to be transformed by the work of God's Spirit.

THE WORLD - As we seek to walk in the fear of the Lord, we cannot help but increasingly buck the world's system.  That can bring derision and even hardship - at work and at home.  God's wisdom is foolishness to man.  Man's wisdom is foolishness to God.  We aren't different for different's sake.  We are different because we are walking away from the world and toward the Savior.

THE DEVIL - Ever experience what I call the "Elijah Syndrome"?  You have a tremendous victory - maybe in ministry, maybe is some new insight or awareness from the Lord - and then you crash - become down and discouraged.  The Enemy of our souls hates the fact that you spend any time considering what the Lord calls you to as a man.  I'm not sure if the Enemy is directly working to bring us down after a victory, but he certainly doesn't like it.  The Enemy wants you to remain an androgenous being content to wallow in the milk toast bath of mediocre spirituality dished up by all of the "professionals" steeped in worldly wisdom and sophistry.

And guess what?  Our families - the wife and children we love dearly - the ones we are seeking to lead and love - are also facing the same three obstacles.  As we change, they might not like the changes because it sheds light on their need to change!  This is especially true in our marriages where old patterns are tough to break.  As you seek to break sinful patterns, your spouse may resist - not because they don't want you to change - but because they cannot see their own part in the pattern.

Therefore, are you fearing the Lord?  Are you humbling yourself before Him - asking Him to change you, lead you, empower you?  Are you being open and honest with those holding you accountable?  Are you making yourself accountable?  If not, how will you be able to withstand the enemies of your soul and see the changes that the Lord wants for you?

AND have you reviewed the Forging A Head material with your family?  I urge you to do so, if you have not already.  You have your notebooks.  You can get the PowerPoint slides and Facilitation Notes here on the site.  Many of you have the audio CDs - and you can always order them on this site, if needed.  Help your family to grow in their understanding as you seek to lead them in fear of the Lord.

Do not give up.  Be strong.  It is all worth it - even if you feel like you are running from Queen Jezebel and hiding out somewhere being fed by some birds.

Joshua 1:6-9:  "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Be strong and courageous as God leads you in His ways. And by the way, have you connected with your accountability person?  Have you put that Road Map in a conspicuous (albeit personal) place?