Stand and Be Strong and Brave

 

Isa 7:4 “'Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted for these two stubs of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and the son of Remaliah.  5 'Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have plotted evil against you, saying,  6 "Let us go up against Judah and trouble it, and let us make a gap in its wall for ourselves, and set a king over them, the son of Tabel" - 7 'thus says the Lord GOD: "It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass.

Remember those little brown things on a stick that you lit and then let smolder using them to light the fuses on your firecrackers. They are called “punks.” God was telling King Ahaz) That  Rezin and Pekah were punks!  They were not to be feared. Their plans would not stand and they would not come to pass.

 

Something worthwhile noting here too, that God was present in their war room when they were making their plans. He knew exactly what they were up to and of course this battle strategy is as old as the hills, but also very effective. Make a gap in the wall, penetrate the city and force the enemy to fight on two fronts.

This is a strategy of the devil in spiritual warfare as well, and we in the church would do well to pay attention to it. The gap in the wall in spiritual warfare is compromise with the world. Once the church starts allowing the world in, the world starts to dictate what’s right and what’s wrong, the gap is created and the compromised church is given over to a king (pastors, spiritual leaders) who are simple pawns of the world. (make that the devil’s) choosing. They are leaders who won’t rock the boat with truths of Scripture  or seek to roll back the compromises.

Beware of these gaps! Be on the lookout for them. The attempt at forced compromise is increasing every day. The pressure is mounting but you and I must remain steadfast! The Holy Spirit tells us in 1Co 16:13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. This is what it’s going to take. Are you ready? Remember, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Phil 4:13)