To The Rescue

Has someone ever come to your rescue at just the right moment? Could be that you were being defamed without even knowing and someone spoke up, staunchly defending you. Maybe you’re feeling seriously misunderstood and someone worth listening to backs your idea, giving it credence. Could be that you’re struggling with that voice in your own head causing you to doubt yourself and someone sends you a message reminding you that you’re valued, loved, needed.

All these and more are roles of the Holy Spirit for every child of God. Sometimes we are on the receiving end and sometimes we’re prompted to be the giver but either way, God is at work, speaking life and truth into His creation. We are not without enemies in this world, as Jesus reminded His first followers, (John 15:18) but we do not fight man to man. Our battle is with unearthly powers and we are ill-equipped without the armor of God, which is readily available and perfectly fitted for our use and protection.

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.

Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.

For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Ephesians 6:12-17 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.6.12-17.NLT

Our struggles are part of a greater cosmic struggle that began before creation. When we assume that removing something or someone from our lives will bring us peace, we are mistaken. Peace is only found in Christ. If we think joy and happiness can be found in possessions or people, we will only be disappointed. We try to find rest in sleep or relaxation but our true rest is in God alone. Our souls know this and we are restless as long as we seek satisfaction outside of Him. He has been fighting for us since before we were born, and He fights for us still. At the end of all time, there won’t be a struggle at all. Christ will appear victorious, judgement will be meted out, and all things will be made new.

We do have an enemy. He is known by many names. Satan, the devil masquerading as an angel of light, the accuser of the brethren, the serpent, the great dragon. His fate is sealed so he prowls about like a caged lion seeking to devour all in his path. (I Peter 5:8) Though he is opportunistically indiscriminate, his story is written and it is unchangeable. Yours and mine is not. We triumph over him by the blood of the Lamb and by our testimony. We are not those who shrink back.

“But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction.

We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.”

Hebrews 10:39 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.10.39.NLT

“Then war broke out in heaven.

Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.

But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.

The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.

He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah.

For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them!

But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you!

He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.””

Revelation 12:7-12 NIV

https://bible.com/bible/111/rev.12.10-12.NIV

“Who then is the one who condemns?

No one.

Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

Romans 8:34 NIV

https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.8.34.NIV

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.

And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Romans 8:1-4 NIV

https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.8.1-4.NIV

“Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.”

Galatians 5:25-26 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.5.25-26.NLT

“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Let’s not get tired of doing what is good.

At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.”

Galatians 6:2, 9-10 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.6.2-10.NLT