Overcoming Spiritual Opposition: The Battle for Your Calling
Ezra 4-5; 1 Corinthians 12; Proverbs 4
There will always be opposition to the Word of the Lord. After all, we are in a war. It is kingdom against kingdom, just as Jesus said. And so, if you find yourself in a wrestling match, do not lose hope. Do not despair. Fight! Fight to keep hold of the Word. Fight to keep hold of the promise.
Ephesians 6 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
If you have somehow bought into the religious deception that many churches and believers espouse today, namely that our faith is mostly about prosperity and comfort and pleasure, then I daresay, you have a rude awakening coming. I wonder if the reason people lose their faith is because their faith was never Biblically rooted from the beginning. For we need only to look at the cross to see the violence toward our God, toward the truth.
And were we not told that the way would require us to deny ourselves and pick up our cross?
This call isn’t hidden in the fine print. Jesus is clear. It’s our pulpits and Christian authors that confuse us. Somehow, rather than preaching the faith handed down, we have preached and nodded to another way, a wider, cross-free path.
The wider path is big business.
But there is only one way to be saved! And it is narrow. His name is Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The veil separating us from our Father has been once and for all torn. And we have access! But we must go through. Access has been granted, but we must go through.
How do we do it?
We must deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Jesus. We must wrestle. First, we wrangle our own heart. We must deal with the opposition toward the Lord in our own heart. And this, as you know, is no small feat. We must put down our personal ambitions, preferences, and desires. We must come to our senses and see our helpless state. We must decide that we want God more than all else. Jesus told us plainly, we must deny ourselves. And we must. This is the only way.
This is the first opposition. We, our very selves, are the first enemy that must be conquered. But friends, you know this, or I hope you do, this is not the end of the opposition. Once we deal with the enemy within, we are immediately assaulted by the enemy without.
We are in a war! Kingdom against kingdom. And you have a real enemy. You have a real accuser. Don’t be surprised when opposition comes. If you can, prepare your heart now. Get ready!
As I write this, I’m remembering a conversation I had with a friend after I returned from some international trip. To be honest I don’t even remember what exactly I was returning from, but I was sharing about how pummeled I got. I was bringing some region together for prayer or evangelism, and I got beat up pretty good emotionally and spiritually. I must have been complaining about it. Anyway, I don’t remember my specifics, but I remember what my friend said to me because it cut to the heart. He said, “Leah, what did you expect?” It was more of a statement than a question. Oh, and it did what only the word of the Lord can do. It divided between bone and marrow. It exposed my theology and error. The Word of the Lord does that.
What was I expecting? Red carpet?
We are in a war. Kingdom against kingdom. We need to prepare our hearts. Because the Lord has real enemies, and if we are carrying the Word of the Lord for our families, and churches, and regions, then we will experience the opposition coming at Him. Right? We need to prepare.
This week we started the book of Ezra, and it’s about the process of building and keeping hold of the word of the Lord. They started the process of rebuilding the Temple, and they were stopped by opposition. They were threatened and intimidated. And then the prophets began to prophesy! Thank God for the true prophetic. Thank God for those who fearlessly release the Word of the Lord. Raise them up in our day, Lord. Raise us up!
Ezra 5 5 Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.
After a long period of discouragement and delay, the work continued! They kept going, and so must we. We must keep at it.
If the Lord has called you, and He has, then you must keep at it! Maybe you are building your family, or maybe the Lord has asked you to launch a business, or to serve in a specific ministry. Whatever the call, whatever the promise, expect opposition. First from within, and then from without. Don’t give into despair. Don’t believe the enemy. Pick up your cross, and follow Jesus. We may get battered along the way, but one thing is certain, if we will follow Him, He will most certainly lead us in His triumphant procession. He will most certainly lead us into victory.
Keep on.
Deepening Faith: Reflective Journal Prompts
- Reflect on a time when you faced opposition while pursuing a calling or commitment to the Lord. How did you respond, and what did you learn about trusting God in the midst of the battle?
- Consider the concept of denying oneself as Jesus taught. Identify one area in your life where self-denial could lead to deeper spiritual growth. How can you begin to implement this change?
- Ephesians 6:12 highlights our struggle is not against flesh and blood. Journal about any current situations in your life that feel like spiritual warfare. How can you apply the armor of God to these situations?
- The rebuilding of the Temple in Ezra faced significant opposition. Reflect on a project or mission God has placed on your heart. What opposition have you or do you anticipate facing, and how does God’s word encourage you to persevere?
- Contemplate the narrow path Jesus speaks of that leads to life. How does this concept challenge the broader cultural or even religious norms you encounter? Write about how you can more fully embrace and walk this narrow path in your daily life.
No matter the time of year, it’s never too late to start reading through the Bible with us. We invite you to join our community and embark on this enriching experience. You can access the reading schedule here to get started today. Explore the timeless wisdom of Scripture, grow in your faith, and engage in meaningful discussions with fellow readers. Don’t miss out on this incredible journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth.
Embark on a transformative journey with us by joining our mailing list. As a subscriber, you’ll receive heartfelt devotionals, insightful updates, and inspiration. Together, we’ll deepen our faith, connect on a deeper level, and embrace life’s beauty. Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of our close-knit community. Let’s start this faith-filled journey together. Subscribe today and let’s go after God with all of our hearts.
Additionally, we are excited to introduce “Prayer Altars” — our new initiative that embodies the belief that prayer alters our reality! In these intimate groups of 2-3, we’re fostering a revival in our everyday lives and surroundings. Our mission is to cultivate deeper connections with God and each other, united in communion and guided by the Lord’s Prayer. Build your Prayer Altar to experience firsthand how prayer can transform not just your life, but also the lives of those around you. Learn more and join the movement here.
