Choosing the right side in spiritual warfare is the focal point of today's discussion. We delve into the idea that while we may remain neutral in earthly conflicts, we cannot afford to do so in the unseen battles that surround us. It is crucial to recognize that inaction equates to choosing darkness, while intentional action represents choosing God's side. We explore how to equip ourselves with the necessary spiritual tools, emphasizing continuous effort and commitment to our faith. As we navigate these challenges, we are reminded that every choice we make places us either as collaborators or as resistance fighters in the kingdom of God.
Takeaways:
This episode emphasizes the importance of choosing a side in spiritual warfare, as neutrality is not an option.
We are reminded that spiritual battles are ongoing, and we must actively engage in them.
C.S. Lewis's quote about choosing the right side serves as a pivotal point in our discussion.
The analogy of the French Resistance illustrates the necessity of active participation in faith.
We are challenged to recognize that doing nothing equates to choosing darkness rather than light.
Living as a resistance fighter in faith requires courage and a commitment to God's values.
Hi. Welcome to the Hobo Soul podcast of road advice from the Bible. And from me, Yvon Prehn, someone who's a little further down the road of life.
I'll talk to you every weekday for about five to 10 minutes, with periodic longer talks on serious Saturdays. Let's get started with our topic today, which is
Speaker B:
Episode number 19, Choose the Right Side.
The wars going on in our world are troubling, but even more significant is the unseen spiritual warfare raging around us and inside us.
We might be able to remain neutral in earthly wars, but we can't in spiritual ones. And in this episode, I'll help you choose the right side today.
Our quote comes from C.S.Lewis, where he says,
"Now is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us a chance, and it won't last forever. We must take it or leave it."
Now here's our challenge.
"Our world is at war with the powers of darkness, and we can't choose to sit on the sidelines. To do nothing means to choose darkness. To choose the right side, God's side takes continual, purposeful action. Be brave and choose to do right now."
Here's my commentary on what we just heard. We don't often think of our Christian lives as being part of a battle.
Very few sermons to get people to become Christians end with something like this--
If you want to be involved in spiritual battles and for life to become really, really hard, choose to follow Jesus.
You probably don't hear that, but you should. Whether you heard it or not. This reality of spiritual warfare going on is something we need to remember.
We need to think about if we want to survive in the Christian life.
When we're in the middle of challenges, temptations, and the tragedies of life, we need to remember in Ephesians 6:12, it tells us, "For we're 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."
Did you hear that? There is a reason life is so hard for you.
As a Christian, C.S.Lewis helps explain why this is when he says, "We are in enemy occupied territory. That is what this world is.Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise and is calling us to take part in a great campaign of sabotage."
I love this quote because it reminds me of how we're like the French Resistance in Paris at the end of World War II.
,:
That was over three months between Victory One and and their personal realization of it. And during those three months, the Nazi occupation of Paris threatened to destroy the city completely.
And so, as they had during the past four years of German occupation, the French resistance army in Paris continued to fight. They could not quit because of the success of D day. They had to stay strong. They worked hard to encourage others. Victory is coming! We will be liberated! was their message.
And that message was lived out in action. They set up clandestine printing presses. They published newsletters and posters.
They operated secret wireless radio channels to keep people encouraged. The, you might say the podcasting of their day.
History records their communications, in addition to their overt actions, kept others encouraged fighting and ultimately victorious. Though their guerrilla tactics and communication projects might appear small in the larger scheme of war, they were vital to the overall victory.
They knew if they were caught, torture, imprisonment, and death awaited them. Resistance fighters were not given the honor of a captured soldier when they were caught. They were brutalized by the German army that they'd successfully defeated again and again. A number of resistance fighters committed suicide in prison rather than give up the names of their comrades.
We fight as a resistance army of the kingdom of God in a world where Jesus won the final victory on the cross, but where our rightful king has not yet taken possession of the land. To help us do that, the apostle Paul goes on to tell us how to fight in the rest of Ephesians 6, where he says, "Be prepared.You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words.
Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's word is an indispensable weapon in the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare.
Pray hard and long."
That's how the Message translation puts what's called the armor of God. To live like this will never be easy.
To learn to use the weapons God has given you, to apply them, to get deeply into God's word and pray without ceasing to train in your spiritual life as hard as athletes do in Crossfit gyms. It'll never be easy.
But again, the stories of the French resistance are instructive here because not everyone joined them. Not everyone paid a price.
Not everyone was against the Nazis. When Germany took control, some cooperated. They were known as collaborators. For a time, might made right the easy way seemed the prudent way.
Collaborators sided with the Nazis. It may have started as simply not standing up for a Jewish neighbor. For some, it progressed until the oppressed betrayed and sometimes killed friends and neighbors now labeled enemies by Germany. Perhaps the money was too good, perhaps their fear too great. Collaboration seemed like the smart thing to do. Until it was not.
Collaborators do well when a war is raging. They are despised when it is over.
While we wait for the final victory, the choice is yours as to how you want to live.
Being a resistance fighter will never be easy in your struggles in the dark nights of the soul, in the little compromises you want to make. But no, you can't.
In the people you choose to be with or not, who will affirm the values of the Kingdom of God, or who might move you away from them
When you want to sleep in rather than go to church for the strengthening and encouragement you get from it. It's never easy to choose the right side.
To be a collaborator, all you have to do is go along with your desires with the easy and fun values of this world. Even if you feel a bit of a murmuring guilt when you do, that's a much easier way to live. For now, maybe.
But one day the victory Jesus won on the cross will be a blazing reality over all the earth, as his Kingdom will truly come. How do you want to meet him? Collaborator or resistance fighter?
As our opening quote reminded us, now is our chance to to choose the right side.
That's all for this podcast, for transcripts, links to related material, and much more to help you learn to know, trust, apply and teach the Bible. Go to www.bible805.com for now, let me end with this benediction and prayer.
May you walk each day surrounded by the gracious love of the Father, guided by the gentle wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and conscious of the astoundingly real presence of Jesus, who will walk with you until you're no more a hollow soul, no more a transient wandering heart, but at home in the kingdom prepared for you with your God forever. Amen.
