Not coincidentally, I began a new sermon series last Sunday. I call it "Giving No Ground," base on Ephesians 6:10-20. I chose that title due to the repeated emphasis in the passage on either standing or withstanding the onslaught of the enemy of the soul, the devil.
It just so "happened" that I had come to that point before our weeks of revival emphasis. I had been preaching through the book of Ephesians and stopped at 6:9. How's that for timing?
Also, I was aware that after revival, some in our church would begin to feel acute spiritual opposition and warfare. As I was researching material for this Sunday's sermon on being armed with the Lord's armor, I found these statements from George Mallone in his book, Arming For Spiritual Warfare. They are enlightening and encouraging. I post them here with the prayerful hope that they will encourage some reader as well:
When Jesus sees illness, he never treats it as something good for the person, but rather he heals it. On the other hand, when he speaks of persecution, he treats it as something necessary in the course of history, something to be endured rather than avoided (Mark 13:9-13; John 15:18-27. He commands his disciples to heal the sick (Luke 10:9; Mark 6:7-13) and to endure suffering and rejection (Matthew 5:10-12).[1]
…Every time I heard from God and obeyed his voice, I was rocking the boat- and persecution came. I now believe all of us are at our best when we are receiving some degree of opposition, especially when we are attempting to expand the kingdom of God.[2]
In other words, kingdom expansion and spiritual warfare through persecution go hand in hand.[3]
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