“If you faint in the day of adversity your strength is small” Proverbs 24:10.

In the light of all the dangers and horrible hostilities that we are faced with these days, where are the men and women of valor who will dare to be as David, Gideon or Joshua was who were successful in facing down the enemy in their day?

What powerful description the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews gives when he writes:

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection” Hebrews 11:30-35.

There is a continuous emphasis throughout the Scriptures stressing the need to be strong and courageous for those who as true believers want to stand up for the Lord and His Word in these evil times where men and women increasingly have become filled with venomous rebellion and evil in their fight against God and His standards. Most of us therefore are fearful or afraid as even God’s own people were during the time of David when Goliath was openly mocking them “and all the men of Israel when they saw the man (Goliath), fled from him and were dreadfully afraid” 1 Samuel 17:24.

God admonished Gideon when He said: “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor” Judges 6:12.

He admonished Joshua in the valley of Jericho when He said: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage: do not be afraid, not be dismayed for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go” Joshua 1:9.

And the Apostle Paul tells the believers: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” Ephesians 6:10.

Over against these words of power and courage, how feeble seems the response of most believers to be these days, afraid to really stand up for the Lord and His truth under the avalanche of all those whose gospel is the political correctness of our day and age, rebelliousness against God and His Word.

This all prevailing spirit we believers find ourselves up against in our walk with and service to the Lord is strongly and prophetically described by Paul (Romans 1:18-32) and Jude (Jude 1:5-18) and we do well to take notice of the severity of these words. Comparing them with most utterances of the clergy and priests of our day, they are uniquely uncompromising! Some of these utterances would be classified in our day and age as ‘hate speech’, worthy of imprisonment!! Oh, how God seeks servants who are willing to be His channels and instruments in this hour!

This desire of God is so powerfully expressed in 2 Chronicles 16:9 even if we first feel in need of more courage to so and say what we know to be our task and duty, there is nothing wrong in turning in spite of our own insufficiency and awareness of our inadequateness with all or our hearts to the Lord who can then become our strength and our song to win the battle. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” 2 Chronicles 16:9. May we all so – like God’s servants of old – strengthen ourselves, as David also did, in the strength of the Lord and see fantastic battles won even as the author of Hebrews relates:

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection” Hebrews 11:30-35.

 

Jan Willem van der Hoeven, Director
International Christian Zionist Center

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Republished with the kind permission of Author Jan Willem van der Hoeven, Director of International Christian Zionist Center.

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