Dear Ones:
What comes to mind when one thinks of a flood? For me, it is the matter of being “overwhelmed.” It speaks of the destructive power, and authority, of water, to break into, down, and reduce to nothing. But what about “stemming the flood?” What comes to mind? Impossibility? Powerless? Helplessness? If we were not Christians, we would be left with our own resources to face the flood…the flood of our enemy, the enemy of Christ. But being Christian, let us remember the One who parted the Red Sea, the Jordan, who stilled the storm by a word. He alone has the power and authority to stem the power and authority, and destructive capacity of the spiritual flood. “…When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the SPIRIT OF THE LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” (Is.59:19) Here we have God, by the Spirit, stemming the spiritual darkness in the form of a flood…It seems to overwhelm all in its path, but then, there is the intervention of HIM who is more powerful, possessing more authority. Indeed, it is He who possess ALL authority. The question then becomes: Who is the man or the woman who can trust Him to do such? In the verses that lead up to this declaration, we find written: “And He (The Lord) saw that there was NO man, and wondered that there was NO intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto him; and His righteous, it sustained Him.” (Is. 59:16) The point is this. God looks for a man or a woman who will stand in the gap, who will BE an intercessor for Him, one who will truly pray in faith. But, if He cannot find such, in His mercy, He will intervene. For nothing, and no one shall thwart His purposes.
How does the Lord portray Himself, and also, the one who is to be His intercessor, effective, enduring, and overcoming? “For He will put on RIGHTEOUSNESS as a breastplate.” (Is. 59:17) The first thing is putting on the perfect righteousness of Christ, relying ONLY on His righteousness. The second thing, “the helmet of salvation upon his head.” It is imperative that one grasps the victory…the work of Christ, victorious over all the power of the enemy. “…Put on the garments of vengeance for clothing…” Warfare is no easy endeavor, indeed, it is a struggle…a fight. The true intercessor must be prepared, and committed, to fight. Lastly, “…clad with zeal as with a cloke.” The energy, and force of commitment, must be realized by the power and strength of the Giver of “all power and authority.” “We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender; We go not forth alone against the foe; Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender, We rest on Thee, and in Thy name we go.” (E.G. Cherry)
May God give us grace today to “stand and withstand,” in prayer, in faith, believing God, the very God who commands waves and wind, to command the powers of darkness affecting our lives, and those whom the Lord has put upon our hearts, to be divided, to dissipate, and to disappear. Let us remember that, “…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 Jn. 3:8) And let us go forth in full assurance of faith, believing God for His grace so that we learn how to pray, to stand, to withstand…until we see His intervention, His glory revealed. “God is faithful.”
Love, Dad