#332 The Battle for Justice Is Uphill w/ Treniss Evans

1 Thessalonians 5:14-18

”We appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, to instruct those who are not in their place of battle. Be skilled at gently encouraging those who feel themselves inadequate. Be faithful to stand your ground. Help the weak to stand again. Be quick to demonstrate patience with everyone. Resist revenge, and make sure that no one pays back evil in place of evil but always pursue doing what is beautiful to one another and to all the unbelievers. Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.“

Yesterday’s assassination of Charlie Kirk is a horrific reminder that we are still very much at war. Our enemy is not human but spiritual. This is a time where we have to draw closer to the Lord for comfort, strength, wisdom and for an instruction on where we are to be standing in the battle. We also need to draw closer to one another, encourage one another, help each other and just as soldiers do - to get back into our spiritual battle stations and do the work that the Lord has specifically instructed and purposed for us to do. It’s going to take all of us. No one gets to sit on the sidelines. As I think of the heartbreaking and shocking events we have witnessed just in the last few days I’m reminded of the prayer the apostles prayed after the first wrongful arrest of Peter and John. So let me pray it over each of us. It’s from Acts 4:29-30 and it says, so now Lord, listen to their threats to harm us. Empower us, as your servants to speak the word of God freely and courageously. Stretch out your hand of power through us to heal, and to move and signs and wonders by the name of your holy Son, Jesus. 

The passage goes on in verse 31 to say -- At that moment the earth shook beneath them causing the building they were in to tremble. Each one of them was filled with the Holy Spirit and they proclaimed the word of God with unrestrained boldness. So in the same way, may the Lord fill us all with unrestrained boldness needed to accomplish His purposes in the earth.