We have more on our side than they have on theirs!
Song: Earth rejoice our Lord is King.
Earth rejoice our lord is king - YouTube
Second book of Kings, Chapter 6: verses 8 to 23.
Song: For I’m building a people of power.
For I'm Building a People of Power (Achor Music Ministry) [with lyrics for congregations] - YouTube
Many of us enjoy a good espionage movie. The world of the undercover agent holds a fascination for us. I suspect that in reality it is a less glamorous and more dangerous world than the films, and our imagination can suppose.
Espionage is not a new phenomenon. Warring factions have always wanted to know what their enemies were going to do next.
Something over 2500 years ago, the king of Syria was annoyed because everything he did, the Israelites seemed to know in advance. He accused his officers of spying, of letting his secrets be known to the enemy. But they responded “It’s not us boss! It’s that bloke Elisha. He can tell the King of Israel everything you do, even in your own house.
So the King made plans to capture him, top prevent his espionage; but all did not go according to plan. He had Elisha surrounded, to the extent that when his servant woke up and looked out, he reported to Elisha “We’re doomed boss. What can we do?”
However, Elisha was not bothered. “”Don’t worry.” he responded “We have more on our side than they have on theirs.” A strange thing to say, but he was speaking spiritually. He showed his servant the army of fiery chariots, ready to defend them against the earthly forces.
Elisha was a man who lived by faith as we would say today. He had a tremendous faith that God was with him, and would save him from the perils he faced.
As history has unfolded, there have been many people who have similarly found themselves to be surrounded by the enemy in what seemed to be an impossible situation. In spite if these problems, they have had faith that “We have more on our side that they have on theirs” and have triumphed in God’s name.
It doesn’t always seem like this does it? We often feel that we are a struggling few, making no impression, desperately trying to stop a bad situation from getting worse. But remember, even though we may meet in small groups, across the U.K., in normal times, there are hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of people in church every Sunday. We are part of something Huge, and across the world, those numbers are multiplied many times.
And yet, much of our lives are occupied in a struggle against evil. Perhaps on a small scale, and yet we all play our part. But there are so many times when we feel that we are on our own, that we are unequal to the task, that we can make no difference. This is when we must remember that “We have more on our side than they have on theirs”
Some years ago, I was listening to the local radio station, and there was a visitor speaking. His theme was that Jesus was alive, and visited the earth in a flying saucer. From this description you may know the society that this speaker represented. I contacted the station, concerned that no counter view had been put, and that the speaker had been allowed to present his views unchallenged.
The next day I was invited to appear on the show. I arrived at the station and, after a brief introduction, was asked, liver on air “Well Mr Youdan, as a scientist, what is your explanation of flying saucers?” After a sudden panic, I realised that I was not on my own, and was enabled to answer this, and other similar questions, before turning the conversation on to the direction of Christianity and my faith.
The help is there, we must look for it in our lives, in the situations we encounter, expecting to find it.
Even with this knowledge, it is not always easy and we can feel that we are isolated, the only Christian in the meeting, in the workplace, on the street. We are never alone. “We have more on our side than they have on theirs.” God loves us so much that his son in always available for advice, guidance and assistance.
At the moment, unable to meet as we would like, deprived of access to friends and families, we may feel even more isolated and powerless than at other times. This time will pass, and we will be restored to one another, able to meet freely. But until then, “We have more on our side than they have on theirs.”
Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank you that you see us right where we are, in the midst of our pain and struggle, in the middle of our desert land. Thank you that you have not forgotten us and never will. Forgive us for not trusting you, for doubting your goodness, or not believing you’re really there. We choose to set our eyes on you today. We choose joy and peace when the whispered lies come and say that we should have no joy or peace. Thank you that you care for us and your love over us is so great. We confess our need for you. Fill us fresh with your Spirit, renew our hearts and minds in your truth. We ask for your hope and comfort to continue to heal our hearts where they’ve been broken. Give us the courage to face another day, knowing that with you before us and behind us, we have nothing to fear.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Song: I’ll go in the strength of the Lord.
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