When we stand in God's strength, we are on alert for the Body of Christ. Instead of helping the devil tear down the Body, we completely quench his flaming missiles with the light of God.
However, there are many people looking for the shout to produce the light in their lives instead of letting the light and joy in their lives produce the shout!
They think emotion and excitement will produce light in them. But the light of God is available to us right now. We don't need to shout, scream and beg to get it. All we need to do is put on the armor of light, and the light will produce the shout.
Romans 13:12 says, "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." The armor of light on you blinds Satan. Light comes from all around, and he can't tell whether it's you or God.
Don't turn off the light and begin to stand in your own strength!
I've heard people say, "Bless God, if it kills me, I'm going to get healed." Well, you are going to die, because you are standing in your own strength. Strength comes from God, not from the way you do things. It's the Father in you who should do the work.
Jesus said, "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me" (John 5:30). Again in the Garden of Gethsemane He said, "Father…not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42).
Jesus did not enjoy the terrible things that were done to Him. He was punched in the face and spit on. His beard was pulled out and a crown of thorns was placed on His head. A scarlet cloak was thrown over Him and they kicked dust in His face and mocked Him.
He didn't like any of that, but He did it so that you and I could have the light of life…His glorious life of redemption.
In the midst of spit, blood, cursing and degradation, He said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). That took strength. Jesus was standing in the strength of His Father.
Preaching The Gospel
There have been times I've thought I'd hung on a cross. I've had people wag their heads at me, spit, scream, and holler. I've had people pull knives on me. My first thoughts were, "I could have stayed home. I don't need this mess. I don't have to put up with this trash."
The Lord said, "Preach the Gospel." So I stood in the strength of God. That makes all the difference.
Now my flesh didn't like it, but that' s all right. My flesh will never like anything I do when it comes to the Spirit of God.
Romans 7:18 says," For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." So instead of trying to appease my flesh, I just crucify it daily.
Whatever you preach, you should produce.
You can talk your talk, but what is going to happen when the test comes? Anyone can get angry and sin. Your flesh wants to sin. You might get aggravated and feel like your wife is running you up a tree.
You think, "That's it, Jack, I'm gonna get me a bottle of booze and slowly slide down this tree." That's when you must crucify your flesh and say, "No, I'll not do that, in the name of Jesus." Does your confession become your possession?
Like I said, whatever you preach, you should produce.
The strength of God is joy, and the joy of the Lord is your strength. If you are standing in the strength of God, joy should be evident in your life. Let God's light and joy be your strength. Because with it, you'll not only be able to quench the enemy's flaming missiles, you'll then be able to shout about it as well!
Excerpt permission granted by Faith Library Publications