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Stand in the Breach

Like the pillar of cloud and fire separating the Egyptians from the Israelites at the Red Sea, God has always stood in the breach for us.  He had to as we could not, because of sin and selfishness, stand in the breach for ourselves.

I.  Ezekiel 22:24-30.  At the time of captivity, the nation of Judah had so fallen into sin that God says He searched for one to stand in the breach for them but found no one.  That’s mankind’s struggle as no one is righteous and all have fallen short because of sin (Romans 3:9-23).  God has always stood in the breach for us (Exodus 14:19-25) through power, but He declares that He will now do so through weakness (Ezekiel 34:11-16) and states that He Himself will be a good shepherd to us.

II.  John 10:11-15.  Jesus, God in the flesh, is our Good Shepherd, who lays His life down for us.  To stand in the breach against the forces of the enemy is a position of sacrifice for all those who He protects within the defensive fortification.  Jesus fufills the “Here am I, send me” of Isaiah 6:8 by willingly laying down His life on the cross (Hebrews 10:5-10) and stands in the breach caused by our sin.

III.  Ephesians 6:10-18.  Through His sacrifice, we are able to love like He has loved us and lay our lives down for others (John 12:23-26; John 13:34-38) and stand in the breach for a lost world (John 15:11-17).  Armed with His love as our ultimate weapon, we do not wage war as the world does (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).  So, it is time to suit up!

God still stands in the breach for us with His mighty power.  It’s just now that through the weakness of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18-25), Jesus has made it possible for His followers to stand in the breach in His mighty power with the same weapons of weakness–and overcome!

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She Gave Him Milk

To ‘fight like a man’ is to overtly confront a problem with brute strength.  Somehow to ‘fight like a woman’ has come to mean that the fighting is weaker–but only if compared to how men physically fight.  Women fight in subtler ways–we often call them ‘wiles’–that are just as strong or perhaps stronger than a man’s way–and they learn young!

My wife likes to tell the story of how our youngest at two years of age came to me with her blond pigtails and big, pleading eyes upset because her favorite pink nightgown was in the dirty clothes hamper.  I reassured her that when it was washed she could have it back.  She replied with a cute smile, “That would make me happy!”  A minute later I had to explain to my wife why I was doing laundry in the middle of the week.

I. Judges 4:17-22.  Sisera failed to understand this.  After Barak did not have the courage to ‘fight like a man’ and do what God had told him to do in defeating Sisera, Israel’s judge, Deborah, told him that a woman would claim credit for the victory over the Canaanites.  Although the Kenites were part of Israel, Sisera had no doubt found hospitality in Heber and Jael’s tent before.  Running from Barak, Sisera begs Jael for water, but she gave him milk and a place to sleep.  Then she put a tent peg through his head!  That was not what he expected, but Jael was praised for fighting like this (Judges 5:24-30).

II. 2 Corinthians 2:10-11. Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44) fights through deception.  Failing to ensnare God-in-the-flesh in the normal way he trapped men (Luke 4:1-13) and losing Jesus’ followers to the gospel, he really tries to outwit us with his schemes.  A lion seeking to devour at any opening (1 Peter 5:8), Christians must truly take up the armor of God against Satan’s ‘wiles’ (Ephesians 6:10-11).

III. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.  Jesus, however, fights like God–through obedience, truth, and sacrifice found in the gospel.  Through these ways and because He was made like us in every way, He has defeated the devil and death (Hebrews 2:12-14).  Now we, in Him and through Him, are able to fight like Him–if we can clearly see through Satan’s deceptions that would keep us blind to how powerful we truly are when restored to the image of God that we were created in through the gospel.

How do you fight:  Like a man?  Like a woman?  Or like God?

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What we think we know

Father, what we think we know we’ve no idea and what we ought to know we show little interest. Bring us out of ignorance and into your light!

We fool ourselves into thinking we’re strong, and where true strength lies we consider weakness. Break us that we may be remade into the iron of Spirit.

The wealth of the world is our frenzied pursuit, while true and lasting riches lie untapped. Strip us of trust in possessions and money, that we might receive the treasures of Christ.

We’ve tried it all in our pursuit of happiness, except the everlasting joy that comes from life with you. Let all our earthly joys wilt like yesterday’s flowers, in order to catch a vision of heavenly blessing.

The world of experiences is where we think we’re really living, but eternal life holds no thrill for us. Make us die to this world, that we might live for you.

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In the midst of confusion

Father, in the midst of confusion, bring us clarity.

When doubt appears, give us faith.

When ignorance rears its head, bring knowledge to bear.

With temptation, show us our escape.

When emotions flare, let peace descend upon us.

At the first sign of social pressure, let love for Christ prevail.

Worries would dog us daily, so let our prayers deliver them up to you.

Feelings of failure threaten to drag us down, but show us the fruit of spiritual labor.

When we feel weak, show us the power of your Holy Spirit.

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No Matter How High or Low

O Lord, no matter how high or low
this roller-coaster life may go,
remind me you are solid ground,
immune to quake or flood or wind.

I know, O God, to find in you
the source of all that’s good and true;
Though in the fray, I moan and sweat,
Let me not your grace forget.

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Responsibility for my actions

Lord, I take responsibility for my actions today and for my reactions to all that has happened to me in the past and that will happen today. I will blame no one. I will offer no excuses. I will seek no easy escape. I will possess the mind of Christ and show his kindness and patience.

You know that I am not capable of this, so I trust in your strength to be possessed of this transformed life.

Father, your sons and daughters also need such desire and power for life in Christ. So many of them are new in faith. Some are weak in their walk. Some have not yet seen the joy of full devotion. Some suffer mental anguish. Others face persecution and hardship.

Thank you for our family of faith. Let none wander away. Keep us all safe. Make love our language. Fulfill your will in us. Find praise in our midst. Blessed are you, O God, for your wisdom and compassion to make us your people and to give us those brothers and sisters that walk with us.

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We trust in you

Lord of lords and God above all gods, your name deserves praise from every heart and tongue. You are worthy, O heavenly Father, to receive worship and fear and blessing from every person, for you created us and all that the universe contains.

Look down upon us in mercy. Have pity on our struggles. Pour upon us your grace. Make us powerful in our work of sharing the message of salvation. We are few in number, but make us strong in faith. Cause the Word to multiply in this city.

Strength the hearts of those who are weak here. Enliven the slow to act. Break out among us the inexpressible joy of your salvation.

Start all this with and in me. Let the brethren grow beyond what I am able to provide. Keep the gospel from being limited by my limitations.

May the Lord Jesus fill our vision. Let the Holy Spirit empower our service. May his revelation to us be constantly on our tongues. Help us to trust in your eternal purpose.

Father, we trust in you. We believe you hear and answer our prayers.

I have confidence in your promise. I will work till Jesus comes, even if I see no fruit from my labors, for in your time you will produce the good results of the Word. Let many be saved. Save me according to your mercy.

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The Time of the Devil

The days are dark, the time of the devil;
But the Light will break, the Lord descend,
The blessed truth will blind the unrighteous
And lead the saints to live with God —
Oh, come, Lord Jesus — call us home —
We groan in spirit, the grim existence
On earth is not for us, your people!
Your strength sustain our way, O God —
Your mercy be ours for many days.

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We Rely on You

2 Chronicles 14.11 (VOTD)

O Lord, only you can help the weak,
Outnumbered by the enemy’s powerful force —
Come help us! For we rely on you, we seek
Your strength. In Christ we follow this course
Of life, this field of battle. In faith we speak.
O Lord, we know you as our living source.

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Work Among Us

Terrible times we face — we tremble,
O God, so now, together, we assemble
To cry for mercy — Increase our strength!
Deepen our faith! — We seek, at length,
New heavens and earth, the Son in glory —
Freedom from worldly category!

Our wonder is prayer, that lively phone —
The Spirit’s carriage to heaven’s throne!
Hear, O Lord, the soul’s deep groan!
Against the world raise high the walls,
Inside the Body, we hearken Paul’s
And John’s and Matthew’s holy calls.

Work among us, servants of heart
And soul and mind — Make wide
Your space of freedom — Never depart,
O God, for Jesus’ bleeding side,
His pierced hands, his bruised brow,
His shadowed cross are before us now.