The Japanese soldier of World War Two was a formidable enemy. He had been taught from childhood that it was an honor and, if necessary, his duty to die for the emperor, Hirohito. If surrounded by his enemy, the Japanese soldier would fix his bayonet and come out charging or he would commit suicide. But he would not surrender. Even when defeated, he fought on.
Toward the end of the war, as the Americans drew closer and closer to the home islands of Japan, this resolve to fight on became increasingly fierce. One problem the Americans had to deal with was a small island that lay southeast of Japan, Iwo Jima. This island was used by the Japanese Air Force as a base from which to harass American bombing missions headed for the mainland. So, it was an island that had to be taken.
By the time the battle for Iwo Jima was over (March 26th, 1945), 5,931 Marines had been killed and 17,773 had been wounded. As it turned out, this battle was one of the bloodiest campaigns in the Pacific Theater during World War Two.
One of the Marines wounded during the battle for Iwo Jima was Charles W. Lindberg of North Dakota. (This was not the Charles A. Lindbergh who was the first to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927.) During the early stages of this campaign, Lindberg was part of a patrol that climbed Mount Suribachi on the island. He states, “We were the first combat patrol to hike up the mountain. So we carried the [first] flag to the highest point and raised it. It was really a proud moment. The next day I was shot and shipped off the island.”
The sight of this banner was significant. More than 71,000 Marines were on the island at the time this flag was raised, joined by thousands of sailors watching from offshore. When these warriors saw it flying on top of the mountain, it boosted their morale during this fierce battle. To be sure, they needed to be strengthened as they clashed with the Japanese soldier.
In the Bible there was another “banner” raised during another battle; and this banner made all the difference between victory and defeat (Exodus 17:8-16). In fact, it was so important to the nation of Israel that it was considered one of the symbols of God Himself. On that day of battle against the nation of Amalek, the LORD came to be known as Yahweh Nissi, “the LORD is my Banner.”
The New Testament Church can make that same claim. The LORD is our “banner” – our “rallying Point” – from Whom we receive strength to fight our enemies. Yet, unlike the Amalekite (and Japanese) soldiers, the Church’s war is not a flesh-and-blood fight.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)
The moment an individual is born of the Spirit of God, he joins a war already in progress. And it will not take him long to realize that this is not a minor skirmish. What he faces is an enemy that has the ability to shake the very core of his being … “to sift him like wheat” (Luke 22:31). And it will seize every opportunity it is given to do so.
Often (not always), the believer is confronted with a combative human being(s). But in reality, the driving personalities behind the conflict are not flesh and blood but, rather, demonic in nature:
invisible … organized … highly intelligent … inconceivably evil … more powerful than any mere man … and consumed with an intense hatred toward those who submit their lives to the authority of the Son of God.
Over time, as the believer’s lifestyle becomes more and more righteous, he will notice that these assaults are not going away. To the contrary, the opposition he experiences will become more intense … and, perhaps, more frequent … which brings us to a most important and fundamental truth:
- The reason Satan attacks the believer is because of his righteous standing in Christ and because of his righteous influence over others.
These spirit-based hostilities come from an enemy that loathes the Light of God (i.e., both the Living and written Word of God). And their “bullets” are aimed at those who love that Light (a love proven by an increasingly obedient lifestyle).
It is most certainly true: this demonic adversary has already been defeated at the Cross of Christ. It is equally true that these spiritual bull dogs have no intention of waving the white flag. Their bayonets are fixed; and their goal is to destroy not only the testimony of the Christ-follower but also, if permitted, his very life (saved only by the restraining hand of God).
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1st Peter 5:8)
My beloved friends, this world is becoming more anti-Christ, more anti-Biblical by the day. Those who take their stand for the Word of God are going to experience – firsthand – the power of the demonic realm. It would be less than wise for the believing community to underestimate the supernatural strength of this enemy. They are a most formidable foe.
That is why the saints must rally around Yahweh Nissi, “the LORD, our Banner.” He is infinitely stronger than these evil spirit-beings; and He has provided His people with an offensive weapon needed to win each battle. What is this weapon the Commander-King has placed into the hands of His true and living Church? It is none other than
the Truth of God
How to use this spiritual weapon to fight this spiritual war is the subject of The God of Our Lives, chapter 4: “Our God is Truth.”
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To the readers within the believing community: My wife and I would greatly appreciate your prayers, that we would respond to adversity with grace and righteousness.