Standing In the Son-Light.

Going back to v. 6 of James 4, this is the third military word in a row in this section: “God makes war against the arrogant, therefore, we are to submit to His authority, and now we are to resist the enemy”— all military concepts in the ancient world. Anthistemi means- set oneself against, oppose, resist, withstand.

This is a direct command from Divine Headquarters. As the “Lord of the Everlasting Armies,” Jesus sends this order down through one of His most trusted lieutenants {His brother in the flesh} across twenty centuries of Time to you and I today. The verb is in the active voice, which always speaks to the will of the individual being addressed. I.e., if this command is going to be carried out, it will be because you have decided to embrace it. Because you have rejected passivity and taken your stand against demonic deception, spiritual distraction, and satanic seduction! The tense speaks to the very moment when you’re under attack— right here, right now— and says, “You can be victorious. In the Light of the Son, you can win this!”

Ever wonder why all this militancy in the language of the Old and New Testaments? Why all the imagery of warfare, this call to the Warriors and Warrior-maidens of the Faith? Because the battle for our hearts is fierce… relentless... and unending in this Life. And because passivity will not cut it in a world at War! Period. “Take your stand... stand your ground” and “stand firm then” are all military commands in the Koine of Ephesians 6 from our Supreme Commander, the mightiest Warrior of all: to resist the enemy, to hold our ground, to never surrender! In the words of Sir Winston Churchill, “Never give up; never, never, never! Never despair, and never give in.”

So... if your sacred ground has been gained by the “father of lies,” if the territory allotted to your Kingdom has been conquered by the evil one, what do you do with this? Notice, watch, observe where you normally go passive ...and do the opposite. Where are you surrendering ground these days? Take it back; reclaim it from the enemy! Remember, “every time a man makes a hard decision, the Warrior in him is strengthened.” Every time a woman does the difficult thing— ignoring her emotions as they scream for her to throw wisdom and the Word clear out the window— the Warrior-maiden within is strengthened! And Heaven rejoices anew.

Ric Webb, Shepherd
Heart's Journey Community
hjcommunity.org