Last week was special for me since I was graduating from Pan Africa Christian University with a Diploma in Transformational Church Leadership. This achievement is special because the course immensely impacted my faith and my walk with God, as well as enhanced my understanding of matters leadership and theology. The theme of the graduation was outstanding too: Stand Out! Two days prior to the graduation, I attended a commissioning service for the graduants and the guest speaker based her sermon on Daniel 1:8 which states, "But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way". Daniel with his three friends: Shedrack, Meshack and Abednego, made an intentional and conscious decision not to eat food sacrificed to idols, since such a practise was contrary to their faith. These young Hebrew boys were far away from their mother land thus their eating of such food could be easily rationalised and justified. Again, who doesn't want tantalising, professionally made food, served in the King's royal dishes? Despite these pressures, these boys RESOLVED to live out their faith and stood their ground even when the price for their faith was their lives.
As I sat in the university chapel's pew, I couldn't hide my emotions as I listened to God reaffirm His message which He had recently been speaking to me about. For the past two weeks, I have been studying the book of Ezra and trying to understand the exile life that the Jews led in Babylon, challenges they might have faced in living out their faith and what freedom meant to them when they were permitted to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their city. Ezra 8 talks about the return of the second group of exiles, under Ezra's leadership. In Ezra 9, it was reported to Ezra that the exile returnees in Jerusalem, including the priests and levites, had failed to separate themselves from the other nations and had consequently defiled themselves.
Ezra 9:1-2 states, "After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites. 2 They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness".
The Jews in exile who did not stand up for their faith could have blamed the Babylonian pressures of slavery, oppression, intimidation and lack as reasons for their compromise. After liberation by King Cyrus, that permitted all Jews who wished to return to Jerusalem to do so, what excuse did these Jews (living in their own city) have to defile themselves with the foreign women? It seems clear that their minds were not made up to follow God's ways of righteousness, irrespective of the cost. Is your mind made up today to always follow Jesus, inspite of the cost? If your mind is made up, then the grace of God is sufficient for you! Titus 2:11-13 states: For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.... The grace of God at work surpasses all other worldly pressures to conform to sin!
Just like the Hebrews in Babylon and the Jews in Jerusalem, we live amongst non-believers and amidst much corruption- lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life. People in Kenya, Africa and the nations of the world are living in gross darkness, just as foretold in Isaiah 60:2a. Dishonesty has been dubbed "being smart", corruption is said to be a necessary evil to success, immorality has become fashionable and misplaced priorities have led many to idolise success, money, wealth, beauty and fame. God is counting on you and I to be the great light that shines in the darkness and points people to the cross, where their sins are washed away and their relationship with God restored. This is God's clear message today for those who have resolved to live for Jesus: "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn."
Our light can only shine and influence the world if we are living and practising righteousness. A good soldier does not get entangled with civilian pursuits since his aim is to please his master (2nd Timothy 2:3-5). When Ezra and the Jews in Jerusalem realised the great sin of intermarriage which they had committed, they repented and turned away from that sin. If there are areas of compromise that you have permitted in your life, God is calling you to repent.
Are you an enrolled soldier in God's army? For you to conquer and finish strong, you need to:
- Desire to know God deeper and deeper each day. Ephesians 6:10 states, "Be Strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." As you know Him, the spirit of your mind will be transformed so that you become more and more like Him. As you submit yourself to God, you gain the power to resist the devil.
- Be properlly armoured with the loins of truth, the breast plate of righteousness, the shoes of the readiness to preach God's Word, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is God's Word- Ephesians 6:11-17.
- Pray without ceasing- Ephesians 6:18 states, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."
- Endure hardship- All who desire to live a righteous life should expect persecution and suffering (2nd Timothy 2:3; 3:12). It is costly to follow Jesus.
- Focus on the price- Keep your eyes on the surpassing worth of knowing God. The glory that will be revealed to us cannot be compared to our current sufferings!- Romans 8:18; Hebrews 12:1-2.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
ye soldiers of the cross;
lift high his royal banner,
it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory
his army shall he lead,
till every foe is vanquished,
and Christ is Lord indeed.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the trumpet call obey;
forth to the mighty conflict,
in this his glorious day.
Ye that are brave now serve him
against unnumbered foes;
let courage rise with danger,
and strength to strength oppose.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
stand in his strength alone;
the arm of flesh will fail you,
ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor,
each piece put on with prayer;
where duty calls or danger,
be never wanting there.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the strife will not be long;
this day the noise of battle,
the next the victor's song.
To those who vanquish evil
a crown of life shall be;
they with the King of Glory
shall reign eternally.
ye soldiers of the cross;
lift high his royal banner,
it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory
his army shall he lead,
till every foe is vanquished,
and Christ is Lord indeed.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the trumpet call obey;
forth to the mighty conflict,
in this his glorious day.
Ye that are brave now serve him
against unnumbered foes;
let courage rise with danger,
and strength to strength oppose.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
stand in his strength alone;
the arm of flesh will fail you,
ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor,
each piece put on with prayer;
where duty calls or danger,
be never wanting there.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the strife will not be long;
this day the noise of battle,
the next the victor's song.
To those who vanquish evil
a crown of life shall be;
they with the King of Glory
shall reign eternally.
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