4 nurture The fight of my life In Testimonies for <strong>the</strong> <strong>Church</strong>, vol. 5, p. 463 we read: ‘The work which <strong>the</strong> church has failed to do <strong>in</strong> a time of peace and prosperity she will have to do <strong>in</strong> a terrible crisis under most discourag<strong>in</strong>g, forbidd<strong>in</strong>g circumstances. . . . This <strong>day</strong> is just before us. The members of <strong>the</strong> church will <strong>in</strong>dividually be tested and proved. They will be placed <strong>in</strong> circumstances where <strong>the</strong>y will be forced to bear witness for <strong>the</strong> truth. Many will be called to speak before councils and <strong>in</strong> courts of justice, perhaps separately and alone. The experience which would have helped <strong>the</strong>m <strong>in</strong> this emergency <strong>the</strong>y have neglected to obta<strong>in</strong>, and <strong>the</strong>ir souls are burdened with remorse for wasted opportunities and neglected privileges.’ I want to speak on <strong>the</strong> subject. I studied <strong>the</strong> story of Jacob and one th<strong>in</strong>g stood out: Jacob was always runn<strong>in</strong>g. Firstly, he runs from his bro<strong>the</strong>r Esau; he runs from his uncle Laban; and <strong>the</strong>n he runs back home and <strong>in</strong>to ‘Jacob was wrestl<strong>in</strong>g with <strong>the</strong> very Person who could solve his problems. Sometimes we fight aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> very th<strong>in</strong>g we need <strong>the</strong> most.’ Genesis 32:21-26 Adapted from a sermon presented by Dr Jeff Brown dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> 2011 SEC session Esau. But <strong>the</strong>re comes a time when you have to stop runn<strong>in</strong>g and face your enemy. But our real enemy is not of flesh and blood – it is pr<strong>in</strong>cipalities and powers. The devil is pursu<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> people of God. First Peter says he goes about like a roar<strong>in</strong>g lion, seek<strong>in</strong>g whom he may devour. But <strong>the</strong> Bible never says we should flee from <strong>the</strong> devil. Paul tells us to ‘Flee also youthful lusts’ (2 Timothy 2:22, KJV); he doesn’t tell us to flee from <strong>the</strong> devil. On <strong>the</strong> contrary, James says, ‘Resist <strong>the</strong> devil, and he will flee from you.’ After a while you’ve got to turn and face <strong>the</strong> old rascal, but it’s ‘. . . not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, saith <strong>the</strong> LORD of hosts.’ (Zecheriah 4:6, KJV.) Like a child constantly tortured by a bully; a wife perpetually abused by a husband; a witness cont<strong>in</strong>ually threatened by a mob – <strong>the</strong>re comes a time when you say enough is enough, and you declare, like Es<strong>the</strong>r, ‘I’m go<strong>in</strong>g to go where no one has ever gone before, and if I perish, I perish.’ Desperate times call for desperate prayers. Radical times call for radical prayers, and here is <strong>the</strong> first, <strong>in</strong> just two words: Banish me Gen 32:22-24 (KJV): ‘And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over <strong>the</strong> ford Jabbok. And he took <strong>the</strong>m, and sent <strong>the</strong>m over <strong>the</strong> brook, and sent over that he had. And Jacob was left alone. . . .’ Jacob placed friends, family, and possessions on one side, and himself and God on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r. In <strong>the</strong>se last <strong>day</strong>s, <strong>the</strong> choice will not always be between good and bad; <strong>the</strong> choice may be between good and better. Banishment means go<strong>in</strong>g to a solitary place. Turn off <strong>the</strong> radio. Turn off <strong>the</strong> computer. Leave your mobile phone beh<strong>in</strong>d. Get rid of <strong>the</strong> television if you have to, but separate yourself, isolate yourself, banish yourself Photo: Pastor David West so that you can hear God’s voice say<strong>in</strong>g to you, ‘This is <strong>the</strong> way, walk ye <strong>in</strong> it.’ ‘Banish me’ means be<strong>in</strong>g prepared to leave beh<strong>in</strong>d not only possessions, but family and friends as well. Luke 14:26 <strong>in</strong> The Message paraphrase says, ‘Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of fa<strong>the</strong>r, mo<strong>the</strong>r, spouse, children, bro<strong>the</strong>rs, sisters – yes, even one’s own self! – can’t be my disciple.’ Hebrews <strong>12</strong>:1, KJV, says: ‘Wherefore see<strong>in</strong>g we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and <strong>the</strong> s<strong>in</strong> which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience <strong>the</strong> race that is set before us’. What are you prepared to rel<strong>in</strong>quish? What are you prepared to give up for <strong>the</strong> K<strong>in</strong>gdom? Mat<strong>the</strong>w 19:29 (KJV) says: ‘And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or fa<strong>the</strong>r, or mo<strong>the</strong>r, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall <strong>in</strong>herit everlast<strong>in</strong>g life.’ If our greatest need is revival and reformation, <strong>the</strong>n we’ve got to banish ourselves for Jesus. Desire of Ages, p. 83, says, ‘It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each <strong>day</strong> <strong>in</strong> contemplation of <strong>the</strong> life of Christ. We should take it po<strong>in</strong>t by po<strong>in</strong>t, and let <strong>the</strong> imag<strong>in</strong>ation grasp each scene, especially <strong>the</strong> clos<strong>in</strong>g ones. The first extreme prayer for extreme circumstances is, ‘Banish me’. The second radical prayer for radical times is, ‘Break me’. Break me Genesis 32:24, 25 (KJV) says: ‘And <strong>the</strong>re wrestled a man with him until <strong>the</strong> break<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> <strong>day</strong>. And when he saw that he prevailed not aga<strong>in</strong>st him, he touched <strong>the</strong> hollow of his thigh; and <strong>the</strong> hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of jo<strong>in</strong>t, as he wrestled with him.’ What is your exercise? Treadmill? Weight-lift<strong>in</strong>g? Wrestl<strong>in</strong>g? They say that noth<strong>in</strong>g requires more exertion than wrestl<strong>in</strong>g. Imag<strong>in</strong>e, <strong>the</strong>n, wrestl<strong>in</strong>g all night. Jacob wanted <strong>the</strong> man to leave, to get off him – but suddenly it dawned on him that he was wrestl<strong>in</strong>g with <strong>the</strong> K<strong>in</strong>g of k<strong>in</strong>gs. So he stopped s<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g, ‘Please release me, let me go’, and he started s<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g, ‘Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant me Jesus is my plea, Daily walk<strong>in</strong>g close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.’ Jacob was wrestl<strong>in</strong>g with <strong>the</strong> very Person who could solve his problems. Sometimes we fight aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> very th<strong>in</strong>g we need <strong>the</strong> most. While tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g at Newbold I was assigned to visit Ishmael at a maximum security hospital <strong>in</strong> Berkshire that was classed as a mental <strong>in</strong>stitution. He was <strong>the</strong>re for murder<strong>in</strong>g his wife with an axe. The visits must have worked because Volney Ham-Y<strong>in</strong>g and I were called <strong>in</strong> by <strong>the</strong> prison officials one <strong>day</strong> and told that ‘Ishmael’s good behaviour has qualified him for a weekend leave. . . .’ ‘Oh, good’, we exclaimed. ‘We’re happy for him – where will you be send<strong>in</strong>g him?’ ‘He can spend <strong>the</strong> weekend with you’, <strong>the</strong>y said! We told <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong>re was very little guest accommodation at our college. ‘We were th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g of your dormitory. We were th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g that he would stay <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> same room as you.’ Ishmael came. That even<strong>in</strong>g I took him to Fri<strong>day</strong> even<strong>in</strong>g vespers. He was very uncomfortable as we approached <strong>the</strong> auditorium, and asked to return to <strong>the</strong> hospital. I said, ‘No, give <strong>the</strong> process a chance.’ He stayed <strong>in</strong> my room and I didn’t sleep very well that night. In <strong>the</strong> morn<strong>in</strong>g he repeated, ‘I want to go home.’ I said, ‘Stay for <strong>the</strong> church service.’ After <strong>the</strong> church service he said, ‘I want to go home.’ I said, ‘Stay for lunch.’ After lunch he said, ‘I want to go home.’ I said, ‘OK, I give up, we’ve tried to be k<strong>in</strong>d to you, we’ve tried to be nice to you, so why are you obsessed about leav<strong>in</strong>g?’ ‘Where are <strong>the</strong> guns?’ he said. ‘Where are <strong>the</strong> knives? Where are you hid<strong>in</strong>g your weapons? I’ve been to a lot of places,’ he said, ‘and I’ve always been able to figure th<strong>in</strong>gs out, but not here; please take me home!’ We did. He had been <strong>in</strong> fights before, but what he didn’t know was that on that campus, over that weekend, he was <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> fight of his life. He was wrestl<strong>in</strong>g aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> very th<strong>in</strong>g he needed <strong>the</strong> most. His fight was not aga<strong>in</strong>st flesh and blood, it was aga<strong>in</strong>st pr<strong>in</strong>cipalities, and to ga<strong>in</strong> that victory our prayer should be, ‘Spirit of <strong>the</strong> liv<strong>in</strong>g God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of <strong>the</strong> liv<strong>in</strong>g God, fall afresh on me. Break me, melt me, mould me and fill me. Spirit of <strong>the</strong> liv<strong>in</strong>g God, fall afresh on me.’ How about this thought from Conflict and Courage, p. 68: ‘When <strong>in</strong> his distress Jacob laid hold of <strong>the</strong> Angel, and made supplication with tears, <strong>the</strong> heavenly <strong>Messenger</strong>, <strong>in</strong> order to try his faith, also rem<strong>in</strong>ded him of his s<strong>in</strong>, and endeavoured to escape from him. But Jacob would not be turned away. He had learned that God is merciful, and he cast himself upon His mercy. He po<strong>in</strong>ted back to his repentance for his s<strong>in</strong>, and pleaded for deliverance. As he reviewed his life, he was driven almost to despair; but he held fast <strong>the</strong> Angel, and with earnest, agonis<strong>in</strong>g cries urged his petition until he prevailed. Such will be <strong>the</strong> experience of God’s people <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir f<strong>in</strong>al struggle with <strong>the</strong> powers of evil. God will test <strong>the</strong>ir faith, <strong>the</strong>ir perseverance, <strong>the</strong>ir confidence <strong>in</strong> His power to deliver <strong>the</strong>m. Satan will endeavour to terrify <strong>the</strong>m with <strong>the</strong> thought that <strong>the</strong>ir cases are hopeless; that <strong>the</strong>ir s<strong>in</strong>s have been too great to receive pardon. They will have a deep sense of <strong>the</strong>ir shortcom<strong>in</strong>gs, and as <strong>the</strong>y review <strong>the</strong>ir lives <strong>the</strong>ir hopes will s<strong>in</strong>k. But remember<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> greatness of God’s mercy, and <strong>the</strong>ir own s<strong>in</strong>cere repentance, <strong>the</strong>y will plead His promises made through Christ to helpless, repent<strong>in</strong>g s<strong>in</strong>ners. Their faith will not fail because <strong>the</strong>ir prayers are not immediately answered. They will lay hold of <strong>the</strong> strength of God, as Jacob laid hold of <strong>the</strong> Angel, and <strong>the</strong> language of <strong>the</strong>ir souls will be, ‘I will not let <strong>the</strong>e go, except thou bless me.’ If <strong>the</strong> first prayer is banish me, and if <strong>the</strong> second prayer is break me, <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>al prayer is bless me. Bless me Gen 32:26: ‘And he said, Let me go, for <strong>the</strong> <strong>day</strong> breaketh. And he said, I will not let <strong>the</strong>e go, except thou bless me.’ What was that lesson? It was very specific: he received a new name – Israel. Effectively this meant that ‘<strong>the</strong> deceiver has become <strong>the</strong> overcomer’ * and that is what we all need – to be overcomers <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> face of all this life’s challenges! I’m <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> fight of my life, but my daily practice is banish me, my daily prayer is break me, and my daily pleasure is for God to bless me. * See footnote or Genesis 32:28: Andrews Study Bible, NKJV. <strong>the</strong> Berean column with Andrew Pucker<strong>in</strong>g Frail or faithful? K<strong>in</strong>g Hezekiah of Judah must have been a very worried man – <strong>the</strong> Assyrians were com<strong>in</strong>g! In <strong>the</strong> fourth year of his reign <strong>the</strong>y besieged <strong>the</strong> capital of his neighbour<strong>in</strong>g country, Israel, and <strong>in</strong> his sixth year <strong>the</strong>y took it (2 K<strong>in</strong>gs 18:9, 10). The k<strong>in</strong>g of Israel, Hoshea, had reneged on a treaty with <strong>the</strong> Assyrians, and Hezekiah had done <strong>the</strong> same (2 K<strong>in</strong>gs 17:3, 4; 18:7). The Assyrians, who were not amused, resettled <strong>the</strong> entire population of Israel, effectively end<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> country’s existence (2 K<strong>in</strong>gs 17:6, 23, 24; 18:11) – someth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> LORD allowed because of Israel’s persistent and stubborn refusal to listen to His calls for reform (2 K<strong>in</strong>gs 17:9-20; 18:<strong>12</strong>). Worse still, <strong>in</strong> seek<strong>in</strong>g help aga<strong>in</strong>st Assyria, <strong>the</strong>y turned to Egypt – <strong>the</strong> very place of slavery from which <strong>the</strong> LORD had rescued <strong>the</strong>m – ra<strong>the</strong>r than rely<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong> LORD (Exodus 20:2; 2 K<strong>in</strong>gs 17:4, 7)! The Assyrians, however, had not f<strong>in</strong>ished yet. Eight years after <strong>the</strong> fall of Samaria, <strong>the</strong>y came carv<strong>in</strong>g a path through Judah – tak<strong>in</strong>g possession of <strong>the</strong> country’s fortified cities, one after ano<strong>the</strong>r (2 K<strong>in</strong>gs 18:13). The same th<strong>in</strong>g that happened to Hoshea was happen<strong>in</strong>g to Hezekiah – and, worry<strong>in</strong>gly, disaster had come upon Hoshea despite <strong>the</strong> fact that he hadn’t been <strong>the</strong> worst k<strong>in</strong>g ever. He ‘did evil <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> sight of <strong>the</strong> LORD, but not as <strong>the</strong> k<strong>in</strong>gs of Israel who were before him’ (2 K<strong>in</strong>gs 17:1, 2, NKJV). Hezekiah, by contrast, had been very faithful (2 K<strong>in</strong>gs 18:1-3). He’d repaired <strong>the</strong> Temple, re<strong>in</strong>stated <strong>the</strong> sacrifices, destroyed longcherished idols and restored true worship (2 Chronicles 29:1-29; 31:1). He was <strong>the</strong> most faithful k<strong>in</strong>g Judah had ever had (2 K<strong>in</strong>gs 18:4, 5) – but, even after all <strong>the</strong>se reforms, <strong>the</strong> Assyrians were com<strong>in</strong>g anyway (2 Chronicles 31:20-32:1). Hezekiah began to make military preparations, and was outwardly confident (2 Chronicles 32:2-8), but <strong>in</strong>side he must have been wonder<strong>in</strong>g if he’d displeased God somehow – maybe at <strong>the</strong> Passover feast, when many ate who hadn’t prepared <strong>the</strong>mselves – although God seemed to hear his prayer for forgiveness at <strong>the</strong> time (2 Chronicles 30:17-20). Whatever <strong>the</strong> reason, Hezekiah panicked, and pleaded with <strong>the</strong> Assyrians. To meet <strong>the</strong>ir demands, Hezekiah, <strong>the</strong> faithful k<strong>in</strong>g, scraped <strong>the</strong> gold from <strong>the</strong> very doors and pillars of God’s Temple that he had so recently refurbished (2 K<strong>in</strong>gs 18:14-16). He was literally robb<strong>in</strong>g temples to pay protection money to a pagan foreigner. He was not <strong>the</strong> first to do this – K<strong>in</strong>g Asa, like Hezekiah, had stolen Temple treasures to buy off a foreign army many years before (1 K<strong>in</strong>gs 15:17-19; 2 Chronicles 16:1-3) – and <strong>the</strong> LORD punished Asa as a result (2 Chronicles 16:7-10). Now along came <strong>the</strong> Rabshakeh of <strong>the</strong> Assyrian army, and claimed that he was on a div<strong>in</strong>e mission from God aga<strong>in</strong>st K<strong>in</strong>g Hezekiah, because Hezekiah had taken away His places of worship (2 K<strong>in</strong>gs 18:25; 2 Chronicles 32:11, <strong>12</strong>; Isaiah 36:10). What was Hezekiah’s response? He did exactly what he should have done <strong>the</strong> first time, and cried to <strong>the</strong> LORD for help. The LORD did help, and removed <strong>the</strong> Assyrian threat (2 Chronicles 32:20, 21) – not necessarily for Hezekiah’s sake, but for <strong>the</strong> sake of <strong>the</strong> LORD’s name and for <strong>the</strong> promise He made to K<strong>in</strong>g David (1 K<strong>in</strong>gs 2:4; Isaiah 37:23-27, 35). The faithful man’s faith had taken a beat<strong>in</strong>g, but he put his trust <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> LORD <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> end – and, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> end, God answered. What reason did K<strong>in</strong>g Asa <strong>in</strong> particular have for trust<strong>in</strong>g God? (2 Chronicles 14) What religious reforms did K<strong>in</strong>g Asa make? (2 Chronicles 15) How did <strong>the</strong> LORD punish Asa for his lack of faith? Of what dangers did Jesus warn us if we don’t repent? (Luke 13) Why might bad th<strong>in</strong>gs happen to good people sometimes? (John 9) 5