“Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.”
We see this model of intentionality Paul is laying out before the Philippians best exemplified in Jesus, our Rabbi…
Throughout Scripture, Jesus models this type of laser focus. This model of steadfastness; of being intentional. Where, and to whom, He would be born. His very survival as a child—least we forget the genocide that followed His birth. Every event, each life, that had to have been touched in order that each precise detail of His birth be fulfilled. From who His earthly parents would be, to the town in which He’d be born. Each Shepherd that would be tending his flock in the surrounding fields. Right down to the single place that would be available for Mary to lay down and birth Him. And, then, eventually, onto the choosing of His 12 disciples. Nothing, not one thing modeled by Jesus is without a purpose. Every-thing is intentional. Whether in His healing of the sick, delivering men of their demons, or the fierce protectiveness of His time alone in prayer with the Father. Every Word—each action and reaction, a road-map for us to follow. A guide. His exact purpose for stepping into this world is demonstrated for us through His actions. Let this be our model saints…
Jesus is intentional in saving us. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
He came to make us His own. To restore us to right relationship with the Father. He came to shed His Blood. To exchange His sinless life for our sin-filled lives. He came to defend and protect us. To provide for us—and to shelter us. The reason He came—endured, demonstrated, suffered, died, and rose again in final defeat of His enemy—and ours, is intentional. And not one demon in hell can do anything to thwart God’s plan—try as they might. And they will try. They must. It’s in their very nature to do so—so fierce is their hatred of God.
Nevertheless we witness Gods fierce intentionality, His final authority over His enemies, and their plans, when Jesus commands His disciples to cross the lake and head for the eastern region of the Gerasa…
He had just finished an afternoon of teaching those that had gathered at the shore to see Him. Now, entering a fishing boat, Jesus instructs His disciples to pull out and head towards the eastern side of the lake. Then He lays down in the stern of the boat and naps on a cushion. Scripture tells us that a storm so fierce these experienced fisherman—these men learned in the moods and tantrums of the sea—freaked! That they scrambled over each other in a panic to wake Jesus. Can’t you just see it! I know I’ve been there once or twice in my walk. “Help us! Don’t you care if we drowned!” –Mark 4:38. Calmly however, Jesus got up and, without rebuking His friends, commands both the strong wind and the tumultuous waves to quite down! To stop acting up—to once again “Be still” that they might safely reach His intended destination—reach the one in need of Him.
God had a plan…
We forget, at least I do, just how fierce Jesus is. How brave and unafraid He is. How He’d walk, unflinchingly, into the enemy’s camp to snatch back those that belong to Him! So unlike most of us; most of the time. I forget just how unbending Jesus is because it’s too easy for me to make Jesus as wavering and human as I can be. A frightened bird set aflutter at the first signs of trouble! I forget at times that I too am fierce and can command the powers that surround me to be still, in His authority. I forget that as it is with Jesus, so too it is with me. The enemy has us both lined up in his sights. At the ready to take us out. In my case, Jesus walked in suddenly and said, “Not today. This little lamb is my own! Look, she’s covered in proof; My Blood. Now back off!” In Jesus, we see the will of heaven played out in the dialogue that takes place in a garden called Gethsemane. “If it be Your will, take this cup from me…”
“Yet, not my will but Thine be done…” And it was. Thus, Jesus rose in victory over sin and death. And on His Cross, He made that clear for all to see. Yet, just in case anyone missed it, in case there was any shadow of a doubt—early that Sunday morning the ground shook and the rock His enemies’ thought had sealed His fate—sealed Him in no more. Little did they know, it never had. But that’s for another day…
Scripture tells us that no sooner Jesus’ feet hit dry land a man with an unclean Spirit came from the grave yard to meet Him. So filled with demons was he that not even the thickest of shackles could keep him bound to one place. He was possessed by a legion of demons—roughly 5000 various evil spirits had possessed this man—lending their strength and power to his own. He was cut up and bloody from the time he had spent cutting himself with sharp stones. Scripture tells us that this tortured soul did this to himself night and day! Allow me to pause here for just a moment to encourage the one reading this and looking over at the scars on their own arms or legs. On their wrists perhaps? Beloved, know this, God sees you and He loves you just as much as He did this one lost and filled with a legion of demons…
They locked eyes from a distance. Jesus knowing just who and what had possession of this man and, this man knowing just who it was that stood before him. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me” Mark 5:6-7! Jesus never budged. Never took a step backward. Rather, He stood in what had been the enemy’s camp and commanded the demons to come out of this man. And the demons trembled in the presence of Jesus. Knowing that His power and authority were so much greater than their own they begged Him not to destroy them. Rather they begged to be sent into a herd of pigs that were nearby. And, once in them, the pigs too went mad, and jumped into the lake to their death. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. —Mark 5:12-13.
There was no great fight. No shouting match. Certainly, there was no fear in Jesus as He stood facing 5000 plus adversaries. You can almost see the steely determination to destroy the defiant darkness in Jesus’ eyes! His feet firmly planted. His jaw set. As determined in that moment as He was the moment, He set His face towards Jerusalem to head toward His cross. He knew who He was and the power He commanded. Let those that have ears hear…
And, in the presence of this possessed man and all the others who had gathered there—Jesus simply walked, intentionally, in His authority. He will not be defeated. Ever! And the demons fled in fear of this Truth…
Let us be refreshed in our Lords victory, and with Paul’s words. Let us remember that Jesus has already won the battle for us—it is not ours to win. Though we will, and do, have battles we must fight, this one, this finally victory, is yet another free gift from our Father. “It is finished”. Rather, let us do instead what Jesus commanded us to do. To face every enemy with the authority we have in Him—and, let us share our testimony with a lost and dying world. Let us take His Truth—the Light of Gods Word, and shine it boldly—unflinchingly, into this present darkness. In our faithfulness to do what we have been commanded by our Lord, our Love, our Father, Teacher, and Guide, to do, we will be modeling this intentionality first modeled by Jesus and, also, fulfilling the Word Paul spoke to encourage those Philippians gathered around him that day as they too were enduring trying times. Lastly, may we be used to convict, in love, those who recognized they have intentionally rebelled against God. Who is to say that God, in His infinite mercy, will not instruct some brother or sister, some other Paul or Esther or Susan, John or Lisa, to head towards the opposite shore and, in His mercy deliver that one from their legion?
Be reminded, dear brother and sisters, to be purposeful in your prayers. Intentional when God places you in front of the one, He has wooed. You have been afforded the high honor of being the hands and feet, the mouth and eyes and expressions, the touch and first impression of our dear Lord…
Dear friend, if you are here today it is because God has led you here. He is affording you this opportunity to ask Him into your heart and life, now, today. Please don’t dismiss this as coincidence—there is no such thing! God is intentional. You are meant to be here. Won’t you ask Him into your heart today? Simply confess your need for Him alone—the Savior of the world. He loves you so. As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion” Hebrews 3:15.
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