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April 26th, 2017

“‘No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the LORD.” – Isaiah 54:17

Isaiah 54:17 is a popular verse that we call to mind in order to find strength and courage. However, as we celebrate the promise of this verse, we must also recognize what this verse does not promise. God does not say; “No weapon will be forged against you.” In fact, inherent in the verse is the fact that we will be attacked. We will be falsely accused. Part of the promise is that we can be guaranteed that some will hate us simply because we are servants of the Lord. In case we miss this point in Isaiah, Jesus makes it perfectly clear when he says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

These attacks are not something we should be surprised about, but instead they should serve as a blessing because by them we are placed in the great company of those who have served the Lord before us. Jesus says in Luke 6:22-23; “Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.” The very worst kind of warrior is the one who is not expecting a battle. The great warriors are always prepared. So as we think back about Isaiah 54:17, we need to recognize that there are two promises; we will be attacked, but we will never be defeated. This is the mindset that will prepare us for the battles we will face today.

Lord of all creation, thank You for the incredible power that You wield on our behalf. Give us thestrength to stand today in the middle of the battle and deliver us from our enemies.

In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Shane Cannon <><

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