call to action!

For me I heard in this chapter on the Stronger Man a serious call to action
"'I will build my church', says Jesus, 'and the gates of hell will not prevail against it' (matt 6:18). Most people have taken this to mean that as Jesus builds his church in the world, hell will try and destroy it but will not succeed.  this is true. The powers of hell will try and not succeed.  But what Jesus is really saying is that He will build His church and the church will move into hell's strongholds and hell will not  prevail against the church!" (92)

Woah! reading this passage made me question what I do now given the authority of being a child of God and the assurance that Jesus has bound the strong man.  I realized most of the time I stand outside the strong man's house ready to defend myself against attacks.  This passage reminded me that I am not called to defense, I am called to action! I am called to move forward, take ground, plunder the strongman's house with Jesus! If I am feeling pretty secure and un-attacked by satan it's not because my strategy of defense is so great, its because I'm not dangerous for the kingdom.  I am no threat to the kingdom of darkness standing outside the strong man's house with my dukes up, I'm a threat to the kingdom of darkness when I move with the authority Jesus has given into the strong man's house, when I move to action into hell's strongholds! And the only reason I can do this? Jesus, the Stronger man, has bound the strong man and won my victory. All I have to do is move forward - the battle is won!

I think this last week I needed some serious reminders that Jesus is not only strong - but strongER. There are things about being back on USC's campus that have been really hard for me this year.  I'll be honest, i've been missing playing soccer a lot.  I thought choosing to drive last summer instead of play meant that finding my identity as an athlete didn't have a hold on me any more.  All summer long I didn't have one regret, I've never felt more myself.  But coming back to campus was ultimate heart break.  I avoid walking past the field and take alternate routes around campus to bypass the athletic offices to avoid feeling sad.  I try and forget that the opportunity was ever presented to me.  These last few weeks the what if's and heart ache feel like they have had such a hold on me.  Right after I decided not to play I had a convo with Reid where he reminded me that I was already delivered from finding my identity as an athlete.  but I didn't feel delivered and lately I still haven't and it was making me feel like I would never be, that this struggle was just too strong. But I was reminded that Jesus is strongER.

I was reminded of this while reading the prayers on the last page of the chapter
you spirits behind false idols and false sources of self worth: as strong as you are, Jesus is stronger, and He binds you. You must let me go free.