A TRIUMPHANT CHURCH

A triumphant church is rising up even now, coming out of great trials of faith. This last-days church is emerging from long days of affliction and fiery furnaces.

The Holy Spirit is at work bringing his people into a place of utter brokenness. He’s leading them to a revelation of weakness in their own flesh in order to show himself strong. His people are coming to the end of themselves, their stubborn wills crushed, until their mindset becomes only, “Thy will be done.” And through it all, they are becoming wholly dependent on the Lord.

Does this describe your situation? Perhaps you’ve been walking with Jesus for years, and you’ve never faced a test like the one in front of you right now. Things coming at you seem to be overwhelming, things that only God can do something about. And you realize that only he can bring you through.

Right now, Islamists are preparing for a final jihad to “take over the world” for Allah. Islamic training camps are rising up worldwide with a message of hate. Yet the Lord has a people in training, a people he’s going to use to face down the wrath of this world. He is training and equipping them in his loving-kindness and peace. Our God is a God of love, and he won’t use bombs, guns, or suicide squads, but an overcoming people who are fearless in the strength of the Lord of tender mercies.

All over the world, God’s people are experiencing suffering, afflictions and torture. I am certain there is a divine eternal purpose in the intensity of these spiritual and physical battles now being endured in the true body of Christ. “His tender mercies are over all his works” (Psalm 145:9).

Our Lord has had a plan all along. God himself came down and took on the form and condition of man, living among sinful men. He endured their hatred, experienced their rejection, faced unthinkable reproach, and through it all he never fought back.

Jesus never established armies of vengeful, hate-filled jihadists. He used no carnal weapons. Instead, he pulled down strongholds by his mighty loving-kindness. Our Lord had but one battle plan: tender, merciful love. Indeed, love drives all of his works on earth. “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3).