They That Be With Us

“And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them"- 2 Kings 6:16

            A wise woman once told me: “When you have a problem, adversary, or obstacle; start by telling God how big He is.”  It’s a similar sentiment to the often-quoted cliche: “Don’t tell God how big your problems are, tell your problems how big God is.”  The bottom line, they that be with us are more than they that be with them.  If you have God, then you are always in the majority, and we need to have confidence in that.  For a wholehearted belief in this gives you confidence to step in faith, doubting nothing

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Throughout the scriptures you will find examples of God’s people faced with overwhelming odds and they are able to overcome because of God’s help.  Moses against Pharaoh.  David against Goliath.  Gideon against the Midianites.  Here we have yet another example.  The prophet Elisha, and his servant surrounded by a mighty army.  What to many would seem a hopeless case, how could two men with no military experience ever hope to survive this attack?  What could they do?  Elisha just says to the servant who is terribly afraid, “fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”  Then Elisha prays and the Lord opens the servant’s eyes and he sees what Elisha already saw.  He sees the armies and chariots of fire round about. There was a multitude of unseen reinforcements.  This is who is with us.  A multitude of unseen reinforcements.  God has the battlements of heaven at his disposal.  When a child of God prays, they access all the ability of heaven.  Therefore, prayer is perhaps the greatest weapon against the hordes of Satan the Christian has at their disposal.  The spiritual man has confidence in the might of heaven.  They have confidence, not in themselves, but in the God of heaven.  This confidence is manifested in a peaceful diligence.  It is manifested in sacrificial obedience.  It is exemplified in devoted living and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Each day, going about doing good despite changing circumstance, overwhelming odds, or worldly temptation.  The armies of Satan are dwarfed in comparison to the armies round about.

The origin story of my church, Christ’s Sanctified Holy Church, bares with it a rich history of evangelism.  In the late 1800’s to early 1900’s, our people crossed this country preaching holiness.  They preached without fear of man nor means.  Leaving behind the comforts of life and the promise of fortune.  Their zeal both inspires and shames me.  It is their confidence in the Holy Ghost, and the might of God’s power that was the fire burning in the fire box of that mighty locomotive of evangelism.  Their spiritual eyes were open, and they saw the armies round about and had confidence in them.  They had more confidence in God than money, education, or organization.  Today, I can’t help but wonder, if they Elisha, and we the servant.