Lesson 9 Fighting in the Shadow of the Cross
Questions 3 and 4
Friend, if you look at the cross seriously, it's going to break your heart. It's going to cut you deeply (Acts 2:37) and make you weep over your sin (Luke 22:62). It's going to bring you to your knees and bring you to your senses, and it's going to hurt! But it's also going to heal! Brace yourself, soldier, for the cross is more powerful than any program, more thorough than a military boot camp, and it is liberating!
"If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!"
John 8:36
Fighting Under the Shadow of the Cross
Today, I want to show you the need to fight under the shadow of the cross. What do I mean by that? I mean to fight knowing your victory has already been won. To fight in the knowledge that you are forgiven and accepted by God because of the cross. To fight knowing your General is a conquering King who has fought death for you and won!
Yes, you still need to develop your battle plans, as you are learning warfare, and you still need to fight hard! But you need to fight under the shadow of the cross, always remembering the price paid for you, the blood shed for you, the love poured out for you.
To fight under the shadow of the cross means to receive grace for the sins you've committed, to accept the love God has for you, and to rejoice in forgiveness and reconciliation. It means remembering at all times that God gives us the victory "through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57), meaning our victory is a gift purchased through Jesus' death and resurrection. Our victory is through Christ, not by ourselves.
"Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing."
https://hymnary.org/text/a_mighty_fortress_is_our_god_a_bulwark
And it also means taking sin as seriously as God did when He beat it and crucified it on a tree! We learn what to think of sin and how to fight sin properly by looking at the cross.
Question 3. What differences do you see between fighting under the shadow of the cross and fighting in your own strength?
Log in / create an account to enroll or continue where you left off.
Sharon writes, "The shadow of the cross highlights the stark, ugly reality of my sin. The very sin I had no power to change or erase. Before, I worried I did not experience an adequate level of shame for my sin or if my repentance was deep enough. However, I truly understand Christ took on my shame for my sin. When receiving Jesus as Savior, I am willing to accept I did repent of my sin with the best understanding I had at that time. With this new understanding, I can move forward into this battle and not have to anxiously look back or berate myself over my sin. The sin has been crucified and stricken from my record. In exchange, God has given me everything to assure victory in this battle with my flesh."
A Biblical Example
Please look with me at a biblical battle, and let’s see how to fight under the shadow of the cross. Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
“The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” 10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.”
Exodus 17:8-13 NIV
Question 4. When the Amalekites attacked Israel what did Moses do to ensure victory for the Israelites?
Log in / create an account to enroll or continue where you left off.