Going Behind Enemy Lines

Thursday, January 13, 2011, 11:11 p.m. – I was lying in bed with the notion to go to sleep for the night when this song kept playing in my mind and I sensed the Holy Spirit prompting me to get up and to write.

He That Winneth Souls is Wise / NewSong

There’s a battle going on through the ages -
A war between darkness and light.
And though some may ignore it, it still rages -
It’s time we stand up and fight.

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
But we are mighty through prayer.
Let us tear down the strongholds of Satan.
We must show the world we care.

Jesus is the victor of the ages,
And as his warriors we must go.
If we don’t get the message to the captives,
Then tell me, how will they know?

He that winneth souls is wise,
Going behind enemy lines,
Leading the captives home to Christ.
Bless the one who shines his light,
And leads the lost ones through the night.
He that winneth souls is wise.
He that winneth souls is wise.

My husband Rick has been reading to me, in the evenings, a biography of the life of Albert B. Simpson, written by A.W. Tozer, and titled “Wingspread.” In our reading into chapter eight, Tozer is now describing Simpson’s greater call of God for his life beyond just that of a pastor of a single congregation, to a passion to reach the lost people of his community for Jesus Christ. His new-found passion included breaking down denominational, prejudicial and post-civil war America’s political barriers along the lines of the north and the south in order to bring all the churches of his community together in revival and then in a common and unified effort to evangelize their city for Jesus Christ.

He faced both criticism and opposition to his efforts to unite the churches of his community together in a sustained effort to evangelize their city for Jesus Christ, though he had some short-term success along those lines. Yet, God used him mightily, not only to launch a great and successful evangelistic effort in his community in the USA, but ultimately he was called to cast the vision for and to launch a cross-denominational missionary effort to take the gospel to the ends of the earth, and then the end would come (see Matt. 24:14). This effort culminated in what became the 5th largest mission society world-wide at one time, I believe. The story of Simpson’s life is awe inspiring as he sought to follow the voice of the Holy Spirit in his life to reach the world for Jesus Christ. The Lord just reminded me of one of Simpson’s hymns that he wrote, which describes God’s calling on his life.

The Regions Beyond / Albert B. Simpson / Margaret M. Simpson

To the regions beyond I must go, I must go,
Where the story has never been told;
To the millions that never have heard of His love,
I must tell the sweet story of old.

To the hardest of places He calls me to go,
Not thinking of comfort or ease;
The world may pronounce me a dreamer, a fool -
Enough if the Master I please.

Oh, you that are spending your leisure and powers
In those pleasures so foolish and fond;
Awake from your selfishness, folly and sin,
And go to the regions beyond.

There are other “lost sheep” that the Master must bring,
And to them must the message be told;
He sends me to gather them out of all lands,
And welcome them back to His fold.

To the regions beyond I must go, I must go,
Till the world, all the world, His salvation shall know.

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read John 12:20-36:

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

27 “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

My Understanding: In this section of the gospel of John is the writer’s description of the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, and then of his death, burial and resurrection, which amounts to a total of 10 days. Some people term this Passion Week. This gospel of John is one historical account of those events that took place in that time in history, as well as what took place here in history is the basis for the gospel message.

As we study these historical accounts contained in the four gospels in the Bible, it becomes clear the many parallels there are between what happened to Jesus over 2,000 years ago and what must take place in the lives of Jesus’ followers in following him in death, burial and resurrection, as well as there are many parallels to what is prophesied in scripture concerning the last days, the rise of the beast and the antichrist to power, the persecution and the murdering of the saints of Almighty God, and the return of the Lord Jesus Christ for his bride, his temple, i.e. his true followers.

Jesus, in describing what was to come, said that unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But, if it dies, it produces many seeds. He was speaking of his own death and how it would mean salvation for the many, yet he was also speaking of our ultimate death to sin and life to God because of what he did for us on the cross in dying for our sins so that we could go free. Unless we die to ourselves, our selfish desires, our sin, etc. we will remain only a single seed. Yet, if we are willing to take up our cross and follow Jesus and we are willing to awaken from our selfishness and to go wherever Jesus sends us, then we, too, can produce many seeds, i.e. the fruit of the gospel of Jesus Christ resulting in changed lives. Jesus said, “Whoever serves me must follow me.”

Jesus also was troubled in his spirit concerning the death he knew he must endure for our sins, yet he knew that his purpose was that he come to that hour so that God could be glorified and so that the world might be saved through him. We, as well, were not saved so that we could be spared death to self and sin and could live for our own pleasures. No! We are saved for the purpose that we would come to that hour of death so that we would no longer remain a single seed living for ourselves but that we would produce many seeds.

Then, Jesus said that it was time for judgment to come to the world and the prince of this world would be driven out. Satan is the prince of this world and Jesus conquered him on the cross so that we can have victory over his influences in our lives and so we can be free of the power, rule and control of sin over our lives. So, through Jesus’ death, Satan was conquered and the final verdict of his sentence was pronounced. During the time of tribulation Satan and the beast and the false prophet will be allowed to rule for 3.5 years. During this time, as well, God will send his judgments upon the earth. At the end of this time, the beast and the false prophet will be thrown into the lake of fire and the Dragon, Satan, will be bound for 1,000 years during the millennial reign of Christ on the earth. So, this scripture has a dual fulfillment in both the cross of Christ and the final judgments on the earth.

Jesus told the people that they were going to have the light with them only a little longer. He was speaking of himself because he was going to the cross. Yet, I also sense he was speaking of the time from then until the tribulation, as well, when evil will reign and the judgments of God will fall. We don’t know how much time is left. We should walk in the Light while we still have it before darkness overtakes us. Jesus was warning them to put their trust in the Light while they still had it so that they could become sons of the Light. I believe he is saying the same thing to us today. We, as a people of God, need to wake up from our selfishness, folly and sin, and we need to follow Jesus wherever he leads us to the regions beyond. If we don’t get the message to the captives, how will they know? We must show the world we care. He that winneth souls is wise, going behind enemy lines, leading captives home to Christ. And, the world, too, must put their trust in the Light so that they can become sons of the Light, which is the reason why we must go and tell them.

Lord Jesus, I pray that you would show me where you want me to go and where my “regions beyond” are located so that I may go and tell them of your great love. Amen!