Proverbs 18.10-11
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination. A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.”
1 John 5:3-5
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
Proverbs says that the Lord is our “strong tower.” 1 John teaches the same truth; it says that is through our relationship with God that we “overcome the world.”
The 1 John passage is intriguing because the Greek word used for “overcome” is the word nike, which you will recognize as the name of the famous shoe company. In Greek mythology, Nike was also the name of the goddess of victory. John uses the word nike four times in this brief passage, either in its noun form (nike = victory) or its verb form (nikao = overcome). The message is that our strength — the source of our victory over the world — is trusting in Jesus.
John is writing to believers, people who have already trusted in Christ, so he is not talking about the faith necessary to be saved. John is talking to Christians about the application of faith to the situations we face as we live and work in the midst of the world. Belief motivates us to obey God’s commands, and it empowers us to apply our faith and trust God as we do our work in the world. It is applied belief.
It is what I call “battlefield belief.” I’ve written about it before, and it bears repeating.
There is a big difference between “Sunday belief” and “battlefield belief.” It is easy to believe and have faith on Sunday at a church service in response to worship music that moves and inspires, a sermon that informs and motivates, people that love and encourage, and ample time to pray and reflect. It is not hard to believe in that environment.
Unfortunately, though certainly not intended, Sunday worship can also be an environment that enables a faith that is not prepared for the realities we encounter and battles we must fight in the every day world beyond the church environment. When the alarm goes off Monday morning, it’s time to go to work: Back to the battlefield; back into the arena where you must engage the enemy. It is not nearly as easy to believe and obey at work as it was in the church service, and work is where and when we need the wisdom and strength that only God can provide.
This is where you need battlefield belief.
The Christian faith is not for spectators. John uses the language of competition; the language of battle: “This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” The Christian faith is for competitors. It is for warriors and fighters. Jesus did not call us to sit in the bleachers and watch. He did not call us to stand on the sideline and cheer. He sends us into the arena. He sends us to the front line of battle against the opposition.
The moment you trusted in Christ you stepped into the arena of combat, and “Sunday belief” will not survive on the battlefield.
The shield of faith is belief applied specifically to the events you face in life and at work. It is faith that is focused, specific, and situational. It is strategic. It is not faith in the general sense; rather, it is faith in the presence, power, and principles of the infinite-personal God. It is faith in the Lord as our strong tower. That means you know who God is, you know what his word says, and as you encounter the things of the world … you trust God and apply your faith and obey. Specifically.
This is why John emphasizes obedience to God’s commandments.
Whatever difficulties you have with people at work, know that the underlying conflict is spiritual. Whatever challenges you have with issues at work, know that the underlying conflict is spiritual. Whatever disruptive feelings you have at work, whatever temptations you face, whatever doubt you experience, whatever fear/anxiety you feel, whatever anger you struggle with … know that the underlying conflict is spiritual.
So be crystal clear about what God’s word says about the situations you face, and respond in obedience. This is the shield of faith. This is faith that is applied. This is battlefield belief. This is nike … victory.
In the book of Romans, Paul amplifies the message with this verse: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Paul strengthens the message by creating a whole new word — hupernikao — which is translated “more than conquerors.” It states that we are more than victors … more than nike.
Such is the power and strength of our God. Such is the blessing he graciously extends to us.
