Resurfacing < Resurrection
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Nobody wants to be embarrassed. So much of what we do and say is measured in order to avoid the spectacle of public attention and humiliation. The way we dress is to ensure that we are in-style and fit in with the crowd; we do not like to be called on or answer a question, in fear of giving the wrong answer; and we frequently fret over whether a relative will do something awkward in our presence. Yet, not matter how hard we guard our “rep” (reputation), almost all of us have had something resurface that we wished had been buried forever. How many times has an embarrassing childhood picture or affectionate nickname been on display for all to see our silliness?
When it comes to our walk with the Lord, there is a newness that marks our very identity and every activity. We are no longer defined by our past, we are no longer controlled by the sin that once enslaved us, and we are no longer burdened by the weights of this world. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” If this sounds refreshing to you, let me give you one more to provide a resounding “amen”! In 2 Timothy 2:20-21 Paul defines us in this treasured way, “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” How wonderful indeed, that the Lord is working on us and in us to be a people who are filled with His knowledge, His glory, His image, and His mission.
One of the challenges we face and must guard against as we operate with this new model, this Spirit update, is that the enemy continually bombards us with messages from our past. He is constantly bringing to our memory places we fell short, areas of sin, feelings of shame and worthlessness. Revelation 12:10 labels the devil as the “accuser of the brethren”. One of his putrid tactics he unleashes on God’s people is to cause a RESRUFACING of people and problems that are meant to bury us in a shadow of doubt, confusion, and pain. When things resurface unexpectedly, that have lied dormant for months, years, and decades, it feels like an eruption of destruction that we cannot get out of the way of. In my own life I saw the flow of pain that comes from something of an old message still trying to define this new man. It came in the form of a church council report from my former church. The words on those pages spoke of all their perceived inadequacies of my leadership ability. Those notes stung deeply each time I read them, and I gave such weight to them that I allowed past notes to be present shackles despite what God was saying or doing in my life in real time. The question today for each of us is this: What is trying to resurface in your life to rule you?
A RESURFACING OF PEOPLE-
Someone from our past comes back to remind us of our shortcomings or attempts to draw us back into an unproductive lifestyle.
A RESURFACING OF FINANCIAL WOES-
A college loan, an IRS audit, or a legal matter that we thought had been settled still has one more requirement that will cost us some time and money that we currently do not have.
A RESURFACING OF EMOTIONS-
An overwhelming sense of fear, panic, depression, and sadness that we thought we had healthily handled and moved past, is once again tormenting and even dominating our thoughts to the point we are incapacitated by what we feel over what is true.
No matter what the area that has resurfaced in your life be encouraged that the RESURRECTION VICTORY of Jesus is over any place that seeks to rise up and rule in your life. Every problem we come face to face with: whether an individual, an intense feeling, or an insurmountable obstacle, must come under the authority and submission to Jesus, who is over all! As Philippians 2:9-11 tells us, “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord.” When things resurface in your life to fully expose you and fully engage you in battle, remember that the Risen Savior will lift you to a higher place. We have been invited to and intended to stand in the high place of confidence in His redemptive love and a place of complete victory in His resurrection power.
Do not let an old flame burn you anymore!
Do not let old news be the headlines you live by!
Do not let a past failure be what grades your current progress!
Let’s live above and beyond the former things, because our fight is destined for victory in a God who faced death and lives forever. As Romans 16:20 tells us, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”