The Roar of the Lion
23 10 2013
For a number of years, Beneth and I had the privilege of working with Dr. Walt Brock, the founder and director of Ironwood Christian camp He is a man who has lived in the Word of God for many years and shows evidence of that time in the Word in the practical ways that he lives. One summer night at Ironwood, he and I were sitting in a jeep contemplating the day we had just experienced. We had a full campsite packed with teenagers, the electricity had gone out, our camp speaker was ill, a serious injury had occurred at the lake, and a number of staff members were struggling spiritually. Mr. Walt made a comment that night that has stuck with me: “I think the lion is roaring today!”
His comment was based upon I Peter 5:8 where it states, “…your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” For me, the last few weeks of ministry have felt as though the “lion has been roaring.” Through a number of circumstances, my senses have been alerted to the fact that the ministry includes a spiritual battle against an enemy that is not made of flesh and blood. Your week may have been similar to mine. If not, I’m sure there is a day coming soon when you will hear the roar of the lion. Regardless of your current situation, I want to plead with you to respond to the lion’s roar in 3 ways.
#1. Trust God Confidently: Sometimes I find myself trusting God reluctantly. Because I’ve tried all of my own solutions to the situation, I reluctantly begin to trust God as a last resort. The Bible clearly teaches that we are on the winning side (Psalm 60:12; I Corinthians 15:57). Christ has promised to never leave us or forsake us (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5). Standing strong in the power of His might is possible, or He wouldn’t have commanded us to do it (Ephesians 6:10). There is no good reason for us to reluctantly trust God today. Our trust should be confident in the fact that the One we are trusting is trustworthy.
#2. Pray Fervently: Most of us pray throughout the day-to-day events of ministry life. We pray for the Lord’s help with sermon prep, ministry decisions, and the needs of people we serve. Though we pray regularly, it is interesting to me what the “roar of the lion” does for our prayer life. The roar intensifies our prayer life. We find ourselves not just praying but pleading with God. The heightened sense of danger causes us to take our prayers far more seriously. Don’t miss the value of the lion’s roar. It can add an element to our prayer life that might have been missing.
#3. Work Tirelessly: Galatians 6:9 reminds believers in the midst of difficulty to not “grow weary in well doing.” Don’t quit because the lion roared. His roar is a roar of hunger, not a roar of victory. A hungry lion indicates that he has not found a satisfying meal yet. Even though people are struggling, the finances are declining, and you are at the end of your own wits, don’t quit! Keep working tirelessly, because we will reap if we faint not. A sure reward is promised to those who will stay faithful.
The lion will roar! He may be roaring in your life and ministry today. Stay sober and be vigilant (I Peter 5:8). Use these three simple reminders as your punch list of priority when you are reminded of the spiritual battle present in the ministry to which God has called you.
