dark riders

Dark riders from 'the land of Mordor' stalk the land these days.

The moment we start to follow the Lord, we find ourselves caught up in a massive cosmic conflict. We are born (when we're 'born again') into battle. It's as simple as that.

Everything in hell reacts violently to the work of the Lord. If the legions of hell were less instinctive in the way they invariably react, it might well be harder to see what was going on.

But hell is anything but subtle when the Lord starts progressing his work.

Hell cottons on, far quicker than sometimes we ourselves may do, to what the Lord is doing. There's little doubt in my mind these days that the Lord is on the move. Locally and nationally. Something big is afoot. There are tremors all over the place, little, almost imperceptible tell-tale signs of the footsteps of the Lord.

Stirrings in the hearts of different folk. Marvelous works of power. God's Word released in energising, Spirit-powered grace.

Hell takes notice and, convulsed by a certain desperation, panic and horror, reacts in violent fashion.

But the devil invariably overplays his hand. The way that the same assault is replicated in one context after another gives the game away. He's plainly out to undermine that work of God, and between today and yesterday there's been a constant barrage from the pits of hell against the church of God. A vicious, mean and underhand endeavour on the part of hell to set God's people one against the other and fracture any oneness we may have.

The devil knows there's so much strength in unity. So the dark riders from the land of Mordor start galloping out across the varied contours of our corporate life, intent on tearing huge long trenches of ill-feeling and division through our ranks.

As I say, it's the fact that this has been replicated at point after point these last two days - in all sorts of different contexts - it's that which gives the game away. It's really rather obvious what's going on.

Especially on the back of a significant word from the Lord on Sunday, which all of us were deeply conscious of: especially on the back of folk from different backgrounds coming together from right across the country on Monday.

Hell is roused in anger.

We must be more alert than ever and constantly on on our guard.

We must learn to plead the cross of Jesus and apply it moment by moment.

The dark riders are done for. But not by any magic.