We came home from the conference we attended and between washing clothes and napping we watched two old westerns. High noon was one of them. Kane, the just resigned as sheriff and married a Quaker, knew he needed to stand up to the man who was returning from prison on the noon train. His efforts to round up a posse at the tavern, and then the church, are met with fear and hostility. Some townspeople, worried that a gunfight would damage the town’s reputation, urge Kane to avoid the confrontation entirely. Others are Miller’s friends, and resent that Kane cleaned up the town in the first place.
He stood alone against Miller and three cronies. He did not back down nor did he run. He fought. And long story short he won.
Oh beloved, we have an enemy and you might say he’s coming in on the noon train. And you might know that you are going to stand alone against him. This enemy is the devil and he doesn’t fight fair. He also can’t win. But this world will convince you to run. It will convince you that standing up against the wiles of the enemy is disaster for you and the world. You may be resented for standing for Christ.
But God wants you to remember this morning that you are already a dead person. You’ve died to this world and you now live with Christ in God. Who is it that is against you? What sin keeps trying to lure you back into its clutches? God wants to remind that you have died to sin but are alive to God in Christ. You are no longer a slave to sin, you are a child of God. You won’t ever walk alone and you will never face the crises of life, the temptation of sin or the wiles of the enemy alone – not ever. You are not the sum of your past life, where you had no strength. You are the exact representation of Christ in the world today – and having done all you can stand and live in this grace of God wholly changed by the power of the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead. As you are filled with Holy Spirit you are endowed with everlasting wisdom, power and love.
God loves you and He’s for you. Jesus paid the way for that and Holy Spirit wants to fill you with Himself. Run to the Lord this morning and ask for fresh filling, fresh fire and fresh anointing to stand in the grace and peace that is yours. And live, beloved, no matter what comes against you, in the Light of His wonder working power.
Colossians 3: 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
Romans 6: 11 So you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 6: 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Galatians 2: 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Romans 5: 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
Psalm 16: 8 I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.
