Suppose a boxing trainer took his fighter to an isolated training camp and spent the entire training session psyching up his man for the big fight. He says, “I will be with you at ringside; I will never leave your side. Here is a list of great boxers of the past, so study their every move. You don’t have to suffer through hard workouts. I’ve told you that you are a winner, and my word is all you need. Here are some diagrams on how to defeat Monster Man when you step into the ring with him.”
What kind of trainer is this? Absolutely foolish! What would a good trainer really do? He would find the best boxer he could, put his man in the ring with him, and let them have it out.
How many Christians call themselves warriors without ever being tested or trained? We hear so much about the many prayer warriors in this nation. The sad truth is, though, the vast majority of them have never been in battle. They have not been trained, and they are not ready to fight.
Recently, I asked the Lord why so many true believers are going through such heavy, hard times. “Why such deep suffering?” I asked, “Why are so many being tested to their limits?”
God knows that Satan is going to be loosed on the earth for his last hour of warfare. The Lord is going to need well-trained warriors who will prevail over all the powers of hell. Right now, he is doing a quick work in his people: crisis training!
These deeply-tested saints — people who have wrestled with God — are becoming the captains of his last-days army. The more they suffer and the more intense the trial, the greater the work he has for them to do.
This kind of training calls for physical discipline as well as spiritual. Jacob threw his whole body into the battle. A fighting spirit had risen up in him, and scripture says, “In his strength he struggled with God” (Hosea 12:3, NKJV). This verse has great meaning for all who want to prevail in prayer. It says Jacob won the battle “in his strength.” Beloved, if you are going to prevail in these last days, you are going to have to put all your body and strength into it!