Garrisoned By God

There are supernatural powers and agencies of which I am unconscious 

• which, unless I am garrisoned by God, 
• can play with me like toys whenever they choose. 

The New Testament continually impresses this on me. 

• For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, 
• but against principalities, against powers, 
• against the rulers of the darkness of this age, 
• against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). 
• All that is outside the realm of my consciousness. 

If I only look for results in the earthly powers and agencies when I pray, 

• I am ill-taught. 
• A praying saint performs far more havoc 
• among the unseen forces of darkness 
• than I have the slightest notion of. 
• The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much ( James 5:16). 

I have not the remotest conception of what is done by my prayers, 

• nor have I the right to try and examine and understand it; 
• all I know is that Jesus Christ laid all stress on prayer. 
• And greater works than these he will do, 
• because I go to My Father. 
• And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do ( John 14:12–13).

It is only when these speculations and terrors are awakened in me 

• that I begin to see what the atonement of Jesus Christ means. 
• It means safeguarding in the unseen, 
• safeguarding from dangers I know nothing about. 
• Kept by the power of God (1 Peter 1:5)! 

The conscious ring of my life is a mere phase, 

• Jesus Christ did not die and rise again to save that only; 
• the whole human personality is included. 

I have to beware of estimating Jesus Christ’s salvation by my experience of it. 

• My experience is a mere indication in the conscious life 
• of an almighty salvation that goes far beyond anything 
• I ever can experience.

Second Thessalonians 2:7–12 (below) represents the borderland realm of things 

• which it is difficult to trace. 
• The theme is not an isolated one, it runs all through the Bible 
• and indicates a borderland I cannot step over.

...the Anarchist is being held back until just the right time. 

• That doesn’t mean that the spirit of anarchy is not now at work. 
• It is, secretly and underground. 
• But the time will come when the Anarchist will no longer be held back, 
• but will be let loose. 
• But don’t worry. 
• The Master Jesus will be right on his heels and blow him away. 
• The Master appears and—puff!—the Anarchist is out of there.

The Anarchist’s coming is all Satan’s work. 

• All his power and signs and miracles are fake, evil sleight of hand 
• that plays to the gallery of those who hate the truth that could save them. 
• And since they’re so obsessed with evil, God rubs their noses in it—
• gives them what they want.
• Since they refuse to trust truth, 
• they're banished to their chosen world of lies and illusions.

- The Message Eugene H. Peterson

Adapted Excerpt From

Biblical Psychology

Oswald Chambers