The War Within: Why You Can’t Stay Neutral in Your Faith - Part 1
You can't be Switzerland: The war will come to you anyway
The first is against the dragon and we have talked a bit about that.
The second is against his influence in the church and the third is where the battle really reigns.
This third conflict is in our hearts and minds.
We want to do what is right but might be confused about what that is. We have powerful, albeit untrue, paradigms in us that sometimes guide us toward a cliff as we follow the "right" way.
As women, we often want to take a path of least resistance. It is part of our training. We want to play it safe, not rock the boat, not upset anyone, have people like us, and just go along with the party line to keep peace. How is that working out for us?
You are in the war against dragon lies and God's truth whether you choose to be or not.
World War 2 moved into small villages that wanted nothing to do with the war. But, it didn't matter what they wanted. The desired peace was stolen from them as enemy troops came anyway. Their resources were stripped away. Their freedom was changed to terror and restraint.
The dragon seemed so powerful and unbeatable but when nations came together and said that they would not let the dragon continue to devour the world, they won.
Many in the villages fought powerfully but silently. They were the resistance. Each person that joined against the enemy made their own small difference in the outcome of the war. We must do the same.
In our homes we fight against the influence of the dragon. "As for me any my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15Women should be the front line guardian of what comes into the home but that does not mean that being a "keeper at home" is their only calling.
We are called to be a part of Kingdom and that means doing our part for it.
The women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting were not keepers at home. ~ undefined
Rahab wasn’t just a housekeeper, she was an innkeeper, and God chose her to have faith, risk her life, and to help the Israelites. ~undefined
Ruth wasn’t a keeper at home She worked hard gleaning in the barley fields. Many ancient women, including godly women, worked hard for their livelihood. ~undefined
Deborah, a prophetess and judge of Israel, didn’t keep at home but judged under the Palm of Deborah, a landmark at crossroads in the centre of Israel. And she went with Barak to battle against their enemy. ~undefined
The Wise Woman of Abel Beth Maacah didn’t keep at home when she spoke with Joab (the commander of David’s army) on behalf of her city and negotiated for its safety. ~undefined
Huldah, on the other hand, seems to have been at home when she received a delegation sent from King Josiah seeking her advice. This delegation included the High Priest (Hilkiah), the father of the future governor (Ahikam), the son of a prophet (Achbor), the secretary of state (Shaphan), and the king’s officer (Asaiah). Huldah speaks to these men on behalf of God. ~undefined
The Queen of Sheba didn’t keep at home and she was commended by both Solomon and Jesus for coming “from the ends of the earth to hear Solomon’s wisdom” ~undefined
Sheerah could not have built towns if her main role was housekeeping. And the daughters of Shallum could not have helped rebuild the walls of Jerusalem if their main role was housekeeping. ~ undefined
Anna spent little time at home. She spent her days and nights fasting and praying in the temple in Jerusalem. She was there when Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the temple, and from that time she began telling everyone who was waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem about Jesus. ~ undefined
Many Galilean women didn’t keep at home but followed Jesus as he ministered in Galilee. They even followed him to Jerusalem where they watched him be crucified. And Mary Magdalene wasn’t at home on the morning of Jesus’ resurrection. I’m glad she didn’t miss out on being the first to see the risen Lord by keeping at home. ~ undefined
When Paul first met Lydia she wasn’t at home but she later used her home as a base for the new church at Philippi. She also ran a business dealing with luxury textiles. Lydia, and many other first-century women like her, had servants and slaves to do the housework. Paul wasn’t talking about scrubbing floors or doing the laundry. ~ undefined
Phoebe didn’t stay home or do laundry. She travelled from Cenchrea (a port city of Corinth) carrying Paul’s precious letter to the church at Rome. Paul speaks about her warmly and tells the Romans she is a diakonos (minister or deacon) of the church at Cenchrea and a patron of many. ~ undefined
Junia didn’t keep at home. She was a missionary and, at one point at least, was imprisoned with Paul. ~ undefined
Priscilla travelled with her husband Aquila and the apostle Paul. Paul mentions that she and her husband risked their lives for him. However, the couple did use their home as a base for the church at Ephesus and later at Rome. When Paul greets 28 Christians at Rome, he greets Priscilla first. First! ~ undefined
There are still more women I could mention such as Miriam, the woman of Thebez, and Mary the mother of Jesus, who didn’t devote their lives to housekeeping and didn’t restrict their lives to the domestic sphere. Rather they were out and about helping, sometimes rescuing, their family and community, or were ministering the gospel. Check this link.
Our work is for the Lord no matter what it is we do. We show Him in our speech and behaviors. We are always God's representatives and it should show. For some of us our work is at home, for some, in the church and for some out in the world with Christ.
We are a part of the body of Christ and are called to live out where God calls us. If there are those who don't want us to participate they are going directly against God's design.
All of the earth feels the effects of the fall. Creation itself is damaged and declining. There is no place to go that is neutral. And, Christ tells us that if we are lukewarm (taken on the temperature of the world) then He will spit us out of His mouth.
There is no neutral stance. You are part of the Kingdom or part of the world. You are standing with Christ or with His enemy.
We are in this whether we like it or not. Male or female doesn't matter. Where you live makes no difference.
This Is Where the Real Battle Turns
But here is where most women quietly lose the battle, not out in the world, but within themselves.
If the war is in your mind…
If the confusion feels louder than truth…
If you keep choosing what feels “right” but still end up stuck, silenced, or shrinking…
That is not by chance—it is conditioning rooted in lies.
It is not about behavior management or trying harder to be a “good Christian woman.”
It is about dismantling the internal lies, healing the places where the enemy gained access, and restoring your ability to hear truth clearly again.
Because you cannot stand firm in a war you do not recognize within yourself.
And you cannot walk in Kingdom authority while still agreeing with the lies that keep you small.
If this message stirred something in you, that is your invitation.
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