Friday, August 21, 2015

Our Mission - Part 2- Shine the Light of Truth


2 Corinthians 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Michael continues: Jesus Christ has made the ultimate payment for our sins to justify God's righteous judgment by the supreme sacrifice of his innocent blood on our behalf.  For by grace are you saved though faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, (through Jesus having paid the price) not of works lest any man should boast – Ephesians 2:8-9.  Because of the grace He has given us, we have been empowered by the power of the Holy Spirit to stand fast in the midst of the spiritual battle and having done all to stand – Ephesians 6:13.  As His emissaries, He has called us in Christ's stead to set the captives free and to preach the acceptable day of the Lord's salvation – Luke 4:18-19

Psalm 112:4 Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.”

We have been called to take back territory from Satan's powers of darkness.  When God calls us to battle against spiritual wickedness from on high, we stand in his power, armed with His spiritual armor. Therefore, resist the devil and he will flee from you – James 4:7. The adversary's tactics never change ... his strategy is to divide and conquer. He pits factions against factions: women against men, children against parents, those in government against those they govern.  Satan's powers of the darkness in this world are the root cause of division.  Reconciliation means to make peace: to bring back together that which has been separated. Peace is only available through the Prince of Peace. Jesus said, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid – John 14:27.

Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.”

The purpose of the armor of God is to stand against the schemes of the devil, and having done all to stand – Ephesians 6:11-13. Luke 4 records a confrontation between Jesus Christ and the devil himself. Satan's proposition to Jesus was to "bow down and worship me and I will give you power over all the kingdoms of this world.  They are mine to give because they were relinquished (by Adam) to me" – Luke 4:6 The key to standing against the enemy is to wield the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God – Ephesians 6:17. Jesus responded from the Word of God, "Get behind Me, Satan![a] For[b] it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve” – Luke 4:8.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

In the book of Acts Chapter 16, Paul caused a great disturbance in Philippi when he cast a devil spirit out of a woman who had made a fortune for her masters by fortune-telling using a "spirit of divination."  When the light confronts the darkness there are always casualties of the spiritual warfare.  Acts 19 records similar incidents about Paul's spiritual battles in the city of Ephesians.  “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness from on high” – Ephesians 6:12.  As in the book of Acts, we have been called to shine the light of the truth of the Word of God in the darkness of our neighborhoods. As God's emissaries, we have been called with a mission from God to deliver a message from our Commander in Chief. Not only has He called us to deliver the message, he has also called us to be the message ...  as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God – 2 Corinthians 5:20.


Psalm 107:10-15 Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons - because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High, therefore He brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces.
Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!

We have been given a mission from God. Therefore let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven – Matthew 5:16. God has called us to the front lines of the spiritual battle as His soldiers in the "charge of the Light Brigade"... Our battle cry is "Give 'em Heaven!"

May God richly bless you,
Your brother in Christ, Michael

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