This week, Michael writes that the gospel message is both
good news and bad news. Jesus said,
In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have
overcome the world. The God-rejecting world system surrounds us with
tribulation. Tribulation is characterized by mental pressure, pain, suffering,
and trying situations that cause mental anguish. According to Ephesians 6, we
are in the midst of a spiritual battle. For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness from on
high.
Here's the bad news: Life is
hard. In this world we will have tribulation. Everyone dies. The heart of man (and woman) is desperately wicked ... who can understand
it? In 2 Timothy 3, we're reminded what men are like in the last
days. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 “This
know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be
lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient
to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false
accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors,
heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form
of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
Many Christians have
memorized Galatians 5:22 about the fruit of the spirit. Galatians 5:19-23 “ Now the
works of the flesh are evident, which are adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies,
outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy,]murders,
drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I
also told you in time past, that those who practice such things
will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control. Against such there is no law.”
Here's the good news: Romans
8:38-39 says, "In all these
things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am
persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor
any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord." Ephesians 6 says, "be strong in the Lord and in the power of
His might... that you may be able to stand in the evil day and having done all,
to stand."
God has given us everything
that we need to stand against the schemes of the devil. The enemy is not the
person who opposes you. The enemy is the devil and his legions of fallen
angels: spiritual wickedness from on
high. The two names of the adversary are the devil, meaning the accuser,
and Satan, meaning the deceiver. His scheme is to take men and women of
God off the playing field ... to shut their mouths, remove their testimony and
relegate them into insignificance. The battlefield is in the mind. He will
remind you that you're not wise enough, strong enough, smart enough ... that
you're just not good enough. His tools are discouragement, doubt, worry,
and fear. The battle is for our hearts and minds. According to Ephesians
6:10-13 “Finally, my
brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the
whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of
God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand.”
Let's continue Michael"s message on Tribulation in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
No comments:
Post a Comment