This week, Michael writes
that Jesus suffered and died so that we could be made righteous because of his
payment for sin on our behalf. Many Americans see today’s conflicts as a
political battle. However, we wrestle not
against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness from on high.
Ephesians 6 says, “put on the whole armor of God so that you
may be able to stand in the evil day and having done all to stand.”
Today is the evil day. In
order to stand, Christians must be trained. Trials and tribulations will
test us so that we will learn to stand not in our own strength but in His
strength alone. We’re instructed to put on the whole armor of God. God
won’t put it on for us. This is a command, so that we will actively stand
against the devil’s schemes. According to 2 Timothy 2:24-26, “The servant of the Lord must not strive; but
be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing
those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to
the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves
out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
Jesus said in Luke
14, “If any man come to
me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren,
and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” A
disciple is a follower and a student. Unless
you “hate” everything else in comparison to your love for God, you cannot be a
true disciple of Jesus Christ. It’s to our own benefit to make Him Lord of our
lives. Lord means owner. You are
slaves to whom ye obey. Either we follow our Lord Jesus Christ or
we’re followers of this world.
Are we Christians who happen
to be Americans or are we Americans who happen to be Christians? The
question is, are we Christians first? When we came to Christ, we became
enemies of this God-rejecting world. We can choose either to be victors or
victims. Jesus said, “in this world you
will have tribulation, but be not dismayed, for I have overcome the world.”
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.” There is no
peace without the prince of peace – Jesus Christ. Peace is the result of
reconciliation: for there is one God
and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
When Jesus addressed the
Pharisees in John 8 He said, “you are
of your father the devil. He is the father of lies and you have believed
the lie rather than the truth of the Word of God.” Jesus Christ
himself is the way, the truth and the
life. No man comes to the father except by Him. Men and women of this world
are wrapped up in the things of this world. However, we’re to set our
affections on things above, not on things of the earth. Lay not up for
yourselves treasures upon earth. Instead treasure treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is, there will your
heart be also.
What does God’s Word say
about the devil? In 2 Corinthians he’s the god of this
world. In Ephesians he is the prince of the power of the air. In 2
Timothy, he sets snares for the righteous. We have a moment by moment
decision to follow the things of the world or the things of the spirit of
Christ in us. According to John 8, “He (the devil) was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the
truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his
own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. The devil makes his schemes
seem natural. The things of the spirit are counter to the things of this world.
Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in
spirit.” Our joy is not the absence of pain, but the presence of God.
Joy does not depend on worldly circumstances. Joy and rejoicing is in the
spirit of the Lord, Christ in you the hope of glory.
Let's continue Michael's message on Spiritual Battles" in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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