Continuing with Pastor Kyle's message, he states that every day there is a battle between the One true God and the devil, the flesh and the God-rejecting world. All Christians represent the One true God in every battle. We have the weapons to access God’s divine power to demolish the strongholds in our lives. The battles in our day look different every day. Some days they are intellectual battles. Other days they are emotional battles. Some are physical battles, some are financial battles. Some are relational or self-control battles. Some are substance or addiction battles. Still other are battles of truth, the will or the tongue. The battles may differ daily, but every day we must choose God in the battle because He has given us every divine weapon to demolish every stronghold in our lives. We have the right weapons, but if we do not use them, they are useless.
The fourth key to keeping a positive mindset when it feels like losing in this world is that obedience is still obedience, even if it ends in defeat. God told Moses and Aaron that despite the signs and wonders presented, Pharaoh would harden his heart. Omniscient God has foreknowledge of everything, but gives us freewill. Romans 1:18-25, 28-32 says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”
If we desire and seek the Lord, God will reveal Himself to us. If we desire and seek the sinful secular world then God will eventually give us over to that desire. Sin is in the world tempting daily and God puts good and evil in front of every person every day. It is up to us to choose the good and continue to respond to Him. Moses and Aaron obeyed God every time asked to confront Pharaoh even though the outcome looked like a loss. In Matthew 16:25 Jesus said, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Obedience is still obedience, even if it ends in defeat. We may suffer some serious losses on this side of Heaven, but God is going to use them, redeem them and glorify Himself through them because Romans 8:28 tells us, “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” In the times that feel like losing, we need to stay obedient to God and that is the victory.
The devil does not have any original material. The best that Satan can do is to trick people into believing that he has power. The truth is that this is a victory for God in every way, even though it feels like a defeat. Obedience in faith and trust is all the God expects of us We always need other Believers in our lives, and these are the times when we really need them. If we are not intentional about having Christians around us when times are normal and good, then we may not have them when we are in a real battle.
The fifth key to keeping a positive mindset when it feels like losing in this world is that God’s plan + God’s power + any obedient person = a positive result eventually. God is working in the battle, but God’s people need to be patient in the battle. It’s not about human might and power; it’s about the power of the Spirit of God that victories are given. Zechariah 4:6b says, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. God prevails. We live in a wicked, horribly fallen in sin world. All of us are going to experience setbacks and suffer. To an unbeliever, death is the worst thing that can happen to a person; it’s the end of life and the beginning of eternal punishment of sin. But, because of what Jesus did on the Cross as redemption and salvation, death is actually the best thing that can happen to a Christian because to be absent from the body is to be present with then Lord in Heaven; eternal life after death in glory.
But, what about here and now? In John 10:9-11, the Lord Jesus tells us: “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” That is true life before death. Still, God brings a good result into the trials that we face today. Keep trusting God, keep obeying God, and walk with fellow Christians in victory; that’s winning with God!
In Christ, Brian
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