Are You Ready for Battle?
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Ephesians 6:6-12“Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour 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.”
If trials won’t get a Christian off track, then oftentimes temptations will. Ephesians 6:10 and 11 say, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Satan has many tricks or cunning devices to destroy a marriage, a testimony, a life. God has mercy and can redeem, but Satan wants to hurt the testimony of anyone who calls himself a Christian. He wants to bring havoc into that life so that the name of Christ will be brought down and the work of God hindered.
I’m amazed when I see a husband and wife bickering with each other or Christians speaking ill of each other. A mature believer will realize that arguing and gossip are not what they appear to be on the surface. It’s spiritual warfare. “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” (Ephesians 6:12).
Do I believe that demons exist? Absolutely yes! Satan is a fallen angel, Lucifer, who took one third of the angelic kingdom with him. He and his demons are busy fighting against God’s people at this very moment with wicked thoughts and with intentions to hurt, harm, or smear. The Bible says that some—even within the religious realm—have the outward appearance of religion, but their empowerment is not of God but of Satan. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says. “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
There is one true Light of the world and that is Jesus Christ. Christians must be aware that there are many false lights that blind the eyes of potential believers from seeing the truth of Jesus Christ. We need to wake up each morning with the realization that the Christian life is a battlefield, and there is a real devil that wants to destroy, tempt, and trick God’s people into stumbling and falling.
Spiritual warfare is something that you’ve got to be prepared for every day, and God has provided the weapons and protection that you need in His Word. It’s up to you to take the time to tap into that resource so you can “be strong in the Lord” and fight the battle “in the power of his might.” Satan wants to devour you and ruin your testimony. Are you prepared to do battle today?
By Dr. Paul Chappell
(Lancaster Baptist Church - California)
Ephesians 6:6-12“Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour 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.”
If trials won’t get a Christian off track, then oftentimes temptations will. Ephesians 6:10 and 11 say, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Satan has many tricks or cunning devices to destroy a marriage, a testimony, a life. God has mercy and can redeem, but Satan wants to hurt the testimony of anyone who calls himself a Christian. He wants to bring havoc into that life so that the name of Christ will be brought down and the work of God hindered.
I’m amazed when I see a husband and wife bickering with each other or Christians speaking ill of each other. A mature believer will realize that arguing and gossip are not what they appear to be on the surface. It’s spiritual warfare. “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” (Ephesians 6:12).
Do I believe that demons exist? Absolutely yes! Satan is a fallen angel, Lucifer, who took one third of the angelic kingdom with him. He and his demons are busy fighting against God’s people at this very moment with wicked thoughts and with intentions to hurt, harm, or smear. The Bible says that some—even within the religious realm—have the outward appearance of religion, but their empowerment is not of God but of Satan. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says. “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
There is one true Light of the world and that is Jesus Christ. Christians must be aware that there are many false lights that blind the eyes of potential believers from seeing the truth of Jesus Christ. We need to wake up each morning with the realization that the Christian life is a battlefield, and there is a real devil that wants to destroy, tempt, and trick God’s people into stumbling and falling.
Spiritual warfare is something that you’ve got to be prepared for every day, and God has provided the weapons and protection that you need in His Word. It’s up to you to take the time to tap into that resource so you can “be strong in the Lord” and fight the battle “in the power of his might.” Satan wants to devour you and ruin your testimony. Are you prepared to do battle today?
By Dr. Paul Chappell
(Lancaster Baptist Church - California)
posted by mS eLoVe | 9:03 AM
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