Light Steps: What? There's a war going on?

Friday, December 06, 2013

What? There's a war going on?

Are you a constant casualty in an unknown war?

Our enemy hates us: God said to Satan, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring" (Genesis 3:15a). Enmity is hatred. Our enemy hates us. Therefore, we need the strength of one who is stronger than our enemy.

In Luke 11, Jesus said, "But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." (Luke 11:20-23, ESV)

Do you see that, dear friends? For centuries upon centuries, we have been locked in an epic struggle against an enemy that hates us. This enemy would harass us, oppress us, depress us, and, if possible, possess us with himself and dispossess us of our senses and make us mad (see Ecclesiastes 7:7).

Who's with the enemy? I'll tell you: everyone who is not with the Lord Jesus is with the enemy. Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters..." (Matthew 6:24). If we are not "for Him," then certainly, from Jesus's standpoint, we are "against Him" (Luke 11:23).

This war is constant. It doesn't let up. There are no sidelines and no timeouts. There is no peace treaty.

Spiritual armor* is not available for unspiritual people, so many are unprotected in a war they don't even know exists. The spiritually blind don't look into a spiritual war, even though we are all spiritual. The spiritual dead are being held captive by the enemy, and all that enemy wants to do is steal, kill and destroy...lie...roam around, being crafty, disguising himself as an angel of light, looking for someone to trick, ensnare and devour (ref. John 10:10, John 8:44, 2 Corinthians 11:3 and 14. 2 Timothy 2:26, 1 Peter 5:8).

Romans 8:31 says "If the Lord is for us, who can be against us?" But, dear friend, that is the catch...we must be hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3) for the Lord to be for us!

Many are not even fighting a losing battle; they are suffering a defeated life! Friend, we must have the Strong One on our side! He is willing to fight for us! The Lord Jesus casts none away who humbly come to Him in surrender. He grants life and gives partnership to all who come to Him! If we are not with Him, we are against Him. We already have one enemy, and, unsurrendered to God, we position ourselves against Him as well. That means we'll be defeated in both life and beyond. We need victory! We need Him who has won! We need supernatural, super spiritual strength to defeat our natural predilections and spiritual foe.

Be aware of the war.
Be surrendered to the Savior.
Be victorious!

*Spiritual Armor
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit,with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:10-20, ESV)

1 comment:

Laurie said...: This is so powerful Tim! Thank you for this post.; 07 December, 2013 00:21

Post a Comment

This Says it for Me!

Every Christian is a contradiction to this old world. He crosses it at every point. He goes against the grain from beginning to end. From the day that he is born again until the day that he goes on to be with the Lord, he must stand against the current of a world always going the other way. God expects him to be "beside himself," "a fool for Christ's sake," "drunk on new wine." If he allows it, men will tone him down, steal the joy of his salvation, and reduce him to the dreary level of the general average. If the devil cannot keep us from being saved, he next endeavors to make average Christians of us, and in this he usually succeeds. He tames the holy recklessness of God's dare-saints until they sink into the drab pattern of most of us, "faultily faultless, icily regular, splendidly dull." The devil does not mind our joining church if we behave like most of those who are already inside. But when a real, wide-awake Christian breezes along, taking the Gospel seriously, the devil grows alarmed and begins plotting his downfall. He gets plenty of assistance right in the church, for many church folk do not like to have their Laodicean complacency upset by these who turn the world upside down. So they conspire with Satan to turn the young Christian's fever into a chill. There are always plenty of human wet blankets to smother the zealot's flame, and they have put out more spiritual fires than have all the skeptics and infidels. -- Vance Havner

A Little About Me...

I was born in South Boston, VA, but was raised on the state line in the Person Co., NC - Caswell Co., NC - Halifax Co., VA region. I always tell people you know you are a country boy when your idea of being a "multi-national" means you've been to three counties in your lifetime.

Enough of my geographical meanderings...I became a Christian (ask me about THAT!) at the age of 25 and have done my utmost to serve God since that day. I worked as an associate pastor for 4 1/2 years and now serve in the role of Executive Director of My Life Matters, where I've been since March 2005, and I also serve as the pastor of East Rock Community Church, a church plant, along with fellow elders, Brett Carver & Casey Adams, where we've been since June 2007.

I love to write. I share a devotion in our local paper each week. This blog site is really just an extension of my writing. I really hope to share the Word of God with people...any kind of people, every kind of person. I also do a weekly podcast called "Light Steps Live," which can be found on several platforms.

Thanks for "stopping by"! Y'all come back now, ya hear?