Did you know that there is a battle going on right now as you read this devotional? I’m not talking about a physical battle although we feel it physically. I am talking about a spiritual battle. It is raging all around us. It began when Satan was cast out of heaven. It raised its head in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve received a fatal blow that we feel the result of even today. The battle continued when Jesus came to this earth to walk among us. The devil was brazen enough to even tempt Jesus in the wilderness and think that he could defeat Jesus on the cross. If the devil is going to attack Jesus, then he is definitely going to go all out on us.
Our destiny will be determined by how we respond to this spiritual war waged around us. This battle is between good and evil, light and darkness; and it is no respecter of any person. The difficult thing about this battle is that most Christians do not recognize that it is even happening. When you don’t know you are in a battle then you won’t be ready to enter the battle with any kind of spiritual weapon. We have been given so much in order to prepare and do battle with this unseen darkness. Satan is working overtime to blind the eyes and minds of people to keep them from seeing the glory of Christ, but Jesus has come to bring light so that people can see things as they truly are. What would you say if I told you that every problem we face is a direct result of the spiritual war we are living in? Discouragement, fear, divorce, addiction, and uncontrolled anger are all a direct result of this battle. No one is immune to the consequences of this warfare. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5 The enemy will never overcome the Lord just like darkness never overcomes light. Through Jesus’ death, resurrection and life, we have all that we need in order to live victorious and overcome the darkness. As a matter of fact, Jesus lives in the believer and is able to take down strongholds you may be facing. Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 2 Corinthians 13:5 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 We are the jars of clay… I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 Since we are in a battle and we have the resource to defeat it, let us live like it. We are called to be ready at all times and be prepared in and out of season. Rise up church and take your place in this battle for not only will you impact your destiny, you will help determine the destiny of those within your sphere of influence. The last time I checked, that means more than your immediate family. Turn to the source of all things and follow His lead. He will lighten your load and give you peace in the midst of this battle. Looking forward to a great day on Sunday as we come together to seek the heart of God. Joy in Jesus! Pastor Mike
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
Rev. Mike McClurgSenior Pastor, Findlay First Church of the Nazarene Archives
March 2020
Categories |