We are coming near the end of the football season. In just a few weeks, Ohio State will be playing Michigan. It’s going to be intense, especially if the game is close in the final few minutes. At the end of each game, the two-minute warning reminds both teams that the outcome of the game is now on the line. If the athletes intend to win, this is the time to give it all they’ve got. These final 120 seconds are often the most intense moments of play. When revival comes in its full expression, it’s as though a spiritual two-minute warning has been sounded. The battle intensifies, and the stakes are higher than usual. Certainly the enemy is aware that this is the time to pull out all the stops! He knows that something good is about to happen. The book of Ephesians talks about the Spiritual battle we are in. The weapons of our warfare are not to be carnal or worldly. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 says, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Most people have not experienced this kind of battle or spiritual warfare. When we come to a place when we encounter this kind of resistance, then we are not sure how we are to combat it. We need to understand that if you are a follower of Jesus Christ then you already possess the tools you need to fight off the enemy. Paul tells us to stand firm in Ephesians 4:14. The Lord has given the church her purpose and direction. It is to be faithful in making Christ-like disciples. We know what we are to do with every breath we have been given. The devil’s business is to hinder us. Let me remind you not to flinch when you hear the lion roar. Let the devil do his worst. Just be sure to let nothing hinder you from fulfilling the work of God before you. 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:7-10 In one sense, I get excited about what God is doing in and through our church as the enemy pulls out all stops. As Paul admonishes us, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:3-4 Do whatever it takes to see the Holy Spirit work and bring us together as one. May the Word of the Lord be honored, praised, and lived out. I look forward to finishing up our series, “Simply Grace” on Sunday. Joy in Jesus! Pastor Mike
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Rev. Mike McClurgSenior Pastor, Findlay First Church of the Nazarene Archives
March 2020
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