2002-01-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Yesterday we continued looking at spiritual warfare, both seen and unseen. This gave us some insight into the connection that exists between them. As we go on looking at front-lines battle in spiritual warfare, we can see how very important knowing God's will is in being led to victory in Christ Jesus. Knowing God's will comes from studying the Scriptures daily and from an active prayer life with Him. God assures us repeatedly in the Bible that if we will trust and obey Him, if we will endure and not give up, that He will protect us and see us to victory over the adversary. As the end times approach, the war for people's souls is escalating. We don't have to be afraid when we let the Lord Jesus and the Father be in leadership in our lives. We must endure as long as it takes.
We are given a repetition of the story of Paul's conversion (first given in AC 9: 1-19) in AC 26, when Paul defends himself before the Roman king, Agrippa. A repetition of this kind is always an indication that God wants to tell us something that deserves emphasis and is important. After Paul is struck down on the road to Damascus, Christ speaks to him with these words in AC 26: 15-18, "Who are you, Lord? I [Paul] asked. And the Lord answered, 'I am Jesus whom you persecute. But get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as My servant. You are to tell others what you have seen of Me today and what I will show you in the future. I will rescue you from the people of Israel and from the Gentiles to whom I will send you. You are to open their eyes and turn them from the darkness to the light and from the power of Satan to God, so that through their faith in Me they will have sins forgiven and receive their place among God's chosen people.'" If we think about what is being said in that message from Christ, it is not only meant for Paul, but it is meant also for each of us. Turning people from Satan's darkness to the light and salvation that God offers is indeed the central business about which God has called us. It is also God's way of combating the extra efforts to lure us into evil that Satan and his followers are making as they realize the end times are at hand. I believe that this calling to us is the reason that God gave us the talents that He did. It is why He wants us to love each other and Him and to unite in the battle against evil.
EPH 1: 15-23 is an amazing treasure chest God gave us. It is filled with specific prayer requests for which we should pray as we battle in spiritual warfare. We should pray: 1) that God will give you His Spirit, Who will give you wisdom and will reveal God to you, so you will know Him; 2) that your mind will be open to see His light; 3) that you will know the hope to which He has called you; 4) that you will know how rich are the blessings He has for His people; 5) that you will know His power with its mighty strength is at work in those who believe; 6) that you will know this strength and power is the very same that He used to raise Christ from death to eternal life; 7) that you will know that God gave Christ authority to rule heaven and earth in this world and in the next; 8) that you will know that God gave Christ the church and made Him Supreme Lord over all things. The church is Christ's Body, the completion of Him Who completes all things everywhere. We are given the contents of this treasure chest of prayers to prepare us for victory in spiritual warfare. I recently discovered that one of the chief reasons that people have difficulty in producing the fruits of the Spirit in their lives is that they don't ask the Spirit to fill them each time they are about to do a task for God. The same could be said about the wonderful truths in these prayer requests. We need to pray for them every time we find ourselves in battle against the forces of evil. It isn't that God forgets them; it is that He needs to know that we didn't forget them. EPH 1: 3, "Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! For in our union with Christ He has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world."
Prayers of affirmation are very necessary. We should pray for God's help before battle and offer thanks for what we received afterward as well. The entire book of Ephesians helps us to answer the pressing question: Should we be frightened when entering spiritual warfare? We are going to look closely at in the next few messages to see what answers it reveals. In the meanwhile, God, through Paul, has given us specific instructions as to how to prepare ourselves for safety and victory in battle, and He has told us what that full armor that He gives us is. Just as Christ did, we should remain constantly connected to God's leadership throughout the preparation for, execution of, and aftermath of the battles we must fight against Satan through prayer and study of God's word.
PRAYER: O Lord, You gave King David words that we should read and reread when preparing to do battle with the devil. PS 5: 1-2, "Listen to my words, O Lord. Listen to my cry for help, my God and King!" In these words, there is an underlying element of humility that we should always have. There is also acknowledgment of Your Sovereignty and ultimate power. You truly are the One and Only Supreme God, Who is the Source of all that is good and the Possessor of profound wisdom that goes far beyond what any man has. You, Dearest Abba, also have a great heart of compassion, compassion that You extend to those who love You even when though they often don't deserve it. You are always with us. That is why You sent Your Son to die for us, so we could be saved. David knew You were always with him when he said in PS 46: 1, "God is our Refuge and our Strength, a present Help in times of trouble." Just as David offered You the praise You deserve, so should we. PS 47: 5-9, "God goes up to His throne. There are shouts of joy and the blast of trumpets, as the Lord goes up. Since praise to God; sing praise to our King! God is King over all the world; praise Him with songs! God sits on His sacred throne; He rules over the nations. The rulers of the nations assemble with the people of the God of Abraham. More powerful than all armies is He; He rules supreme." As we prepare ourselves for spiritual warfare, we pledge to remember the truths You gave us in EPH 1: 15-23 and to offer prayers to You that will show You the content of our hearts. We take comfort in Your guidance and protection and rest assured that You will see us to victory in Christ's name. We humbly confess our sins, and offer You our adoration, worship, loyalty, diligence, honor, glory, praise, and thanksgiving. In Christ's name, amen.
Tomorrow, we will begin looking carefully at the wonderful truths revealed in the book of Ephesians. It has six chapters, and we've already seen a large part of EPH 6. Now, we will begin to see how these chapters relate to each other and help to prepare us for the victorious battle ahead. Nothing appears in the Scriptures that doesn't benefit us. That is why I like to think of the Bible as God's love letter to His children. No greater love has ever come to us from any other source. Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn