by David Brenneman
This excerpt is from a devotional by Alistair Begg:
So many of us are conditioned to believe that if we're in communion with God and if we're really in the place we should be, life will go smoothly. This may be a prevalent
notion, but it's also an unbiblical one. Do we really think we can stand against Satan and not face his fiery darts? Do we think we can invade enemy territory and not meet opposition? We are not called to be people who live complacently in cozy, comfortable Christian communities that know no resistance. It is possible to dampen our witness so much that we're ineffective for Christ, that but that doesn't have to be the case, nor should it be.
The same conditions that Paul faced surround us today: idolatry, sexual immorality, racism, religious bigotry, and a host of other evils.
You have an opportunity in the midst of opposition, no matter where God plants you, to serve His kingdom. As my dear friend,
Eric Alexander once told me, "There is no ideal place to serve God -except where He has set you down!"
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We cannot step out into the world with the thinking that since things are going smoothly that we're right where God wants us.
Alistair said it rightly that we're in trouble if we approach life with that kind of thinking.
The whole armor of God as spoken of by Paul the Apostle isn't for specific people and only for specific situations.
This same Apostle Paul wrote of various things with regard to being a soldier of Christ Jesus. Being a Christian isn't at all to be associated with being a part time or in name only soldier.
We who are in Christ are to fulfill our lives in Christ through obedience throughout our lives. Being aware of the schemes of the devil and not partakers of the darkness of the world.
We have what Christ said to look at. He is the vine, we are the branches.
"You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." John 15:3-8.
When Paul spoke of the whole armor of God he was speaking to all in several churches and by extension to all churches and people in Christ thereafter.
We're beyond hip deep in a Spiritual war. We are to grow with respect to our salvation in Christ Jesus. Jesus said that the branches are always being looked at for signs of bearing fruit.
Would your life be seen by Jesus as one that was prepared for the spiritual battles that are in your path? Would the road between your heart and with the Throne of God show great signs of wear and tear? Would it be that more of the Church would take all such things that are to be aspects of a vibrant growing Christian and put them into action.
Are you taking your life in Christ for granted? Are you seemingly content with coasting by with no regard to how you're doing in growing in Christ Jesus?
Are you literally living life with your head in the sand hoping to not really be involved until you leave this world? Don't you see that's tantamount to a branch that bears no fruit?
We aren't to stay as we were before coming to Christ and we surely shouldn't fear what changes might be in store for us after trusting Jesus to save us. Our grasp on what's best for us is tainted, flawed, corrupted even. We can't know what's right, good and true for our lives when we have no grasp of the goodness of God towards those who Believe. Do you not believe the passage that says "but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”" 1 Corinthians 2:9?
In truth...you are still learning how to use the spiritual eyes that are now alive in Christ. You can only begin to gain understanding of how your life ought to be lived by an intentional life that communes with Jesus daily.
We all become soldiers of the cross when we came to Christ for salvation. The armor of God is your new suit. Permit me to borrow a line from a famous movie, it's the last suit you'll ever wear. We put off the old self with its practices and put on the new in Christ. The new in Christ is the whole armor of God.
The war is closer than your doorstep. It's going to attack your heart, mind and soul. What you think, how you think, how you feel, what you inevitably do. Anything to take your mind off your walk with Jesus. If we are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit and to love your neighbor as yourself, to pray for those who persecute you, then you know what the battlefield looks like.
Pray fervently. In the last part of the book of Colossians chapter 4 it almost slips by if unnoticed. "Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God." Colossians 4:12.
We read Paul's prayer at the beginning of this same book in an earlier post.
We unfortunately have several generations that have found it acceptable to give up on people whom God has not given up on as long as they are breathing.
We unfortunately have several generations that think that a church that leaves the people warm n feeling good but never challenged in the faith is acceptable.
We unfortunately have churches who sing great songs that do not reference Jesus at all...and it's acceptable to these people.
We are seeing generations that are branches without fruit. Never believing that the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places are real or that they're under fire themselves. Getting Believers into a false sense of security is a great place to leave people from Satan's perspective. Getting them to believe that health, wealth and prosperity are the attributes of a life in Christ and if you don't have these you're failing is one of his schemes too.
Be sure of your salvation is what Paul exhorted us all. Then, embrace it with our everything.
Open your spiritual eyes and seek out the things that your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has for you to be doing. There's no excuse for not praying for our sanctification in Christ. There's no excuse for not having a list of needs for yourself and others that God's caused to cross paths with you to be praying for and about.
If the Church of Jesus Christ really was being as the Bible exhorts us to all be, Hells gates would be shaking.
We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. There's an appointed mission for you to accomplish in Christ Jesus. Find it, excell in it and give God the glory for it.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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