Tags
1 John 1:9, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Armor ofGod, Ephesians 6:10-18, God will never forsake YOU, Hebrews 12:1-2, Spiritual Warfare, Stand Fast In The Evil Day
Bible Ballistics: BBs #573 Stealing Your Base???
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about
with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside
every weight,
and the sin
which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run
with patience
the race
that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus
the author and finisher
of our faith;
who for the joy
that was set before him
endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and is set down
at the right hand
of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2
I had an experience recently that brought the urgency of this verse to my mind once again. When we take our eyes off of Jesus and forget to keep our armor on, we will find ourselves tricked, distracted and deceived by the enemy of our souls! When we find ourselves faced with the unexpected (of whatever sort it is—emotional, physical pain or temptation, financial, or any other occurrence) we can so easily be caught up in the “flesh and blood” rather than recognizing the spiritual warfare that we may be encountering! And as this was true in my case, I just want to take this time to remind us all that we must be diligent each and every day. In this recent episode I was so caught up in the “off-guard” nature of the encounter that I responded totally in the flesh, and before I could recognize the spiritual nature of the “real battle”, I had wasted a whole day! When I finally came to my “senses” (my spiritual senses), I grieved before the Lord, sought His forgiveness and that of the others involved in the situation, and received His cleansing and forgiveness.
But I sadly realized that while Satan had me distracted with my own selfish flesh; I had failed to stand in the gap for a particular prayer need that I had been petitioning God about! I wasted many hours focused on “me” rather than the need that I ought to have been interceding over! I must confess, my heart was broken that I had missed the opportunity to respond appropriately! While I have been forgiven, and cleansed, that time and opportunity to intercede in “that moment” can never be regained. While God is always ready to forgive, we often suffer when we miss the boat, by being distracted! Spiritual warfare is urgent business! We must ‘stand fast in the evil day’; remembering that forgiveness isn’t erasure!
“If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just
to forgive us
our sins,
and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
We must “suit up” with the armor of God—every day—every moment of every day! Being ready for the battle—standing “fast in the evil day”! It’s what we have to do to be ready for every battle—ready for the enemy’s attack; for he always comes when we least expect it! Like a baseball player stealing a base when no one is looking! Satan wants to advance his schemes in our lives, but we must keep watch, and keep our eyes on Jesus not the lion—for Jesus has rendered him ‘toothless’ if we will remain diligent!
“Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion,
walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist
stedfast
in the faith,
knowing that the same afflictions
are accomplished in your brethren
that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9
Peter reminds us that we must be aware of our enemy, keeping our trust in Jesus; recognizing that Satan is always busy seeking a prey; resisting the enemy—steadfastly in our faith IN Jesus; and remembering that we are not alone. Others are dealing with the same things we are; but even more importantly, we are never alone, for Jesus has promised to “never leave thee, nor forsake thee”!
So, I invite you to determine with me, to make sure that we are “suited up” each day, that we are cognizant of our enemy, and that we will “resist stedfast in the faith”! As a reminder to us all let’s rehearse the greatest passage on the “armor of God”!
“Finally, my brethren,
be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against
flesh and blood,
but against principalities,
against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness
of this world,
against spiritual wickedness
in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you
the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day,
and having done all,
to stand.
14 Stand therefore,
having your loins girt about
with truth,
and having on the breastplate
of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation
of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield
of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able
to quench all the fiery darts
of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet
of salvation,
and the sword
of the Spirit,
which is the word of God:
18 Praying always
with all prayer
and supplication
in the Spirit….” Ephesians 6:10-18a
Let us walk “in the Spirit” not our flesh!!! In “the Spirit” we will find spiritual victory in all we do! (See Galatians 5:16 & 25). Keep your eyes on the ball, and no one can steal your base!
Amen and Amen!
