Everything

Sometimes we as Christians go around totally defeated, or it seems that way.  We complain about how unfair things are and how hard we have it.  We go around venting to everyone about our problems like we are the people with no hope.  I will be the first one to admit that the Christian life is not a bowl of cherries but it wasn’t meant to be.

Living a Christian life is, for the most part, a struggle and we need to be reminded that we are in a battle for our souls and we have real enemies, Satan and his horde of demons, who are the fallen angels which were thrown out of heaven along with him.  Battles are not meant to be a walk in the park and we need to keep that in mind.  Many times we walk around like it is we who have been defeated and not the enemy but what we need to do is read the scriptures and meditate on them then we will realize that our enemy was defeated when Jesus came out of the tomb.  

I know that our enemy is still alive and continues to use his power to lie, deceive and steal from us trying to destroy our faith, but we have the power to overcome, like Jesus did.  When we became born-again children of God, Jesus came into our lives in the form of the Holy Spirit and empowered us to win this battle and be the overcomers that the Lord intended us to be.  There is no greater power in the whole world than that which indwells every born-again believer, so why are we walking around like we are defeated?

There are many reasons, but one of the big ones is that we forget who we are in Christ.  So many of us seem to be waiting for the shot of adrenalin we get in church on Sundays because that may be the only time we listen to the Word throughout the week.  Did you know that every day could be like church?  If we would just set some time aside and spend it with the Lord reading our Bibles, praying, repenting of our sins, seeking forgiveness and also thanking and praising Him for who He is, what He is, for what He has done and what He is going to do.  If we did this every day the battle might seem a little easier.  Remember this, unless the Lord build the house we labor in vain that build it.  When we spend time with the Lord it shows Him that we want Him to intercede for us in every aspect of our lives.  It shows that we are interdependent and that we realize we can’t fight this battle without Him and ever hope to win.

I think there is something else that we need to do and that is this, we need to put on our battle armor so that we are prepared for the battle we face every day.  In bible times soldiers wouldn’t think about going into battle without their armor on; that would be like committing suicide.  In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul’s final instructions to the church are these words in verses 10-11, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”  Like the armor that the soldiers wore helped to keep them safe, we need the armor of God to help keep us save. 

Then Paul goes on and tells them who they are fighting against and why it is so important to always be ready with the whole armor of God in place.  In verse 12 Paul says this, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  Now they understand who they are fighting against.

Then in verses 13-18 he tells them how they can win and be overcomers, “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.  Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.”

I think Paul is telling them, and us, that God has provided everything we need to be victorious so when you feel like you’re defeated and start to complain, check yourself and see if you are applying all these things to your life.  This means studying the Word, praying and confessing all known sin each day and repenting, plus taking time to listen to what the Lord is trying to tell you.  And don’t forget the Lord has provided everything we need to be happy and complete in Him.  Get ahold of these truths and live by them.  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you have a great day!!