“Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee.” James 4:7
Who are we fighting in this life? The bible says that we do not fight against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers of darkness. Many can’t even fathom the thought of a spiritual world. If I can’t see it than it isn’t real some would say. I disagree.
I believe we are fighting three things; the flesh, the world and the devil. We are all fallen beings with eternal spirits. The question is where is your spirit going, heaven or hell? Satan (Lucifer) has the same eternal spirit yet he chose to allow pride to rule him and was forever condemned to hell.
I believe the same is true for all humanity without Jesus. Pride consumes us, we must show the world that we are successful; we must live up to the standards that the media or what the world says. When you become a Christian, does life immediately become easy? I would say that if you are following Jesus and his purposes, your life will get much harder.
Why would I say such things; because I am sick of tickling the ears of man? The truth of the matter is God and the devil have one thing in common; they both want us dead. Have you ever heard that from a pulpit?
I am sorry for the in your face preaching right now but it is on my heart so I am running with it. I admit that this life is hard, so hard in our own strength. There are parts of me that I can’t stand, parts of me that are just down right evil. I know that it isn’t me.
When we become born again, we actually die to ourselves. Our body and soul (mind will and emotions) are still in place but our spirit becomes one with Christ’s and it is His eternal purpose to cleanse us and make us holy. We immediately become spiritual babes. We are dependent, we need the Word, we need mentors, brothers, sisters, community, and worship. We NEED so much because we are growing.
We continually are challenged and brought through circumstances in life to prove and see who we really are. This really is just a dressing room for eternity. God so badly wants our old self dead and on the cross that he is willing to pursue us over and over. We fail, we run, we curse, we do it wrong, yet he still is there to pick us up and advance us.
Why? Why would He do that? I don’t know the answer, yet I feel His love. His word says that He created us in His image. Why would he do that if he didn’t love us?
Today I face the flesh and the pains of the heart that I can’t do anything without God. The devil so badly wants us to keep lying to ourselves and say that we can do it on our own strength. I thought I was doing it on His strength. He so badly doesn’t want us to admit our fears, our insecurities, our pains, our hurts, our evil thoughts. Let me just say that God wants it all. He wants everything that hurts, that scares, that haunts that exalts itself above Him.
Today I expose my heart and say that in Chad I am weak but in Jesus I am strong. I am slowly getting it, Lord open up heaven so that we can understand your mysteries. May we all be filled with humility?
