Thursday, October 24, 2013

LIFE OF VICTORY - 6

LIFE OF VICTORY – 6

All of us want a life of victory.  Victory over what?  Sin!  Jesus said (Jhn.16:33) “I have overcome the world.”  The world is full of unrighteousness or sin.  Satan is called the ruler of the world.  Jhn.12:31   He is also called the prince of the power of the air.  Eph.2:2   Two statements from Scripture help us to realize the truth and meaning of the above Scriptures.  Job 1:7   Satan is roaming the earth!  Satan is also seeking whom he may devour.  1 Pet.5:8   When we sin, we are giving in to the devil or Satan.  1 Jhn.3:8   We need a life of victory to overcome sin.  As Christians we have been given to power to be overcomers.  1 Jhn.4:4

To be victorious over an enemy, we must recognize the enemy and know as much about them as we can.  Eph.6:12   Our enemy is not flesh and blood although he may act through a human.  We do not take this seriously.  Satan is all over the world.  He is roaming the earth and seeking whom he may devour.  He isn’t walking along the sidewalk.  If we take comfort in Heb.1:14 in that we have ministering spirits that watch over us and the gift of the Holy Spirit that comforts, guides, and teaches us.  Jhn.14:26; Jhn.17:20, surely we ought to be able to understand the spirit of wickedness that watches for an opportunity to make us fall into sin.

So we must stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  Eph.6:11   We do this by putting on the complete armor of God with the strength of His might.  Eph.6:10   Up to this point we have protected our loins with Truth so we will not collapse.  Truth wraps around our mind and spirit.  Truth is the first essential of our armor.

Then came our breastplate of righteousness to protect our heart.  Our spiritual heart is our spiritual life.  We purpose in our heart to do or not to do.  God knows our heart.  This is our inner self.  Satan wants to change the purpose of our heart but we must be instruments of righteousness rather than of unrighteousness.  Rom.6:13   What an encouragement when we read in 1 Thess.3:13 that God will establish our hearts without blame when Jesus returns.

The covering of the feet was very important to the soldier in Paul’s day so the next piece of armor is our spiritual shoe.  Eph.6:15   The foot must be well shod to go over whatever obstacles may come.  If our feet give us pain, we won’t go far and we definitely will slow down any progress we might make.  What the foot is to the body, the will is to the soul.  Our will must be prepared ahead of time to conquer our enemy, Satan.  Our will must be prepared to move ahead to perform what God has given us the ability to do.  Our will is behind our actions.  Our will is to follow the will of God.  Rom.12:2   We must be ready—our spiritual shoes ready to move in whatever direction God guides us.  Tit.3:1   By our actions, men may take notice and be won to Jesus.  We were created for good works and God had a reason.  Eph.2:10   This does not mean we are saved by our good works but that we are expected to do them.  Tit.3:4,5   We must make preparation to move.  God doesn’t need pew sitters.  2 Tim.2:21

The gospel is the good news with which our preparation is made.  1 Cor.2:12,13   We have Jesus!  Our testimony of Jesus needs to be given to those whose eyes are blinded.  2 Cor.4:,4   We have a responsibility as we shod our feet with spiritual shoes to spread the good news.  Isa.52:7; Rom.10:15   The message of Jesus saves.  1 Tim.1:15   Ring it forth!  

Our peace is not of this world.  We have peace with God through Jesus.  Col.3:15  Jesus gives us peace.  Jhn.14:27   Our peace comes by the blood of Jesus.  Col.1:20   It is important that we seek peace.  2 Tim.2:22   Jesus wants us to be at peace with one another.  Mk.9:50   It is difficult if not impossible for a person to grow spiritually if they live in conflict with others.  Some cause conflict with others by always having a better way to do things or “what they should have done.”  God alone knows hearts.  We have too much time on our hands so we use it to solve problems of other people rather than developing our own spiritual life.  God will take care of “them” in His own time and His own way.

We have now added to our armor the feet shod with the gospel of peace that we may move forward with good works and giving our testimony of Jesus with a life that lives in peace.  Feet provide action and mobility.  Let us not be satisfied to do nothing.  As the song says, “We’ll work till Jesus comes.”

With our loins girdled in Truth, our heart covered with breastplate of righteousness, and now our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, may our hearts and minds be guarded in peace with Jesus.  Phil.4:7


     

    


     

No comments:

Post a Comment