Monday, October 22, 2012

Game On, but it's not a Game!

Anyone else heard a great sermon from church that was totally inspiring?  Especially one that related to reaching the lost?  Do you recall what your drive home was like?  I'm going to share my experience yesterday and I'd venture to say that you have experienced something similar - assuming you've been to church and been inspired to do your part to reach the lost.  (Sidenote:  if you haven't been to church or you have and haven't been inspired to reach the lost then I would invite you to Central Baptist Church in Sioux Falls where we take seriously God's call to us to "Connect people with a life that counts for eternity by building disciples who go and change lives!")

Back to our regularly scheduled programming...  So, it wasn't a few minutes after our sermon got over and our son had received some money from our worship pastor that he is supposed to use to help meet a need that he sees during the week.  Andrew's initial response:  "Mom, can I use this to buy something for me?"  Attack #1.  A few minutes later, my wife and I are in the van driving home and we actually argued about how we should use that money or how we should help Andrew figure out how to use the money.  Attack #2. 

I have seen this happen consistently and repeatedly since our church has been focusing on reaching the lost.  Every time we focus on the mission for which God created His church, the distractions start to pile up.  As you can tell from the examples above, Satan does not waste any time either.  This is by far the most difficult part of being a follower of Christ.  So often times we fall pray to Satan's distraction techniques and forget that we already have victory over him.  He is powerless!  How do I know? 

John 16:33
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
 
1 John 5:3-5
 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 Corinthians 15:56-58
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

We already have victory available to us because of what Christ has already done - victory over death!  Satan thought he had dealt a fatal blow to God, but by Christ's death, burial and resurrection the victory has been won!  Not only for God and His son, Jesus Christ - but for us as well!

Practically speaking, how are we to overcome Satan on a day to day basis in this spiritual battle?

Ephesians 6:10-20
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

The war has begun. It's been raging for thousands of years. Men and women from the very beginning have been trying to fight this battle in their own strength.  God never intended that to be the case.  He simply wants us to focus on Him and not ourselves.  He has given us and continues to give us everything we need.  He has already defeated Satan.  Satan has no power because of Christ. 

Since we are already in the midst of the battle, whether we want to be or not, it's time that we act like it.  There are 2 sides - there is not neutrality in this war.  The stakes are high.  The outcome has already been determined in terms of which side has gained victory.  The question is, will you claim victory or succumb to defeat?  I claim victory - by getting on my knees, confessing my sin and my total dependence on God and by living in this world by the power of His spirit and not my own strength.  What do you choose?

Ephesians 3:2020 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

 

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