Strength for Spiritual Warfare
Overwhelmed by disorientation, discouragement, and even despair at that slice of the world which my eyes could see, I picked up the latest issue of Banner of Truth and read it to Cal the other night, right after he reminded me of Romans 8:28 about God working all things together for our good. Here is an excerpt of "Spiritual Warfare" by Richard S. Rushing for your edification:
. . . Satanic assault always seems to carry with it a powerful tendency to discouragement and distress of spirit. Almost always one's thoughts run to escape and to greener pastures. The amazing thing is that often these attacks come in the context of blasts from those who should be our support and our allies! We understand the warfare that can come from an Alexander the Coppersmith (2Tim 4:4), but is it not a perplexity that the enemy can even use our friends?
There is no way out of the battle. We are called to bear the cross just as was our great Head, Jesus Christ. Advance in the kingdom of God steals ground from enemy territory. Is it any wonder that we are regularly mauled as we seek to spoil Satan's kingdom? What is one to do? The answer has been the same throughout all time; we need the defensive weapons of faith and truth. We must begin with a firm grip on truth, and, with the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we hold on and dig deeper. Please consider with e four related truths that provide a solid truth upon which to stand when the enemy pours in like a flood upon us.
Standing in the Hour of Opposition
1. Ephesians 1:11 - God 'works all things according to the counsel of his will.' This is a bedrock foundation. God controls our destiny. He is leading all things, without qualification, to the destination of his eternal will. Governments, churches, history, everything in heaven and on earth, all of it, from a miniscule mosquito bite to the downing of a jet liner, war, famine and earthquake; all is being directed to the glory and purpose of God! He overrules all sin and suffering. Because we live in the midst of history we do not see the ultimate victory as does God, but we are on the winning side!
2. Romans 8:28 - God causes all things to work for good. Satan assaults believers in this arena quite regularly. He would have us doubt God's care and love. We find here also an absolute statement that good is planned for those who are called according to God's purpose. There is not anything in life or circumstance that is excluded. We must believe this by faith, though it is contrary to sense; often our hearts are breaking, yet God's love and care for his people remain constant.
3. Philippians 2:13 - 'God woks in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.' At this stage we have arrived at a passage that is extremely personal. God specifically is working his pleasure in my life. This includes both its small and large details. All circumstances, life relationships, dreams, visions, and hopes are well within the compass of this wonderful passage. Paul even applies the ramification of it; do not grumble and complain! God is indeed working in our lives particularly, specifically and wonderfully. The writer to the Hebrews gives a supporting verse in Hebrews 13:21. He is 'equipping us to do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight'. This concept is amazingly wonderful. If God is pleased with what he is doing in our lives, so must we be!
4. Galatians 6:9 - Do not lose heart in doing good, 'for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up'. This is a promise of eventual victory. David also speaks of this in Psalm 1. We will bear fruit in the proper season. Paul adds in 1 Corinthians 15:58: 'Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.'
Faith in the above divine truths gives a solid foundation on which to sand. We are encouraged by Paul to take up the armour, and the first and very vital piece is . . . truth (Eph 6:14)! I believe that to overcome the enemy, and to gain victory in our spiritual warfare we must consider, meditate upon, delight in, and pray over these four mammoth absolutes. In them we find the sovereign God of history working in us and for us. Faith that can grip these realities will be, in the end, a conquering faith. They will guide us through the smoke of battle, through wounds, and through heartbreaks. Later, when the battle is over, we shall be standing on higher ground!
. . . Satanic assault always seems to carry with it a powerful tendency to discouragement and distress of spirit. Almost always one's thoughts run to escape and to greener pastures. The amazing thing is that often these attacks come in the context of blasts from those who should be our support and our allies! We understand the warfare that can come from an Alexander the Coppersmith (2Tim 4:4), but is it not a perplexity that the enemy can even use our friends?
There is no way out of the battle. We are called to bear the cross just as was our great Head, Jesus Christ. Advance in the kingdom of God steals ground from enemy territory. Is it any wonder that we are regularly mauled as we seek to spoil Satan's kingdom? What is one to do? The answer has been the same throughout all time; we need the defensive weapons of faith and truth. We must begin with a firm grip on truth, and, with the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we hold on and dig deeper. Please consider with e four related truths that provide a solid truth upon which to stand when the enemy pours in like a flood upon us.
Standing in the Hour of Opposition
1. Ephesians 1:11 - God 'works all things according to the counsel of his will.' This is a bedrock foundation. God controls our destiny. He is leading all things, without qualification, to the destination of his eternal will. Governments, churches, history, everything in heaven and on earth, all of it, from a miniscule mosquito bite to the downing of a jet liner, war, famine and earthquake; all is being directed to the glory and purpose of God! He overrules all sin and suffering. Because we live in the midst of history we do not see the ultimate victory as does God, but we are on the winning side!
2. Romans 8:28 - God causes all things to work for good. Satan assaults believers in this arena quite regularly. He would have us doubt God's care and love. We find here also an absolute statement that good is planned for those who are called according to God's purpose. There is not anything in life or circumstance that is excluded. We must believe this by faith, though it is contrary to sense; often our hearts are breaking, yet God's love and care for his people remain constant.
3. Philippians 2:13 - 'God woks in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.' At this stage we have arrived at a passage that is extremely personal. God specifically is working his pleasure in my life. This includes both its small and large details. All circumstances, life relationships, dreams, visions, and hopes are well within the compass of this wonderful passage. Paul even applies the ramification of it; do not grumble and complain! God is indeed working in our lives particularly, specifically and wonderfully. The writer to the Hebrews gives a supporting verse in Hebrews 13:21. He is 'equipping us to do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight'. This concept is amazingly wonderful. If God is pleased with what he is doing in our lives, so must we be!
4. Galatians 6:9 - Do not lose heart in doing good, 'for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up'. This is a promise of eventual victory. David also speaks of this in Psalm 1. We will bear fruit in the proper season. Paul adds in 1 Corinthians 15:58: 'Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.'
Faith in the above divine truths gives a solid foundation on which to sand. We are encouraged by Paul to take up the armour, and the first and very vital piece is . . . truth (Eph 6:14)! I believe that to overcome the enemy, and to gain victory in our spiritual warfare we must consider, meditate upon, delight in, and pray over these four mammoth absolutes. In them we find the sovereign God of history working in us and for us. Faith that can grip these realities will be, in the end, a conquering faith. They will guide us through the smoke of battle, through wounds, and through heartbreaks. Later, when the battle is over, we shall be standing on higher ground!
posted by Compleat Mom at 8:23 AM
3 Comments:
Thank you for this encouraging post. It reminds me of the evening sermon at Emmanuel Baptist this past Lord's Day. The pastor stressed that Esther and Mordecai did not know their end and were most likely stressed and dismayed. On the other hand, he pointed out that the writer of Esther and God did know their end.
Several times he preached that we, like Esther, may be discouraged and dismayed; yet, we were also created "for such a time as this."
Karen
Mrs. Beisner,
Thank you for inviting me to your blog. You have inspired me to start one and archive excerpts from my readings and devotions.Thank you for your example as a woman in Christ.
Karen Leetch
As my slice of world contains an overabundance of bodily fluids right now, this was perfect reading for the Sabbath.
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