Apathy, Fear, or Laziness - Unwillingness to Fight

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12 (NKJV)

No one wants this battle of spiritual warfare, but we have been compelled by our Lord to fight the good fight against the forces of evil.  To choose not to do battle, or to be indifferent to this warfare is a greater evil.   Scott F. Wright

William Tecumseh Sherman, General of the Union army aptly stated, "War is hell", and I would agree with him in that it can be a devastating, and ongoing battle of evil.  I haven't personally fought in any physical war as an enlisted man in our military, but I can definitely say I have fought and continue to fight a spiritual war daily.  Truth be told, we all have, as our ongoing battle is against the enemy known as Satan and his emissaries who have chosen to cast their lot with him, and who have dedicated their existence to making attacks on the human race.  We are told of this battle in Ephesians.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)

We are exhorted as Christian men and women to fight the good fight - to lay hold of eternal life (see 1 Tim. 6:12), and we are told to prepare for this battle by putting on our Spiritual body armor.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; Ephesians 6:13-17 (NKJV)
Once we have put on our Spiritual body armor, we should seek the Lord to empower us for our daily battle against Satan's temptations, schemes and lies - we are to be filled with God's Holy Spirit. 

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, Ephesians 5:18 (NKJV)
Once we have been filled with God's Holy Spirit, we are now prepared to fight, but we will use no conventional weapon such as a rifle or knife - we will use the mighty weapons of God (See 2 Cor 10:3-5).  Any attempt to fight against the enemy without God's assistance will end in loss (John 15:5).  We are told God's weapons are all we need to pull down any stronghold of the enemy.  A stronghold is any area in our life where we are succumbing to the enemy's temptation and are allowing ongoing sin to be present.  

We need to bring these lies which come in the form of temptation captive, and we need to identify with their origin and their mission.  They are temptations to fear, worry, doubt, to be angry, or to covet and lust.    We need to stop thinking upon them as fast as possible and discard them from our mind - replacing them with proper thoughts as outlined in Scripture (Phil. 4:8).  We need to start praying and seeking the Lord immediately.  

...praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV)

We need to cast our mind upon the Lord and fill our mind with His promises and guiding commands contained within His Word - instructing us on how to fight each individual battle.  

As Christians, the danger comes when we choose not to fight, whether out of apathy, fear, or just laziness.  We are not to become complacent or conformed to this world because the world is not our home (Rom. 12:1-2; John 18:36). 

The temptation to stay away from any confrontation is one of the most deadly lies from the enemy.  By choosing not to fight, you are just becoming a lamb for slaughter.  By choosing not to put on your spiritual armor, you are inviting certain mortal wounds.  By choosing not to use the mighty weapons of God to fight with, you are simply conceding to defeat.  God has commanded us to stand fast, and to fight.  He has commanded us to walk in faith and to call upon the name of the Lord in battle.  We must be obedient or we will suffer, as will those loved ones around us.  

Hear me in this Christian, there is a justified anger, and it is to be against evil.  Get mad and get fighting!

STUDY QUESTION: What can we learn with respect to our responsibilities as Christian men and women with regard to engaging in Spiritual warfare?

PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you putting on your armor consisting of the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, and the only offensive weapon, the sword of the Spirit, which is God's Word?

APPLICATION: Seek to be dressed for battle soldier!  The war is coming to you today whether you like it or not, so be prepared to fight!

Firstfruits-Part 2

Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; Proverbs 3:9 (NKJV)

In Part 1 of this devotional series titled, "Firstfruits" we took a look at God's original covenant with His people - a series of 613 commandments.  A covenant set up by God to ensure the success and blessing of His children.  We looked at the concept of firstfruits - the first and best of the crops being harvested - and the command given by God for man to bring forth a certain percentage of these firstfruits and offer them to the Levitical Priests.   

We learned we are a type of firstfruits of Jesus Christ - the first and best of the crops (Christian Believers) being harvested - people who have confessed their faith in Jesus and have accepted His payment for sin.  

Q:    So what does this mean to us as Christians?
Q:    What application should this bring to our life?

It means we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and as such, we are not our own - we have been bought and paid for. 

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. 1Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)

Knowing this Biblical truth, 

• It should change the way we look at our lives
• It should change the way we live our lives
• It should change the things we choose to participate in
• It should change the way we talk
• It should change the things we choose to think upon

This is exactly what the Apostle Paul was saying to the church in Rome.  Listen to what he exhorted the believers to do as recorded in Romans 12:1-2. 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)

Paul is saying, "Hey, since you know how merciful God has been to you, I am exhorting you to use your physical life here on earth as a living sacrifice to serve others and to share the Gospel message."  He then lays it all out when he says, "which is your reasonable service."  Think about what he is saying when he uses the word reasonable - he is saying it is, logical, rational, sensible, sound, and levelheaded to present our bodies a living sacrifice.  

Q:    What does this mean to us today?
A:    it means that:

• Our lives should be evidenced by this transformation
• Our actions should be clearly different next week than they are this week because we're continuing to be transformed
• Our fleshly way of speaking should be changing
• Our fleshly way of living should be changing
• Our fleshy way of thinking should be changing

This is exactly what Ephesians teaches us as well.  

But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:20-24 (NKJV)

I want to encourage you today to take periodic self-examinations.  I am not asking you to see if your works are good enough to be saved or loved more by God - that's not possible.  I am asking you to see if the fruit in your life lines up with the fruit in Jesus' life.  If it doesn't, ask God to show you areas where you need to lay things down.  Spend some time at the feet of Jesus.

STUDY QUESTION: According to the Scriptures contained within this devotional, what can we learn with regard to our being bought and paid for, and how we are to live as a result of our being firstfruits of Jesus?

PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you allowing yourself to be transformed by God, or are you being conformed to this world and the desires of this world?  

APPLICATION: Take periodic self-evaluations.  Honestly ask yourself, "Am I different this week than last; different this month than last; different this year than last?"