Shepherd's Lighthouse Church

Eph 6:12 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.

 

Man is in a battle for his soul and without Jesus the battle would be lost.

 

The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."   Psalm 14:1

 

Simulation theory .....

 

There are those who insist that the only sense in the universe is what man gives it.

 

The inevitable outcome is despire.

 

Such are the authors of situation ethics  -  truth changes according to the circumstances???

 

But what is truth?  Is it unchanging law?  We both have truths – are mine the same as yours?

 

In denying the existence of God they unknowingly stand defenseless against an invisible and formidable enemy  -  the Devil and his agents of torment and decay.

 

But for those who acknowledge God and are led by His Spirit, the enemy is decloaked and he is made visible. (A sniper is only a threat until he is discovered – uncovered.)

 

2 Cor 2:11 tells us that, “…     we are not ignorant of his devices.”  

 

But this doesn’t cause him to give up.  He merely changes his tactics – he appears as an angel of light.

 

At this point discernment comes into play. 

 

And just what is discernment?  In the Hebrew it is “beyn”  (bene), to divide, to separate; to understand. 

 

Awareness is the first step to discernment.

 

And it involves thinking - reasoning. 

 

But thinking is only a process; and it is only as good as the information it has to work with  -  that’s why it says in 2Tim 2:15 to, “Study (spudazo) to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.” 

 

God wants us to grow up spiritually and be equipped for the battle – it is God who equips.

 

Case in point  -  Romans 8:31 says, “…    If God be for us, who can be against us? KJV.

 

What Christian doesn’t know this verse?  And what Christian isn’t comforted by it?

 

But it does not say that Christians will not receive opposition.  Christians can be assured of opposition …     On many fronts.

 

Jesus told His disciples in John 16:33 that, “ … in  the world you will have tribulation…    ”

 

There always has been opposition to God in the world  -  that is the very nature of sin - rebellion.

 

Avoiding opposition is not the issue for the spirit filled believer;  The important thing is how we deal with opposition  -  how do we handle it?

 

Jesus said in John 15:5, "… I am the vine, you are the branches. without Me you can do nothing.”

 

He says, “… He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit…    ”

 

Now we come to the crux of the matter  -  opposition often affords opportunity for spiritual growth.

 

Let’s look a little deeper into Romans 8:31 by starting at the 28^th verse:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew (knew that they would accept Him), He also predestined (predetermined) to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined (predetermined), these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for (Huper: over) us, who can be (Kata: opposed) against us?   (put us down  -  as in “pin us to the floor”)    Romans 8:28-31

 

What this verse is telling us?

 

Not that God will keep us from all opposition, but that no opposition will defeat us if we are under the authority of God.

 

Remember 1 Peter 5:8 warns us to, “…     Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 

 

That is why  Eph 6:11 tells us to put on the whole armor of God.

 

It’s God’s armor  -  not ours.

 

A victorious walk cannot be in our own strength, it must be in God’s strength.  It is His armor we must wear – not our own.

 

That means we must acquaint ourselves with godliness and walk in it. 

 

As we live according to God’s will, as we walk in righteousness, we (endyo) sink into  His armor and we are equipped to stand up to the assault of the enemy. 

 

And walking in Godliness isn’t  so difficult as the Devil would have us believe.

 

It begins with learning the mind and character of God  -  His Will.

 

What follows is applying it in our lives.

 

And although we may stumble and fall, striving for it is what is important.

 

Even as the apostle Paul said in Phil 3:12, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I  press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 

 

It’s what what you’ve done; it’s what you’ve become.

 

It’s not about the arriving; it’s about the striving.

 

He goes on to say, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind …    ” 

Phi 3:13-15

 

Let us, as many as are mature, have this mind … press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

I find that to be good advice;  how about you?

 

I called this message, “If God be for us” – speaking of His help in time of trouble.

 

But since it all begins with the believer putting aside human viewpoint in favor of God’s Holy viewpoint, I might just as well have called it, “If God is before us” – if we put Him first.

 

And while the unbelievers waste their prescious time in endless speculation about the nature of reality and their place in it; our glorious Creator has given us His Word in Jeremiah 29:11 that declares, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

 

And in 1 Corinthians 2:9 it is written, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

 

And He didn’t stop there - then He sealed all of His promises in the person of Jesus who is the Word made flesh and the image of the invisible God in bodily form.  Col 1:15

 

And to give our great God the final Word:

 

As it says in 1 Peter 5:6-11

 

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.

 

Amen