Foolish Hearts Darkened

Every single day I see this verse playing out before me and it breaks mine heart. I am often asked why the world is like it is, why so much hurt, pain, suffering and evil abound. I take them to Romans 1 and I point out this verse. Then I back up and go through the passage in full.

Romans 1:18-32 KJV — “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

There’s no arguing with words God wrote almost 2,000 years ago, even for those who are unsaved. For those who are saved and in Christ with me then I show throughout Scripture how this is the attack of Satan, his wiles, then show them passages like Ephesians 6:10-18 to prepare them to stand and fight well armed in Christ.

Ephesians 6:10-18 KJV — “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

But if they are unsaved well what better opportunity to share the gospel of God’s glorious grace than the moment they realize just why this world is such a jacked up mess and that they can choose to stop fighting for the wrong team and get saved.

Romans 3:23 KJV — For 👉all have sinned👈, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:12 KJV — Wherefore, as👉 by one man sin entered into the world👈, and death by sin; and so👉 death passed upon all men, 👈for that all have sinned:

Romans 6:23 KJV — For the 👉wages of sin is death; 👈but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:15 KJV — But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV — For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that 👉Christ died for our sins 👈according to the scriptures; And that he 👉was buried, and that he rose again 👈the third day according to the scriptures:

Ephesians 1:13 KJV — In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also👉 after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit 👈of promise,

2 Corinthians 1:22 KJV — Who hath also 👉sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.👈

Then I begin helping them see that even though they are still stuck in this hot mess of trouble here in this world, praise God their not part of it anymore.

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV —👉 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.👈

Ephesians 2:6 KJV — “And hath raised us up together, and👉 made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”

Philippians 3:20 KJV — “For 👉our conversation is in heaven; 👈from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”

I get them grounded and edified and then I show them how to fight the good fight of faith till the day we are caught up or laid in the ground.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV — “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Just because the world’s a mess and sure ain’t gonna get no better don’t mean we gotta just watch it go to hell in a hand basket. We can walk in who we are in Christ using the tools he gives us in himself – his grace and strength and most of all His perfect unchanging ever sure word – to go out and fight. We can fight by being ready always to give an answer for the hope and peace that fills us. We can be Amabassadors and represent Christ well.

1 Timothy 6:12 KJV — “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

It’s Not Acts 2:38 Today

Acts 2:38 won’t get anyone saved today!!

Acts 2:38 is\n not the Gospel that saves today – it’s the kingdom GOSPEL that saves in times past and will again when Christ sets foot back on the earth at the end of the 70th week of Daniel or Time of Jacob’s trouble.

Acts 2:38 KJV — “Then Peter said unto them, 👉Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the 👉remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Note the word remission – remission is a temporary stop, a pause of indefinite length, that’s not forgiven. Forgiven is permanent, complete. Here is the follow up verse to 2:38 that explains when their sins are actually forgiven:

Acts 3:19 KJV — “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the 👉times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”

Repent and be baptized is a work, and the times of refreshing is the 2nd coming to the earth not the air of Christ at the start of the Millennial Kingdom on earth. But that’s not what Gods doing today, today salvation is by grace through faith alone as the gospel for today shows:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV — “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that 👉Christ died for our sins 👈according to the scriptures; And that he 👉was buried, and that he rose again👈 the third day according to the scriptures:”

Salvation right now is not about what we can do but what Christ already did on the cross almost 2000 years ago.

Ephesians 1:13 KJV — “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also🙂 after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise👈,”

Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV — “👉For by grace are ye saved through faith👈; and that not of yourselves: 👉it is the gift of God: Not of works👈, lest any man should boast.”

Sharing that will please God and you can’t find the death burial and resurrection for the full payment of sins and instant, eternal, permanent Salvation of sinners for eternity in Acts 2:38, 3:19 or Matthew, Mark, Luke John or any of the books of scripture outside Paul’s Epistles Romans through Philemon.

That’s our mail and instructions by the risen glorified Christ for today and the part of scripture our doctrine comes from. All of scripture is for us, for our learning about and understanding of God’s two-fold plan and purpose to restore heaven and Earth back under His government, but it’s not all to or about us. God is reconciling earth through Israel in the future and heaven with the Body of Christ being formed today, that’s why our conversation is in heaven where in God’s eyes we are already seated with Christ our head. One day we will be caught up where He is and Israel’s program will be back in force.

I ask anyone who says that the gospel is found anywhere other than Paul’s Epistles do you understand the difference between justification obtained by the cross which is our position in Christ the instant we believe and our sanctification which is our walk where we work out our salvation not earn it but God’s word works in us and through us to perfect the new creature we are in His Son?

Romans 8:38-39 KJV — “For I am persuaded, 👉that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God👈, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 KJV — “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;👉 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.👈”. (Can God unseal you?)

2 Corinthians 5:5-8 KJV — “Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is 👉God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.👈 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

Ephesians 1:13-15 KJV — “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation:👉 in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 👈Which is the earnest of our inheritance 👉until the redemption of the purchased possession👈, unto the praise of his glory. Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,”. (According to this verse your sealed at belief until the catching up of the Body of Christ)

Ephesians 4:30 KJV — “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby👉 ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”( Again sealed until redemption and what’s more you can grieve not loose the spirit)

Philippians 1:6 KJV — “Being confident of this very thing, that he which 👉hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:👈”.

Colossians 3:3 KJV — “For ye are dead, and👉 your life is hid with Christ in God👈.”. (Can your life be removed from Christ?)

Titus 1:2 KJV — “In hope of eternal life, 👉which God, that cannot lie, promised👈 before the world began;”

Titus 3:7 KJV — “That 👉being justified by his grace👈, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

It’s not me you’re arguing with if you try to say that a believer can loose their salvation but God as the above verses show.

You’re actually calling Him a liar, but the verses prove He can not lie so what’s that make you?

God says what He means, means what He says and He says that saints in the body of Christ can not loose their salvation, however Israel could in the past and will be able to in the future, but not us in this dispensation of God’s grace.

A Wonderful Truth

What more wonderful truth is there than that we have redemption through Christ precious blood, forgiveness of sins. Not just one sin or some sins but all sins, past present and future are completely entirely forgiven because He paid for them, he became them for us! Talk about love, talk about grace that truth grips my soul in that grace eternally. It is the sweetest promise, sure and secure in who Christ is and what He did. My heart breaks that I put Him there on that cross at the same time it rejoices in gratitude that He would take my place, pay my debt, die for me. He did it all, paid it all, and saved us all who believe the gospel of God’s grace; that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose the third day according to the Scripture. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). When we believe that we are saved, sealed and delivered by the Holy Spirit into Christ, made one with Him in the new creature the body of Christ, we have eternal life in the one who died for us! And that is God’s gift to us, a gift we don’t deserve, can never earn but Christ loved us so much He gives it to all who believe in spite of that.

The Most Important Answer

Believe in Christ’s death to pay for your sins, burial to remove them and resurrection for your justification alone to be saved. If you chose your best five minutes, you chose eternal hellfire.

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 3:10‭, ‬23 KJV

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:7‭, ‬13‭-‬14 KJV

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 15:3‭-‬4 KJV

Accepted in the Beloved

I rejoice in knowing this, that I am accepted in the beloved, Christ Jesus. I’m already accepted forgiven and seated in heavenly places with Him. Those chains of bondage to sin and death that bound me, the guilt and loathing that was crippling and destroying me, all while I was telling myself it didn’t bother me, I was a good person, everything was fine; they are gone dead and buried with Him. He died to pay for them, was buried to leave them in hell where they belong, and rose the third day for my justification before God, that’s the gospel of my salvation a free gift of God poured out at Calvary for me.

And for you. Salvation and eternal life are yours the moment you too believe the gospel if Christ’s death burial and resurrection. We are all sinners, red hot messes if mistakes and rejection of God, but praise God He became flesh in His Son and took your mess upon Himself, paying the debt you owe so you can live!

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23 KJV

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Romans 5:8‭-‬11 KJV

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13‭-‬14 KJV

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Ephesians 1:6‭-‬7 KJV

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Colossians 2:10 KJV

Got Your Armor On?

That’s what I asked my littles this past Sunday and it got me thinking how we all need to ask ourselves that each day. Have we put on the whole armor of God, are we standing in the power of His might? Can you shout “Yes!” as those little ones do as you read through the following passage.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6:10‭-‬18 KJV

Whenever I feel weak and weary I go to that passage and just pour over it several times letting it strengthen me, arm me for the battles I face each day. The sword of the Spirit, the word of God, as my offensive weapon is my favorite piece of armor and the one I rely on the most along with the weapon most of us completely overlook in this list, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. That is our strongest defense as it is the source of our strength and fully enables us to put on and take up all the others. Prayer is the one thing we can do even when it seems all hope is lost and it is those prayers along with God’s word that make all the other pieces of the armor effective. So I ask are you gonna put your armor on?

Gift Of God’s Grace

That’s what God is wanting to give you. Why would God want to do that you ask? Because He loves you and wants to save you. But I don’t need saving I’m doing just fine you say? No I don’t think so, you’re a hot mess of sin and brokenness just like I was. You keep trying to fix what you’ve broken, correct the mistakes and somehow make life look like what you thought it would but all you get is deeper in the dark hole of failure, am I right? That’s because you, like I was, are trying to save yourself and that’s something you can never do cause Jesus already did it. Let me explain.

We are all born sinners because way back in the beginning when God created the first man Adam well Adam jacked it up and didn’t obey God. He brought sin on himself and everyone who came after him. That’s why the book of Romans in the Bible tells us:

Yea, you read that right, sin brought death into the world as the just rewards of that sin:

Every single person who has ever lived has been affected by sin, Scripture tells us:

Because we are all sinners by birth then we have a big problem cause God hates sin. See God is the Creator of this universe and that means His creation answers to Him in the end, we’re part of that creation because we are descendants of Adam. God is perfect Holy and just – He can’t sin and won’t tolerate it in His presence which means you and I have a gigantic problem cause we’re sinners from the get go. That grieved God’s heart cause He loves us and the sin in our lives forever separates us from Him. He had to find a way to save us from the results of our sin, separation from Him.

He did this in His Son, Jesus. See Jesus was a man but He was God too, He was God’s Son born through a virgin woman, that means he didn’t have the sin nature we inherit from our earthly fathers. He was a perfect man, never sinned, which is important cause in order to pay the debt for someone else’s sin the the payer has to be sin free. That rules out any other mere human right off the bat, but Jesus was more than just human, he was all God and all man. That means He qualified to pay the debt we owe to God. And He did on the cross at Calvary when He was crucified.

His death burial and resurrection made the way for every single person who believes in Him and what He did to be covered by it, to be saved. Saved and restored to right standing with God. Our sins past, present and future were covered (forgiven) by His death; removed forever by His burial; and we are justified before God by His resurrection! God loves us so much He did that, for you, for me, for every human who ever lived. Now understand you could never have done it because you have sin in your life, just accept it that on your own you’re lost as a ball in high weeds, broke as a joke, and it ain’t never gonna change by any effort of yours. But belief in Jesus the incarnate Son of God’s death burial and resurrection can do that. Belief, that’s all you can do to be saved, have faith that the faith of Christ to save you is enough, It’s a free gift, you just got to accept it. So what are you waiting for?

The Days Are Evil

The devil is roaring, ranting and raving trying to drag as many as he can to eternal damnation. That includes attacking us saints to try and prevent our sharing the good news of the gospel of grace with the lost dying world. He tries to destroy our testimony by luring us back into sin. He comes at us with fiery darts and weapons of heart destruction to try to weaken us, trying to cripple us so we are too broken to fight for the lost and contend for our faith. He is relentless once he sees a sign of weakness, a crack in our wall of defense, a gap in our line. That’s what the last week has been like for me. A battle and it ain’t over yet. Cause ole Slewfoot may be besieging me just now but my God is mighty, much mightier than that lying deceiver who is gonna spend eternity in a fiery lake that has no end. I’ve read the end of the book – God wins! So I am fighting but not I alone for God is with me, He will not let me be defeated! This morning I was searching the scriptures for strength as I have been doing much lately and the following passages were a balm for my soul, they enabled me to get through the day in the strength of my Lord and Savior and to continue fighting the good fight, running the race to reach my eternal home in glory. Keep fighting alongside me my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ redeeming the time for Jesus is coming soon to take us his body home. Time is short let’s make use of every second!

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”  (Ephesians 5:15-21)

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”  (Ephesians 6:10-18)

When God Buts In

During the sermon last night Pastor Locke was particularly fired up and in the midst of his sermon on Ephesians 2 he paused a moment in the reading of the text he was discussing and goes “But God.  I just love it when God buts in, don’t you?”  Amen, brother, amen!  Yes I love it when God buts in, that’s when He really shows up and shows out, when he gets the utmost honor and glory.  That’s when He is most likely the God of the impossible, the God of all grace and mercy, the God of all heaven and earth!  Those but God moments are glory, glory, glory moments!  Which got me to thinking about the phrase and wondering just how those but God situations play out in Scripture.  So I want to do a quick study on that very phrase tonight.

The exact phrase is used 44 times throughout the Bible, that’s a lot of times and few too many to list each one individually here so I am choosing some of my favorites to share; I would highly recommend a complete study of God’s but ins for all of you though.  Every second we spend in God’s word is highly profitable, restoring and renewing our strength, faith and hope.

So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. Genesis 45:8

This is one of my favorite occurrences as it makes so clear just how glorious those “but God” moments can be,   Joseph’s brothers had been real jerks and in a moment of weakness, selfishness, depravity they had thrown that 17 year old boy in a pit then drug him out and sold him to Midianite slave traders.  They sold him as a slave and told their father Jacob he had been killed by wild animals.  But God had other plans and used that pit and those slave traders to get Joseph to Egypt where he would basically save the whole world years later!  One of these days I am going to share a study on Joseph but that’s another day, right now, let’s just look at what happened with Joseph when God butted in as noted in these next verses:

And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.  Acts 7:9-10

And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Genesis 50:18-20

God buts in to move people where they need to be, preserve them once they are their and even fight their battles for them – and win them of course!

And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15

This next instance of God butting in is so weird to me but absolutely cool and maybe a little gross; actually a lot gross but still so cool.  I mean who else but God would think this one up!

But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof Enhakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day. Judges 15:19

God does amazing miracles when He buts in but none so great as the miracle of His Son, Jesus.  God’s ultimate but in was His greatest gift of grace to us.  He butted in, became one of us, Jesus Christ his only Son,  and then provided the way for us to be restored to God, reconnected.  He paid our debt to God offering salvation to all who believe in Him.  Just look how God butted in His Son’s life for us!

And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead:  Acts 13:29-30

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

He raised Him from the dead!  But he’s not finished butting in – he buts into the lives of all who believe in him, place their trust in him and he will one day raise us from the dead as well!  One day we will be raised bodily from this earth to join Jesus our savior in heaven, but God buts in and raises us spiritually now, the second we believe in faith in Jesus and his death, burial and resurrection.  God buts in and makes us new, whole, saved!

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:4-10

As always my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ may the Father bless, keep and strengthen you as you continue to:

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12
knowing that you can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth you. Philippians 4:13

 

 

 

Do You Know Your Enemy

A message of preparation and encouragement.   Know your enemy, that’s important but better is to know the Savior.

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So, do you?

That’s a tough question isn’t it.  Not exactly a pleasant one to think about.  But it’s an important one that we all have to face sooner or later.  I think we can all agree that Satan is our enemy, but is he our only one?  It would be nice if he was but that’s not what God’s word tells us.  It tells us we will face many enemies, many workers of iniquity, deniers of truth, deceivers, scoffers, workers of darkness, antichrists.  Ponder for a moment the following verses:

Tit 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Psa 92:9  For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.

Psa 5:8  Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

Psa 6:7  Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

Psa 42:10  As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

Mic 7:6  For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.

Luk 19:43  For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,

And that’s just a very few of the verses!  Suffice it to say we are going to have enemies and we need to know how to handle them.  Do we ignore them, run from them, hate them, spit on them?  Eph 5:11 tells us we are to convict them – and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of the darkness and rather even convict, .  Yet Jesus tells us to love them – Luk 6:27  ‘But I say to you who are hearing, Love your enemies, do good to those hating you, .  So are we just supposed to accept what our enemies do then, to turn the other cheek, ignore it, participate in it?  Is that loving them?  How can both verses work together?  It’s easy actually and they do work together.  Yes, we are to love our enemies just as Jesus says.  If we look at the next few verses in Luke we get a fuller picture of what we are to do for our enemies.

Luk 6:27  ‘But I say to you who are hearing, Love your enemies, do good to those hating you,
Luk 6:28  bless those cursing you, and pray for those accusing you falsely;
Luk 6:29  and to him smiting thee upon the cheek, give also the other, and from him taking away from thee the mantle, also the coat thou mayest not keep back.

So we are to do good to them, bless them, pray for them…  Does Jesus get how hard that is?  Why is he telling us to do that?  And how do we do that without having fellowship with the works of darkness of our enemies?  It’s easy actually and the doing of it will be our witness, upholding our testimony.  We can do good to them by loving them, caring about them, for them.  Bless them – with money, time, joy, a kind word, a gentle voice, a simple God bless you.  Pray for them, most of all pray for them.  Pray hard, pray often, pray loud, quiet, just pray.  Petition God on their behalf, asking humbly that their eyes be opened, their hearts softened, the Truth revealed.

That doesn’t sound too hard now does it?  But who might these enemies be?  Some are obvious those wishing to harm us, those who despise us, those who hate us.  Strangers and acquaintances mostly.  Mostly?  Yea, sometimes those who are unfruitful workers of darkness are closer to us than that.  They’re neighbors, friends, relatives, even spouses – anyone who has not picked up their cross as a follower of Christ.  So how do we handle them.  Obviously these enemies aren’t going to be obvious, they won’t wish us harm, despise us, etc.  At least we hope not.  They present a bigger challenger than a stranger in many ways.  We are told not to fellowship, or spend time with, those who are workers of darkness, so how do we approach these enemies?  We of course do all the things already discussed – love, care, bless, pray.  But we can go a step farther if we are wise and place our trust in God to lead us and to keep us (as we know he will per Joh 17:11  And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.)  We can convict them not only through prayer or in passing but directly, face to face, strongly, boldly proclaiming the Gospel message.  I will deal mostly with how we can do this with neighbors, friends and relatives – spouses obviously require an additional approach.  These are people we are going to be around, in direct personal contact with so we have several unique advantages that give us greater opportunities for witness.  Spend time with the person if possible, if they are willing.  I would recommend meeting in a neutral place, not necessarily their home where it is harder to refrain from being a participant in their sin, such as a local restaurant, coffee house, park to talk letting the light of Christ shine through in the words you say.  Confront their sin but don’t belittle or demean them, tread lightly.  It doesn’t always require even a direct confrontation.  Say they enjoy listening to rock music, instead of joining them at a raunchy, lewd, profane concert instead introduce them to Crowder, The Newsboys, For King and Country.  If they enjoy movies be selective and choose one of the many great options by Christian artists, producers.  Companies such as Pureflix and Affirm Films offer excellent films that are faith based while still being well done.  Just by choosing activities that point us back to God we are planting seeds, our lives and choices are bearing witness to our faith.  If we allow God to lead us our words will follow, our life will bear witness to our testimony.   So know your enemy, approach them wisely and confront them boldly in Christ.  Then watch the light chase away the darkness when the seeds you sow begin to take root, sprout and flourish.

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