You are to be incorrigibly cheerful, for you have solid grounds upon which to rejoice!
~ Major Ian Thomas
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Beloved, be clear about something. The liar, the adversary, the devil and his minions will take every opportunity that they are allowed, to buffet and hammer the full-armour of G_d in which we are clad. There will be a relentless sound of clanging as maul and fiery darts attempt to exploit a breach in our defenses.
Now, be clear about this. G_d’s armor does not fail. It does not dent. It does not even tarnish. However, we can of moment, take it off – or misuse it. Or worse, by a conscious transgression, we can give the devil legal right to harass us. Even here, though, grace abounds! These breaches are immediately closed by simply agreeing with G_d (confessing) our sin. Period.
The liar would have us believe that he has created some breach that is bigger or more powerful than the covenant-authenticated armour of the the LORD OF HOSTS. But remember, just as darkness is but the absence of light, a breach is but a hole to be covered. And Jesus has done the Lighting of the darkness and the covering of the naked breaches in our lives.
Submit, brethren, to this truth. And simply say: Go away devil. G_d is in business in my life. And that spirit must leave. Don’t listen as it screams about how crazy you are to even believe there really is a spiritual battle. Stand firm in the power of Christ as it launches darts of fear and doubt in its retreat.
The spiritual battle is real. Spiritual is really just more real than the limited 4 dimensions we sense that we inhabit. The physical is but particulate matter floating in the actual solution of the universe. And in this reality, we are in a vicious, protracted “shoot and scoot,” retreating action that is fraught with danger. BUT DO NOT MISS THIS: The enemy is beaten. They are in retreat. Jesus kicked death’s head into the dirt 2,000 years ago, yanked the keys off the wall of hades, and flat walked out of the grave to become the firstborn of many brethren.
Oh by the way brothers and sisters… you are the many brethren. And this truth that we are NOW born into eternal life must become for us a source of the most powerful motivational force in the universe: Joy. We can (and are) to live in a state of continual “joying” (rejoicing) in the L_RD – for in this state we take on His strength for the relentless battle we face.
Ever wonder why Satan wants to steal our joy? Wouldn’t joy distract us from our need for G_d? Wouldn’t it make us feel self-sufficient? NO, real joy is only felt in the Presence of G_d. And in His Presence there is absolutely no danger – only hope, and peace and power and clarity and purpose and and and and….
So, dear reader, care to join this writer in a little skipping and leaping?!?! Dwell in His Presence tonight and see if it doesn’t put a little spring in your step!
