Fight The Good Fight - 2/21/06

Galatians 6:17-18, "Our sinful selves want what is against the spirit, and the spirit wants what is against our sinful selves ... but if the spirit is leading you, you are not under the law."

For the rest of our lives, after accepting Christ's sacrifice, we will struggle with our flesh. The struggle is laid out plainly here. When we become a Believer, we are transformed. Our spirit will from then on always thirst for the King who is a fountain, the living wellspring of life.

But from that same moment on, our spirit will also struggle with the sinful flesh's desire to continue living as we were before becoming Christians. Our flesh thirsts to indulge in every pleasure, while our spirit thirsts for His presence - which cannot accompany such actions.

The enemy knows this, and will seek out specific areas of weakness he sees in our flesh and will meet us there with temptations that will turn our will toward earthly rather than spiritual desires. These temptations always amount to choosing ourselves over God and living in His way - which also brings His blessings. Ephesians 6:12, "Our fight is not against people on Earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world's darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world."

Knowing that, we're bound to fail in our own weakness - nobody has achieved perfection. But, we live under GRACE. "He loves us as we are, not as we should be." What we are responsible for then is to be eternally vigilant. If we take our salvation for granted, we will fall into sin. If we are truly in a battle against spiritual influences, we must treat it as such without rest. If there were tanks and soldiers camped at the edge of your city, would you continue along as if nothing was happening? Or, would you prepare yourself, your family? How would you protect them?

The situation changes little in the spiritual realm, and God provides you the protection. The last line of this verse frees you from the bondange of repeated failure "... if you live in the spirit, you are not under the law." The Lord provides you the means, the armour, and the weaponry. His weapons to defeat evil in our everyday lives include, "... the belt of truth tied around your waist and the protection of right living in your chest. On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong. And also use the shield of faith with which you can stop all the burning arrows of the Evil One. Accept God's salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" Ephesians 6:14-17.

Now, take this even a step further. Take the good advice I read to think like a commander in the middle of a battle. You must examine your own weaknesses and anticipate an attack on those areas. Strengthen your defenses there. If you were the enemy, knowing you through and through, where would YOU attack you? That is where you WILL be attacked and must take whatever precautions necessary to come out victorious.

Likewise, you can seek out the Enemy's weaknesses. With the sword of the Word of God - the Holy Scriptures in the Bible - you can strike at the enemy, with your faith in God's love and power a shield during the counterattack. Spreading the word - handing out swords - will advance the Kingdom of God for which we fight and defeat the Evil One by decreasing the lives over which he has power. "And to God be the glory, the Kingdom, and the power for ever and ever, Amen."