Victory over evil

 

In August, a study of loving as God loves changed many things about the way I understand how much God loves me, and it changed the way I talk to people. This month’s study on one subject, spiritual warfare, made me more aware of the battle and better equipped to fight it.

Today, MacArthur winds up with things I need to remember for this month of studies. My first thought was “Oh good, a review” but then thought, “Good thing I don’t rely on my memory to keep me on the right path, but on the Holy Spirit whom the Father sent in Jesus’ name to teach me all things and bring to my remembrance all that Jesus said to me.” (John 14:26) My part is reading, praying, and paying attention. He speaks when I need to hear Him. That said, there are principles important for victory when battling the forces of evil.

Satan is a defeated foe. Jesus already beat him so our victory is assured. Losing a skirmish happens but He won so His people will also ultimately win.

 . . . The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. (Hebrews 2:14–15)

Christ is the power in my life, not the enemy. Satan can do only what God allows. Consider Job’s story:

Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. (Job 1:9–12)

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

. . . He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Wear that armor at all times. It’s foolish to enter combat without proper protection, yet my memory and easily distracted mind will fail me unless I am in the Word each day and thinking about the wonder and power of God compared to my feeble inability.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:5–7)

Let Christ control. Whatever is on my mind is what I talk about and take action regarding; therefore, I need to “Destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when my obedience is complete.” (2 Corinthians 10:5–6) This is part of what it means to Love God with all my mind — think right and do right.

Pray, pray, pray! Prayer is a mystery — yet it is also like learning to understand and speak the will of God. This comes with practice, trial and error even, but praying about everything, from direct assaults to the need for a parking place is part of what it means to rely on God for everything. These verses are vital in the battle:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16)

Pray without ceasing, (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Resist Satan by yielding to God, this is the bottom line and needs to be done in that order. If there is any sin or rebellion against God in my life and heart, the enemy already has me down. I cannot fight evil when I’ve given in to it. Remember his devices and don’t dabble in the forbidden. Instead . . .

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)

PRAY: Jesus, Your love and power are a constant amazement and delight. Battle leaves scars, but it also brings great victory, a victory that is certain because of all that You have done, and all that You promise me. Thank You.

PONDER: and pray through all that God is saying to me today and rejoice in His grace as well as His power.

 

 

Intercession requires . . .

 

God wants me to look beyond my own problems and pray for the needs of others. MacArthur gives an example in history where psychological clinics had large numbers of neurotics undergoing drug treatments and others attended regularly with personal problems, worries, anxieties, temptations. However, when the Civil War broke out, these clinics were virtually emptied. Those with neurotic issues were ‘cured’ by a greater anxiety; would they lose their homes, their spouses, their children?

I noticed the same thing in the book of Job. He had terrible things happen and complained. However, at the end of his story, the Lord’s anger burned against his friends who had not spoken rightly to this man. God told them to offer a burnt offering for their sin and that Job would pray for them. Job did, his mind off himself and for these who had not encouraged him.

And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)

I’ve noted the same for my own life. I can fall into a pity-party if I’m in pain, or if things are not the way I want them, but when I pray for others, my problems shrink and become nothing. At the same time, this is often when God meets my needs — when they are put at the bottom of the list or taken off the list entirely.

Today’s devotional reminds me that the Holy Spirit and Jesus both intercede for me:

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26–27)

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:34)

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)

It is Jesus’ goal to transform me into His likeness, so I also need to intercede for others. I read that D. L. Moody put one hundred unsaved people on his prayer list. Before he died, ninety-six of them were saved. The other four were saved at his funeral. This motivated me to pray for others, yet I quickly realized that a long list means time and effort. For this, God keeps urging me and encouraging me to pray. He says:

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (1 John 5:14–15)

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3–4)

On this day, my hubby is hoping to share the Gospel with a relative. A dear friend is in hospital with internal pain and a heart attack. Another fell and is recovering from both legs and a broken sternum. Several close friends need work. Many relatives and friends need Jesus, and some of them are into false teaching, cults, spiritual deceptions of all kinds, or have very hard hearts toward anything about Jesus. The list is long and the battle is exhausting — this is not an excuse, just a reality.

PRAY: I already have the list, Jesus. Making time and the effort to pray for all of them is important, but not easy. Help me with the energy and the words, but also the willingness and the love needed to keep at it.

PONDER: Read Philippians 2:1–11 for understanding, not only about my attitude toward others, but to realize the results when Jesus humbled Himself and was obedient. What do I need to do to be: “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication . . . alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints”? (Ephesians 6:18)