With my hands lifted high. Oh God, the battle belongs to You. And every fear I lay at Your feet. I'll sing through the night. Oh God, the battle belongs to You.”
I’ve heard some say our battle is with false teachers and we must silence them. Others say our battle is to persuade God to change His mind and do what we ask (no kidding). In my experience, the battle is mostly in my mind and heart. Satan wants me to believe him instead of God, and forget about praying particularly, for as the song says, I fight on my knees, nor against God or people:
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. (Ephesians 6:12)
These spiritual hosts of wickedness are so successful that many churches no longer have prayer meetings and many Christians consider prayer as their last resort — to be used when their own efforts fail. However, Paul the super-saint told us to wear our God-given spiritual armor and gave this as the reason:
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, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints . . . (Ephesians 6:17–18)
Prayer is a battle against the lies of our enemy. To do battle, we need the armor to protect ourselves and it is essentially the truth in God’s Word, and we need the sword to fight back, also God’s Word. That means if we are going to defeat the Liar and render his tactics useless, we need to know the Word of God and use it rightly.
MacArthur likens Bible study to the way some creatures approach a flower. Some people are like butterflies, going from one favorite verse to another, one seminar to another, or one book to another. They are busy but have little to show for it because they never delve into the Word wholeheartedly, just flutter around the edges. Butterflies look pretty but they don’t live very long.
This reminds me of a certain cult. Those who study cults say that this particular one picks verses that sound in harmony with what they want to believe and do not read more than 10% of the Bible.
Some study the Word of God more like a botanist. They go into it in great depth, take notes to figure it out, but without applying it to their lives. Entire commentaries have been written by unbelievers. A few might understand what it says yet do not take it personally. They are like those who boasted to Jesus of their righteousness and He told them, “Depart from me. I never knew you.” Christians can make the same error by taking a scholarly approach to the Bible but failing to apply it to their lives.
The third example is a bee that spends time in the flower, takes from it, gets filled and shares the results with the hive. To battle the enemy, I need to be like a bee, spending time in the Word — reading, studying, taking notes, being filled with Biblical insights and letting the results show in my life.
These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:13)
Being like a bee means using what God teaches me in this battle to defeat the Liar, not only in my own life but to share with others, both in words and deeds. Jesus said,
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14–16)
The light of the world is not a flickering on/off/truth/lie message. It is also not a glaring spotlight of accusation that blinds people to the light of Christ. Many images dart through my mind with these thoughts, but the most important truth is that I need to give God’s Word a priority place in my life or I will not be able to see what God wants to show me, or be a light to those in danger of plunging into deep darkness.
PRAY: Jesus, I heard this week how those who know You and Your Word are leading people out of darkness and into Your light. Thank You for the encouragement to keep reading, studying, praying and not giving up in this battle against the evil one. Keep me and protect me, and most of all, speak truth continually into my life.
PONDER: Remember what James 1:22–27 says. Doing what God wants includes taking care of the needy but also avoiding worldliness, speaking truth, and knowing when to keep my mouth shut.
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