Spiritual battles illustrated . . .

Exodus 8; Job 25–26; Luke 11; 1 Corinthians 12

In reading Exodus, I visualize the battle between Moses and Pharaoh as like the battle between a praying Christian and the dark forces of evil. When I pray, I am not trying to persuade God but battling the lies and efforts of a spiritual enemy who holds many of the people in bondage.

There are other images in this Exodus story too. For instance, Moses calls plagues that represent the gods of the Egyptians. In the reading today, the land is overcome with frogs to the point that Pharaoh asks Moses for help. In this, I see how this particular idol worship starts out with the Egyptians in control of what they are worshiping, but after Moses makes the waters fill up with frogs that overflow on the land, the people no longer control what is happening.

Sin is like that. It might start with a few glances at pornography, or a couple of visits to a casino, or a simple lunch with an appealing co-worker. However, if any small twinges of guilt are ignored, sin (whatever it might be) can easily snowball and take over, out of control. At that point, there are only two options. The first is to call out to God for release from sin’s bondage — like Pharaoh first did when the frogs got the best of him. However this man changed his mind once the frogs were gone and did not stay on that path. He took the second choice:

But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. (Exodus 8:15)

Each time the man of God prayed and the pagan’s god was dealt with, the pagan was glad for relief from the overwhelming control of his sinful idol, but instead of turning to the true God, he hardened his heart.

The battle also is illustrated in the story of Job. This man of faith relies on God for his righteousness and on the Holy Spirit to show him God’s will and any sin that he may have committed. His problem is God’s silence. His friends should have kept silent too, but they became the devil’s advocates by accusing Job of sin that he did not do. This is a tactic the devil takes against all of God’s people. It is bad enough that we fight win we do commit without have vague ideas of guilt thrown at us.

I can related to Job’s comments of defense when one of his ‘friends’ speaks as if he knows what God is doing to Job. After speaking of God’s power, Job adds:

“Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?” (Job 26:14)

With the enemy breathing down my neck to thwart my relationship with Almighty God, I sometimes feel like quitting. However, Jesus urges me to keep at it. He talks about prayer with perseverance, like going to a neighbor for bread at midnight so I can feed a guest. He also promises that God will provide the help needed.

“I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:8–13)

For the war against sin, either my own or sin that others battle, God invites me to pray. He also offers the help of the Holy Spirit who gifts me with want is needed and the Body of Christ who are also fighting alongside me with their God-given gifts. I am not alone.

All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (1 Corinthians 12:11)

But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. (1 Corinthians 12:24–26)

Apply: Keep praying; the enemy was defeated at the Cross. Know the difference between the Holy Spirit’s clear conviction and Satan’s vague accusations. Rely on the Holy Spirit. Share my struggles with other warriors; we are in this together and need one another. Amen!

Behind those accusations and trials . . .

Exodus 5; Job 22; Luke 8; 1 Corinthians 9

Satan does not like it when Christians pray in faith and in the will of God. He is sneaky in his attempts to stop those prayers and is often successful by sending trials to sidetrack those who pray. He also uses accusations:

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. (Revelation 12:10)

The enemy’s accusations can come through other people. This morning’s reading in Job shows how strong were the words of accusation thrown at this righteous man:

Is not your evil abundant? There is no end to your iniquities. For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing. You have given no water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry. The man with power possessed the land, and the favored man lived in it. You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless were crushed. Therefore snares are all around you, and sudden terror overwhelms you, or darkness, so that you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you. (Job 22:5–11)

None of this was true, but coupled with the trial of losing everything, including his health, Job was devastated. On top of that, God did not reveal to him what was behind his losses or those accusations. At this point, he had no idea that his faith was being tested.

Yet faith overcomes accusations. God can even use them to build our faith as we learn to fight the enemy’s lies with what God reveals to be true.

The enemy’s other tactic is to throw trials at God’s people. As I trust Him, a painful or difficult event can challenge my trust. As with accusations, trials may also come to us through other people. When God’s people tried to escape bondage in Egypt, Pharaoh determined to make their lives miserable and keep them from doing what God had planned for them.

Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.” And Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!” The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, “You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’ Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.” (Exodus 5:3–9)

God is wise. He uses trials to build our faith as well:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

When trials are over, I am a stronger person in my ability to trust God — no matter what is going on. When my sister died and I began praying about the funeral she wanted, a virus left me with a constant cough but I kept praying. Other things happened but the worst was a nosebleed that would not stop. I kept praying, even witnessing to medical people. As soon as the funeral was over (and exceeded above and beyond all my requests) the trials stopped. At least for a little while.

God tells me to not be anxious about trials or accusations, just press on. Let them be part of what forms the life of Christ in me . . .

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24–27)

Apply: Press on. Today, I press on. I nearly caved yesterday, but in the end kept praying. Whatever is in store, God is faithful and will carry me through.

God can use a ‘scattered’ mind . . .

Our Bible study group discussed the amazing gift of eyesight. One man wondered if our eyes are created to see certain things and not others, just as the eyes of animals, birds, insects, etc. see what they need to see. Because of devotions in Revelation, I agreed. John saw things that we cannot normally see. He saw the future and was given a glimpse of spiritual realities that are usually invisible to our eyes.

For instance, he saw Satan and his cohorts cast out of heaven and thrown to the earth. He saw this Liar and Destroyer pursue Israel and try to destroy them. He saw God’s protection as He rescued them and then saw the battle between the devil  and God’s people, a battle that is ongoing and furious. He could see what we know happened then and later, but our eyes cannot see this spiritual war. We just know the reality of it.

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea. (Revelation 12:7–17)

This enemy accuses me and does other nasty things, usually to keep me from praying. One devotional book says that all these battles “are given by the Master for the explicit purpose of enabling you to win your crown.” This book also challenges me that his efforts are not about ideal situations or far-away emergencies, but the conditions of life today. That is, my crown lies embedded in the hardships and trials that pressure me right now — namely keeping my focus and not allowing distractions to sidetrack me from the work of praying, a work that God has affirmed many times.

Satan tries accusation but I know that Jesus has totally forgiven everything. If the enemy says I am unworthy to pray, that only drives me to pray in the name of Jesus. Satan is more successful with distraction. Today I am encouraged by a devotional writer who says my crown lies there. If I am faithful to pray anyway, God can use my easily distracted thoughts to pull me, to draw my mind to His will and give me the issues and words needed for praying accordingly. God uses the very issue that Satan uses, not to stop me from praying but give me thoughts that He wants me to discuss with Him. Today I realize that my ‘problem’ is God’s design for me!

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Jesus, I know that Satan opposes everything You do and Your will for my life. I shouldn’t be shocked or annoyed at the trials of life that threaten the work You have given me. I need to always be prepared and even rejoice. As I’ve been told, these battles reveal I am “a threat to Satan’s system and an asset to Christ’s Kingdom” — and that is totally amazing.

Today’s thankful list . . .

- an especially intimate time of prayer today.

- a good whack at my to-do list.

- a long and needed nap.

- the herb Aero garden that is producing more than we can use!

- the smell of fresh bread.