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We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5
We are at war!
This war isn’t going to destroy any buildings. This war won’t see the killing of innocent women and children. This war isn’t over borders and boundaries. This war is far more destructive, yet not really seen by anyone, although everyone may see the results.
This war is in the heart and mind of every person on earth. It’s the battle between faith and fear. It’s the battle between believing and doubting. It’s the battle between positivity and negativity. It’s the battle between love and hate. It’s the battle between fidelity and infidelity. It’s the battle between integrity and dishonesty.
This war is fought and won in the mind and its result depends on who you listen to. The voice that seems to be loudest is the voice of pride and the weapons used are our own strength, our own feelings, our own emotions.
The quieter voice is the voice of God calling us to Himself. God doesn’t just call those who have faith, in fact, He’s more likely to call those to Himself that have no faith.
People aren’t won to God through fancy programs or amazing orators. They are simply tools used by God to bring us into relationship with him.
Only through Holy Spirit do we have the power to overcome. We do this by aligning our thoughts with God’s truth and focusing on His promises. When we do this we can defeat the enemy’s lies and find true freedom.
When we surrender our minds to Christ daily, allowing His Word to renew our thinking and guide our actions, we will not only experience the peace and victory that comes from trusting in Him, others will be drawn to the same peace we have.
Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. 1 Corinthians 15:8
We can’t be sure, but it’s very likely that the man we know as the Apostle Paul at least knew ABOUT Jesus while he ministered on earth.
Saul, as he was known before his conversion, was a high ranking Pharisee and would have heard about this ‘teacher from Galilee. He would have heard about the miracles. He could have heard about His teachings. He may have even been involved in planning his death!
One might ask, how could someone see so many good things and still reject Jesus? How could one see the miracles and still not believe? How could one see the life changes and still doubt?
Yet, that was Saul’s story until that fateful day on a road to Damascus. Saul was enjoying the prestige and power he had over these ‘followers of the way’ these believers in Jesus. He spewed hate, anger and judgment. He basked in the glory of his violence.
Then he saw Jesus in a new way and everything changed. There are still many who know ABOUT Jesus. They’ve heard the stories. They’ve seen the life change. Yet they have yet to ‘see’ Jesus.
There are even those of us who have walked with Jesus for years that have a tendency to grow so content with Him that we fail to live in the power of His Spirit living within us.
May we each see Jesus for who He is in all His power and majesty. May we never grow apathetic in our worship of Him. May we live in such a way that others see Jesus because of how we interact with them.
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. Romans 12:12
When trouble comes, our human tendency is “fight or flight “. When we rely on fight or flight, we are in reality relying on our own power to accomplish a solution to the trouble we are in.
Rather than fight or flight, Paul gives us three better options when trouble comes our way.
First of all, he encourages us to rejoice. Worshiping and praising God is often the best way to counteract fear in our lives.
Secondly, he encourages us to be patient. When we know the outcome does not rely on us it’s easier to be patient and wait for God to work.
Lastly, he encourages us to pray. Praying may not change God‘s mind. Praying may not even change the trouble we’re in! But praying in the midst of trouble Helps us to see God in his character and strength and power.
When God is the center of our life as supreme ruler, our reaction to trouble is patient confidence and joy as a result of persistent prayer.
Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. 1 Peter 2:12
Years ago I had two girls that attended the youth group I led. One of the girls came from a great Christian home and the other came from a home was full of hate and anger. The girl from the stable home, I’ll call her Jill, was best friends with Mary (also not her real name).
Jill’s parents shared with me their concern with this friendship. Mary had a temper and quite often, in a fit of rage would say things hurtful to Jill and, on a couple occasions, actually hit her. Mom & dad wanted this friendship to end for the safety of their daughter and came to me to see if I could help.
I agreed to talk with Jill. What she said to me has stuck with me all these years, Jill said, “Mary doesn’t have a single friend in the whole school. If I’m not her friend she has no body. Jesus was the friend of many who hated him. I need to be a friend to Mary.”
The story has a positive ending thankfully. Through Jill’s patient endurance and the prayer of many, eventually Mary found Jesus. She’s been married for many years in a Christ-filled home thanks to the patient and positive influence of one person who refused to give up on her.
We can’t always choose whose life God calls us to be a positive influence in. We are never called to put ourselves in danger. Yet through wisdom, patience and prayer we can see even the hardest heart softened by the Holy Spirit.
Be careful not to get sucked into the negativity of a toxic relationship. Yet, at the same time, don’t be afraid to trust the Holy Spirit to change lives through you!
