the battle is fierce and the war rages

The battle is fierce and the war rages, it’s as if people, Christians are looking to find whatever they can to parry the blows of the enemy. Many have become dull of hearing, whilst others from the outset have never been taught correctly; all we need to build upon is the Lord Jesus Christ, and the how-to is found in the written Word of God. Obviously without the Holy Spirit’s intervention in our lives we would soon be defeated. However, because of the finished work of the cross we have been justified and are now among God’s people, we must draw from His arsenal and not allow our vain imaginations to be thwarted by looking for extra revelation to find victory. I’m hearing a lot of prophetic words of late, which simply do not line up with the Bibles teachings. We must be careful not to swallow these voices, hook, line and sinker. God is in control and He is the director of His production, to even suggest that we have the power to unlock His hands by what we do, is absolute nonsense. He will get done what He willed regardless of our interventions. However we can become part of His will when we align ourselves with His intent. Another consideration for another day.      

Our foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ and we can never build on anything else, when we do, we are opening ourselves up to potential false teachings that will lead us astray. Messages that are convincingly presented on the back of apparent prophetic insight. I have told you beforehand and I will remind you again, if what a person bleats out contradicts the Word of God, it is false and cannot be trusted. What can we trust? The voice of God penned throughout scripture and in context can and must be trusted and favoured before any other voices out there.

Pay attention…

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"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1-2) – Confirmation and proof that the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ is in fact God and if you read on in the same chapter we see His obvious role in creation and then how the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us; “All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.”  - “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.” - Grace and truth unifying to bring us clarity.

He then lived on the earth for 33 years fulfilling his ministry, his objective to do the will of His heavenly Father and that was to save mankind from their sins. In order to achieve this, he had to die a death he didn’t deserve, in other words, he paid the penalty for my sin and your sin. He was condemned as a sinner when in fact he was without sin. He lived a life of sinless perfect in a human body, something no one else, to date, has ever achieved. Not to say that didn’t come with its own difficulties, we see a very vivid account of what he endured in the garden of Gethsemane, the toil his body faced almost killed him, as he resisted temptation so that we in turn would find repentance for our own sins. What a Saviour I serve, praise His name, the world has their heroes, I have mine.

“And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:39-4)

Temptation is a means used to test our commitment to the call of God upon our lives. It uncovers our hearts. This is a particular truth that floors me every time it’s brought to the forefront of my mind. I am humbled by the mercies of God and in particular the achievements of my beloved Saviour. He was willing to endure such an onslaught brought on by temptation that he began to sweet blood. All he had to do was relinquish and yield to the temptation and the pain would dissipate. He did not and he stayed the course, can we say the same? I have fail more times than I care to remember.

He was now ready for the final test and was crucified, taking the punishment of our rebellion against the great “I AM”. He died for our sins, opening a door to God the Father, that through faith and by grace we can now find forgiveness for our sinful ways, it’s through repentance and our commitment to Christ that numbers amongst the sons of God. The finished work of the cross is by far the greatest historical achievement of all time. Nothing else even comes close in comparison.

With this in mind the writer of Hebrews has this to say; “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” (Hebrews 1:1-2) - The only question I need you to answer is this; on the back of our Saviours achievements who should get our attention? Will we treasure the penned Word of God above the prophetic voices of today? I have made up my mind, it’s up to you to make up yours. God has spoken to us by His Son, our Saviour and it’s His voice we must cherish. Prophetic utterance can claim that Jesus is behind the expression, but it remains hearsay until proven otherwise. The Word of God has the stamp of God’s approval, it’s this we must cherish with all we have. It is the utility which will help get us home.

Father God I know that without your eye salve in our lives we will remain oblivious to so many truths. Holy Spirit help us with discernment I pray and continue to remind us that it’s about the will of God and not to play into the hands of potential imaginations.

I will leave you with this thought, the downfall of man all started with vain imaginations and because of this, hearts were darkened: “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”  (Romans 1:21)

Here is the warning; “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing.”  (1 Timothy 6:3-4)

Signing off

Tyrone