Battle
Ready
“We use our powerful
God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected
against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse
into the structure of life shaped by Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 (Msg)
In his book, Fuzzy Memories,
Jack Handey writes, "There used to be this bully who would demand my lunch
money every day. Since I was smaller, I would give it to him. Then I decided to fight back. I
started taking karate lessons, but the instructor wanted $5 a lesson. That was
a lot of money. I found that it was cheaper to pay the bully, so I gave up
karate." Too many Christians believe it’s easier to pay the bully (the
enemy of our souls) than learn how to fight back and defeat him. Might I add
that many Christians, don’t realize they are living on a battlefield and not a
playground! We have to be willing to fight.
Part of Christianity is learning that
you are in a battle. Now some people say, “I’m a lover not a fighter” acting, as John
Eldridge says, “As if they are living in peacetime Idaho
rather than wartime Vietnam.”
While you may or may not have that
as your creed in life, you have no choice when it comes to spiritual
battles. In essence, the Christian life
is not an either/or but a both/and when it comes to loving and fighting. You are called to be effective in both. In
fact, you better learn to fight or you are going to die.
James
4: 19 says, “Resist the devil
and he will flee from you.” You’ve got to do it because no one will do it for
you. You can try to get rid of the enemy in many ways. You can try to push him away, deny him away,
and even wish him away, but those fall with futility against an enemy who is
dead-set against our success. He will
stop at nothing until you drift from God, doubt God, or completely depart from
God. It’s the nature of spiritual
warfare.
The Bible reminds us that we have to
be conscious of His plans as we read in so many places:
1 Peter 5- “Be alert, for the enemy…” and Ephesians 6
says, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood…” And in most cases, his craftiest work comes
through instantaneous temptations and traps that blindside the most spiritual
among us.
In the world of baseball, you find
that these well-seasoned pros are able to make split second decisions that are
make or break in the outcome of a game.
Studies have shown that the
time the pitcher throws the ball to the catcher is .2 seconds; 63 feet at 95 mph means that baby is
humming. The batter has a split-second
to decide whether he will swing or not.
Did you ever watch a show called the
Addams Family? If you
didn’t, you might know their theme song.
I’ll refresh you, “Do-do-do-do…snap-snap!” (They’re creepy and their
spooky…”) That is how quickly a decision
is made in baseball. Snap-Snap!! It determines the game. The way that a baseball player. is able to
hit a ball that fast is that he saturates himself with hitting. He spends hours
in the cage
I’ve come to discover that most of the
temptation battles that I face with the enemy are not long chess matches or
games or risk. I don’t have time to sit down and
strategize my moves over hours of thinking.
They are “Snap-Snap!!” Rather, they are non -stop little challenges that
are decided in micro-seconds.
It happens
everyday with us if we are tempted to get into a heated exchange, glance at a
billboard, or even channel surf toward a program that, as the Surgeon General
warns, “could be hazardous to your spiritual health.”
Let’s say you have the remote control
and you’re flipping through the channels one evening and it lands on the program
about people on an exotic island and the women are trying to seduce everybody.
In that one moment, you get to decide.
And that’s a critical moment. You get to decide whether you will linger,
loiter, or leave. Whether you will allow
your mind to go to a place where you know is unhealthy.
Paul reminds us the answer comes
through sustained attention to truth.
Focus on what’s true and you will find victory…allow falsities to
prevail and loss is inevitable. In Philippians 4:8,
Paul says, “Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure,
right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly
worthwhile and worthy of praise.”
Through Praise, the Word, Prayer, and the Holy Spirit’s insight, we
strengthen ourselves and become battle ready.
Paul adds in 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped
philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting
every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped
by Christ.” 2
Corinthians 10:5 (Msg) Our minds and hearts are
then prepared for victory. In a sense,
we can beat the bully and not acquiesce to him.
After all, you have the Karate Instructor on your side. Don’t forget to ask for His help.
Terry
Risser
Reflections:
1) In which
area do you find yourself most blindsided by the enemy?
2) If
training involves the power of prayer and the Word, how are you doing this
month?
Consider reading the Word today:
Copyright 2014- Terry Risser
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