January 26, 2011

  • Stay Awake

    In John 10 we find out that the devil is a thief. You need to realize that he means you nothing but harm. He doesn't feel sorry for you and he would rather see you dead than alive. The devil intends on destroying you, your marriage, your family, every relationship, your finances, your health, your... well I think you get the idea. He has a plan for you according to verse 10. He plans to steal, kill, and destroy you. Each week, I have the opportunity to sit across a table or desk from someone who is asking for our church to help their family. In 99.9% of the situations I listen to, it's not the lack of money that is the problem, it's the devil hard at work to destroy them. - the Chief's John 10 Study

    It's not particularly fun to think about this battle we are in.  The enemy doesn't want us awake to that fact we are in a battle.  See if I'm not in a battle, if there is no spiritual war then I don't need to put on my battle armor.  I don't need to stand guard.  I don't need to be alert or awake.  

    Here's the thing, there are bombs dropping and bullets flying all around us.  We aren't even aware of them.  We may not even know that we are at war.  We cannot be winning battles if we do not know that a war has been declared. 

    War has been declared.

    There is a battle in the mind and the heart.  Romans 7:21-23 says that when I want do good, evil is right there with me.   

    We have to stay awake.  We have to be alert to the battles going on around us.  The battles will be something different every day and at different hours. 

    And we thought all we had to do today was go to work, come home, cook supper, prop our feet up, and watch the news.  That's exactly what the enemy wants us to think! 

    Do not begin your day without putting on your full battle armor.  As you battle, remember that there are heavenly hosts cheering you on!

    Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading.  Be aware of the battle.  Be awake to pleasing God.