SUIT UP and STAND FIRM!

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

ARE YOU SEEKING?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

There's a line that is drawn through the ages On that line stands an old rugged cross

On that cross, a battle is raging To gain a man's soul or it's loss

On one side, march the forces of evil All the demons, all the devils of hell On the other, the angels of glory

And they meet on Golgotha's hill

Gaither

These are the lyrics to an old gospel song “IT IS FINISHED”. It is a song that paints a picture of the spiritual warfare that raged as Christ hung on the cross.

You might be asking, why share this and why today? Easter is several weeks away.

Here is why. Yesterday I was having a soda in the early afternoon with a new believer and one who was new to recovery. As we talked, I could tell he was just…uncomfortable. I could see and sense the conflict in his voice and in his SPIRIT. It became clear after a little while that he was “feeling the effects” of his SPIRITUAL battle. He was confused and he didn’t know why he felt like he was in the middle of some strange emotional and spiritual tug-o-war.

He knew something was just “weird”.

It was then that I assured him that he was not alone and what he was feeling was not unusual. ALL of us who have made that decision to walk with CHRIST, to recovery with CHRIST are in the middle of a battle; this battle.

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Really pay attention to the word “our” in this verse.

The conflict my friend is feeling, the conflict all of us who are in CHRIST JESUS experience is NOT just a spat between two cosmic forces that doesn’t involve us.

Because whether we realize it or like my friend you “feel it” but can’t understand it, we are living in the crossfire of this spiritual war.

We all have an enemy who is determined to destroy everything and everyone important to us. He wants our recovery’s to fail, our relationships to crumble, our need for fellowship to deteriorate, and our desire for JESUS to falter.

He wants to kill us.

And if you think this “warfare” thing is a little to mystical, a little too “DARK AGES” or over-the-top for you, take a look around. We can see the fallout from the enemy’s attacks everywhere.

RELAPSE, BROKEN MARRIAGES, and INCARCERATIONS and that was just another WEDNESDAY of the enemy’s handiwork in our little FREEDOM community.

So if this battle is “raging” as the song says, what are we the recovering, what can we the CHRISTIAN do to avoid being the next casualty?

SUIT UP and STAND FIRM, that’s what we do!

Ephesians 6:13

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Don’t be naïve, THE ENEMY WANTS YOU TO FAIL and HE WILL DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING to accomplish his goal. You HAVE TO BE PREPARED for the ATTACK!

Why else would he flood the SUPER BOWL with advertisements for BUD LIGHT PLATINUM? Why else would he build, infiltrate and operate a 13 billion dollar porn industry? Why else would he turn well-intended doctors into pill pushers for the sake of an extra buck or two or make the lifestyle of the rich and famous so prevalent and yet so inaccessible to heighten envy?

TO WIPE YOU OUT!

1 Peter 5:8

…Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

You are getting my drift right?

There is a battle and today I encourage you to be aware of the fight but more importantly, NEVER believe for a second believe that the ENEMY has what it takes to beat you!

He doesn’t. And he knows it! And it makes him furious!

That is why we MUST SUIT UP! Then…STAND FIRM!

And send Him packing!

James 4:7

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Luke 10:17

…“Lord, even the demons obeyed us when we used your name!"

I love you all.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney