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Take Your Stand and Fight! “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist [“stand against, i.e. oppose”. Strong’s Concordance, #436] stedfast in the faith…” 1 Peter 5:8, 9 “…Resist
[#436] the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
T his article has been written for the young men and women of God’s household as an earnest attempt to remind them of the kind of powers that are fighting against them. It is a plea to wake up from slumbering. The devil’s only goal is to destroy our soul. Spiritual wickedness and spiritual darkness are at war with us. Has this been forgotten? Life should not be given merely to enjoyment and pleasure. I ask, “Should this be our manner of living when forces stronger than humanity are fighting against us?” In the most vicious and influential battle of all, man is not fighting against man but against fallen beings of darkness that are stronger than he—both physically and intellectually. Truly, life is not about making money, entertainment, enjoyment, leisure, etc.—though the powers of darkness would like us to think that it is. Satan does not want earth’s inhabitants to realize what is really taking place—that such a battle exists—for then they would cease to live for pleasure, entertainment, etc. and instead make a stand for their soul. The children of God must be reminded of life’s true purpose. It is to live for God, to make himself available for His use, and to fight against the forces of darkness that are fighting against him and God. “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thessalonians 5:5, 6. Dear friend, it is high time to wake up! We must cease to live as if this battle between the forces of good and evil, between God and Satan, does not exist. We must not live carelessly; Satan’s only purpose is to deceive and destroy (See John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Luke 8:11, 12 & 1 Peter 5:8), and he is highly active in the world today. The television, movies, music, fashion and glamour magazines and even video games are not delivering messages from God. This we must know! Instead, they distract the mind from God; drawing our mind and attention away from spiritual and heavenly things and placing them upon the unimportant things of earth. This, no doubt, is Satan’s goal. Though the television and magazines constantly portray and acclaim monetary and material gain, obtaining outward beauty, and even achieving academic and business success, this is not to be the goals and practices of God’s people. Their lives, their goals and their appearance—even their forms of entertainment—should not match those of the majority. This is because the Master has shown to them the truth and the way that leads to eternal life; and that which is being advertised through television, movies, magazines, etc. is far from both. Christ said, “…broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.” Matthew 7:13. To be different, set apart, from what is considered “normal” and “popular” is the only safe way for us to walk. It must be remembered that Satan is the “god of this world”. (2 Corinthians 4:4) This title has been given him not because he created the world or has authority over it, for God is the Creator and rules over all—including this fallen angel. But Satan is called this because of his influence upon the world. Is it the ways of God that are embraced and practiced by the majority? Is it the ways of God that are promoted and advertised in our world? Is it the ways of God that are considered “normal” and “popular”? To love God and to walk in His ways—ways of righteousness—is a foreign and strange endeavor to society. Yes, “the world” has chosen Satan as its “god”, and it is for this reason that we must not allow ourselves to be influenced by “the world”. How important it is that we do not follow the majority! God has given instruction to “resist the devil”. (James 4:7) This means to “stand against” and “oppose” (Strong’s Concordance, #436). We are also instructed not to “give place” to the devil. (Ephesians 4:27) This is done by avoiding and abstaining from anything of Satan. To accept anything not of God or of His ways—which would therefore be of Satan— would be to give the adversary a “place”. This must never be given him, dear friend. He is your enemy! Should he ever be given opportunity to carry out his wishes toward you, or have any influence upon your mind? Does a soldier in battle give a place to the enemy or an opportunity for him to advance? Dear friend, you must make a choice. Your life will either be used by Christ—Who loved and gave Himself for you (Galatians 2:20), Who was oppressed and afflicted for you (Isaiah 53:7)—or Satan. Now one might say, “Well, I am living for myself”. But those who are living and working for self are actually aiding the purposes of Satan. Why? Because they are not helping to gather with Christ! If one is not gathering, he is scattering. (Luke 11:23) So again, there are only two choices available: stand for Christ or stand for Satan. And though this decision needing to be made is somewhat harsh and severe, and we would much rather pretend that this battle is non-existent and live for ourselves and pleasure, we must not forget that this is reality! The battle between Christ and Satan is real—whether we like it or not. One side is fighting for the salvation of man—having already paid its great price—while the other is fighting against it. What side, what purpose, do you want to aid? What side are we going to join and finally start fighting for? The victory over evil and Satan should be all that concerns and interests us. We should use our lives, our minds, our strength, for the Lord Jesus Christ. There is blessing in living for Him. The Master said, “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” Matthew 10:39. The soul will be satisfied when it is lived for Jesus, the Son of God who died for him. That which was sought for will be found. The individual will find life. (See also John 12:25) If we live for self we will be living according to the lust of the flesh—the lust of our nature. We will do what feels good to our nature. These lusts, however, are deceitful. (See Ephesians 4:22; Titus 3:3 & Ephesians 2:3) This is so because, though they appear to bring us pleasure, in reality, they bring death. “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die…” Romans 8:13. Our nature lusts after sin. (See Romans 6:6, 17, 20, 21; Ephesians 2:3 & Galatians 5:24) And so, these lusts lead to death. (See Galatians 5:19-21 & 2 Peter 2:9, 10) Dear friend, the lives of every individual is being recorded in heaven. What will your record reveal? Was your life used for Christ? Will it be shown that you worked and sacrificed for Him? The end of this life is fast approaching, and these records will soon be reviewed. Now is the time to take your stand alongside Christ in His army and fight for Him. You cannot go back and forth from Christ’s camp to Satan’s. The Bible says, “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.” 1 Corinthians 10:21. Regardless of how attractive “the cup” of Satan, and “the table” of Satan, may be, remember that Satan’s way only leads to eternal death—eternal separation from God. To reject this “cup”—which others may appear to be enjoying—and to reject eating at the “table” so many are partaking of, IS TO BE BLESSED! You can only belong to one side. Which side will you choose? To accomplish your own dreams and goals is not important. To accomplish Christ’s work is! Saving the lost is all that matters. “And, behold, I come quickly: and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12 “And that he [Christ] died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15 “…Woe
to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For
the devil is come down unto you,
having great wrath,
because he knoweth that
he hath but a short time.”
Revelation 12:12
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