D) Our Part -
“And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”(Romans 16: 20)
Putting someone under your feet is showing them, forcefully, “I am better than you; stronger than you.” It is a physical affirmation of the words. Joshua and his captains of war, before killing the kings, stepped on their necks. The last thought of their lives was their sound, complete, utter, hopeless, shameful defeat. Though the description of the mind’s eye when reading this is graphic and extreme - it has to be!!
Though we live in different times - it is no less dire of circumstances in our world. The enemy is Satan and sin is his lure, trap, weapon and executioner. If you think that the days of graphic, grueling battles are over - you believe a lie of the devil. He has traded in the swords, arrows and soldiers for lust, greed, laziness and all manner of sensual or otherwise alluring temptations. They slay far more men and women with more widespread effects. If he can keep you from seeing this and fall to the lust of your heart, not a bullet - THEN he has effectively taken the sword out of your hand and the fight out of your heart. With this accomplished, he is now free to roam the kingdoms of your heart and mind and pillage as he pleases, while you are comforted by the sins you embrace.
The Christian is portrayed as weak and silent. Many who “claim” to be one live this way. This is a lie from Satan! His lies have EFFECTIVELY depleted holiness and the love of God from the world’s image of the Christian AND those who profess to be one!!! Sin is seen as an inescapable fact of life. It is downplayed in relation to the judgment of God, glorified in public and plants indifference in those who succumb to it; rather than to the Lord it undermines. Why don’t people see that Jesus Christ came to DESTROY this in their lives?!?! Why else would He have died for sin if there was nothing that could be done about it in our daily lives?
I want you, the reader, to see that if you don’t take up and maintain your battle station - the devil will run you through - and you will be left with the infection of doubt; the festering sores of worldliness and the disbelief of a Savior with the power to REMOVE sin from your life.
This brings up an interesting point. Who, then, plays the crucial and pivotal role? God? The devil? No, but they will always play their part, and at their maximum abilities. It is with us. The decision to be great, good or mediocre for God lies with us. God or Satan cannot MAKE you do ANYTHING. YOU either take and bury what God has provided you in salvation for sin, or you can let it grow “thirty, sixty or a hundredfold.”
Genesis 3: 4-5 -> Romans 5: 12 -> 1 John 3: 8 -> Ephesians 2: 4-5 -> Romans 6: 1-2, 11-12 -> John 10: 10b
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned…” “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)” “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? …Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
- This ends the series: "Battle Stations" that was written by my husband. I hope you all enjoyed it and it encouraged you in the Lord!
