When you think of an army, what comes to your mind?I'll tell you what comes to my mind: fighting and battles. Some of you may be naturally fighters, jumping in and fighting even if it isn't your fight. Not me! I have a hard time even confronting. I'm more comfortable running in the opposite direction. And the thought of violence and blood - uh uh. But God has been changing me and guess what?If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and the Lord of your life, he is changing you too.
This day is a day to remember those who were willing to go to battle and fight for our freedom. It is a time to remember those who are presently in battle for our freedom and the freedom of others - freedom from the terrorists who have no respect for life. Sometimes God calls His people to do physical battle against the evil in this world. But that call is twofold. There is also a spiritual battle He calls us to.God is calling us to be His army. If as Christians, we are an army, then we have to have an enemy to fight. Right? Is it your boss or your neighbor?Could it be your wife or your husband?
Let see who God says it is. In the heavens where God resides on His throne, there was a beautiful archangel, created by God Himself to stand over his throne. This angel was so beautiful and shone so brightly that he was called "the morning star." But, he began to become full of pride and boastful. Pretty soon he wanted to be just like God. He even wanted God's position. Lucifer, as he was named, and a host of the other angels thought they could defeat God, their very own creator.
You could describe it as a mutiny in heaven. Well, God put a stop to their rebellion and foolishness and they lost their positions there. These fallen angels came to be known as Satan and his demons or in other terms, the devil and evil spirits. Because of his wickedness, Lucifer who had been called the morning star because of his brilliance, stopped shining. His face became distorted and ugly, his body and mind became twisted and warped. His beauty faded. He and the other fallen angels are no longer beautiful, as they were once created to be. Why? - Because of the wickedness found in them.
But listen children of God, you need to know this: These fallen angles haven't given up their quest to overthrow the Creator of the universe. They are continuing their mutiny by trying to get as many of us as they can to follow in their footsteps, by influencing us and drawing us into sin. We are told the wages of sin is death and it separates us from a loving God.
John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." In this scripture Jesus is speaking about Satan and referred to him as a thief. His aim and mission is to destroy whatever God is working on. And that includes you and me. Continuing in the same scripture it says: "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." In contrast, Jesus came to give you abundant life, to heal you, and meet all your needs.
These fallen angels are very cunning. They are deceivers. II Cor. 11:14 tells us: "Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." He comes pretending to be something he's not in order to try to mislead us. Peter gives us a warning in I Pet. 5:8 : "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Have you thought about this? When you sin, you are actually in a way worshipping Satan. You are saying by your actions, "I have made you lord of my life, Satan. I am obedient to your ways."
Brothers and sisters in the Lord, if Christ is your Lord then your actions will show it by obedience to His ways. If we love God, we need to be obedient to Him; the Great I Am, the one who created the heavens and earth, and created you and me. He is the one who loves us and shows us mercy and gives us grace.
Ps. 97:10 says, let those who love the Lord hate evil. II Tim. 2:19 says the Lord knows those who are his. Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness, because there is a better way. We don't have to be in bondage to the sins in our lives anymore. I Pet. 2:24 tells us Jesus himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness . . .Did Christ die for our sins so we could keep on sinning? No, this scripture just told us we could now put sin behind us and live righteous lives.
II Cor. 5:17 says if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. Have you ever wished you could start your life over? Christ has given us that opportunity. Eph. 4:22-24 says you were taught with regard to your former way of life; to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your mind; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. We are to come out of bondage to sin by renewing our minds to the ways of God.
Jesus has paid the penalty of our sins. But do we move into the freedoms Jesus died to give us? Or, do we still feel guilty and condemned over sins in our past that God says he has forgiven? Do we realize we are free from the bondage of sin? It no longer has a hold on us. We have been freed so we can serve and glorify God. Now is the time to go out and conquer sin, poverty, sickness, and bad habits. Listen, the truth will make you free and His word is truth. Through His Word, God has shown us a new way to live - a way that leads to life. God's way not only leads to life eternal with him, but to a life of love and joy. Now! Right here!
How often do we want to tell someone else to "get out of our face?" But do we tell Satan to get out of our face? God says the people perish for lack of knowledge, but the truth shall make them free. Jesus died for you and me. He paid the price for your sin and mine. "The price has been paid. You are free." Christ's death freed you from the penalty of sin. God's way of life, when we walk in it, frees us from bondage - the hold sin had over our lives. We are free to renew our minds with His word, and as a result - walk in victory over sin and death.
We are called to fight - to be warriors. In Eph. 6:10-18 we are told who the real enemy is, how to defeat him, and what the weapons of our warfare are. Don't let Satan have the satisfaction of winning in your life. Don't let sin keep you down. We must take the kingdom by force.
Listen People of God, Satan is not merciful. We can't be merciful to him. There has to be a battle fought in order to gain a victory. There's no victory without a war. It is time for the church to put on its armor. We are no longer to hide from the enemy or be pushed around by him. Church, we are being called to battle. We don't have to let sin control us anymore. We are more than conquerors. We have victory through Christ. The Holy Spirit gives us the help we need. We are on the winner’s side.
Come on men. Come on women. If you love God, you have sins to throw out and a spiritual enemy to defeat. Christ has paved the way for us. He has already defeated our enemy. We fight a defeated foe. Think about that!
Come on men. Come on women. Jesus Christ has recruited you into His army. Let's show God we stand with him! Stand up church and march in the army of God. Praise your God. Your battle cry is praise to God. Let the high praises of God be in your mouth and his Word a two-edged sword in your hand. Prepare for war and praise your God.