Sin And The War Within

Even when we seek the Lord and do our best to walk in His ways, we still are constantly being challenged with thoughts and temptations that are not of God. We are reminded in scripture that in this world there will be trouble. It can be something as simple as laziness, apathy, or lack of love or compassion in our hearts. For me I’m often disturbed by the deliberate attack on our Lord in our society. But it can also be as simple as seeing someone causing trouble in others’ lives through manipulation or creating lies that try to bring other people down. There are so many attacks on our Spirit each and every day, it can be easy to become upset and knocked and off track if we aren’t relentless about keeping our eyes on Jesus. But take heart, Jesus came to set us free.


Image courtesy of: tylluan

Scripture: 
“but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.” – Romans 7:23

Observation/Application: 
Jesus had a compassion for others. He hated the evil within them, but not the person. If we can remember that those people are God’s children too and rebuke the enemy at work in them, that helps keep my heart right with God. The bottom line, we are at war against evil that constantly attacks our earthly form. That’s a fact. “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – (Romans 7:25)

Being at war doesn’t mean we always hug everyone all the time. War also requires us to face conflict, stand our ground for what is good and righteous, and constantly guard against the enemy attack. A couple great books that depict this spiritual battle going on around us are, “This Present Darkness”, and “Piercing the Darkness”, by Frank E. Peretti. If you have time, they are a great read, and the audio books are excellent too. They are great reminders of the war around us.

Take hope. There are many great scriptures that encourage us to face this spiritual battle on earth. Here are just a few to encourage you today:

  • “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” – Romans 8:31
  • “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10
  • “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
  • “This is my command–be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

Here is a great response on this topic from my good friend and brother in Christ, Brother Gabe Bontrager, who runs The Everyday Christian Podcast: “All the warring, all of the trials, the struggles, pale in the light of our victorious King. We are “MORE THAN CONQUERORS….Through HIM”!!! He is the reason we are strong. He is the reason we are conquerors. He is the reason we have Hope. It is Him. All HIM!! Praise God!”

  • “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:35-39

Let us be encouraged today and always, for God is with us. I call you blessed.

#Everyday-Attacks-And-Keeping-Our-Eyes-On-Jesus

Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your Word today. Fill us with your wisdom and understanding, and let us trust in You. Give us courage and strength to face the enemy that is against us, and against You and everything that is good. Lift us up and raise us in victory. Guide our every step. Fill us with your peace and love, but also with discernment to know the enemy. Help us separate the love and compassion for your children with the enemy at work within others. Give us wisdom to know what to do and peace to be able to know the things that we cannot change. Help us to know that we all play an important part, but that You ultimately are in control. 1 Corinthians 3:7-9 says, “So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” Bless the work of our hands, that we will have a great day in your service, in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

Today’s full reading: Proverbs 1-3; Romans 7

Scripture References From Today’s Reflection:  

  • “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
  • “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Romans 7:25
  • “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7
  • “The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.” – Deuteronomy 28:7
  • “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.” – 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NLT)
  • “Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” – Psalm 97:10
  • “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” – Proverbs 8:13
  • “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:11-12 (NLT)
  • “and do not give the devil a foothold.” – Ephesians 4:27
  • “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:35-39 

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