8/7/2019 Daily Faith (013011): War in Peace - Everyday Spiritual
Battles
1/2
Jesus once said, Sufficient for the day is its own trouble
(Matt. 6.34c).
With these words he finalized his exhortation regarding anxiety
over the
everyday stresses of our lives: food and clothing (6.25-33). In
fact, this
kind of stress is quite distracting (Grk. merimnao), it even
robs one of trust
in Gods providential care for those who seek his kingdom first
(6.33). In
order to overcome this battle, the Lord provides us with the
weaponry;
our weaponry is the right perspective framed by Gods word.
Never has this been more exemplified than by Jesus himself
when
tempted by Satan; three temptations all designed to challenge
the Lords
perspective of his own identity (cf. if you are the Son of God
4.3, 6).
Each temptation was nullified by an appeal to the Word of God
(cf. it is
written 4.4, 7, 10). Since the very beginning, Satan has always
been
aggressive in his attempts to devour us with his schemes (Gen.
3.1; Job
1.6-7; 1 Pet. 5.8); but, we can resist him with our faith (1
Pet. 5.9).
War within a Life of Peace
The wave of temptations which pass through a persons life may
be
moral, spiritual, doctrinal, and even philosophical; the battle
being waged
is subsidized by Satan and his emissaries (Matt. 25.41; Rev.
12.9).
Consequently, the scale of the battle he wages is the size of
the number ofpeople who have ever lived (Rev. 20.2; John 8.44).
The apostle Paul calls attention to the war Satan wages
against
Christians as well (Eph. 6.12). He describes his assaults as
flaming darts
of the evil one (Eph. 6.16), but in the final analysis they are
just
schemes (Eph. 6.11). These schemes (Grk. methodia) are
simply
sophisticated deceptionsdesigned to take advantage of a persons
weakness.
Satans methodology is to employ calculated deceptions in order
to
rob the Christian of their moral integrity, their spiritual
vibrancy, their
doctrinal purity, and to provide philosophical confusion. He
portrayshimself as a bringer of light when in fact he brings
spiritual decay (2
Cor. 11.13-15). This activity is designed to undermine Christian
peace
(Luke 1.79; John 16.33; Acts 10.36; Rom. 5.1; 2 Cor. 13.11; Eph.
2.15).
Close-range Spiritual Carnage
The picture of our warfare is described by Paul in the following
way,
forwe do not wrestle against flesh and blood (Eph. 6.12). First,
notice
the conflict is not a physical one; instead, it is spiritual and
ideological.
Whatever and whoever Satan may use to oppose God and his people
are
forces he employs in his spiritual arsenal (Eph. 6.12).
War in Peace: Everyday Spiritual Battles|Jovan PayesNews and
Notes
A Note to Our Visitors:
Welcome! We want you to
know you are our honored
guests. Let us know how w
can serve you. We have free
biblical literature and offer
free home bible studies.
Questionnaire | Turn in
Involvement sheet.
OHara Family | Pat
OHaras(Robs mother) is
home on hospice. Keep the
family in prayer.
Remember in Prayer: our
Dreams, Bill and Marilyn
Hinds newborn daughter
Lauren (weak heart and
kidneys), Richard and CaroMaxfield (injury), Victor
Barrios (grieving), Fred
(neck), Linda (knees), Gera
(recovery), Hazel (recovery
Rose Mary, Mike (back),
Shelly (foot tendons),
Connie Payes (dialysis), El
Avalos(Alzheimers).
Feb. 1 | Singing Night at theWhitmore church of Christ
Feb. 5 |Young Womans Bib
Study (see flyer in foyer)
Feb 26|Ladies Day at the
Hayward church of Christ.
Feb. 26 | Hughson Christian
Fajita Night and Salsa
Competition (6 PM).
The Weekly Bulletin of the Livingston Church of Christ
Meeting at 639 2nd Street, Livingston, CA 95334
Office: (209) 394-3511 | Preacher: Jovan Payes
Subscribe & Email: [email protected]
January, 30 2011
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
8/7/2019 Daily Faith (013011): War in Peace - Everyday Spiritual
Battles
2/2
Second, the idea related by the word wrestle (Grk.pale), is that
ofclose-quarter hand-to-hand combat on the field of battle. The
word
suggests that while we may be under siege as a faith, we have
an
individual role to stand and fight in battle (Eph. 6.11, 13).
Nevertheless,
victory has already come to the Christian, because Jesus has
overcome
the world (John 16.33).Third, Paul speaks of the spiritual
forces of evil besieging us (Eph.
6.12). The probing issue here is: what is evil? We can identify
evil as
crime and hatred; terrorism and genocide. Movies even tend to
define
evil as an ancient boogie-man creature. However, evil can be
seen in
religious and spiritual expressions particularly of false
teaching.
Ultimately, evil is behavior that is lived in rejection of God
and His
will (1 Tim. 1.3). B. Morton writes in his excellent book
Deceiving Winds:
When we decide to let the Bible collect dust, then we are left
with more
than merely a literary vacuum; we sow the seeds of what will
become
evil. Evil has more than a social and civil definition; it is
spiritual. And
the siege is more than ethical. It is doctrinal as well.
(67)
Timothy was warned that defection from the faith would come as
a
rejection of God word, and the reception of false teachers (1
Tim. 4.1-3; 2
Tim. 4.1-5). False teaching is evil (Gal. 1.6-10; 2 Pet. 2.1-22;
Jude 3-13).
The Armor of the Christian
Using the language of a war and battle, Paul calls the Christian
to
put on the whole [=full] armor of God (Eph. 6.11). The
Christianwithstands because this armor has already been put on
(6.14-18); moreove
the armor represents those aspects of the faith which are
foundational fo
a relationship with our Creator (truth, righteousness, gospel of
peace,
faith, salvation, the Word). What has saved you will now defend
you.
Finally, an element of the Christians weaponry is prayer (6.18).
D.
Williams observes that it is not compared to a piece of armor,
but that
instead prayer is comparable to the battle cry of the Christian
(Pauls
Metaphors 222). Prayer is described differently than the armor.
The armo
is already put on, but prayer is an ongoing element of the fight
because ofits need: (1) for every circumstance of life, (2) for the
duration of life, (3
for every facet of life, and (4) for all the saints (Williams
222).
A Final Word
As we conclude, there is both a warning and an encouragement
in
Pauls discussion of the armor. Evil exists and Satan uses it to
deceive us
with ideologies and religious experiences that feel right. Be
encouraged,
however, for we already have the entire arsenal to defend
ourselves
Christian faithfulness and the Bible revealing Gods teaching.
Along wit
this, He will never leave us behind on the field of battle (Heb.
13.5-6).
Schedule of Services
Sunday Services
Bible Class 10 AM
(Classes for All Ages)
Morning Worship 11 AM
Evening Worship 5 PM
4th Sunday Services
Bible Class 10 AM
(Classes for All Ages)
Morning Worship 11 AM
Birthday Fellowship Meal
Afternoon 1:30 PM
Wednesday Services
Bible Classes 7 PM
(Classes for All Ages)
Daily Bible Readings
1/30 Romans 7
1/31 Romans 8
2/1 Romans 9
2/2 Romans 10
2/3 Romans 11
2/4 Romans 12
2/5 Romans 13
Monterey, CA
March 31 to April 2
JOVANS OFFICE HOURS
Tuesday to Friday
9:30 AM to 3:30 PM
War in Peace (continued)
http://theequipnetwork.com/http://theequipnetwork.com/http://theequipnetwork.com/http://theequipnetwork.com/
