Followers of Jesus Christ, may our confidence always be in God our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit's ability to lead and guide us. Also, to give us the spiritual power needed to stand against the vicious onslaughts, the enemy of our souls is mounting against the people of God.
Know this, at just the right moment; God will step into human history and bring judgment upon the wicked who totally disregard God's commands. That judgment will include the wolves in sheep's clothing who knowingly deceive Christians who have little or no biblical understanding of God and His ways. Don't be duped by these self-righteous "ministers" of the kingdom of darkness. God will shine His light on them one day and expose the evil intents behind their religious masks. These are the people Paul warned Timothy about in 2 Timothy 3:5 "Having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."
The truth is if anyone claims to be Christian while denying the teachings of Jesus and the truths found in the apostolic epistles, they are not really Christian. Christian means nothing but religious affiliation to them, not the take up your cross, deny yourself, and follow Jesus' brand of biblical Christianity.
If we deny Jesus' words and His call to full-blown discipleship, we deny Him! That is the truth, plain and simple. And if we willfully choose the way of rebellion against God's teachings with no desire to submit to God and rise above the ways of the world, can we be a Christian from a biblical perspective? I think not!
The truth is every Christian has failed the Lord in different ways, some in many ways. I know I have. But the true believer comes to a place of repentance to get right with God once again. We receive the Holy Spirits' conviction, which brings us to a place of repentance, restoration, and revival.
I am not talking about perfection here; I am talking about embracing the full gospel of Jesus Christ. "He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." Luke 9:23. Then the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:20, "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."
If I claim to be Christian, that claim includes being purchased by God through the blood of Jesus Christ and brought from darkness into His marvelous light! God does not intend for us to be a friend of the world! The Apostle James stated it well in James 4:4. "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."
Unfortunately, doctrines of demons have duped countless millions, and the number is growing while Satan picks them off with flaming arrow after flaming arrow from his loft in the atmosphere. It is surprising how many seem oblivious to his attacks and fall prey to the devil's wicked schemes.
The Apostle Paul warned us in Ephesians 6 about Satan's onslaught and showed us how to stand against it and be victorious. If we don't heed that warning to use the weapons of our spiritual warfare, which are mighty, we can become a victim of his spiritual attacks. Take notice that Satan is unleashing all he can at this time in history against God's people. Followers of Jesus, we can prevail, and we must! God is with us! We must rise up and be spiritual warriors!
2 Corinthians 10:4 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds."
Don't be deceived, and please don't put down your shield of faith or take off your spiritual armor for even a moment. You have the divine ability to put out every demonic fiery dart propelled against you in simple childlike faith and the power of the Holy Spirit! We must stand and be counted as spiritual warriors in the Kingdom of God!
Remember this, the more in love with Jesus we are, the more the enemy of our souls hates us and will do all he can to destroy us. But praise God, we can be victorious if we have done everything to stand. Help us, Lord Jesus, you are the mighty conqueror, and we stand in you and with you! Amen!
Here are a few Bible verses to encourage us as we make our stand to be spiritual warriors in the Kingdom of God:
"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place." 2 Corinthians 2:14
"Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies." Psalm 108:13
"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Ephesians 6:13
"In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one." Ephesians 6:16
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." Revelation 12:11