July 4

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal…” 2 Corinthians 10:4

In several of his epistles, the apostle Paul makes it clear we are at war. Unlike any other warfare our end is spiritual and so are the means by which we fight the war. From this text then we are reminded that we are at war, that we have weapons and that they are not of a carnal, fleshly nature. The Christian’s war is not against flesh and blood. It is not a battle against other humans or human governments. It is a spiritual fight against spiritual entities, powers unseen by human eye, and yet very real and threatening. These principalities and powers, spiritual wickedness in high places, as the Bible describes them, are the seat of Satan’s authority and government. They are the promoters and motivators of temptation and sin, urging iniquity upon humanity. They influence man to turn from God, His spiritual life and His love, and towards the world’s materialism, inciting rebellion against God’s ways and encouraging selfishness, self-will and self-worship. The Christian’s battle is not only to personally overcome these forces of evil, but to also help others against them. To do this, God has supplied the believer with weaponry! This is not like conventional armaments, such as can inflict physical injury or death, but a spiritual arsenal to be used against the enemy and in support of those whom evil victimises. The weapons given to believers to overcome in this fight are many and include, prayer, the name of Jesus, the power of the Holy Ghost, the knowledge and preaching of the Word, the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit, fellowship, church, God’s love and a lot more! The wise and faithful believer will learn how to use these arms, and maximise their effect, in the conflict against sin and the devil. The Bible further describes these weapons as not being carnal, but mighty through the Holy Ghost! Carnal here, refers to that which belongs to the flesh, which by comparison to the power of the Holy Spirit, is weak and ineffective in such spiritual warfare. Christians can rejoice in the fact that God has not left them without means to overcome, and has also promised not only to be with them, but to ensure their victory if they trust in Him!

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Apr 3

 “…If thou wilt go with me, then I will go…” Judges 4:8

The Israelites had again turned from God and committed evil against Yahwah. Their punishment from God came in the form of a take-over by the Canaanites, who oppressed them for twenty years. The people cried to God for deliverance this was during the time of Deborah the judge. Directed by the Lord, Deborah called on Barak, a mighty warrior, to lead the people of Israel against Sisera, the captain of the Canaanite host. An army of ten thousand was raised to fight the enemy, but the odds were greatly against them, since the Canaanites had 900 chariots of iron in their armed force. These were swift and conventional hand weapons virtually ineffective against them, not unlike the armoured tanks of today’s warfare. God however, had promised to go before Barak and grant Him victory.  Such situations have existed in the lives of many of the great men whom God called to do battle in His name. Often the human odds and resources are against the people of God, but the Lord is more than sufficient to supply the victory His people need. Barak believed Deborah, but hesitated in carrying out the directive of the Lord, without her presence at the battle site. It should not be necessary for us, to have anyone at our side but the Lord, in any endeavour we undertake for Him; yet it is true of our human nature, that many times we are encouraged to step out in faith, when someone else, who is likeminded, a person we feel we can trust, is there with us. It is also true to say that if our primary focus is seeing the work of God performed at the best possible level, then we will want to involve the best possible people, without concern as for who gets the acclaim.  The goal and reward is the success of the outcome and the knowledge we have served God aright! Barak is mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11, among those who displayed faith, trusted God and went on to win a victory for His glory. It appears he was not consumed with self-importance, or anxious about personal honour. He was content to be a tool in God’s hand, to bring about a great victory for the Lord and Israel, without caring much about the credit or the reputation associated with it. He is therefore a reminder to us, to be people of faith, willing to obey God even when we may be reluctant, and rejoicing to see the work of God done, not for personal approbation, but for the glory of God.

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Mar 9

“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life…” 2Timothy 2:4

One of the difficult realities of Christian living, is to accept that as believers, we are at war. Our battle is not against ‘flesh and blood’, but a life-long confrontation against spiritual powers, against our own flawed human nature and against the swelling tide and influence of the world. It is a real conflict, a struggle in day to day living, against all that would dissuade us from pursuing God, and cause us to fail in our love and service to Him. Paul instructs Timothy to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ, enduring and tough against anything that would turn him from this first and primary calling. We too are to take note of this instruction, and make it ours. We must settle once and for all the priority of our lives, and ensure that it is and remains - Jesus and our faithful service unto Him. In days of old and particularly among the Romans, when a man became a soldier, it was not a casual undertaking or a part time profession. The army became his entire life, calling and vocation. He was not allowed to pursue any other occupation in life. A soldier could not also be a farmer, trader or business owner. His focus, interest and time could not be split or given to anything else, but being the best soldier he could be. Paul takes this fact, as an illustration to show us the reality of our calling and vocation to God. Like a good soldier for Christ, we cannot afford to become ‘entangled’ with other affairs of life. Successful Christian living is the result of making our obedience and service to Jesus, the priority of our lives. Paul is not saying we cannot have family, a job or own a house. He is saying that as true Christians, we should be soldiers unto the Lord, and therefore cannot become ‘entangled’ that is, ensnared, caught up and limited by these things, so that we can no longer effectively serve God, and fight the good fight of faith. Honesty on our part would declare how real and common this mistake is. It is easy to become so absorbed and engrosses in pursuing a ‘living’, providing for our families and generally taking care of the physical needs and necessities, that we lose sight of spiritual ones. When the cares of life have taken over in our priorities, and service in God’s army is a mere façade rather than a true profession, prayer ceases amidst the busyness of daily life, or at best becomes a recited repetition. Meditating on God’s Word is relegated to a quick read of words from ‘the book’, with little or no thought attached to them; and evangelism becomes something someone else is called to do. Attending church becomes optional, and secondary to other interests, responsibilities or our feelings at the time; while Christian fellowship with brethren, becomes a luxury we have no time for. Jesus warned that the cares of life, if allowed place, would be like thorns growing, choking and destroying our spiritual life. If we find ourselves in these conditions, we have clearly lost sight of who we are meant to be, and what we are enlisted by God to do. Paul’s reminder is most appropriate. We are soldiers called by God to serve Him, to fight as part of His army, in valiant combat for the faith. We are God’s family whose primary task in life, is to please God who has called us and chosen us to be His ambassadors in this world. Our life’s commitment and goal is to do God’s will, and fulfil the purposes He has set for us, and never allow this to become secondary to any other interest or responsibility!

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion