Beloved,
do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you,
which comes upon you for your testing,
as though some strange thing were happening to you
1 Peter 4:12
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Do not be surprised, brethren,
if the world hates you.
1 John 3:13
Do not be surprised. It just does not get any clearer than that. God has never hidden or tried to smooth over or water down the reality of what it means to follow Christ. Only deceivers do that…
I thought of writing this post after I read this from my Swindoll devo this morning:
If you determine to live according to biblical standards, be sure that your enemy is seeking to devour you. You will encounter the darts of the devil.
Someone put it this way: “Whoever desires to walk with God walks right into the crucible.” All who choose godliness live in a crucible. The tests will come. But all is not lost. Far from it!
Our great hope and assurance is that the One in us is greater than the one in the world.
We do not face such a formidable enemy that we cannot fight him or stand firm and secure in our decision. Our Lord is the God of hope. . . . His supply line never runs short. When His godly followers are in need, He is there to supply the necessary reinforcements.
As you do battle, God will provide for all of your needs.
~ Swindoll
We have been watching the The Bible series here in our home. The DVR’d version, of course, so we can skip through the commercials, and well because we rarely are home after church before 9pm. We have only seen the first two episodes and I still highly recommend watching it. It’s a great opportunity to give visual to the stories of the Bible and an open door for you to fill in the blanks of what is skipped in the mini-series. As God would have it the very night my children’s bedtime devotionals lined right up with what and who they had just watched in The Bible series, Saul, Samuel, David, and Samson.
God has a way of working His truth in us… It’s really absolutely beautiful.
As we watched the series, Bekah, my youngest, noticed the devil weaving in and out of the people. On our way to Co-op Monday morning she was sharing this info with her five year old cousin, Bo. The conversation went a little like this:
BEKAH: “Is the devil still roaming the earth?”
ME: “Yes he is.”
BO: “Nay-Nay, I’m scared of the devil!”
ME: “Bo, don’t be scared of the devil. Who is stronger than the devil?”
BO: “Uncle Patrick is stronger than the devil!”
ME: “Well, yes, but how is Uncle Patrick stronger than the devil? Who is always stronger than the devil?”
BO: “God!”
ME: “Yes! So we never have to be afraid of the devil, because God is bigger.”
Well, in case you didn’t know, I am “Nay-Nay” and “Uncle Patrick” is my Man. I absolutely love the fact that my nephew looks at him and sees this kind of strength in him. I pray that he always does because here is the truth, he is stronger than the devil. Not alone. But in and with and because of Christ his Savior. Jesus did not come to this earth to live and die and be raised for us to remain in ignorance and fear and bondage.
Fear is an unwanted friend that most of us wrestle with every day. Fear of failure. Fear of disappointment. Fear of pain. Fear of the unknown. Fear follows us everywhere we go, and we cling to it like a life preserver. Yet, fear is a topic God is very clear about in the Bible: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10, NIV).
We are commanded not to live in fear because we have everything we need in the person of Jesus Christ. That’s why He came as a baby. That’s why He died. That’s why He defeated death. So we wouldn’t have to be afraid.
~ Lindsay Williams
Now please know that I am not one of those who will ever walk around belittling the power of Satan and the demons of darkness. I am very much aware of their strength, their cunning, their deception, their oppression, their ability to break and bind any man… if they could bind Samson… trip up David… blind Samuel… and derange Saul… please do not think they could not do the same to you.
Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass,
you who are spiritual,
restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness;
each one looking to yourself,
so that you too will not be tempted.
Bear one another’s burdens,
and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
For if anyone thinks he is something
when he is nothing,
he deceives himself.
Galatians 6:1-3
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Take care, brethren,
that there not be in any one of you an evil,
unbelieving heart
that falls away from the living God.
Hebrews 3:12
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You therefore, beloved,
knowing this beforehand,
be on your guard
so that you are not carried away
by the error of unprincipled men
and fall from your own steadfastness,
but grow in the grace and knowledge
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory,
both now and to the day of eternity.
Amen.
2 Peter 3:17-18
But what we do know is that God has clearly told us to be aware of our enemy. He has clearly told us to not be surprised by any attack that comes against us. He has clearly told us to prepare for battle. He has clearly supplied us with everything that we will need to stand and fight. He has promised us victory if we will choose to fight in and with and for Him. He has clearly told us that greater is the One who is in us than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). He has clearly told us, do not fear. Fear is the exact opposite of faith. When fear is present, faith is fleeting.
Therefore we must battle all fear with faith.
And faith…
So faith comes from hearing,
and hearing by the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17
I do not know what giant stands before you today. I do not know what battle has been brought to your feet. I do not know what fear threatens to overtake you. I do not know what ordeal has been laid at your doorstep. I do not know what of this world is attacking you this very day at this very moment. I do not know what lies the enemy of your soul is whispering in your ear today even as you read this post.
I DO KNOW THAT CHRIST IS GREATER.
I DO KNOW HIS WORD WILL TRIUMPH.
I DO KNOW THAT HIS GLORY IS WORTH EVERY BATTLE.
I DO KNOW THAT YOU ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO FIGHT BECAUSE HE SAID YOU WERE.