Ephesians 4:11-17 – “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ —  16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”  NKJV

I suggest that you read the first ten verses of this Chapter before launching very deeply into this consideration.  I’m not sure what many think of when they hear the word “church” or “ministry.”  Additionally, I am concerned after years of discussion with preachers and parishioners about what I perceive as “A” if not “THE” Problem in the Church today. 

The more I study the Bible the more I am convinced that God’s plan and purpose were for us to have and be a “Covenant Community.”  It is not a simple issue but one that I believe is very complex but a complete understanding is not only possible but probably if we open-heartedly study the New Testament Church and allow the Holy Spirit to guide our steps in discovery. 

I am not trying to be prophetic in what I’m going to say, I’ve had some tell me that it is, so you decide.  I have little interest in titles or accolades only truth and reaching the objective God has placed before us.  It is my conviction that these are times for “reevaluation” and “reexamination” of what we believe and why we do what we do as the Body of Christ.  I hope that in so doing we will discover the truth and be able to implement God’s plan for the Church and become His Covenant Community in our communities. 

I am convinced that unless and until the local expression of the Church becomes a “Covenant Family”, it can never become a “Covenant Community” and impact its spiritual environment.  In that light, until and unless we become a Covenant Family that grows into a Covenant Community we will never fulfill the desire of God to become the Church that Jesus came to build. An organism which operates in His power and love transforming entire communities with the Gospel of Christ. 

If you follow what I am advancing you will understand that I believe the Bible teaches that for us to be the Church Triumphant we must become the Church of Covenant and Commitment.  Before someone misunderstand let me emphatically declare, “Jesus WILL have a church in this present world that WILL pull down strongholds.”  The only question is not if it will be but will we be a part of it?

If we are going to become what God has designed and desired us to be in our present world, I am convinced there must be some major changes. Changes in our understanding of what the Church really is. Changes in our individual involvement in that functioning organism, THE BODY OF CHRIST.  It seems that we have misunderstood the role of the “master craftsmen” whose assignment is to place the “living stones” into their particular and proper place according to the architect’s plans. Who is the architect?  The Lord Jesus Christ! 

Most churches, local, do not have a “clear vision” of their purpose and as a result, often have people pulling in different directions pursuing their individual visions rather than inserting their vision into the Vision of the Whole.  If we are to become a “Covenant Family” which grows into a “Covenant Community” there must be COMMITMENT not only to God but to the purpose of the Family and Community spiritual.  It can never be a casual association but one deeply rooted in commitment.  Do we have that in most local congregations?  You tell me.

Much of the church, including me, believe that we are living in the Last Days. Unfortunately many of those focus on the negative of those times rather than seeing the positive.  The Bible does speak of a time when men’s hearts would fail them for fear of what they saw coming on the earth.  We know that the Bible speaks of the love of many growing cold and even falling away.  YET, that same Bible speaks of a Great Harvest and Ingathering of souls into the kingdom!  [Examine Matthew 13:17-20; 29.] 

I have long contended that a successful church is not identified simply numerically but has other definitive signs of success.  We are told in Vv. 13-16 of our text that the Church Jesus is building will come to FULL STATURE in Christ.  In Ephesians 5:25-27, we discover a church that is without SPOT or WRINKLE and in Romans 16:20 we read that the Church is a SHARP THRESHING INSTRUMENT which moves mightily against the forces of darkness.  I don’t know about you but that excites me!

There is so much I wish to say or convey but must use restraint in a daily devotional, so I will pause here and wait until next time to take another step into the discovery of God’s Covenant Community and the Local Church.

God bless you richly is my prayer and desire!

Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  NKJV

I had a minister tell me that he believed in God and Jesus but could not accept the account of Genesis 1:1 as the explanation of the universe’s existence.  I cannot fathom how one can discount the BEGINNING and hope to attain the END spoken of in Scripture.  The Bible declares, and I believe, that GOD CREATED everything.  If I disbelieve the first declaration of the Bible how can I believe the remaining proclamations?  If I lose faith at the outset, at what point will my faith be solidified and grounded?

Creationism is not an inconsequential topic in the Word of God.  It is found in numerous passages, stated in varying ways but the clear message is GOD is the Creator of all that is.  That requires faith to believe but so do the theories of evolution and its variations.  In the Book of Genesis, we find that God not only created the heavens and the earth but all that lives on the earth including man.  I suggest that you read (Psalm 90:2; 95:5; Isaiah 42:5; 45:18; John 1:1-3; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:16).  In this world there is design and any rational mind will recognize that design implies a designer.

Most credit Charles Darwin with originating the thought or theory of evolution, but if you examine historical records you will realize that this thought existed long before Darwin’s work in 1859, “The Origin of the Species.”  Some of the proponents of theories contrary to the Genesis account were:

• Anaximander (610-546 BC) introduced the theory of “spontaneous generation.”
• Diogenes (412-323 BC), advanced the idea of primordial slime.
• Empedocles (495-455 BC), introduced the theory of survival of the fittest and natural selection.
• Democritus (460-370 BC), taught the mutability and adaptation of the species.
• Lucretius (99-55 BC), believed that all life sprang from mother earth rather than a specific deity.

After the birth of Christ, others advanced the theories to which Charles Darwin ascribed including Bruno, Leibnitz, and Buffon who taught that man ascended from the apes.  Then you have Swedenborg’s nebular hypothesis which was an early “big bang” theory and Kant.  Man has long sought to discount and remove God from the equation.  Much of that stemmed from a desire to remove the moral code of the Bible as a guide for life but some of it was simply disillusionment and scientific error.

The Founding Fathers were well acquainted with the various theories long before Darwin brought them together in his book where they gained incredible acceptance.  Our Founding Fathers spoke openly about God and Creation and that is evident in the Constitution as well as in their various writings on matters biblical. 

Thomas Paine, probably the most antireligious of the Founders addressed leaders in France in 1798 and denounced their educational system for teaching students that man was the result of prehistoric cosmic accidents and had developed from some other species. 

He said, “It has been the error of schools to teach astronomy and all the other sciences and subjects of natural philosophy as accomplishments only, whereas they should be taught theologically, or with reference to the Being who is the Author of them, for all the principles of science are of Divine origin.  Man cannot make, or invent, or contrive principles; he can only discover them; and he ought to look through the discoveries to the Author.  When we examine an extraordinary piece of machinery, an astonishing pile of architecture, a well-executed statue, or a highly finished painting…our ideas are naturally to think of the extensive genius and talent of the artist.  When we study the elements of geometry, we think of Euclid. When we speak of gravitation, we think of Newton.  How, then, is it that when we study the works of God in creation, we stop short and do not think of God?… The evil that has resulted from the error of the schools in teaching natural philosophy as an accomplishment only has been that of generating in the pupils a species of atheism.  Instead of looking through the works of creation to the Creator Himself, they stop short and employ the knowledge they acquire to create doubts of His existence… But infidelity, by ascribing every phenomenon to properties of matter, conceives a system for which it cannot account and yet it pretends to demonstration.”  WOW!  What a statement!

Daniel Webster addressed the issue of God as the First Cause of all things and Thomas Jefferson eloquently declared, “The movements of the heavenly bodies, so exactly held in their course by the balance of centrifugal and centripetal forces; the structure of the earth itself with its distributions of lands, waters, and atmosphere; animal and vegetable bodies examined in all their minutest particles; insects – mere atoms of life – yet as perfectly organized as man or mammoth; the mineral substances, their generation and uses; it is impossible, I say, for the human mind not to believe that there is in all this design, cause, and effect upon an Ultimate Cause – a Fabricator of all things, from matter and motion – their Preserver and Regulator while permitted to exist in their present forms – and their Regenerator into new and other forms.”  

Many other of the Founders echoed the same beliefs in the Divine as Creator.  Ecclesiastes 1:9 informs us that there is nothing new under the sun, and that is absolutely true.  John Quincy Adams summed it up saying, “It is so obvious to every reasonable being that he did not make himself, and the world which he inhabits could as little make itself, that the moment we begin to exercise the power of reflection, it seems impossible to escape the conviction that there is a Creator.”  AMEN!

I believe the Bible account and through the study of science and the limitations God put on the interaction of species as well as the intricacies of the human body and much more, I cannot believe there is no God.  Rather, I BELIEVE IN GOD and HE IS CREATOR!

God bless you as you embark on today’s journey!

Psalm 62:9-10 – “Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed on the scales, They are altogether lighter than vapor. 10 Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them.”  NKJV

In our present political climate in America, I hear a lot about which candidate will lead us forth into better days and this scripture has been coming to mind each time.  I am very involved in politics and sounding the alarm about the condition of our nation and the world, however, I am 100% convinced that if we focus on the political we will miss the mark.  No man or woman is going to provide that which we need other than by the guidance of the Spirit of God. 

I laughed the other day when I read this passage. I read it wrongly and the thought in my mind was that men were giving God the vapors. Sometimes I feel that may be accurate in many respects but is not what this scripture says.  Rather, the Psalmist was warning us that whether men of low or high socioeconomic status they were nothing more than a vapor and could not be relied on.  He was also warning us that shrewd business dealings or political wrangling would amount to less than nothing and produce no long-term benefit.  In the previous verses, the Psalmist called for everyone to TRUST God AT ALL TIMES and continually pour our hearts out to Him. 

In verses 11-12, the Psalmist identifies the true source of Power and Mercy.  Our hope is in God and if we trust the arm of flesh in any manner we will find ourselves trusting vanishing vapors.  If you recall when James was warning against boasting about our human plans he said in James 4:14, “…you do not know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”  

Also, the parable Jesus gave regarding the rich man who had an abundance and vocalized his elaborate plans for expansion.  Jesus said in Luke 12:20, “…Fool!  This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?”  He followed that up by reminding us of the TRUE SOURCE of our supply – GOD!

Tragically, too often, we tend to trust our abilities, our financial plans, or our political allegiances and alliances.  If we depend on what we can do we will fail but if we turn our hearts to God and what He can do we will find the pathway to victory opening wide.  So, we must keep our focus rightly aligned and always remember that whether men of high or low status they are not our solution or hope.  God is our only true source.

God bless you and may He lead you forth into His victory in this hour. 

Matthew 15:7-9 – “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'”  NKJV

The Pharisees accosted Jesus over the issue of ceremonial washing of the hands before eating.  The Pharisees religiously adhered to the Mosaic Law and the addendums added to that law by the religious leaders.  They kept not only the Law but erected fences to keep people from getting close enough to the law to break it.  

They Followed the Commandments of Men not directives of God.  Jesus, as was his manner, did not let that slip but turned the tables on them pointing out the hypocrisy of following the Commandment of Men in contrast to the Law of God.  He addressed numerous things and then quoted Isaiah, as is seen in our text which addressed the critical issue, the heart, and the mouth.

We have all seen situations where people proclaim something, but their lives negate their words.  It is one thing to proclaim or claim something and quite another to verify that proclamation through actions.  Remember Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23 that not everyone who called Him Lord would enter heaven.  He identified the problem was their lives did not back up their proclamations. 

In 1 John 2:9 we are warned that one can say they are a Christian but if their heart is filled with hate their lives and condition of heart negate their declaration.  In James 1:26 we are told that if any person considers themselves to be religious but are unable to control their tongue they are living in deception.  Titus 1:16 informs us that it is possible to claim to know God but live in such a manner as to deny Him.  That is what Jesus was speaking of where people make a claim, but their words are negated by their lives.  Following the Commandments of Men produces a false sense of righteousness because it allows one to “keep a list” and compare ourselves with others and have a false sense of security and righteousness.

Later in Jesus’ dealing with the Pharisees and teaching those following Him, said in verse 10, “…Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”  Couple that with His declaration in Matthew 12:34, “Brood of vipers!  How can you being evil, speak good things?  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”  Then in the next verse, He said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.”  Words are important, but they must be HEART WORDS and LIFE WORDS not just lip service words.

We can go through the motions and make all the proclamations we desire but if it is not from the heart and directed by the Spirit of God it will be nothing more than tinkling symbols and sounding brass or as we would say in East Texas, “rain on a tin barn.”  Noise and nothing more!  I have no desire to pretend anything in life and especially not in matters of faith.  I want to be genuine, having a genuine relationship with the LORD, and manifest Him to the world in my words, my walk, and my warfare.  Jesus said in John 4 that God’s desire and demand is for men and women to worship Him “in spirit and truth.” 

The Pharisees were challenged by the LORD on more than one occasion for their “teaching the commandments of men and their placing demands on people that they themselves were not willing to do.”  Jesus called the doctrine and philosophy of the Pharisees as “leaven” and identified that it would permeate good doctrine and pollute or pervert it making it other than the directive of God.

We need to guard against following the commandments of men and strive to find the Heart and Precepts of God in all things and at all times.  Purity of heart will reject corruption and the very appearance of evil. Purity of heart will place no burdens on men that God has not place.  Purity of heart will exhibit love and longsuffering demonstrating patience and forgiveness.  We should all be careful as to what we say and seeking to ensure that our words match our lives.

God bless you as you go through this day in Jesus!

Proverbs 26:11 – “Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his foolishness.”

How many times have you said or heard someone say, “I’m trying to quit…”  That may be applied to a myriad of things in life and we have all said, thought, or heard that declaration.  I understand the difficulty a person has stopping a habit or practice long formed and how painful the withdrawals can be. 

I know a man that has said for at least 40 years, “I’m trying to quit smoking.”  He has never succeeded but he is still trying and one day another friend said, “Quit trying to quit and quit!”  I have heard people say regarding gossip, “I’m trying to quit.”  Some are trying to quit eating too many sweets, being couch potatoes, being critical, being negative, or a host of other things they are trying to quit. 

Clovis G. Chappell said, “It is better to make a thousand failures than to be too cowardly to ever undertake anything.”  That is true and I have learned that failure is not the opposite of success, it is, in a very real way, part of it.  A failure can be turned into a triumph and gain if we learn from our mistakes and realize that in many things in life, WE CANNOT but HE CAN! 

The Psalmist made an incredible statement in Psalm 119:71, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.”  That is foreign to the mentality and philosophy of some in the world and the church that affliction or difficulty can be good.  It is not good being in an affliction but good in what it produces or the result in our lives as we LEARN!  In a sense that is embodied in Romans 8:28.  As we learn that ALL THINGS are working together for good and rather than looking at each event in life look to the finished product, the goal, the plan, and purpose of God and rejoice in ALL THINGS and at ALL TIMES!

Back to our topic of Quitting trying to quit and quitting.  James 4:7 did not say, “Ask me to resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  It says, “…submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  The next verse says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”  That is you acting not just praying for something to happen. 

When I hear, “I’m trying to quit” I have two thoughts and/or emotions that occur almost simultaneously in my head.  First, I have a sense of empathy and compassion for the plight they are enduring from that bondage whatever it might be.  Second, I think, “You are conditioning yourself for failure by trying to…”  If I make my objective to TRY TO I am not focusing on the objective of DOING or ACHIEVING that objective and failure is likely if not assured.  There comes a time when we need to RESIST and once we do I believe God will come to our aid and strengthen us. 

James 3 speaks of the tongue and putting a bridle on it so we can control it.  Proverbs 18:21 speaks of “life and death” are in the power of the tongue.  We read in the Bible about blessings and cursing not being able to come from the same stream and I contend that setting our goal to “try to” is becoming that of which James 1:8 speaks, “double-minded.”  

If the Bible is true, and it is, then the declaration and promise of Philippians 4:13 is an awaiting reality for each of us.  It says, “I can (not maybe I can) do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  [Emphasis and inclusion mine].  Therefore, my declaration is “I have quit trying to quit and am quitting.” 

I am setting aside, as Hebrews 12:1 declares, “…every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares me…”  I am casting off every unnecessary encumbrance and weight that has entangled itself around my life and by an act of will and faith I am looking to the author and finisher of my faith to help me be that fully matured, complete person He desires me to be.  I make a faith choice to “Quit trying to quit and quit!”  Then, by quitting I am committing to in a new and deeper way to Him whom I live and move and have my being. 

My encouragement is to tell you that QUITTING whatever you deem necessary to quit is possible and can be a realized reality if we will “Quit trying to quit and quit.”  My prayer for each one is that the LORD will grant us the grace to develop the courage, make the commitment, and persevere until victory becomes a reality in whatever we are trying to quit that is hindering us.

God bless you as you go through this day!

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 – “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  NKJV

Picking up where we left off we need to anchor in our hearts and minds the truth of God concerning the enemy of our souls, the devil.

• We Need to Become Those Who Believe and Understand The Devil Has Been Defeated.

He Was Defeated at the Cross.

This is an accomplished fact and it is to be said PAST TENSE! He has been defeated!  HAS BEEN and STILL IS! If we could somehow grasp that reality and apply it in our lives it would be powerful. There can be no permanent victory UNTIL we see and appropriate the truth that the devil was defeated at Calvary.  Remember Hebrews 2:14, “That through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, even the devil.”  The word “destroy” in the Greek is [katargeo] which means to “make of none effect.”

He Is Defeated Today.

Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  It is a present reality and truth that Jesus has present dominion over the devil and has delegated His authority to us, therefore, we have dominion over the devil today.  That is our heritage!

He Is Defeated Forever.

What more do we need to know? We have Jesus, His full victory, and His commission! WHY NOT NOW? Why not be who He says we are and do what He says we can do. We are not fighting the devil to win a war, that war is already won!

• We, Believers, Can Overcome Satan in our Daily Lives Through Jesus.

I have been told by coaches through the years that the best offense is a good defense, and while that is true and not true, it is applicable here.  We need to establish a good defense and learn to “give no place” to the devil in anything.  We need to fill our lives so full of God there is no room for anything the devil offers. 

We need to become “sober and watchful” as 1 Peter 5:8 charges and instructs.  We have to actively RESIST the devil and when we do, in Jesus’ name, he flees.  Also, we must become those who can and do enforce the Victory of Calvary walking in the knowledge of the Finished Work of Jesus.  We also need to learn to exert our Spiritual Authority and take Luke 4:18 to heart and incorporate it into our daily walk.

We can and should have Victory Now in our Present Daily Lives.  We have the Name of Jesus and the Blood of Jesus as our weapons and authority.  The Name of Jesus empowers us and the Blood of Jesus cleanses and protects us.  Jesus said He came that we could have LIFE and that life would be ABUNDANT!

Refuse to allow the devil to rob you of your Present Victory and become one who Enforces the Victory of Calvary through the Name and Blood of Jesus.

God bless you as you go through this day in His Strength and Grace!

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 – “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  NKJV

What are some things vital for us to realize and implement in our lives and spiritual walk if we are to enjoy Present Victory and God’s Abundant Life in our Daily Lives?

• We Must Discern Satan’s Tactics…

Paul advised, “We are not ignorant of the devil’s devices…”  As we study the Bible we find that possibly the most fitting example of dealing with the devil is the man Job.  There is a pattern that is worthy of note.

1. The devil first accuses Job to God.

That is one of his primary tactics and he is called the “accuser of the brethren” for a reason.  He implied that Job was simply a “Saint for Profit” and serving God for what was in it for Job.  Notice Job 1:9, 11, the devil asked God, “Do you think he (Job) serves you for nothing?  Touch him and what he has and he will curse you to your face.”

• Then the devil attacks Job with God’s permission.

It is always accusation then attack and God allowed the devil to touch Job’s possessions, family, and his health, and finally, it got so bad Job’s wife turned on him saying, “Give up Job, curse God and die…”  I have learned that the devil does not always launch a frontal assault but will nip at the heels of his target.  If he cannot defeat you with an all-out frontal assault he will endeavor to take from you something you love and treasure.

• Then the devil harassed Job.

There are no non-aggression pacts to be made with the devil. He is merciless and has no intention of letting up until he is forced to stop.  He even used Job’s friends which Job called “Physicians of no value.”

Fortunately, God allowed this only for a time and restored Job giving him a double portion in the end.  But, Job would never have reached that point had he followed the counsel of his wife or his friends.  He had to resist the devil and stand in his faith and walk in righteousness.  The devil is a deceiver, perverter, imitator, and totally lawless.  He will use any form of subversion, diversion, or perversion to divide distract, depress, and ultimately destroy.

We find that expressed in John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”  1 Peter 5:8 directs us to, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour.”  Then 1 John 5:4 brings us a powerful promise, “This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.”  Let me give you something that hopefully will be of great encouragement.  If the devil is attacking you now it is sure evidence that he does not have control over you and you pose a threat to him, so REJOICE!  It is as we learn the devices and tactics of the devil we can ENFORCE the Victory Jesus Won on the Cross and relegate the defeated devil to a state of defeat.

I truly want to present a few more thoughts on this matter so I will again pause and pick up in the next devotional addressing the Defeated Foe and our response to the devil.

So, until next time, God bless you and keep you is my prayer!

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 – “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  NKJV

If there is ever a time a believer lives in any condition less than Full Spiritual Victory, that is one time too many.  That is not the plan of God even in times of struggle and difficulty there is Victory to be achieved, experienced, and manifested.  It is God’s desire for us to be Victorious and enjoy the inheritance we have as heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.  I am totally convinced we can see the path to that victory in the New Testament Church and as we near the time of the Second Coming we will see two trends manifested in an unmistakable fashion.

• There Will Be Revival in the Church – [Acts 2:17].

The Bible speaks of the former rain of Pentecost being followed by the latter rain of Harvest.  James 5:7, “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.”  In today’s troubled world more and more believers are engaged in prayer for revival and I am convinced God never lays a burden on people to pray for something He does not desire to bring to pass.  I sense something moving in the air, spiritually, and know that with the shaking that is coming and now is there is going to be the going in the mulberry bush and God is going to move mightily in our present world.

• There Will Be Religious Apostasy in the Church – [1 Timothy 4:1].

The devil is crafty and he disguises himself as an angel of light and messenger of truth.  When people depart from the faith they have no alternative but to give heed to “seducing spirits and receive doctrines of devils.”  That is the natural result and sadly, it is happening today. 

I have read that there are over 40 million verified witches in America and possibly another 40 million who dabble in the black arts.  The devil has made inroads in desensitizing the church to his tactic and many no longer recognize or discern the spirits at work even in our churches.  The devil is a “defeated foe” we are told in the Bible but not one who has given up.  The unfortunate reality is although he is defeated, many do not seem to know that or understand how to enforce the victory of Jesus at the Cross.

We are reminded in 1 John 3:8, “For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”  In James 4:7, we read, “Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  I am encouraged that even amid apparent and revealed apostasy there are those in churches across the land who have:

1. Discovered there is a real spiritual war transpiring.
2. Decided they are on the Lord’s side.
3. Declared that Jesus has won the victory.
4. Determined they will walk daily from victory to victory.

It is the time that we, believers, renew our commitment and confidence in the Blood of Jesus and the Name of our Lord and begin to enforce the Victory Jesus won in our present world against our present spiritual foe, the devil.

Let me remind you that “Victory implies Struggle.”  Where there is no battle there can be no victory.  We have an enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy but Jesus has come so that we could have ABUNDANT LIFE!  We have a biblical, legal mandate and authority over the power of the devil and as we have seen on many fronts, ignoring or denying the existence of something does not make it disappear. 

The devil loves to be ignored and I am sure he is delighted when churches and believers deny his existence or influence.  If there is a lion in the street the only way to defeat that lion is to FACE HIM!  Victory is available to us but to obtain that victory we must believe it is possible and learn how to enforce Christ’s Victory on the Cross.

I will pause here and pick up next time to discuss HOW we can have Victory Now in Jesus manifested in our Daily Lives!   

God bless you as you go through this day in Him!