Spiritual Warfare: Part 2 Know Your Enemy, Know Yourself!

In Part 1 of this series on Spiritual Warfare we established through the scriptures that, even though Jesus won the victory at the Cross, Christians are still at war (in fact in a constant battle) and that our enemy is Satan or the Devil – two of the enemy’s most common names.

In the two verses above the Apostle Paul is encouraging his young disciple Timothy to endure suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. When we become born again we also become soldiers of Christ and the constant battle we fight is against evil. Paul also says that when we become soldiers of Christ we must not become entangled in the affairs of life but that we must please the one who enlisted us - Jesus Christ!

Know your enemy as a soldier of Christs!

Now why is it important for Christians to know our enemy? And by know I don’t just mean to know his name but to really know everything about him! What is his purpose, his methods? How does he operate and conduct his warfare and how does it affect the lives of believers today?

This article is not written to give attention or glory to the devil, but to rather equip the Church to know how to live a victorious life in Christ Jesus by heeding the Word of God and following the example of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour in our daily struggles against the enemy's fiery darts and the constraints of a fallen world!

If we don’t know our enemy and recognise his ways and his strategies, we can easily be overcome by him!

1 Peter 5:8-9 (AMP)

8 Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable], knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. [You do not suffer alone.]

The above verses were written by the Apostle Peter and he, if nobody else, learnt the hard way about being aware of who our enemy is and just how he operates. Do you remember these words spoken to him by our Lord himself!

Luke 22:31-32 (AMP)

31 “Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has demanded permission to sift [all of] you like grain; 32 but I have prayed [especially] for you [Peter], that your faith [and confidence in Me] may not fail; and you, once you have turned back again [to Me], strengthen and support your brothers [in the faith].”

Matthew 16:22-23 (AMP)

22 Peter took Him aside [to speak to Him privately] and began to reprimand Him, saying, “May God forbid it! This will never happen to You.” 23 But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on things of God, but on things of man.”

So, here in the above verses we can see just how important it is for us to know our enemy and to know just how sneakily dangerous he can be. Even Peter, at this stage, who had been walking closely with the Lord for about three years, didn’t realise just what a battle he was in due to his ignorance of the enemy and his (Satan’s) method of operation!

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” - Quote by Sun Tzu: The Art of War

The above quote was made by an ancient, very successful Chinese general in roundabout the 6th Century BC, and although he was not Christian, this famous quote holds true of how we can fight our Christian battle!

We have already identified who our enemy is; it is the Devil or Satan to give him his two most popular names. Our enemy is not man, it is Satan who infiltrates man’s being by possession and the sewing of lies in our minds, the flesh – he infiltrates and corrupts our souls - our minds are seated in our souls!

Romans 8:6-8 (NIV)

6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

But, as Christians we need to really know our enemy, not to promote him or give him any glory, but to know how God expects us to fight him off and render him null and void in our lives and to ensure that our souls and minds are governed by the Holy Spirit!

Where does the evil that is in man come from?

I have often heard it said in Christian circles and by many Christian leaders that we shouldn’t look for the Devil or his demons behind every bush or tree. This may or may not be true literally and figuratively speaking, but it is definitely true spiritually as they (demonic forces) are certainly behind the evil that man is! Let’s examine this statement through the scriptures.

Genesis 6:5 (NLT)

5 The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6 So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.

Romans 3:23 (NIV)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

So, coming back to the original question at the head of this section: “Where does the evil that man is come from?”

To answer this question in a nutshell, it comes from the originator of sin, Satan, the 'being' that committed the first sin and then enticed Adam and Eve to sin in the Garden of Eden – the fall of man.

We see this in Isaiah 14:12-14.

Isaiah 14:12-14 (AMP)

12 “How you have fallen from heaven,

O star of the morning [light-bringer], son of the dawn!

You have been cut down to the ground,

You who have weakened the nations [king of Babylon]!

13 “But you said in your heart,

‘I will ascend to heaven;

I will raise my throne above the stars of God;

I will sit on the mount of assembly

In the remote parts of the north.

14 ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.’

Along the same vein, let’s have a look at what Paul tells us in Ephesians:

Ephesians 2:1-2 (NIV)

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

The two verses above speak volumes to us about just how active and influential Satan is in our lives when we are outside of Jesus Christ. Let’s put them into perspective:

Verse 1:
Outside of Christ we are dead in our sins, dead meaning in the spiritual sense of being separated from God and unless we repent and accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, our eternal destination is in hell!

Verse 2:
We (now as born-again Christians) used to be dead in our sins. It is every Christians active duty to ensure that they follow the way of the Spirit and not the way of the flesh! The ways of this world are of the devil and the ruler of the kingdom of the air is Satan.

Romans 8:6-8 (AMP)

6 Now the mind of the flesh is death [both now and forever—because it pursues sin]; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace [the spiritual well-being that comes from walking with God—both now and forever]; 7 the mind of the flesh [with its sinful pursuits] is actively hostile to God. It does not submit itself to God’s law, since it cannot, 8 and those who are in the flesh [living a life that caters to sinful appetites and impulses] cannot please God.

Why were we dead?

• Because we followed the ways of the world.

• We followed Satan – he is the spirit of the world

• We were disobedient (acting against the teaching of God in the Bible, in other words when we sin) and were thus allowing Satan to rule and influence our lives.

• God created man with a free will to choose between good and evil and according to Genesis 6:5 above, our every inclination is towards evil.

So, when man reaches the age of understanding we must make a choice. Do we choose good (Jesus) or do we choose evil (Satan)? If we chose Jesus, we receive everlasting life in heaven. If we chose Satan (the world), we receive everlasting death (separation from God) in hell where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 1341-:42 (NLT)

41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The choice man must make is to follow God or not to follow God and if we do not follow God then we are against Him and are followers of the originator of sin, Satan. With God there is no such thing as fence sitting, we are either for Him or against Him and if we are against Him then we are followers of Satan!

Luke 11:23 (NIV)

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Do born-again Christians still sin?

The answer to this question is quite simply yes, we do!

Matthew 18:15 (NIV)

"If a brother or sister sins, go and point out the fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over."

But what happens to us when we sin as Christians?

Do we cease being Christians and does God cast us away? Fortunately for us and because of what Jesus did for us on the cross and because he is our Lord and Saviour, God does not! Phew!

But…..very uncool stuff does happen to us! Let’s see just what!

Although our relationship with the Lord remains intact because of the Cross, our personal walk and fellowship with him is fractured. Let’s examine this through scripture in Psalm 51.

This is a Psalm of remorse and repentance written by King David after his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband was exposed by the prophet Nathan. The story of David and Bathsheba can be found in 2 Samuel 11 and 12. When Christians sin it is not pleasing to God even though we remain saved!

2 Samuel 11:27b

But the Lord was displeased with what David had done.

Accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour is only the beginning of our Christian walk. We still have to work out our salvation and bring the flesh under submission to the Spirit. We can only do this if we are truly in Christ Jesus and filled with the Spirit. Our souls (the realm of the flesh) need to be brought under submission to the Spirit in all we do!

Philippians 2:12-13 (AMP)

12 So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]. 13 For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.

Now, getting back to Psalm 51, let’s see just how David’s fellowship with the Lord was affected when he sinned.

A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

The Amplified Bible describes this Psalm like this: “A Contrite Sinner’s Prayer for Pardon.”

Psalm 51 (NIV)

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.

14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior,

and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

18 May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Verse 2, 7, 9, 10
Our sin leaves us feeling dirty, guilty and impure.

Verse 3
Sin is rebellion and is always on our mind – it haunts the soul.

Verse 8, 12
Sin robs us of the joy of our salvation.

Verse 11
Sin makes us feel that God will not allow us back into His presence.

Verse 15
Sin makes us feel that we cannot praise and worship God and that we are not worthy to be in His presence. It makes us feel that we have no way back.

Verse 16-19
Once we recognise, confess and repent from our sin, we find that our relationship with God is restored in fullness and we are able to continue our walk unhindered and unburdened.

When Christians sin, our relationship with and our worship of God is adversely affected and if we are not careful and remain unrepentant, we allow Satan to have the greater influence over our lives instead of the Holy Spirit and our sinful state will worsen! We need to cultivate an ever repentant heart so that we confess our sin quickly in order to restore our relationship with God to fulness as He intends it to be!

Know who you are and whose you are in Christ Jesus

When Christians sin, it is so important for us to recognise the fact and repent as soon as possible, the longer we wait before confessing our sin, the harder it is to come back and the easier it will become to get more and more enmeshed in sin.

This is when it is so important to know who we are and whose we are:

We are never disowned:

2 Timothy 2:13 (NIV)

if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

We are still His children and we will never be condemned:

John 5:24 (NIV)

I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

John 1:12 (KJV)

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Ephesians 1:5 (KJV)

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

God will forgive us many times, even for the same sin, when we confess our sins – God will not tell us to do anything He is not prepared to do Himself:

Matthew 18:21-22 (NLT)

21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”

22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!

James 5:16 (NIV)

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I pray in the name of Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit that you would help me to work out my salvation with fear and trembling that I may bring glory to the name of Jesus! Help me to be quick to repent when I slip and sin. Help me, I pray, to live my life in the Spirit and in submission to your will. Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

In Him only do we have the victory!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

Part 3 coming soon! What are the Enemy's Tactics?

Spiritual Warfare: Part 1 of 4 Are Christians Really at War?

This is part 1 in a series of 4 articles on Spiritual Warfare.

Are Christians really at war?

This is a question that many people, Christian and non-Christian alike, have probably asked many times over the centuries!

The answer is quite clearly yes, we are at war! So now let’s try and find out who with and why by examining the scriptures. The Word of Truth as revealed by God!

What does the Bible say?

Our first scripture reference comes from the book of Genesis:

Genesis 3:14-15 (NIV)

14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.

15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring[seed] and hers; he will crush[strike] your head, and you will strike his heel.”

So, in the above verses we see that because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve to the instruction (Word) of God and because of Satan’s leading them into sin through the serpent, God put enmity between man and Satan. This means war, Satan is out to destroy you – his way leads to spiritual death which is everlasting separation from God!

Revelation 12:17 (NIV)

Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.

At this point we now know who our enemy is, it is Satan, the ‘accuser of the brethren’. He was there in Eden (Ezekiel 28:13) right at the beginning at the fall of mankind.

Ezekiel 28:13 (NIV)

You were in Eden,

    the garden of God;

every precious stone adorned you:

    carnelian, chrysolite and emerald,

    topaz, onyx and jasper,

    lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl.

Your settings and mountings were made of gold;

    on the day you were created they were prepared.

The Bible also tells us that the whole world is under the control of Satan:

1 John 5:19 (NLT)

We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.

How did Satan get his name?

The word ‘Satan’ in the Old Testament is a transliteration (transliteration is the process of transferring a word from the alphabet of one language to another) of the Hebrew word ‘satan’ which means, the adversary, the accuser or opponent or one who resists.

The Hebrew word is a descriptor (adjective) which the Bible translators have turned into a noun – hence we get Satan.

Similarly, in the New Testament written mostly in Greek, the writers have transliterated the Hebrew word ‘satan’ as the Greek word ‘satanas’ which has the same meanings as the Hebrew word.

Another name for Satan, which we find in the New Testament but not in the Old Testament, is “the devil” from the Greek word “diabolos”, which in its Greek form is an adjective and means, slanderous, falsely accusing, opposing. Here again the Bible translators have turned the word into a noun as the Devil!

From this we get, in the New Testament, that Satan is an evil spirit being that opposes everything that God is and that he is the leader of a number of lesser evil spirits (fallen angels) that were thrown out of heaven with him.

Satan and his followers are thus described as at war with God as in the below scripture and as such they are at war with His creation.

Revelation 12:7-9 (NLT)

7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Other descriptive words used for Satan in the New Testament are:

Morning star, son of the dawn:

Isaiah 14:12 (NIV)

How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn!

You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!

The name “morning star” or “day star” when translated from Latin is Lucifer, a name by which Satan is also referred to before his fall.

The Anointed cherub:

Ezekiel 28:14

“You were the anointed cherub who covers and protects,

And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God;

You walked in the midst of the stones of fire [sparkling jewels].

Satan was not created evil, he was once a beautiful and anointed cherub of God, but he chose to be evil by his own free will! Sin has a way of turning us nasty and evil! 

Satan is evil with a capital 'D'!

The Devil:

Matthew 4:1 (NIV)

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

This is one of the more popular names for Satan and is only found in the New Testament. As mentioned above the devil means slanderer, a slanderer is someone who makes false statements about another – he lies, he is a liar and Jesus calls him the father of lies.

John 8:44 (NIV)

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

The Accuser:

Revelation 12:10 (NLT)

Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,

“It has come at last— salvation and power

and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ.

For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth—

the one who accuses them before our God day and night.

Satan is the accuser of all believers!

The Tempter:

Matthew 4:3 (NIV)

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Satan’s aim is to lead people away from God by tempting them into sin through lies and disobedience to God and His Word. The very same tactics he used successfully used against Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, he tried to use unsuccessfully against Jesus in the wilderness as Jesus was starting our in His ministry on Earth!.

The Thief, Killer and Destroyer:

John 10:10 (AMP)

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

Revelation 9:11 (NLT)

Their king is the angel from the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon—the Destroyer.

Satan is filled with hatred towards God and attempts to kill and destroy everything that God has created and done!

The Great Dragon:

Revelation 12:9 (NIV)

The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Appearing as a Roaring Lion:

1 Peter 5:8 (AMP)

Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.

The Devil is insatiable in his desire to destroy the pride of God’s creation – man!

The Ruler of the Kingdom of the Air and god of this Age and the god of this world:

Ephesians 2:1-2 (NIV)

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

John 14:30 (NLT)

I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me,

Matthew 4:8-9 (NIV)

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

The Devil's authority and power is over all the nations of the earth. He can influence men in such a way that they are not even aware that they are being influenced toward evil. He manipulates people's attitudes through lies and by moving our reasoning processes toward satisfaction of self. He gives disinformation and stirs up evil and disobedience within us towards the things of God.

But for those of us who are in Christ Jesus we have the victory over Satan - Jesus did it all at the Cross - His shed blood covers us (born again Christians) from all our sin.

The Father of Lies and a Murderer:

John 8:44 (NIV)

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

If you don’t belong to the Father in heaven, then you belong to the Father of lies – the Devil!

The Enemy and the Evil One:

Matthew 13:19 (NLT)

The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.

Matthew 13:39 (NLT)

The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.

Satan is pure evil and the enemy of all humanity, he even destroys those that serve him!

But Satan wasn’t created evil!

Satan or the Devil is a God-created spirit being (an angel) and, like us (mankind), he was given freedom by God to choose between good and evil. Let’s verify this through scripture!

Ezekiel 28:15 (NIV)

You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created

till wickedness was found in you.

The above scripture tells us quite clearly that Satan was not created evil but was blameless until he embraced evil by his own freewill choice.

Before his fall Satan was placed in a position of trust and authority as a guardian angel, firstly on God’s Holy Mountain and then, after God created earth, in the Garden of Eden. Let’s confirm this through scripture:

Ezekiel 28:13-14 (NIV)

13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you:

carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared.

14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you.

You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.

But what caused Satan’s fall? What was his sin?

Pride!

Ezekiel 28:17 (NLT)

Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty.

Your wisdom was corrupted by your love of splendor.

So I threw you to the ground and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings.

In Isaiah 14 we are told that Satan, because of his pride and consciousness of self, began to think that he was greater than God – and strangely enough, he still thinks the same to this very day!

Isaiah 14:12-14 (NIV)

12 How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn!

You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!

13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.

14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

So, in the above verses it is clear that pride had gotten hold of Satan big time:

I will ascend to the heavens…verse 13

I will raise my throne…verse 13

I will sit enthroned…verse 13

I will ascend above the clouds...verse 14

I will make myself like God…verse 14

What is often missed when reading these scriptures is the significance of Mount Zaphon - verse 13 above! This mountain was the focal place of worship of the Caananites, worshippers of the man-inspired false god and idol, Baal. In other words they were open Devil worshippers - the whole nation!

This mountain was set up by Satan in opposition to God’s Holy Mountain - Mt Zion. It was thus an abomination in the sight of God, and this is where Satan says he will enthrone himself higher than God. It is a place of evil!

Although Jesus gave us the victory at the Cross, we still have a battle to fight in our daily walk to work out our salvation! We still have to work out our salvation with fear and trembling and fight of the wiles of the evil one daily by pursuing spiritual maturity!

Philippians 2:12-13 (AMP)

12 So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]. 13 For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.

Prayer
Heavenly Father
I pray in the name of Jesus that you would keep my heart pure before you. Do not let pride in any form enter into me. I pray that by your Spirit, Lord that you would protect me from the evil one. Help me, Lord, to be a good and faithful servant. Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

Part 2 is here! Know your enemy, know yourself.

https://rayskilton.blogspot.com/2023/02/spiritual-warfare-part-2-know-your.html

How do we worship in the Spirit and in truth?

 How do we live life through the Spirit?

John 4:23-24 (AMP)
23 But a time is coming and is already here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit [from the heart, the inner self] and in truth; for the Father seeks such people to be His worshipers. 24 God is spirit [the Source of life, yet invisible to mankind], and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

In this article my aim is to highlight to you, my dear Readers, the importance of every born again Christian to live his/her life in or, if you prefer, through the Spirit. I will do this mainly by examining Romans 8 with you.

But before we do this though, I would like to highlight some of the scriptures about God that would confirm what the Apostle Paul teaches us in Romans 8 about the importance of living life in the Spirit.

Our first verses are the two above, John 4:23-24. In these two verses John tells us that God seeks people or true worshippers that will worship him in the Spirit and in truth. We will be unable to worship God in this way, the way he wants us to, unless we are living life in the Spirit!

Our next two verses come through the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians. In both the below verses we are told that the Lord is spirit. In verse 17 we are told that when we are in the Spirit, we have true freedom from the bondage of the world or the flesh and in verse 18 we are told that it is because of the Spirit we are progressively being transformed into the Lord’s image – His character and attributes! It stands to common sense reason that these things won’t be manifest in us and through us unless we are living life in the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (AMP)

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.

These are amazing scriptures that we need to cling to and pray into our lives continually as we walk the path that God has willed for us, and we continually try to put to death ‘self’ as we walk the kingdom road to maturity in Christ Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Now, what does Jesus say about how important it is for us, His Church, to live life in the Spirit?

Just before the Lord’s ascension into heaven He tells the disciples, us included, that He is not leaving us alone as orphans but that He will send the Holy Spirit to us to help us in everything!

In the below four verses, Jesus talking, He tells us that if we love Him, we must keep His commands, be obedient to Him and His teachings in the Bible and be conformed to His image! He then goes on to say He will ask the Father on our behalf to send the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, to help us just as He (the Holy Spirit) helped Jesus in His ministry. Those who do not know Jesus as Lord and Saviour do not know the Holy Spirit but we as believers do know Him, for He lives within us and in each one of us!

John 14:15-17 (NIV)

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

Matthew 3:16-17 (NIV) (brackets is the verse are mine)

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him (being filled with the Holy Spirit as a man). 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 4:1 (NIV)

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

The above verses confirm that Jesus when He walked the earth and ministered to us as a man, was filled with and led by the Holy Spirit! We know that Jesus overcame the temptation of Satan by quoting scripture. “It is written”, He did this in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Devil has no answer to the Holy Spirit and the truth of God’s Word, he is rendered ineffective when we are living life in the Spirit!

In the below four verses Jesus tells us that there is much more He has to say to us and to tell us, but He can only reveal these different things to us when the time is right, or they will be too much for us to bear. But when we are led by the Holy Spirit, He will guide us in all truth in the different stages of our Christian walk. When we are living life in this way, we will bring glory to the name of Jesus!

John 16:12-15 (NIV)

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

Right, now that we have laid a sure foundation for ourselves to live life in the Spirit as we follow the Lord’s example, let’s now examine Romans 8!

We will do this by eating and digesting the chapter in small chunks.

In Romans 8 the NIV version of the Bible gives the chapter the heading of, “Life Through the Spirit”, the NLT versions heads it, “Life in the Spirit” and the Amplified version heads it quite differently from the other two versions with, “Escape from Bondage”. All these headings are relevant to us as we study the chapter.

Ok, let’s start ‘chunking away’ at this chapter using the NIV bible.

Romans 8:1-4

1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

In verse 1 Paul assures us that when we are born again or saved as many say (when we are in Christ Jesus), our sins are forgiven and therefore we are set free from any condemnation. We suffer no guilt and no punishment for our sin because Jesus paid for our sins when he went to the Cross and died for our sin. Those that have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and have not repented from their sin suffer condemnation! On Judgement Day, the saved will go to heaven for eternity and the unsaved will go to hell for eternity where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!

In verse 2 we are told that God sent His Son to earth in the likeness of sinful man as a sin offering for all human beings. That means that because Jesus died for us the law of the Spirit who gives us life has set us free from sin and death. Here Paul is talking about spiritual death which is eternal separation from God and the life that the Spirit gives us when we are born again is eternal life in Christ Jesus and therefore eternal life with God!

In verse 3 Paul explains that the law (the law of Moses) was unable to save us because it is weakened by the flesh of man. Here the Greek word used for flesh is ‘sarx’ and refers to the sinful state and nature of human beings and is presented as a power that is always in opposition to the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit!

In verse 4 Paul tells us that because God sent Jesus to die for our sin (he was our sacrificial sin offering sent by God), He condemned sin (for those of us who are born again in Christ Jesus) in the flesh so the righteous requirement would be fully met in us through Christ Jesus. As born again Christians we no longer live according to the flesh (sin) but according to the Spirit as we belong to Jesus and are therefore children of God.

John 1:12 (AMP) (words between asterisks are mine)

But to as many as did receive and welcome Him *Jesus*, He *Jesus* gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name *the name of Jesus*

Romans 8:5-8 (NIV) – Those living in the flesh.

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

In the above four verses there is no mistaking what Paul is telling us! he gives us the distinctions between those with minds that live according to the flesh and those with minds that live according to the Spirit:

Romans 8:9-11

9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

In verse 9 above we learn that we as born again Christians are in the realm of the spirit (if we are Spirit filled – See Acts 2:3 below) then God lives in us because He has given us of His Spirit in Christ Jesus and if we do not have the Spirit of Christ we do not belong to Jesus!

The below verses in Acts 2 & 8 are perfect illustrations of the Church at the time being filled with the Holy Spirit. These are examples that we today, both as individual and corporate believers need to be emulating!

Acts 2:3 (AMP)

There appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were being distributed [among them], and they rested on each one of them [as each person received the Holy Spirit]. 4 And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].

Acts 8:14-17 (NIV)

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

In Romans 8 verse 10 Paul makes it abundantly clear that when we are born again, we have Christ in us and we have life by the Holy Spirit as it is the Spirit that gives life because we receive the righteousness of Christ when we are born again. And it is because we receive the righteousness of Christ that we are reconciled to God and God can look upon us as sinless – we receive Christ’s imputed righteousness.

And in verse 11 we are assured that because it was the Holy Spirit that resurrected the body of Christ, He will do the same for us as the Holy Spirit (The Spirit of Jesus) lives in us!

Romans 8:12-13 (NIV)

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

In the above two verses Paul tells us that as born again Christians we are obligated to live according to the Spirit and not the flesh because if we live according to the flesh we will die (eternal separation from God in Hell) but if we live according to the Spirit and overcome the flesh (the misdeeds of the body and soul) we will live forever in eternity with Christ in heaven!

Romans 8:14-17 (NIV)

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

In the above four verses we see that when we receive the Holy Spirit and are led by Him alone, we:

• Become children of God.

• We are no longer slaves to sin and become adopted sons and daughters of God.

• The Holy Spirit Himself testifies that we are God’s children – we can call Him Father.

• We become heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ and will receive what He has.

• We will share in Christ’s sufferings in order that we can share in His eternal glory!

John 16:33 (NIV)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Romans 8:18-21 (NIV)

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

In the verse 18 above Paul gives us a futuristic glimpse or hint of what is waiting for us when the Lord returns and he assures us that our present sufferings, whatever they may be, will pale into insignificance with the glory of Christ that will be revealed in us when Christ returns for His Church.

In verse 19 Paul tells us that the whole of creation is waiting eagerly for Christ’s Church to be revealed – the children of God! All creation suffers because of the ravages of sin at the fall of man in the Garden of Eden and the curse that God placed on it because of sin.

Genesis 3:14-19 (NIV)

14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,

“Cursed are you above all livestock

and all wild animals!

You will crawl on your belly

and you will eat dust

all the days of your life.

15 And I will put enmity

between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and hers;

he will crush your head,

and you will strike his heel.”

16 To the woman he said,

“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;

with painful labor you will give birth to children.

Your desire will be for your husband,

and he will rule over you.”

17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’

“Cursed is the ground because of you;

through painful toil you will eat food from it

all the days of your life.

18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,

and you will eat the plants of the field.

19 By the sweat of your brow

you will eat your food

until you return to the ground,

since from it you were taken;

for dust you are

and to dust you will return.”

In verses 20 and 21 we are told that the earth itself groans as if experiencing labour pains in anticipation and hope of the return of Jesus, it is waiting for the new heaven and new earth to be birthed when the Church is revealed at the second coming of Christ. All of ‘born again’ creation will be set free from sin and death. But unrepentant man, those whose names are not written in the book of life, will be cast into Hell with the devil and his fallen angels.

Revelation 21:1-4 (NIV)

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation 20:11-15 (NIV)

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Romans 8:22-25

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

In verse 22 and 23 above Paul says that the whole of creation has been groaning as if in birth pains and we are still doing so today as we are the firstfruits of the Spirit – those of as that are born again and have Jesus as our Lord and Saviour!

The Greek word for groan or groaning in these two verses is ‘sustenazó (soos-ten-ad'-zo)’ and means: to groan together, the earth for the new heaven and new earth and the Church as we as we wait for or adoption to sonship and our new, imperishable bodies!

In verses 24 and 25 we are reminded that our hope is in Christ Jesus and Him alone. It is through Him that we are saved and Him alone and we patiently wait in our hope of our own resurrection which is yet to come. But it will come when Jesus comes!

Romans 8:26-27

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

In the above two verses, Paul gives us a beautiful picture of how the Holy Spirit is working tirelessly to strengthen us in our we weaknesses. He guides us in our prayer lives especially when we do not know what to pray and like Jesus (Romans 8:34), he intercedes for us with the Father as we pray in the spirit in accordance with God’s will. It is only through the leading of the Holy Spirit that we His children and His Church can remain in God’s good, pleasing and perfect will for our lives!

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 8:28-30

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

In verse 28 – 30 above we are assured that God, for those that love Him, works for our good at all times and for all things and that we, those who are His, have been called for His good purpose even before He placed us in our mothers’ wombs. We were predestined to be His from times long ago. God knows us and because we have His calling on our lives he also justifies us in Christ Jesus and we too will be glorified with new, resurrected bodies! We are glorified in this way so that our Lord Jesus will be even more glorified!

Ephesians 1:3-14 (NIV)

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Romans 8:31-34

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

As Paul draws to the end of this chapter in the above four verses he issues us with these life changing realities for those of us who are born-again and living life in the Spirit:

• If God is for us – nobody can be against us – this includes the devil and his minions!

• God will graciously (through His grace alone) along with Jesus give us all things!

• Nobody will be able to bring any charge against us because God has chosen us who are in Christ Jesus and live according to the Spirit. It is God who justifies.

• Nobody can condemn us because we are His!

• Jesus himself is seated at God’s right hand interceding on our behalf. There is nothing more awesome than this!

Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[Psalm 44:22]

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

• And finally, dear Readers, in the last five verses (above) of the chapter we are reassured of God’s endless and abounding agapé love for us.

• Nothing can separate us from Christ’s love!

• In Christ Jesus we are more than conquerors in all things!

• And just as reinforcement for our souls – NOTHING will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

WHEN WE ARE LIVING LIFE IN THE SPIRIT, WE ARE SET FREE FROM ALL BONDAGE!

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father

In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to live my life in accordance with your will and always being led by your Holy Spirit. Lord, help me to live and walk on the path that you have willed for my life in every way and help me to serve you Lord by serving others in accordance with your Word in true love and humility, putting the needs of others before my own! Help me Lord to be worthy of my salvation in you! Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

What does being a true Christian servant look like?

 

Jesus Christ – Our Example

For every born again Christian, male and female alike, the example we follow in our daily walk in everything we do and say can only be Jesus. Jesus as God’s Son as well as Jesus the Word of God and Jesus through whom all things were made!

John 1:1-3, 14 (NIV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Keeping in line with the topic of this article which is, ‘What does being a true Christian servant look like?’, let us examine His example of true servanthood in order that we may follow Him correctly!

In Matthew 20:25-28 Jesus is talking to His twelve disciples. He tells them that they must not want to seek to become like the Gentiles that want power over others in order to ‘Lord over them’, but to become great in the Kingdom of God, they must become the servant of others in love and humility! He goes on tell them that the reason why He came was not to be served but to serve others.

Matthew 20:25-28 (NLT)

25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles have absolute power and lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them [tyrannizing them]. 26 It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your [willing and humble] slave;

28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

In Romans 8:29 below the Apostle Paul tells us that God knew us before we were born and that He predestined His children to be conformed to the image of Jesus and become the Lord’s brothers and sisters. Being ‘conformed to His image’ has nothing to do with our physical appearance, but being conformed to His character, His ways and His nature and when we do this, we take on the very attributes of God Himself!

Romans 8:29 (KJV)

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Another prime example of true servanthood that the Lord himself leaves us with to emulate is found in John 13. Let’s examine the three verses below!

John 13:3-5 (NLT)

3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

Here the Apostle John tells us that Jesus, knowing that the Father has given Him authority over everything, humbled himself by taking off His outer robe and taking a servant’s bowl and towel, wrapped the towel around his waist and began to wash His disciples’ feet.

The significance of this act is not the washing of feet itself but the fact that he made himself do the work of the lowliest servant, the foot washer, in any house or establishment. Foot washing in the Jewish tradition was done for any guest that came to one’s establishment as a sign of respect and welcome. This was done as a guest that had just arrived at your house, would have dirty feet, mucky feet from the street as, in those days people only wore open sandals and not the kind of shoes or boots that we wear today!

This was Jesus, the Messiah, showing His willingness to serve others out of His genuine brotherly love for them! This is the kind of servanthood that Jesus expects His Church to show to each other at all times to this very day and beyond into eternity!

Are we doing this, Church?

The Apostle Paul in Philippians 2 exhorts us to emulate the humility of Christ by adopting His attitude and mindset and being one in spirit and of one mind in the way in which we serve each other and build each other up and encourage each other in the Spirit!

Philippians 2:1-8 (NIV)

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Jesus laid down His life for us in true humility, “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death”! This was in obedience to the will of the Father!

Luke 22:41-44 (NIV)

41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Are we doing this, Church?

The Apostle Paul in Colossians 3 encourages us to do everything with all our heart as if we were doing it for the Lord Himself and not for other humans. In other words, do everything out of love as His true servant who is obedient to His will and not obedient to our own flesh! We are serving Jesus not men when we become servants to each other!

Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Are we doing this, Church?

In 1 Peter 4 the Apostle Peter says a similar thing to Paul when He encourages us to use the gifts that God freely gives us (the gifts of the Spirit) and our natural talents which also come from God, to serve others as His faithful servants.

1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

James 1:17 (AMP)

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].

Are we doing this Church?

In Galatians 5, Paul reminds us that in Christ Jesus we have freedom and then warns us not to use this freedom for our own selfish needs but to humbly serve our brothers and sisters in Christ in His agapé love – His Church!

Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Are we doing this, Church?

The Apostle John in John 13 recounts from his first hand experience of being with Jesus, the time when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. During this humble service the Lord tells the disciples (and now us as His born again Church) to follow His example of serving each other out of love and humility – He wasn’t just referring to washing each other’s feet but to serving each other in everything we do. Putting the needs of others before our own as it is spoken in Philippians 2 above!

John 13:14-17 (NIV)

14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Are we doing this, Church?

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus tells us about being the “servant of all”, Mark recounts how the Lord had heard the disciples arguing about which one of them was the greatest when they were on the road to Capernaum. When they arrived in Capernaum, Jesus calls the disciples to Himself and gently scolds them about this argument and makes it very clear to them that the one who wants to be known as great in the kingdom of God is the one who is willing to become the servant of all. This is a lesson we all need to embrace today!

Mark 9:33-35 (AMP)

33 They arrived at Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He asked them, “What were you discussing and arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet, because on the road they had discussed and debated with one another which one [of them] was the greatest. 35 Sitting down [to teach], He called the twelve [disciples] and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all [in importance] and a servant of all.”

Are we doing this, Church?

Now, dear Readers, in finishing this article let us hold fast to the teachings of God’s Word in order to become more and more Christlike as we walk our road to Christian maturity. The Apostle Paul gives us some very good advice in the scriptures below!

Romans 12:9-11 (NIV)

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

When we, the Church as brothers and sister in Christ, are serving each other in this way, then we are truly serving Jesus our Lord, our King and our Saviour!

Are we doing this, Church?

Speaking for myself, my dear readers, I definitely need to get better in serving others in my local fellowship! There is always room for improvement in me! We all fall short of the glory of God! Sometimes I’m good at it and sometimes I’m not! I need to be evermore trying to be like Jesus the Servant King! Always consistent in the serving of my brothers and sisters in Christ!

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to live my life in accordance with your will. Lord, help me to live and walk on the path that you have willed for my life always and in every way and help me to serve you Lord by serving others in accordance with your Word in true love and humility, putting the needs of others before my own! Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!