“This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare.” 1 Timothy 1:18
The battle with Satan and sin in not over! Satan is cranking up the “mystery of iniquity” to neutralize God’s people from fighting a true spiritual warfare, and at the same time to energize the forces of anti-christism.
We must not confuse the spiritual warfare with a political or social warfare. Each have their own battleground. Jesus is our example. He never took up a political warfare in His society. He rather waged His warfare by proclaiming the Word of God, which exposed error on all levels, including the social and political.
The church’s mission is to preach the Word of God without compromise. God’s Word is what does the work of God. Thus, we are to hold it forth to the best of our ability. To deny responsibility to God’s laws is to forfeit the power and benefits of God’s authority in our behalf.
The Apostle Paul’s final instructions for spiritual warfare to the Ephesian elders, Acts 20:27-31, was that they would encounter the enemies to the cause of Christ on two major fronts: 1) infiltrators, who would creep in unawares, v29, and 2) home grown problems, v30. The charge was to combat any and all of Satan’s work by taking heed to feed the church of God with the whole counsel of God.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12. Just as God’s Word manifests itself in a believer’s obedient response, it will also root out and manifest those whose hearts are not right with God — “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” Titus 1:15
When the disciples questioned the “negative” impact that Christ’s preaching had on the Pharisees, “But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” Matthew 15:13. Anything that God’s Word roots out, is God rooting it out, and necessarily so. So be it! God’s Word feeds, sustains and satisfies believers, but it upsets the apple cart of those who are not building on the foundation (Christ) by faith.
“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgressions…” Isaiah 58:1. This should be seen as that which uprights God’s people, but also that which uproots that which seeks to devour us. Preach the Word! It is our hope and our defense!
SHARING
