We've Bought the Lie06/12/2007

Sadly the following is a correct commentary on Christians today. This is from John Eldridge's Waking the Dead:

After his resurrection, Jesus sends us all out to do what he did: "As the Father has sent me, so I send you" (John 20:21 NRSV). And he gives us his authority to do it: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go" (Matt. 28:18–19). Why else would he have given us his authority if we weren't supposed to use it? The attitude of so many Christians today is anything but fierce. We're passive, acquiescent. We're acting as if the battle is over, as if the wolf and the lamb are now fast friends. Good grief—we're beating swords into plowshares as the armies of the Evil One descend upon us. We've bought the lie of the Religious Spirit, which says, "You don't need to fight the Enemy. Let Jesus do that." It's nonsense. It's unbiblical. It's like a private in Vietnam saying, "My commander will do all the fighting for me; I don't even need to fire my weapon." We are commanded to "resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). We are told, "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him" (1 Peter 5:8–9); "Fight the good fight" (1 Tim. 1:18); "Rescue those being led away to death" (Prov. 24:11). Seriously, just this morning a man said to me, "We don't need to fight the Enemy. Jesus has won." Yes, Jesus has won the victory over Satan and his kingdom. However, the battle is not over. Look at 1 Corinthians 15:24–25: "Then the end will come, when he [Jesus] hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet." After he has destroyed the rest of the Enemy's works. Until then, he must reign by bringing his enemies under his feet. Jesus is still at war, and he calls us to join him. ( Waking the Dead , 167–68)

Are you spiritually blind to the battle that rages around you? Are you aware of the enemy's schemes to steal, kill, and destroy you? He is out working against you at this very moment and he hates you with all he is. He will do whatever he can to destroy your lives and your witness to others about the goodness of the Lord. Don't let him creep in. He'll come in a backdoor when you lease suspect it and blindside you. He doesn't care the damage it causes you. He has no compassion for your pain, he will use it against you however he can. Be aware. We are indeed in a battle. Wake up. Arise o Sleeper! Stand in the authority Christ has given you and defeat the enemy's attacks against you. You are in a battle. It rages around you and against you and yet you sleep. Wake up! Arise O Sleeper! ARISE!