Proverbs 24:16 The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.
Luke 4:13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
What an ominous thought. Every temptation and spiritual battle I have prevailed over in my life will most likely be fought again. Satan will wait for a better opportunity to come back and tempt you into sin. He will wait for a time of weakness, depression, lack, or a sense of loss to deceive you and try and destroy your life. You might say, “I thought I had that old bad habit beat?” You did defeat it. However, it’s back to challenge you again during this opportune time.
We all feel awful when we fall in an area of sin we once thought we had conquered. What happened? I thought I was over this sinful craving or this damnable desire. Didn’t Jesus deliver me from the bondage I once lived in? Jesus did deliver us from that old mess. But, an opportune time has arrived and the tempter is back – so we will have to use our God-given armour to fight the good fight of faith.
The advantage we have is that we are fighting from a position of righteousness. Anything of infinite worth is worth fighting for. God’s eternal gift to us is precious because within that gift is the resolve to get up and fight again. Prov. 24:16a The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.
Those who do not have a saviour to fight alongside them will have to fight the battles of life in their strength. This is why there are so many casualties in the world. We, who are in Christ, have a champion Lord who took down the authority that Satan once had over mankind. By faith, we have our redeemer and we give ourselves wholly to the blessings He has instilled within us.
Matt. 13:46 When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it. How blessed we are to have found our pearl of great price and we give our hearts to the value of this great treasure. We can get back up and fight the good fight because we have the priceless pearl (our saviour) working within us.
We may have been caught off guard and fallen to a devious trick of the enemy, but God has our back. Isa. 52:12 You will not leave in a hurry, running for your lives. For the LORD will go ahead of you; yes, the God of Israel will protect you from behind. While the Lord is watching our back, we can get up. With the word of the Lord, we can take back what the enemy has stolen from us. The devil may have stolen our dignity, value, enthusiasm, and self-respect but with God and a repentant heart, we can take it all back in Christ. We can rise above the accusations of the sin and shout, “Through Christ and the cross, I am forgiven!”
We never have to stay down and live defeated. Psalm 37:23 A person’s steps are established by the LORD, and he takes pleasure in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. We can get up and fight again. Our steps in Christ have been ordained to rise up and keep reaching for the eternal prize we have in our Lord.
Satan might say, “I will be coming back to try and destroy you at an opportune time.” But we can say, “Through Christ, I’m coming back also. I’m coming back stronger, mightier, and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.” In Christ, we have our victory, and no one or anything can take it from us. Amen!
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Both – experience and hearsay. I have had some battles and have prayed with people who are fighting old devils.
Thank God the back of the book says “We won” blessings bro.
Thanks Norm..apparently you have been reading my mail. Are you writing out of experience or hearsay?
Great article, Norm!
Good word!
All have the strength and when we don’t there is help.