The Battle

" No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." 2Timothy 2:4

Let me just talk freely a bit as I've not posted for several weeks. I've spent most of my time out of town doing various things that are job related. You probably know, that when one travels and is gone, routines are broken, and things that usually are done on a daily basis are not achieved due to schedule changes, different environments, etc. It is Satan's business to get the child of God entangled in this world's affairs so he is not effective in battling the powers of the air, the principalities of darkness, and the god of this world. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12 We are not effective in prayer, souls that constantly need comforted or strength are left in danger. Those who need the conviction of the Holy Ghost on their lives so they will do right or repent are left open to Satan's demise. And most important, we ourselves are more venerable for Satan's attacks on our souls. I say this is most important because if we are not strong, how can we help others. "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." 1Corinthians 9:27

The word "entangleth" or "entangle" means "to inweave, entrap, or twist together in a confusing mess." This is the art of Satan and we allow it to happen, especially in our effluent society. We have become the church of Laodicea as our Lord describes them as follows: "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot." We justify our activity in a Christian humanism way in that we focus on ourselves instead of trying to gain the closeness of Christ and fellowship of the Holy Ghost in our lives. So if we are not careful, we continue down the path as he goes on and admonishes that church. "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:" We think we have arrived only to find that our faith is wanting and we are powerless. We fail to see ourselves as we really are. We refuse to take time to examine ourselves in line with the Word of God and spend time afflicting our souls but would rather go on our way. The but consequences are devastating as Christ will vomit a church like this out of his mouth. His advise is as follows: "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." He wants us to have real faith that we can trust in him, holiness that will separate us from the world and identify us as those whose citizenship is in heaven, and have enlightment of the spirit of God in that we may rightly divide the Word of God. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1Corinthians 2:14

We are in this world to be a blessing and to yet to also help the wayward come to Christ and live for him. We are salt in this world. Salt can add a good taste in food, can preserve, and is also used in judgment "And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:" Deuteronomy 29:23 But, if our salt loses is savor, it is good for nothing. "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." Matthew 5:13 While we must continue to work in this world, we must always guard our relationship with Christ and cherish it, for it is our life and can have a big difference in the lives of those around us, and even our nation. May the Lord bless you as you seek him.