Most people in Ukraine and even around the globe never imagined that Russia would attack another sovereign country so brutally in this modern time. This shows, education as well as development does not change the mind-set of people, and it’s risky to take the opponents for granted. This is a lesson for God’s people too. Irrespective of our understanding and response, the fact remains that God’s people are in a battlefield, and spiritual warfare is a reality.
       From the moment of our conversion, evil spiritual forces in the heavenly places make every effort to disturb and discredit us (Eph. 6: 10 – 20).

FOUR THINGS PROVE THE REALITY OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE

1. Repeated exhortations in the epistles.

Most of the authors in the New Testament refer to spiritual warfare and encourage believers to be on their guard to fight a good warfare (cf. Rom. 13:12; 2Cor. 2:11; 1The. 5:8; 1Tim. 1:18; 6:12; 2Tim. 2: 3, 4; James 4:7; 1Pet. 2:11, etc.). While referring to his ministry, Paul mentions it as warfare and declares at the end that he has fought it well (2Cor. 6:7; 10:4; Phi. 1:30; Colo. 1:29; 1Thess. 2:18; 2Tim. 4:7).

2. Even angels faced it. Daniel 10:13

The angel’s revelation to Daniel is startling. From the first day of Daniel’s special prayer (cf. Dan 9:3ff), God began to work; He sent His holy angel to communicate with Daniel, but on the way evil forces hindered him for 21 days. Finally, Michael the Archangel had to intervene.

3. Above all, our Lord Himself faced it victoriously.

A careful study of the entire scripture reveals how these evil forces tried to hinder the work of God’s redemptive programme through the ages. We see the efforts of the enemy before the incarnation of Christ and even after that (Matt. 2:16; Luke 4: 1, 13; John 14:30). However, the Lord Jesus disarmed the enemy and triumphed over him on the cross (Colo. 2:15; Heb. 2:14).

4. Finally, our Lord not only exhorts us to overcome, He promises final victory too. Reve. 2, 3

Christ’s repeated calls in His messages to local assemblies to overcome, refer to the reality of a continuous warfare (cf. Reve. 2:7, 11, 26 etc.). He has already spoken of the triumphant march of His church (Matt. 16:18).
       All these facts point out the reality of spiritual warfare that God’s people will have to face during their earthly sojourn. Then, why do we neglect it or do not feel the fight?

FOUR REASONS FOR NEGLIGENCE

i. The easy-going, ignorant new generation. (Judges 2: 10 – 15; 3:1)

After the time of Joshua and his contemporaries, the new generation preferred…... ->>>More

NTK

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Out line:-

Believer’s Position

1. A pupil sitting at the feet of Jesus. John 11: 32
2. A soldier putting on his spiritual armour, Eph 6:14
3. A runner laying aside every weight, Heb 12:1
4. A sower sowing beside all waters, Isa 32: 20
5. An ambassador beseeching men to be reconciled, 2 Cor 5:20
6. A priest offering spiritual sacrifice, Rom 12:1
7. A fisher casting the net on the right side, John 21:6

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Anecdote: -

Freedom from Bondage

On January 1st 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which was as a presidential declaration and an executive order. In a single stroke the law was changed and the legal status of over 3 million American slaves was immediately changed from “slave” to “free”. But history records that being legally free can be an entirely different thing from being functionally free.
       News didn’t reach Texas until Union soldiers marched into the city of Galveston a full two years after the document proclaimed their freedom. Slaves in Florida too got the news many months later.
       For years, legally freed slaves remained in bondage simply because of what they thought was true. Even though they were technically free, they had remained virtual slaves; trapped in a false reality because they did not possess knowledge of the truth by which they could escape their bondage.

— Tony Evans

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Practical: -

The Whole Armour of God (Ephesians 6: 14-18)

By Paulson Joshua, Kochi

Just as the word of God reveals the reality of believers’ spiritual warfare, scripture also tells us of the resources provided to fight well. Apostle Paul while in prison might have closely watched the weapons of a Roman soldier. In Ephesians 6: 14 – 18, he compares each of the pieces of armour to the divinely given spiritual resources and calls it as the ‘whole Armour of God’ (cf. Eph. 6:11; Rom. 13:12; 2Cori. 6:7). Let us consider each of those pieces and their practical application briefly.

1. The helmet of salvation.

First, admit to God that you are a sinner, receive Jesus Christ into your heart by faith, and confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. You will be saved. This salvation will protect you from all evil.

2. The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Read and meditate on God's Word daily to fight the devil's temptations. This will give you the strength to live and keep you in peace with God.

3. The belt of truth.

Gird your loins with the truth to run without any hindrance or distraction, and be ready to …More

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Meditation: -

THE APOSTLES’ DOCTRINE!

By Sam Shinde, Chiplun

In Acts 2:42, we notice that the first century disciples practiced four activities on a regular basis, and it’s mentioned about them that they continued in those ‘steadfastly’, meaning resolutely or in an unwavering manner. In layman’s terms, they followed these practices without fail. And they set an example for next generation believers to build the local assemblies on these four pillars, viz. apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.
       The ‘apostles’ doctrine’ is mentioned as the first activity, which indicates that it holds priority over the other three. Not that the other activities are less important in comparison, but, ‘apostles’ doctrine’ is essential to be at the first place so that we can follow the other activities in an appropriate way. Doctrinal errors could create problems in following the other activities the way they should be followed.
       Talking about the ‘apostles’ doctrine’, it was not anything new that the apostles came up with, which is to say, that the apostles were not the source of the doctrine, rather they just taught us what they received from God. In 1Corinthians 15:3, Paul states that he delivered (to others) whatever he received, and in one of the earlier chapters of the same epistle, i.e., chapter 11 and verse 23, he clearly states that whatever he received from the Lord he delivered to others, which later came to us in the form of The Scriptures. The Lord Himself confirms about such revelation in Matthew 16:17, “… for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” So, we can safely conclude that the apostles’ doctrine is evidently …........ More

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Gospel: -

Only Believe

By Abey Kuruvila, Mumbai

It is written concerning the response of the people during the times of Lord Jesus that “…though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him” (John 12:37). But that the Lord Jesus was no ordinary man was affirmed even by those who found it hard to grasp the person of the Lord – “Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?” (Matt. 13:54).
       Yet we may wonder why there was a response of unbelief. The scriptures foresaw this in Isa. 53:1 – “Who hath believed our report?” (see John 12:38). So, what would transpire during the times of the Lord was not just an affirmation of the accuracy of the scriptures, but also the exposing of the heart of man. The evidence required for faith was set forth manifestly. But the heart refused to accept them as true. If they couldn’t believe in Him for the works that He did, how would they then believe in Him for the greater purpose for which He came into this world?
       The holy standard of God declares “…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23), and also pronounces that “…the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23). This death is an eternal separation from God. Lord Jesus’ coming into this world was to save man from this judgment. For this He became a Substitute for us by dying in our stead. His death paid the price for our sins, and His resurrection secures the salvation eternally for all who believe in Him. ........ More

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Worthy Quotes:-