When I tell you, "The Bible is all you need," I do not exaggerate, not one single iota. I have tried it myself. I have proven God through His Word over and over and He has never failed in one of His promises. You don't have to take my word for it. Try it yourself. Put yourself in God's hands and turn away from the god of mammon. Don't allow money and money stress and money lacks and money troubles to control your life! Turn all your stress into heart-cries to Jesus. He is more than able to calm your fears and cement your relationship with Him in the process. I tell you this from my own experience. God never fails!
If you think you don't have much of a relationship with God at the moment, maybe that's because you focus too much on money. There is a god of money. Money is one thing you absolutely cannot live without. That's why the devil thinks he is all-powerful. He wants you to believe you cannot live without money, so that means you are his prisoner. These are all lies that the enemy will use on you over and over. It's all about the money.
"Follow the money." That's a line you hear often enough. When people say it, they seem to say it with disdain, as if they are not prisoners of money, as if they don't 'follow the money'.
You see, the very first thing that the devil wants to use money to make you do is to compromise! Compromise your beliefs. Compromise your faith. Compromise your life. Compromise your decisions. Then, you'll be rich.
"After all," the devil will tell you, "you need money to pay your rent and buy food. What about your children? Don't you want them to have a good education and be healthy? You must have m-o-n-e-y. It's paramount."
But, God tells us in His Word to trust Him to provide all of our needs. He says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you."
Matthew 6 says:
25. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26. Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27. Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28. And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29. And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30. Wherefore if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31. Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32. (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
The Golden Carrot
Now that there are ten chapters from the book of John to feast on, may I shift your attention for a moment? This chapter should encourage you to keep striving against sin! It's one great big carrot!
Revelation Chapter 21
1. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
9. And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
10. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11. Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12. And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13. On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15.And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
17. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
18. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20. The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
27. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's BOOK OF LIFE.
I have a question: IS YOUR NAME WRITTEN IN THE LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE?
- -This is one event you won't want to miss out on!
Revelation Chapter 21
1. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
9. And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
10. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11. Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12. And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13. On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15.And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
17. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
18. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20. The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
27. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's BOOK OF LIFE.
I have a question: IS YOUR NAME WRITTEN IN THE LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE?
- -This is one event you won't want to miss out on!
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Bible Burning
I maintain that the Holy Bible is the most important and powerful book in the world today. It has been copied meticulously by hand by the scribes of old who diligently made sure every 't' was crossed. (Of course, they weren't writing it in English. ha) King James of England had the Bible translated into English.
If the Bible is "just a book", why would anyone suggest burning it?
My fellow believers, don't let them burn your Bible. Hide the words in your heart. Memorize scripture. Fall in love with the Word. Keep it under your pillow for sweet dreams at night. Tack scripture verses on your wall. Put one or two in your bathroom. Keep the Word always near.
Then, hold God to his word, because that is His contract with you! Stand on the Word. Believe in it! It's the Truth. Build your life on the solid rock of God's Word. It will never fail you.
Only last week, in Malaysia, a Bible-Burning was scheduled in Butterworth. Nobody showed up.
There may come a time when our Bibles are taken away from us. That's why we must read and treasure every word, while we have the freedom to do so. Take time to read your Bible. If you don't have one, please go and buy one in the language you prefer. Start today to feed your soul the health food of the Word!
If the Bible is "just a book", why would anyone suggest burning it?
My fellow believers, don't let them burn your Bible. Hide the words in your heart. Memorize scripture. Fall in love with the Word. Keep it under your pillow for sweet dreams at night. Tack scripture verses on your wall. Put one or two in your bathroom. Keep the Word always near.
Then, hold God to his word, because that is His contract with you! Stand on the Word. Believe in it! It's the Truth. Build your life on the solid rock of God's Word. It will never fail you.
Only last week, in Malaysia, a Bible-Burning was scheduled in Butterworth. Nobody showed up.
There may come a time when our Bibles are taken away from us. That's why we must read and treasure every word, while we have the freedom to do so. Take time to read your Bible. If you don't have one, please go and buy one in the language you prefer. Start today to feed your soul the health food of the Word!
John 10
1. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a theif and a robber.
2. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
6. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
7. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
(Verily just means truly.) Jesus here is telling us that He is the Door to Eternal Life.
8. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.
17. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
19. There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
20. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
21. Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
22. And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
24. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
What? It's Jesus' fault that they have doubt? He told them many times who he was.
25. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
God holds us in the palm of His hand!
30. I and my Father are one.
31. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33. The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
34. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
35. If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
36. Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
37. If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
39. Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,
40. And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
41. And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
42. And many believed on him there.
2. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
6. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
7. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
(Verily just means truly.) Jesus here is telling us that He is the Door to Eternal Life.
8. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.
17. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
19. There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
20. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
21. Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
22. And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
24. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
What? It's Jesus' fault that they have doubt? He told them many times who he was.
25. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
God holds us in the palm of His hand!
30. I and my Father are one.
31. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33. The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
34. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
35. If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
36. Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
37. If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
39. Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,
40. And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
41. And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
42. And many believed on him there.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
If the Devil is Defeated, Why Does He Seem to Have So Much Power?
The question came up, "Why does God allow pain and suffering?" and, "If God is all-powerful, why is there so much destruction in the world?"
Looking at the world through carnal eyes, it may seem sometimes that our enemy has been able to win a lot of victories over us. It may seem that he has some kind of power to destroy, cause pain, trouble and death.
The thing we have to remember is that there is no "time" in the spiritual realm. Therefore when we say that Jesus defeated the Devil at Calvary, it's hard to understand with this carnal mind how that could possibly be true. Defeated the Devil? Then why, why, why? Why do we suffer?
The answer is: faith. All I can say is that it truly is all by faith. We do have a risen Saviour Who has saved us from death and hell. That is by faith. Does He have total power over the Devil. Yes. Does it always appear that way to our carnal eyes and minds? No.
Why, why, why?
Let's put it this way, - - When you receive Jesus as your Saviour/God/Lord/Messiah, you make a choice. It's a very, very important decision and probably the most important decision you will ever make in your entire life. I kid you not!
So, when you choose Jesus to be Lord of your life, by simply asking Him to come into your life, everything changes. Jesus calls that being "born again". It's the end of your old way of living and thinking and perceiving and it's the beginning of a new life!
Suddenly, you feel free! One person told me they felt like they could breathe and as though they'd been under water all their life until they found Jesus. Others say the grass is greener, the sky is bluer. Life becomes real. Everything is clear. Your purpose in life is clear. You start getting answers to age-old questions.
Another bi-product of receiving Jesus is that you have love for other people. You want to help others. You feel at peace with yourself and God. You feel happy. You have unexplainable joy. You want to jump up and down and tell everyone you know about this wonderful newfound enlightenment.
But, that's not all you will experience. Within a week of enjoying all the light and love of God, there will come a time when you come under attack from the "other side". Yes, folks, once you make that all-important decision to serve God, you soon discover that there is a war going on!
We are the winners. Don't ever forget that. We have won the battle. That battle for your soul is won. You have been bought and paid for at a very high price. You never have to worry about dying. In fact, there are thousands of things that you never have to worry about again. And, yes, the sky is still bluer and you have an inexplicable joy that nobody will take away from you.
That doesn't mean there isn't a spiritual warfare going on all around you. By accepting Jesus, you have donned the uniform of a follower of Christ and identified yourself to the enemy of your soul as his enemy. He knows who you are now and he knows the power behind that uniform. He knows he cannot defeat you. But, he also knows that you don't realize yet what power you have a right to. He knows you probably don't have the first clue how to call on the power to blast his socks off. So, he's out to bluff you into believing that it is he, the Devil and all his little annoying minions who have so much power.
He'll tell you things like, "Look at this problem and that destruction and those poor, starving children and those people that are being killed . . ." and on and on he goes, filling your head with so much "truth" that you believe him.
Well, it's true, isn't it? Isn't there massive destruction, war, suffering, starvation, accidents, sickness and darkness of the devil all around us? --How could God be so mean?
The Devil has a two-pronged attack. First he wants you to believe he has all the power to destroy, then he wants you to believe that it's all God's fault that he has all this power to destroy, maim, torture and kill. So, which is it? All this confusion and doubt is an attack on your soul. Who are you going to believe?
Did Jesus Christ really die on the cross two thousand years ago and conquer death and the devil? Or not?
That, my friend, is the question that you need to ask yourself. I know the answer, but I can't prove it to you. You have to have faith to believe that He did.
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1
We are living in the age of faith. If there was no war going on, you wouldn't need to fight. We wouldn't need to exercise our faith. We wouldn't need to call on our Hero, the Lord Saboath to fight for us. But, we do! And, He does.
Yes, you have joined the winning side. So, get out there and win! You can't lose! Even when it looks like we're losing, we are more than conquerers through Christ! So, don't get discouraged if you have to go through a few little tests and trials of your faith. Like exercise, it will grow your faith muscles stronger.
Finally, a little tip. Quit listening to the Devil! Don't you remember what Jesus said?
"The Devil is a liar!" Don't listen to the first word or thought. Rebuke the devil and send him back to the pit from whence he came by the authority invested in you by Christ Jesus, our Mighty Warrior!
Looking at the world through carnal eyes, it may seem sometimes that our enemy has been able to win a lot of victories over us. It may seem that he has some kind of power to destroy, cause pain, trouble and death.
The thing we have to remember is that there is no "time" in the spiritual realm. Therefore when we say that Jesus defeated the Devil at Calvary, it's hard to understand with this carnal mind how that could possibly be true. Defeated the Devil? Then why, why, why? Why do we suffer?
The answer is: faith. All I can say is that it truly is all by faith. We do have a risen Saviour Who has saved us from death and hell. That is by faith. Does He have total power over the Devil. Yes. Does it always appear that way to our carnal eyes and minds? No.
Why, why, why?
Let's put it this way, - - When you receive Jesus as your Saviour/God/Lord/Messiah, you make a choice. It's a very, very important decision and probably the most important decision you will ever make in your entire life. I kid you not!
So, when you choose Jesus to be Lord of your life, by simply asking Him to come into your life, everything changes. Jesus calls that being "born again". It's the end of your old way of living and thinking and perceiving and it's the beginning of a new life!
Suddenly, you feel free! One person told me they felt like they could breathe and as though they'd been under water all their life until they found Jesus. Others say the grass is greener, the sky is bluer. Life becomes real. Everything is clear. Your purpose in life is clear. You start getting answers to age-old questions.
Another bi-product of receiving Jesus is that you have love for other people. You want to help others. You feel at peace with yourself and God. You feel happy. You have unexplainable joy. You want to jump up and down and tell everyone you know about this wonderful newfound enlightenment.
But, that's not all you will experience. Within a week of enjoying all the light and love of God, there will come a time when you come under attack from the "other side". Yes, folks, once you make that all-important decision to serve God, you soon discover that there is a war going on!
We are the winners. Don't ever forget that. We have won the battle. That battle for your soul is won. You have been bought and paid for at a very high price. You never have to worry about dying. In fact, there are thousands of things that you never have to worry about again. And, yes, the sky is still bluer and you have an inexplicable joy that nobody will take away from you.
That doesn't mean there isn't a spiritual warfare going on all around you. By accepting Jesus, you have donned the uniform of a follower of Christ and identified yourself to the enemy of your soul as his enemy. He knows who you are now and he knows the power behind that uniform. He knows he cannot defeat you. But, he also knows that you don't realize yet what power you have a right to. He knows you probably don't have the first clue how to call on the power to blast his socks off. So, he's out to bluff you into believing that it is he, the Devil and all his little annoying minions who have so much power.
He'll tell you things like, "Look at this problem and that destruction and those poor, starving children and those people that are being killed . . ." and on and on he goes, filling your head with so much "truth" that you believe him.
Well, it's true, isn't it? Isn't there massive destruction, war, suffering, starvation, accidents, sickness and darkness of the devil all around us? --How could God be so mean?
The Devil has a two-pronged attack. First he wants you to believe he has all the power to destroy, then he wants you to believe that it's all God's fault that he has all this power to destroy, maim, torture and kill. So, which is it? All this confusion and doubt is an attack on your soul. Who are you going to believe?
Did Jesus Christ really die on the cross two thousand years ago and conquer death and the devil? Or not?
That, my friend, is the question that you need to ask yourself. I know the answer, but I can't prove it to you. You have to have faith to believe that He did.
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1
We are living in the age of faith. If there was no war going on, you wouldn't need to fight. We wouldn't need to exercise our faith. We wouldn't need to call on our Hero, the Lord Saboath to fight for us. But, we do! And, He does.
Yes, you have joined the winning side. So, get out there and win! You can't lose! Even when it looks like we're losing, we are more than conquerers through Christ! So, don't get discouraged if you have to go through a few little tests and trials of your faith. Like exercise, it will grow your faith muscles stronger.
Finally, a little tip. Quit listening to the Devil! Don't you remember what Jesus said?
"The Devil is a liar!" Don't listen to the first word or thought. Rebuke the devil and send him back to the pit from whence he came by the authority invested in you by Christ Jesus, our Mighty Warrior!
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