THE BATTLES OF LIFE & HOW TO WIN
By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
The Bible categorizes life as a race. St. Paul stated: “I therefore so run, not as uncertainty; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 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.” (1 Cor. 9: 24-27)
He also compares it to a fight or a battle. After preaching the Gospel for years the great Apostle wrote: “I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand, I have fought a good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. (2 Tim.4: 6, 7)
The Word of God states: “Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us;
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher (perfecter) of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the CROSS, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God.” (Heb.12: 1-2)
An old hymn says, “Life is like a mountain railroad with an engineer that's brave. We must make the run successful from the cradle to the grave. Heed the curves, the fills, the tunnels. Never falter, never fail. Keep your hands upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail. Blessed Saviour, Thou wilt guide us till we reach that blissful shore. Where the angels there to join us in God's grace forevermore.”
BATTLE IN THE HEAVENLIES
St. Paul unveils the battles in the heavenlies and the involvement of believers in Christ in those battles: “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.” (Eph.6: 10-12)
According to God’s Word, there are a host of unseen enemies hostile to the Gospel, which we confront in our daily lives as Christians. They are influential, powerful and dangerous, therefore, our Blessed God and Father has given us authority over them in the Name of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through the Eternal Spirit, the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant, the Word of God and in the Name of Jesus Christ we have power over the horrible spirits of darkness! Here is the description of the armour of God which we have been given to withstand he onslaughts of the Devil:
“Wherefore, take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand in the evil day, having on the breastplate of righteousness. And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace;
“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” (Eph. 6: 13-18)
The Breastplate of Righteousness covers the heart. The Word of God states: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom. 10: 9, 10)
Man is a triune being made in God’s image and likeness. (Gen.2:7). God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit and man is spirit, soul and body. The heart of man is his spirit, his innermost being. His soul is his mind, emotions and will.
With our spirits we worship God. Our minds, emotions and will are affected by our spirit that is born again by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. As we seek our Heavenly Father in earnest prayer and worship, the Holy Spirit draws into the Holy of Holies and we are sanctified wholly (set apart for God) in Christ Jesus.
The Bible says: “And the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless, until the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ.”
The FEET shod with the preparation of the Gospel, speaks of our feet carrying the Gospel to our neighbours, friends and strangers. When we receive Christ as our Saviour, we are filled with His love and mercy, and the Holy Spirit prompts our spirits to share Jesus with others. The next step is to prepare ourselves to become soul winners. We need to prepare ourselves to answer His call to become ‘Carriers of the Gospel’ to others!
The Gospel of Jesus Christ would not have reached us if someone had not first proclaimed and demonstrated that Gospel to others. Jesus came to this earth to seek and save the lost.
Multitudes came to hear Him teach, preach and heal. At one point, when the people urged Him not to leave them, He said: “I must preach the Kingdom of God to other cities also, for therefore am I sent.” (Luke 4:43)
“And he came down with them and stood in the plain, and a company of His disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear Him, and to be HEALED of their diseases; And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.
“And the whole multitude sought to touch Him: for there went virtue out of Him, and healed them all.” (Luke 7: 27- 19). He sent His twelve disciples into all the cities and towns to preach the Kingdom and demonstrate the Kingdom of God. Multitudes attended their Miracle crusades and were liberated by God’s power:
“And as you go, preach, saying, The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead: freely ye have received, freely give.” (Matt.10: 5-8). There was so much to do and so many that sought God that He sent out another seventy disciples to do the same. (Luke 10: 1,2,8,9)
“And the Seventy returned again with joy, saying, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name. And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven. Behold, I give unto you Power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:18, 19)
God's Holiness demands that we live consecrated lives -Rom. 6:22.
Through His precious blood we are born again , filed with the Holy Spirit and made God’s child, heirs of God joint heirs with Christ. We are born of the Spirit through regeneration and transformed by the renewing of our minds and our mortal bodies conformed to Christ's body (John 3: 16; Rom. 12; 2; Phil. 3:2: Rom. 10: 9,10; 1 Cor. 6:17). We are sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:5,6; Eph. 5:26)
The Holy Spirit works powerfully in His Church: “That He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the Word.” He works through our prayers (Eph. 6: 17,18 ; Romans 8:13 says, “If by the Spirit you put to death the practices of the body, you will live.”
It is in this way that His Spirit can give life even to your mortal body today. He HEALS us in our spirit, soul (mind) and body. Praise God!
Max Solbrekken World Mision Box 44220 RPOEdmonton, AB T5V 1N6. Email:[email protected]; comehometoJesus.ca; Facebook; Youtube; Blog: MSWM; Donations can be made by e-Transfer. Make your donations to max@ maxsolbrekken.com. Thank you so much. May richly bless you. Amen.
