July 30, 2016
In the last year, we have seen multiple, high-profile pastors suffer moral failure and step down from their churches. It seems that the Enemy is on the rampage. I can think of no greater description than Nehemiah's of his city in his day: ""The walls are down and the gates are burned with fire."" (Nehemiah 1). The Enemy is prowling through the moral rubble in our nation.
WE MUST BE OVERLY WATCHFUL
If ever there was a moment for spiritual and moral diligence in our lifetime, it is now. We have known some protection in our nation. But when the walls are down, the Enemy has a new level of access and freedom. We do not understand this, for we have not been here before. This is why Paul's admonition is so vital for every believer right now:
""Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make NO PROVISION for the flesh in regard to its lusts"" (Romans 13:13-14, emphasis mine).
No provision. Surely this means that we must not entertain anything in our lives that would leave a crack in the door for his foothold. No habit, no thought, no speculations. Nothing that we say, “Well, I can get away with this just this once” or, “It won’t hurt me,” or, ""No one will know."" Every man that I have ever seen who has suffered deep moral or spiritual failure has opened the door somewhere, tragically thinking he was immune.
It is often a long-standing compromise that seems harmless in its earliest stages, justified because of one’s good progress in other areas. We must understand that Satan does not care how long it takes to get you—he just wants to get you. And the greater your sphere of influence, the greater his devious planning and the more deliberate his attack. He knows that when a leader falls, everyone under him is shaken.
OUR HOPE
… is that his ferocity at the current moment indicates his fear of what is coming. That Anslan is on the move and the Devil is doing everything possible to derail the Lion of the Tribe of Judah’s mighty work. It is what the Evil One has always done.
“The night is almost gone and the day is near,” the wise Apostle reminds us. “Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:13). Notice it is “armor” that he describes, which is completely capable of protecting us from the fiery darts of the wicked one. We have all we need to fight and be found faithful, firm until the end. But we must put the armor on, and keep it on, day and night.
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