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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue 756 March 14, 2003 - Basic Training Way back in the Stone Age, when I was eighteen, I joined the Canadian Armed Forces. The first three months of my time in were spent at "boot camp" along with the other latest batch of new recruits. Basic training was a gruelling experience that tested my limits physically, mentally and emotionally. Strange new rituals, constant stress, heavy physical demands and new experiences became the norm. Learning to think differently and being prepared for anything was part of the process of taking inexperienced new recruits and making them into soldiers. Even though it was a time of peace, every soldier learned the basic skills he or she would need to face battle. Christians are in a constant state of war. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 NIV There is a battle raging in the spiritual realm. It's not for physical land but for eternal souls. We know the outcome, God wins, that was never in doubt, but there will be many casualties along the way. Satan hates believers. He works overtime to hamper our witness and to keep us from living the victorious lives the Lord has planned for us. He tempts us, he messes with our minds and he afflicts our bodies. Not every illness is a direct attack of the enemy, many are simply the result of having a physical body in a fallen world, but much illness is caused by demonic influence or as a consequence of our sin. A quick skim read of the Bible will confirm the scope of the battle we are in. Talk to a few mature Christians who have been through the fire and they'll tell you the battle is real. The Christian army brings in raw recruits (new converts) but it often falls down by not giving them the basic training they need to face the battle. Sometimes the church even leads people to believe that all will be perfect and easy if they believe, and while for some that my be true, for most the opposite is the case. Victory is guaranteed for the Christian but a life of ease is not. Believers need to learn the weapons of war that God has given us. We need to learn to pray, to give generously, to worship, to fellowship together, and to study His Word. We need to learn about things like deliverance and healing. We need to learn about intercessory prayer. God has given us many tools and weapons to use. Now is the time to get familiar with them and put them into practice. Just acknowledging there is a war on without putting the weapons into use is the same as surrendering without a fight. Remember our battle isn't against people, we called to actively love even those who hate us. We need to love people and wage war in the spiritual realm. "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:27-31 NIV Never confuse the two. Pray for the salvation and deliverance of the person who makes you crazy or the family member who always puts you down because of your faith. Pray that your own heart be softened towards them but that your eyes be opened to the spiritual war going on around and within them. Fight Satan and his minions, not the slaves they have taken. It's time to put on the armor God has given us. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:13-18 NIV And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Romans 13:11-14 NIV Have you been slumbering peacefully as the war wages around you? Sometimes the most powerful weapons in Satan's arsenal include apathy and complacency. Ask God for the eyes to see the battle that rages all around you. Ask Him to show you what you are up against. Prepare for a rude awakening. The chances are that you are in the midst of a raging battle on many fronts of your life and you're standing there naked and ill equipped. It's far bigger and more devastating than the Iraq and North Korea situations. It's done more damage than all the wars ever held up to this point in time. It rages every day, all around us and we're often blind to it. Don't despair or be discouraged. God will equip you on every way if you ask Him. Until next time, may your eyes be open to the reality of the battle that rages in the world around us. May you take the time to get equipped to do the part that God has called you to do. Be blessed. Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you are a soldier in the army of the Lord. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer. 2 Timothy 2:3-4 NIV Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. Perhaps you have felt as if you have been in a battle the whole of your life but never understood what was going on. There is a battle raging and it is for your eternal soul. You have two choices, do nothing and be surrendered to Satan for ever, or give your life to Jesus and be victorious eternally. If you want to know how that's possible simply email us and we'll send you some Bible verses that will explain it to you You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your heart, admitting you need God's help, and saying a prayer along the lines of: Jesus: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord. Amen If you pray this prayer for the first time let me know so I can rejoice with you. Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? Your comments, your questions and your joys are shared with the prayer team, to keep me accountable as the head of the ministry and to encourage them as they see God at work in your life. As with prayer all these things are kept confidential within the Gleanings team. To share your questions, comments, thoughts, prayer concerns and praise reports email us If you enjoyed this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page . You can write to us at Gleanings From The Word Ministries International 114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8 © 2003 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin Gleanings From The Word Minististries International - All Rights Reserved
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