Faith is Not Passive

By Paula Williamson guest writer

Hollywood and the secular world often portray Christians as kooks or fanatics. Maybe some might be! Maybe some might not be.  

Scripture warns us to be sober because there is an enemy in the world seeking to devour us. The spiritual world is invisible but undeniably real. Just leave us alone with our own thoughts and anyone with a brain can conclude that what we can’t see but think impacts us powerfully.

It Is Written

1 PETER 5:8 Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.

EPHESIANS 6 :10 -1 2 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.

LUKE 10:19 Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you.

Science Fiction?

Here’s a list from those scriptures that sounds like a science fiction movie: invisible war, enemy, rulers, powers, forces of darkness, and forces of wickedness.

Anyone in the military needs to know who they are up against and why. They plan a strong military strategy for defeating their enemy and then move forward to carry out that strategy.

Scripture says we have an enemy. We can believe it or not but, how’s your belief working out?

The scripture is full of phrases that indicate a battle is taking place such as put on the whole armor of God, fight the good fight, be on guard, be alert, finish the race, overcome. According to scripture we serve an invisible God and we are in an invisible war. Faith is not passive! We are either defeating the enemy or he is defeating us. Which is it?

Prayer

Lord, help me to fight the good fight of faith for my family, my loved ones, the world around me and myself. Help me to take negative, self-defeating thoughts captive and to exercise the authority that You have given to me. Help us to spur one another on and to encourage one another to live the overcoming life Jesus provided.

Takeaway

We are more than conquerors through Christ!