We live in a war zone. Satan has successfully duped the vast majority of our churches into imbalance regarding all things concerning or threatening him. Our human natures are drawn like magnets to polar points, and we unfortunately apply our fleshly extremes to our pulpits. We tend to give the devil either far too much credit or not nearly enough.
I cannot say this strongly enough: it is imperative in the days in which we’ve been assigned to occupy this earth that believers walk in truth and soundness of doctrine. Just as Christ warned in Matthew 24, we are living in days characterized by a rampant increase of deception and wickedness. Satan knows the biblical signs of Christ’s imminent return far better than we do, and he is furious because he knows his time is short (Rev. 12:12).
Therefore, he has moved into comparative nuclear arms in his war against us, while we’re still using popguns in our war against him. A war of unprecedented proportions is waging against the church and the people of God. We must put on our armor, learn how to use our weapons, and fight with the confidence of those who know they are destined to win.
When we speak God’s Word out loud with confidence in Him—rather than in our own ability to believe—we are breathing faith. Believing and speaking the truth of God’s Word is like receiving blessed CPR from the Holy Spirit: “Since we have the same spirit of faith in accordance with what is written, ‘I believed, therefore I spoke,’ we also believe, and therefore speak” (2 Cor. 4:13).
When we approach God in genuine repentance, taking full responsibility for our sins, our prison doors swing open. But we could sit right there in our prison cells in torment if we don’t stand on God’s promises and walk forward in truth: “Therefore, dear friends, since we have such promises, we should wash ourselves clean from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, making our sanctification complete in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1). As believers and members of Christ’s body, we must pursue God’s heart and know Him intimately to find spiritual victory.
Praying for a Christ Awakening:A Contemporary Collection for Church and Culture, p. 64. Used by permission of Dr. David Ferguson and Great Commandment Ministries.