By: General James Green- POW
Ever since my wife and I went into the prayer closet in 1980, we’ve become very familiar with satan and his demon forces. Yes, it is true. We’ve learned just how destructive and deceitful he is. It is ABSOLUTELY TRUE what Jesus said about him: “…He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him…” (John 8:44). Jesus again said: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…” (John 10:10).
We also know by John’s testimony that “…the whole world lies under the sway of the WICKED ONE” (1 John 5:19). There is, according to John, a sharp antithesis between the people of the world and the people of God, between those under the power/control of satan and those under the power/control of God. Under the god of this world, men and women have eternal death; under the God of Heaven and earth and under the earth, men and women are under eternal life.
The Bible declares that “God (Father) has highly exalted Him (Son) and gives Him the Name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in Heaven, and of those on
earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11, NKJV).
While those under “eternal death” bow to satan, eventually they will confess that Jesus IS Christ, a Truth, THE TRUTH! Every knee will bow, of those in heaven and on the earth and under the earth.
This language sounds like that of Isaiah 45:23: “I have sworn by Myself; the Word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.”
Now turn to Hebrews 6:13 where we find that God swears by no greater, He swore by Himself. And read Romans 14:11, Paul wrote, “For it is written: (As I live, says the LORD, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.)” Here Paul quotes Isaiah 45:23. So, it is settled – all will bow/confess, not to satan, but to God and His Son, Jesus.
The Reboot of God’s Grace
Turning to the book of Lamentations, the anguished response to the destruction of JerUSAlem in 587 BC, we read:
“The LORD’s acts of mercy are not exhausted, His compassion is not spent; they are renewed each morning”
(Lamentations 3:22-23). If we put vv. 21-24 together, we see that in the midst of a great suffering/trial, the writer (most believe him to be the Prophet Jeremiah) “offers this brief but compelling statement of HOPE in the LORD’s great mercy and faithfulness.”
So, my dear fellow soldiers of Christ, when we’ve been hunted and hounded by the HATER of our soul, we find ourselves worn and torn by years of spiritual warfare, and find ourselves bashed and crashed by relentless assaults of the “Evil One” and his demon forces-yet God will give us HOPE in the midst of HOPELESSNESS:
“Through the LORD’s mercies, we are NOT consumed” (Lamentations 3:22, NKJV).
There have been times when I felt the opposite. I felt like God Himself was the enemy, not satan. I felt like Jesus when He cried out (in pain) on the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
(Matthew 27:46)- “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” We find this in Psalm 22:1, the future words of Jesus’ passion being alluded to and foreshadowed.
Under severe bombardment from the BIG guns, from satan’s arsenal, we can utter such things. I have, I admit it. Pain can make one say and do things. If and when we do this, we can repent and find His mercies again. When we struggle, wrestle against the BIG-4 (Ephesians 6:12), we can and will get tired.
But remember: we can REFIRE as opposed to RETIRE. Too many have retired from the field of battle, leaving the fight to the few. When we find ourselves fatigued or fatiguing. this is the time to earnestly cry out for strength, for help. Remember, “ENDURE hardship (hardness) as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). God does not want us to be consumed but to resume, to return to our post-of-duty in this internecine war.
Onward!