"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ," (2 Corinthians 10:4,5)

The soldiers of Christ are at war. It is not a physical, nor intellectual conflict. It is a spiritual battle. It is an engagement against every force of evil, and eternal souls are at stake. The goal of the Lord's army is to win hearts to Christ.

The soldier of Christ does not win souls by force or coercion. He does not carry on the conflict by trickery or slight of hand. He does not rely on human philosophy or
eloquence. The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is the focal point of his message.

His weapons are mighty because they are instruments from God. The gospel which Paul taught was not the product of man, but of God. It is by the power of God's gospel that the soldier will obtain the victory.

The strongholds of Satan include error, superstition, selfishness, bigotry, malice, and hatred; and they are powerful. But the Sword of God is able to demolish them all. The gospel can unseat Satan's sophistry from the heart. Truth will win. Everything that exalts itself against God will be defeated.

Having removed all of Satan's vices, God moves is to occupy the heart. The goal of Christ is to rule all of our ambitions and preferences. He wants to rule our lives every second of every day of our life. With his power, God is able.

This battle is the greatest of all conflicts. It is not physical, nor merely mental. It is a spiritual battle in which God's honor is not to be compromised, and our eternal destiny is at stake. We must pick up the armor and fight!

By George Slover


 

Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.’”  (Ephesians 5:14)

In this section (vs. 8-14) of the letter to Ephesus, the saints are reminded of their new direction in Christ. They are to walk as children of light, and no longer in darkness, thus pleasing the Lord. They are to reprove the works of darkness.

Paul reminds them of two separate, distinct worlds – the world of darkness, and the world of light. The immoral, lustful practices of an adulterous, Gentile world would have been in mind here when referring to the world of darkness. Even today there is a clear distinction between the impurity of the world of darkness and the light of Christ. Christians are called upon to take an aggressive stand against anything contrary to Christ.

Apparently, some of the saints at Ephesus were asleep! It is easy to relax and to be unaware of the world around us. When one is asleep, he is totally unprotected from danger. Satan is lurking and the sleepy must be aroused.

The cry “awake“ is the voice of love and wisdom. The sleeper has his focus on material interest. He has fallen prey to spiritual apathy, and a neglect of his duty to God. He is in grave danger.  But out of genuine concern, God calls the sinner to arouse him out of his sleep.

Thankfully, there is something to wake up for. Christ is the light of the world. His people are light in the Lord. Instead of hopelessness and gloom, and the burden of pain and sorrow, the sinner finds hope in Christ. The Lord offers the beauty of purity, the steadfastness of truth, and the refreshment of joy.

Therefore, let us rise from slumber and live purely in the light of Christ.

By George Slover

By George Slover    |    Visit www.smc

Why is love the greatest?  We need to know why, for love’s greatness is the motivation to practice it.  Why is love greater than faith?  If I lack faith then I will not love God or my brethren.  Why is love greater than hope?  If I lack hope then I cannot endure to reach heaven’s gate.  Faith justifies us (Romans 4); faith and hope preserve the soul (Hebrews 10:32-12:2).  Love may be the greatest in 1 Corinthians 13, but that does not diminish the greatness of faith and hope.

Paul targets the abuses of miraculous gifts among the Corinthians in chapters twelve through fourteen of this letter.  They were using their gifts for showboating and self-aggrandizement.  This was not in harmony with the intended use of miraculous gifts.  These gifts were designed to benefit “the common good” (12:7).  The apostle exhorted the Corinthians to let all things be done for edification (14:26).  Edification demands an outward-looking attitude that seeks to build up others rather than self.

The Bible calls such an attitude love.  When we seek the welfare of others, we love them.  “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  This is the highest love of all: caring love.  Caring love makes sacrifices for the benefit of others.  It takes ego out of the equation.  It does not want to be lauded for tongue-speaking; it wants tongue-speaking to build up others.  So then if there is no interpreter whereby people can understand what is said and therefore be edified, love keeps one’s trap shut (14:1-28).  An uncaring glory hound will speak anyway, inciting jealousy and resentment (13:4-7).  Love avoids this.  It seeks to build others up in faith and godliness, not knock them down to a carnal level.

Pride in our talents can be dangerous.  It can put the focus exclusively on self.  This is why love is, contextually, the greatest: it causes us to treat others the way we should treat them.  “Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies” (8:1).
Let us “pursue love” (14:1)!

Todd McAdams preaches for the Eastside church of Christ in Palestine, TX.


 

And David said to God, 'Was it not I who commanded the people to be numbered? I am the one who has sinned and done evil indeed; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, O LORD my God, be against me and my father's house, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.'" (1 Chronicles 21:17)

The first verse of the chapter states: Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. (1 Chronicles 21:1)  Joab, the commander of Israel’s army, tried to dissuade David from bringing guilt upon the nation, but the king overruled him. Thus, God punished Israel.  This led to David’s confession:  "I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing; but now, I pray, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly." (1 Chronicles 21:8)

God gave David three options for punishment: 'either three years of famine, or three months to be defeated by your foes with the sword of your enemies overtaking you, or else for three days the sword of the LORD-the plague in the land, with the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.' (1 Chronicles 21:12)  David’s reply led to the death of 70,000 men in Israel.  Furthermore, David saw an angel ready to destroy Jerusalem.  This is where David intercedes with the words spoken in verse 17.

David takes full and personal responsibility for this tragedy.  He offers no excuses for his transgression and blames only himself.  He submits himself as an object of punishment and wishes to relieve his people from the plague and suffering.

David’s confession is a full acknowledgment of his own offense.  He frankly and freely owns all the sin that is his:  “I am the one who has sinned”; these sheep, what have they done?  “It’s my fault!  Spare the people!”    Like anyone with character, David is willing to take the punishment for his personal sin.

In this confession, David also acknowledges God’s mercy (vs. 13)  It is better to fall into the hands of God than the hands of men.  In all his dealings God is just, but also full of mercy.  David looks upon his sheep as guileless and innocent and pleads for God’s compassion to spare them.

What a pathetic scene!  An angel who has smitten throughout Israel is passing by Jerusalem, his sword drawn!  The king is clad in sackcloth prostrate before the Lord.  When a confession is offered in such a humble, self-renouncing position, it will surely prevail with God!

By George Slover