Fix your eyes on Jesus

Spiritual warfare is the latest "game" some Christians are trying to play, for several reasons. Think about it. There are three major influences to blame for all our troubles: the world, the flesh, and the devil. Many Christians really like the world, these days. They're fascinated by it, they're cozying up to it, they're copying it. So they're saying -- perhaps unconsciously -- "Let's not blame the world for our problems -- we might have to back off from it." And many Christians are trying hard to like the flesh. They think putting it down would damage their self-image. So they're saying -- not in actual words -- "Let's not blame the flesh -- that would be blaming me." (If I can wriggle out of responsibility and blame all my ills on an external force out there, it takes 'me' off the hook.") So let's blame the devil! I really didn't want to -- "the devil made me do it." Perhaps another reason we play "spiritual warfare" is because it's sensational; teaching about it is exciting; it raises a flap; it's cops and robbers on a universal scale. An amazing number of Christians these days are full of fear, not full of faith -- because their eyes are fixed on the devil, not fixed on Jesus. When I was about five, a bigger neighbor girl would get hold of me and put me in a dark room and tell me ghost stories. One day she told me about the Red Hands. She said they were out to get me and that I wasn't safe for a minute. I took off. I walked for miles before Daddy, out scouting in his car, found me and brought me home again. But for weeks after that, I wouldn't go into a dark room alone; somebody had to precede me and turn on lights first. (This was before switches were by the door.) And to get into my bed I'd make a mighty leap -- so the Red Hands under my bed couldn't grab my ankles. I was a mess. The difference between the Red Hands and the devil is that the devil is real. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Then shouldn't we be constantly terrified, like little Anne Sweet? C.S. Lewis writes this: There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.1 Don't fix your eyes on the devil. I hear you're never supposed to make eye contact with an unfamiliar, especially an unfriendly, dog; he takes that as a threat. Well, don't get over-occupied with Satan, either. Martin Luther once wrote, One does not gain much ground against the devil with a lengthy disputation; but with brief words and replies, such as: "I am a Christian, of the same flesh and blood as is my Lord Christ, the Son of God. Settle your accounts with Him." Then the devil does not stay long. I have a better idea. (Who am I to improve on Martin Luther?!) Don't talk to him at all. Jude says that fools are those who ... slander celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare bring a slanderous accusation against [the devil], but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand (v. 8-10). The devil is too dangerous, too "un-understood," too powerful for us to stand up and try to eyeball him. I don't know, maybe he thinks it's just plain hilarious when you or I try to "rebuke" him; even the great Michael didn't dare to. I notice in Zechariah, chapter 3, when the devil was hassling Joshua the high priest -- spiritually by far the most important man of that day -- that the Lord Himself rebuked the devil on behalf of Joshua. So when you're in turmoil what do you do? First, seek to pin down the primary cause of your situation. 1. Is the world to blame? Have you been "worldly" -- involved with the world, secretly admiring it, copying its thinking, its lifestyle? Don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? (James 4:4). What fellowship can light have with darkness? . . . "Therefore come out from them and be separate. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you" . . . says the Lord Almighty (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). Repent of your fooling around; extricate yourself! Fix your eyes only on Jesus, and tell Him you want to love only Him. 2. Is the flesh to blame? Did you make bad choices? Should you yourself take responsibility for your trouble? Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature [or flesh], from that [flesh] will reap destruction (Galatians 6:7-8). Repent of what you did, or said, or thought, all by yourself. Let God forgive you and cleanse you totally -- and then fix your eyes on Jesus. 3. Is the devil to blame? Ephesians 6 is the classic chapter on what to do about Satan. How do you struggle against "the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms"? This chapter in Ephesians doesn't suggest a quick fix. Let's look. First, Ephesians 6's solution is preventive. You start now, ahead of time: 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 (Ephesians 6:13). What, Lord? You mean to say we don't get to start right now whipping our sword around, and maybe like Peter cut off somebody's ear? No, the Lord Himself will do your fighting for you; He's definitely more qualified. Your place is to stand. Second, Ephesians 6's solution is thorough. "After you have done everything"! What must you do? "Put on the full armor" -- don't miss a single piece -- of truth, righteousness, readiness that comes from the gospel, faith, salvation, and the Word of God; and through it all, praying always. Put on every one of these: 1. Salvation: Make sure you're born again. 2. The Word of God: Get into a Bible class or a Bible correspondence course or some kind of instruction. 3. Truth: Learn right doctrine; expose yourself to Bible preaching, good radio teaching. 4. Prayer: It's not easy but crucial: keep a daily quiet time. 5. Readiness that comes from the gospel: Know what "the gospel," in a nutshell, really is -- it's found, for instance, in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 -- so you can share it. 6. Righteousness: Be careful to maintain moral integrity. 7. Faith: Trust yourself utterly to the Lord. And notice something else: Third, Ephesians 6's solution is positive! This armor against the devil is an aggressively happy, good lifestyle. Simply seek to live a diligent Christian life. That's the unsensational, steady, pleasant, poised, serene stance of power that will make the devil go bother somebody else. The prince of darkness grim, We tremble not for him! Fix your eyes on Jesus -- and Satan will probably stay far away. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prayer: I reject the devil, O Lord. I reject his influence in my life. I ask You to rebuke him and, if it's Your will, keep him far away from me. Lord, I fix my eyes on Jesus; I want to live aggressively in His disciplines. Lord, clothe me with the perfection of your seven pieces of armor: With truth, With righteousness, With the readiness that comes from the gospel, With faith, With salvation, With Your Word, And with prayer. In the strong name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen. _________________ 1. C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters.