It
is only when we minimize what our enemy’s ultimate intent is, and how single
minded he is about attaining his objective that we become indifferent and even
flippant about his minions and what they are doing within the household of
faith.
The
devil isn’t out to bruise you, or skin your knee, or call you nasty names, the devil
is out to kill you, and every single individual who does his bidding, every
single one roaming about already marked for condemnation, has the selfsame
objective in mind.
Men
teach heresy for the singular purpose of destroying other men spiritually!
In
the end that is the root of every false teaching, false doctrine, and false
interpretation. The devil knows the battle he is in, but sadly much of the
church does not. The devil knows the stakes of this battle, but sadly the
church seems to have forgotten, thinking that somehow if they are trampled
underfoot, if they are overcome rather than overcomers, they’ll just end up in
a less glitzy part of heaven, but heaven nevertheless.
After
outlining a pretty grim picture of the end times, speaking of wars, rumors of
wars, and how we would be hated by all nations for His name’s sake, Jesus went
on to speak some heavy, heavy words for every believer who thinks they can wing
it, or somehow get through what’s coming without being fully equipped, fully
trained, and fully sold out for Christ.
Matthew 24:13, “But
he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
Jesus
didn’t say ‘he who tries, attempts, or thinks they can endure to the end,’
Jesus said, ‘he who endures to the end!’
Valiant
efforts won’t cut it, nor will halfhearted attempts at enduring. If we believe
the words of Jesus – and we have no reason to doubt Him – then only he who
endures to the end shall be saved!
The
whole point of this teaching series is to prepare you spiritually so you may
endure to the end.
As
such, feelings, emotions, or opinions regarding myself are irrelevant to me,
because the purpose of this teaching compels me to be less than gentle in my
approach, and for those who are not yet ready, my words may seem downright
offensive.
If
you are offended, so be it! The stakes are too high, and the outcome of this
battle too important for me to try and sugarcoat this in any way in an attempt
to spare feelings.
Once
we understand the truth of the battle we find ourselves in, once we understand we
are facing an enemy who takes no prisoners, then we will realize just how
irrelevant our feelings or bruised egos are.
God
doesn’t coddle soldiers, and we’re too old to be infants!
The
lateness of the hour is evident to one and all, perhaps with the exception of
the church, which is still under the misconception that when the Word tells
believers to put on the whole armor of God, somehow it doesn’t apply to them but
to someone else.
As
with any battle, there are rules and principles governing the battle we are
currently engaged in, and the first of these has to do more with us as
individuals, than it does with the battle itself.
It
is a principle which governs both physical and spiritual warfare, and that is
total commitment to the objective at hand.
If
you plan on being a duplicitous soldier with a divided heart, you might as well
just stay off the battlefield altogether. If you plan on obeying only those
orders which suit you, then you might as well just walk away now.
There
can be no half-hearted commitment when it comes to this battle, just as there
cannot be half-hearted commitment when it comes to battles in the physical.
You
begin a battle with the intent of winning, of overcoming, and vanquishing your
enemy. You know that which you are fighting for. The purpose is clear, the
mission is clear, and the enemy before you has made himself known.
We
cannot possess divided loyalties and still hope to be victorious in battle. We
cannot possess divided loyalties and still hope to overcome the enemy. I
guarantee you, the enemy’s loyalties are not divided, his purposes are not
blurred, and his intent is not swayed.
Nehemiah 4:14, “And
I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the
people, ‘Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and
fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.’”
Know
what you’re fighting for! Know why you’re fighting the fight you are fighting! And
know that the Lord is with you if you are with Him!
Do
not be afraid, stand firm, and be committed to defending the truth and righteousness
of God.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
3 comments:
THANK YOU!
Marshall Warren
THANK YOU!
Marshall Warren
Thank you for this teaching. The Lord has recently laid this topic on my heart to teach about on my blog and it reassures me that I am hearing correctly from Him when I see another believer speak the same message, even if in a different manner.
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