The enemies of our wills
We all know that when we become a Christian, our wills (which were under bondage to the devil)…are now freed. They become a power for God. (Romans 6:13-14) We can will to deny ourselves and pick up our cross and….follow the Lord!
1 John 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love tht world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
But we also know, as Christians, we often have a battle in our wills. (Paul shows this in Ro. 7)
The enemies of our wills are:
…. the world….and it’s influence on us in fashion, in speech, in attitudes.
….the flesh….and it’s inclination to our old sins, and having our own way.
…..and the devil….who works through the world and the flesh to try and bring us under his influence again.
Sin is the means for each of these enemies. To sin is “whatsoever is not of faith, is sin”…..and “to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)
One is having to do with our use of the faith given us. Unbelief is sin, doubt is sinful, anger is sin, an unloving attitude is sin…..all having to do with the fact that we are not using our faith.
Faith sees God and works within us to bring all that we see in HIm….into us.
To reject or ignore faith….is sin. For it is the Light we need to lead us to Heaven, through a world of traps.
The other definition of sin has to do with our believing obedience. Doing….or not doing, what we know to do.
Our enemies are not only around us….but in us. The flesh is something we are going to have to deny all the way to Heaven.
Paul said, “I die daily.”(2 Cor. 15:31) His life was one of dying to self, wanting to be alive to Christ…in everything.
1 John 2:16 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
We know all this began in Eve, in the temptation of the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil.
To consider what he was saying, instead of believing God.
To see the fruit as good for food….though she had all the other trees to eat from.
To think of being as God, knowing good and evil.
The devil knew how to tempt her….and tempted Adam because of her….and we sinned.
We sin the same way….when we doubt God…..when we look for something other than His Way for us….and when we think we know at least as much as God does about this situation.
When we are born again, our wills turn toward God….but through temptation, they can be “turned out of the way”.
The will, willing is a beautiful thing…..for it leads us to come boldly before our Father in time of need….it calls to the Lord and learns of Him….and it hearkens to the voice of the Holy Spirit in His Word.
Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
Such a simple sentence….yet it sets forth the power of a spirit-filled life.
When Christ reigns within, we are not only enabled to do His Will, willingly…..
…but we become His Will in all our every day activities.
Battles we will have….always have. And they may be hard and long. But victory through the faith of Christ overcomes.
1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
Luke 9:23 “And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
We have enemies….but we have our God, Who has given us His Way and Word to lead us and bring us to Heaven in peace.
His Way is to love Him.
Let us love God….and not the world….and stand with the Lord in the battle ahead.
His Way is to trust and hold on to His Word.
Let us…”Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee.” (Isa. 26:3)
His Way is obedience.
Even when the storm arises, and the light seems to fade,….to go on and do what the Lord says…in believing obedience to….and for Him.
Our wills will propel us on…..let us bring them into subjection to our loving Lord, and go in His Way.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 