Still Not There Yet (1/10/11)

Shalom,

 

    Please begin by reading John 16:25-33.

 

    It's very easy to become pessimistic about our world.  World-wide, economies are struggling.  Throughout America social services are falling short, and not able to truly help everyone in need.  Major corporations are merging or being swallowed up by international conglomerates.  Technology is moving so fast things become obsolete almost overnight.  There are wars all over the world.  And instead of crying out to our Creator for help, many people are trying to remove him from our public lives.

    If you're surprised or upset by any of these things, please remember what we just read.  "In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world."  Things just might get worse than they already are.  But as believers in and followers of Jesus, we can experience something in the midst of all the trials and sorrows - Peace!  Even when we're hampered and hindered by flaky friends, funny money, hellish homes, broken bodies, crushed emotions, and devilish attacks - we can stand and say that our God is blessing us and helping us face the future unafraid.

 

    In this discussion with his disciples, Jesus is trying to prepare them for the Cross.  He knows that when he leaves them, they'll be surrounded by Satan's World System.  He wants them to know that nothing can overcome them when they stand strong in their faith and belief.  We need to have that same assurance in our hearts.  We also need to know that this world is controlled by the ultimate loser.  Satan is a created being.  He tried to overthrow his Creator and take over as the ruler of the universe.  But he was cast out of heaven for his rebellion and now he's doing all he can to keep as many humans from reaching the place of blessing prepared for us by Yahweh.

    Satan's World System lies and tells mankind to come to him for power and pleasure.  But this world system turns strong men into weak addicts.  It turns families into broken homes.  It makes the young look old while the old try to look young.  It mocks Christians and lifts up fantasy, witchcraft, and New Age spirituality.  True Christians do not belong to this world.  We just live here while we work as ambassadors for our King.

    We need to be reminded of the power in the words of our Lord Jesus.  His words stilled stormy winds and waves.  His words opened deaf ears and loosed mute tongues.  His words called a man back from the dead.  His words healed a man miles away.  His words opened the doors of heaven to those who would trust him and obey his teaching.  In contrast, the devil's words are lies, empty words meant to pump up human egos and make them think they don't need their Creator.

    Think of the encouragement found in the Scriptures.  I was going to quit, but "the one who is in me is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).  I was going to throw myself a pity party, but "weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5).  I was going to go absolutely crazy, but "Yahweh will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because I trust in him" (Isa 26:3).  And that's only three examples of the power available to us when we seek the fullness of what our Lord has provided for us.

    The Word of God is given to us that we might have hope.  These things, these laws and prophecies and stories, they all matter.  The key is that we have a Creator God who cares deeply, who provides everything we need to have hope and peace and joy and comfort.  Even though we still have a long way to go, and even though things may go bad, we can fully trust him and believe that our Savior has already overcome the world.  There aren't  any more truly major battles to be fought between heaven and hell.  Satan is already defeated.  Jesus has already accomplished his overthrow.

    Yes, Jesus has already overpowered and prevailed against the enemy of our souls.  The devil is a defeated foe right now, not just at some unknown time in the future.  Jesus is triumphant right now.  He's the conqueror right now.  But we're not there yet.  We still have our lifetimes to live in defending and spreading the Gospel.  Spiritually, all the work is done.  Physically, we still have to work to bring this spiritual victory to more and more and more people.

 

    What does this peace mean to us?  Jesus is our peace.  In him there's very real and true peace, rest, and quietness.  In him there's peace between people.  In him there's salvation because he makes peace between us and Yahweh.  In him there's tremendous Christian fellowship because he makes peace between our different opinions and prejudices, you know, those things we often call our denominational distinctives.

    If Jesus is the source of our encouragement and peace, the devil can't discourage us.  Satan works hard to bring discouragement into the lives of believers.  He throws all the junk he can at us to cause us to lose sleep, lose patience, lose hope, lose joy, or lose peace.  We need to set in our hearts that Jesus provides everything we need to overcome the devil's ongoing schemes and plots against us.  We need to have the kind of hope Habakkuk spoke of: "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in Yahweh, I will be joyful in God my Savior" (Hab 3:17-18).

    Think: This world is out of control, but I have peace.  The crime rate is up, but I have peace.  The financial market is shaky, but I have peace.  There are wars and struggles all over, but I have peace.  There is sickness and pain all around, but I have peace.  The Church is failing to build Yahweh's Kingdom, but I have peace.  Live out the promise of Phil 4:6-7.  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

 

    The ones reading this who know Jesus as their Savior are classified as an overcomer in the Bible.  And every person in this world is either an overcomer or they'll eventually be overcome by the world system.  The words of Jesus clearly tell us that positively and absolutely there's trouble and trials and sorrows in this world.  Don't be surprised by this, be prepared to face it with all the strength our loving Father provides through the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Our outside circumstances may not be wonderful, but we should always be able to say, "It is well with my soul."

    In the past week, one (or all) of you readers got pressured by family, on the job, in your finances, by other church people, or by your own unrealistic expectations.  But face it, pressure is part of this world's regular activity.  Remember that we have a God who can "work for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Rom 8:28).  This doesn't mean that everything that happens to us is good, but that our loving Father is able to bless us no matter what the world does to us.

    We all need to cheer up.  We've got to stop moping around and letting the world steal our joy.  Rebuke the devil and let him know that you belong to Jesus and that you're going to crush his head.  That's got to be one of the most interesting verses in the Bible.  Rom 16:20 says, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet."  Our heavenly Father - the God of peace and harmony and tranquility and safety - will destroy and dash into pieces our enemy, the devil.  And notice that it says "under your feet."  My feet and your feet are going to be what ultimately smashes the devil into little pieces and destroys him.  But we're not there yet.

 

    As we struggle through this world, or should we say as we victoriously walk in Christ through this world, stand strong in your faith and trust the limitless power and authority of our Lord Jesus.  Don't sweat the small stuff like poverty and disease and war and crime and abortion and corrupt politics.  Even though we're not there yet, we can live victorious lives of faith and hope and peace right now.  We can overcome the world by not letting it's nasty assaults against our faith wear us down.    Remember, it's not what's happening on the outside that determines where we stand spiritually.  It's in our hearts and minds that we stand strong in faith.

    Our peace and security aren't found in this world.  We don't have to be overly stressed by the problems and struggles because we have the promise of our Lord Jesus: "I have overcome the world."

 

    Blessings & Peace,    Mike