ICS Daily Devotions
Know Who Your Adversary Is
John 16:33 (NKJV) “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
The Christian life is like a marathon rather than a sprint, and there will be times when we feel like giving up. Therefore, we need to build up resilience so that we will not quit when we face adversity along the way.
When we choose to live out a sanctified life, one that is characterized by holy and righteous living, God will allow trials to come and mould us (such as a difficult and ungodly boss) to refine our character. These would be lessons from which we can learn.
On the other hand, although Jesus says that there will be tribulations in this world, He has overcome the world. One important foundational truth is our knowledge of the source of the tribulation, because this will help us fight the good fight of faith, and enable us to reject and rebuke the devil when he attempts to devour us with his schemes.
2 Corinthians 4:4 (NKJV) “…whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”
Mark 4:17 (NKJV) “…and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the Word’s sake, immediately they stumble.”
When Adam sinned against God, he handed over the governance of this world to the devil and we have lived in a fallen world ever since. The devil is the god of this age, who together with his cohorts of fallen angels—the principalities, rulers of darkness, powers, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places—influence the world. However, not only is Jesus seated far above all demonic forces, He has also raised us up to be seated with Him in the heavenly places. Nonetheless, the devil is a deceiver and the father of lies, and he can blind believers and unbelievers from the truth because he wants to lure people away from God. He uses tribulations and persecution to try and kill us physically and to demoralise us spiritually. His desire is to steal the teaching of the Word from us to prevent faith from arising within us, and to destroy our dreams and passion for the Lord. Because he is the god of this age and we are living in a fallen world, he can manipulate circumstances and nature towards his goal.
Therefore, we need to build a foundation that’s unshakable and to resist, reject, rebuke and fight the devil with the Word. This is how we can be resilient in the midst of tribulations as we continue to run towards the finishing line in the marathon of life.
Sermon Series: Resilience
