Ephesians 6:12 - For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
There is only one race...the human race. This is a bit off my normal blog. I was listening to a very old sermon, probably recorded in the 50’s. But the message was ever as relevant today as then. The message doesn’t change, though the messenger might! The preacher was A.Z. Tozer. I was riveted as I took notes. So this is his paraphrased sermon with my added comments, in italics where I remembered!
This is also a sober reminder to myself!
However, God talks about the folly of the human race. We don’t know our spiritual home nor the hand that feeds us and are not sufficient unto ourselves. The human race believes in moral judgment with a mistake being made here and there. We “basically” know what is right and allow for a few flaws but we are basically good! We do have institutions and people who do good things for others. But there still is a basic evil of the human race.
We can be distressed over the world conditions. Don’t we realize that this is proof of the depravity of the human race? The human race is nothing unless God is involved in lives. Until then goodness is man-centered. Man’s kingdom is filled with organized evil from satan. It is implemented by science, history and personal success...all of the flesh for the desires of the flesh. All part of the human race.
Then there’s the Kingdom of God! It’s a totally different Kingdom. This is made up of people who have been re-created, born again into His Kingdom. Persons who have given their lives to Christ. Persons who have no confidence in man’s successes and goodness because man can so easily fail without God.
I added these:
Without Christ I can do no good thing.
God is my strength and my shield, my help in times of weakness.
Only God knows just what we really need. Only He knows what is truly the best for us. The world has nothing to offer compared to what He has for those who seek Him.
These two kingdoms will touch, maybe even seep into one another. Sadly, there will always be a little world that spills into the church because man does that. And there are churches totally given over to man’s kingdom because they don’t really know God; their belief is that man can do good apart from God. Motivational speakers and businessmen are brought in to bring success or tell people the best life is now, here on earth, be the best you can be...without the help of God.
**I can do nothing apart from God.**
Mankind cannot be made good on their own but only through Divine help. The Church cannot succeed without God’s intervention. Only God in us can do a good thing.
So if we cannot do anything on our own, apart from God, we must seek Him daily, in prayer and supplication to help us make the right decisions. I know someone who (used to) ask God what she should wear every day. That might be a little overboard but we should at least seek Him about guiding our days, our thoughts, our words. We can so often fail here... So we need a Savior, One who will guide.
Examples of how to do this!!
The world says, "in everything by money"...if you have enough you’ll have what you want. Money talks and opens doors. More money, more success. If we, according to God’s Word, offer up first to the Kingdom of God, He will bless us (not necessarily with more money but spiritual blessings...what we truly need). However, money without prayer behind it, can become a curse. Even money given to a church without prayer behind it! If a church only wants a person’s money, they do not care about God. And likewise, giving because it’s an obligation, it’s not for God. So, how about everything by prayer and supplication...
The world says "it’s about social prestige," climbing the ladder, success. It’s not what, but who you know. Winning friends and influencing people. What we need is the power of God! We shouldn’t care what the world says; it’s what God thinks of us that matters. He has the power over life and death.
Let this sink in...Christ was born in a manger. Peter and John were fishermen and Matthew a despised tax collector. The early church rose up out of people with very little, not those in power or wealth. Paul was learned and he persecuted the early church. But he was humbled! He was brought to his knees before God. And converted! Peter was not very learned, but when God got hold of him it was the power of God in him that led 3,000 to Christ! They were a praying bunch! They sought Him.
When we come to Christ it’s usually when we realize a need, our awfulness, our miserableness, our poor spirits. We are humbled. When all else fails, Christ is there. It is through our testimony that others see Christ. Everything by prayer ... and it doesn't need to be in a mega church; a small, modest one will do too.
With the power of God, all things can be settled...better than any man or group of men committed to doing it their way. Pray more, talk less!
When a church begins to backslide it tends to try to educate itself through man’s ways. Get books on this, study this...as opposed to being directed into the Word of God. What does He say?
The world says everything by compromise. Could that be like being politically correct? Trying to be in harmony? All at a level playing field? The Word doesn’t suggest any such thing. There is only one right way. As much as people will balk at this, it is the truth. There is only one way! Through the power of God because His ways are perfect, His ways just.
Compromising in the Kingdom of God has deadly consequences. Yet some churches choose to compromise by seeking what the world wants over what God wants. Letting the church get along with the world, not standing alone with God. Like the "coexist" movement, regarding religion. Not taught in the Bible.
People have a problem with believers who won’t budge when it comes to the truth of the Bible...the world says, “Did God really say that? If He did He’s a tyrant; He’s supposed to be a loving God.” The Church is not to be used by man but by God. God does not compromise because...He IS God. He IS Creator of all things. He IS all powerful, all knowing, always present. What He commands will happen with or without man. He doesn’t need us but we certainly need Him. I'm thankful for a pastor who is diligent to seek God in all things.
But if we call ourselves to prayer and seeking (and trusting) God in all things, He will deliver. Prayer is what gives power to all the necessary things of life. We’ll find out some day whether the good that we did came to anything. That’s a scary thought. How much of my life will have been stubble which will be burned up, useless?
This is all truth and yet it is something that needs to be brought into our minds through the Holy Spirit. We will always fail at some things. It’s this fallen human nature we have as a human race. When we fail we rise up and start over.
Must be why Tozer titled the sermon Everything in Prayer!
Philippians 4:6-7 - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
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