Battleground

God created a beautiful earth with everything man needed to live and flourish in a close relationship with Him. Instead man turned the beautiful earth into a battleground between good and evil.

Recently my plane was coming in to land and I looked out across the city. Lights, buildings, roads, bridges, and cars stretched out almost as far as I could see. Man has indeed subdued the earth. Many of the things we have done have been good and some are even beautiful, but when we look at the spirit world; we haven't done so well.

When Adam and Eve decided to disobey God and eat of the fruit the powers of darkness were unleashed and mans heart was permanently bent toward sin. This earth became a battleground between the forces of evil and the power of God. Over the next four thousand years man grew further and further from God.

When Jesus came into the World the light shined in darkness but the darkness could not comprehend it. The people who were supposed to be the people of God did not even recognize who Jesus was. When Jesus died and rose again the power of the evil one was broken. No longer was man doomed to powerlessly fight against evil making repeated animal sacrifices to cover their sins. Jesus had broken the power of the Devil.

At Pentecost the Holy Spirit came upon the people of God giving them power and direction through a direct connection with God. Man could now have a one on one relationship with God instead of the corporal relationship that had previously been as close as most people could get to God.

Also at Pentecost, the church was born. An aspect of the corporal relationship continued to have an important role in the lives of God's people. Here was fellowship, love, belonging, support, direction, teaching, and identity.

God has also given us armor and weapons to be used on this battlefield. Ephesians 6 details the armor of God: "Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation..." We have the defensive gear we need to ward off the attacks of the enemy.

God has also provided us with offensive gear. Ephesians 6 continues: "And take ... the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—"

Love is also a very effective weapon against the evil around us. Evil cannot mix with love. Where one is the other cannot be.

Prayer is a connection with God but it is also a powerful force against evil. When Christians pray, God moves and the powers of darkness are forced to flee.

The battles go on. Whether it's a thousand small battles or one giant battle against a Goliath; we have the the armor, we have the weapons, we have the power, we have the support and we have a direct connection to our commander. Meanwhile the enemy's power is already broken and he has no chance of prevailing against the kingdom of God. Let us march forward in power and confidence and conquer in the name of Jesus!