OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL-MONDAY-13/06/2016-SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS III-BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS III
Memorise
But
I keep under my body and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a
castaway. 1st Corinthians 9:27
Read
Ephesians 6:10-18,
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of his might.
11 Put
on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of
the devil.
12 For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand.
14 Stand
therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the
breastplate of righteousness;
15 And
your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above
all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And
take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and
supplication for all saints;
KJV
MESSAGE
One of the
girdles to use as a Christian soldier is truth, and Jesus is the Truth. Every
Christian soldier must live by the truth of the Word of God. When Jesus came face
to face with the devil in the wilderness, the devil was unable to bring
anything against Him. In boxing there are three major blows: the jab, the hook
and the uppercut. The ultimate goal of any boxer who is in the ring is to hit
the head of the opponent. While the opponent is making efforts to see that his
head is properly covered against the punches of the opponent, his stomach is
exposed and the boxer throws the hook on the stomach. Once the stomach is
affected, the opponent tilts forward and the boxer gives the uppercut because
he now has access to the head. The spiritual implication of this is that the
enemy concentrates on the weak points of a Christian soldier. This is the
strategy he applies in dealing with many Christians. The devil has got you the
moment he discovers your weak point. Therefore, the easiest way to win the
battle against the enemy is to win the battle against yourself.
Let there be a separation between
you and those things the enemy can use to condemn you. Don’t ever allow the devil
to bring you into captivity. You have to keep your body and bring it into
subjection. This you can do by crying to the One who has recruited you as a
soldier, to help you win the battle over yourself.
This
battle is not the type you win at once. The flesh will always try to rise
again, but you have to continue to fight so that you can maintain your victory.
The person, who will win a race, will only be crowned if he runs according to
the rules. Therefore, you need to live holy. External forces intend to slow you
down so that you don’t get to the finish line, some may try to stop or pull you
back, but what is inside of you should be strong enough to overcome every
resistance. You cannot afford to stop running until you are called up into
glory because the devil will never take a break. Endure unto the end.
“But he that shall
endure unto the end, the same shall be saved”
Matthew 24:13
It is not the
one who was leading at the beginning that gets the crown but the one that leads
to the end. You need to be disciplined as a Christian soldier. Without
discipline, one will soon become an ex-champion. The Christian soldier must not
allow the lusts of the flesh to distract him from the race to heaven.
“For he that soweth
to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the
spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting”
Galatians 6:7-8
Prayer Point
Father, help me not to miss
my reward as a faithful Christian soldier.
Bible in one year
Ezra 6:13-8:23, Ecclesiastes
6:10-7:8
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