So you want to serve the Lord? Well, get ready, There's Going To Be A Fight!! Your adversary the devil is still roaring like a lion, he is still walking about seeking whom he may devour! When we make a concious decision to surrender ourselves to serve the Lord, the battlefield has just been prepared! And, it's located in our soul!! Yes, the spiritual battlefield of the war that has been raging from the beginning of man's history, is found in the heart and soul of man! Just ask Job,although his afflictions were seen outwardly, it was the devil's vile intention to destroy this man of God inwardly, in his very heart and soul!
Or, as in the case of the children of Israel found in Exodus 23:20-23, the Lord gave them twelve "I will" promises contingent on their obedience. He began by telling Moses He would send His Angel before them to keep them in the way and bring them into the land. After Moses gave God's message to the people, they answered with one voice "All the words which the Lord hath said will we do" (Exodus 24:3) showing them willingly making a decision to serve God by doing His will.
Moses then returns to Mount Sinai to receive the 10 commandments and God's instructions (Exodus 24-31). The devil counterattacks by bringing about the famous "Golden Calf" fiasco (Exodus 32). His angels of idolatry deluded and deceived Aaron and the people of Israel by convincing them to worship him, even though they thought they were worshipping other gods. They thought these man made gods would "go before" them. They also gave them credit for bringing them "out of the land of Egypt"!! It's amazing how Satan can slyly imitate the promises and works of God!
The devil's influence is evident later, when the children of Israel "rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play" (Exodus 32:6). Their conduct here involved false worship and wicked fleshly indulgences, however, the word "play" used here is the same word used in Genesis 39:14,17 used by Potiphar's wife when she charged that Joseph was "brought in to mock" or more accurately translated "brought in to make love to us". The children of Israel, in this Golden Calf incident, were worshipping false gods,eating, drinking, making merry and participating in an orgy like atmosphere involving open nudity! This is another recognized result of Satan's influence. Mark 5:1-20 records the account of the demoniac of Gadara, who, while being possessed of the devil was also found unclothed, nude, when the Lord approached him on the far shore of Galilee. This fact is demonstrated in v.15. After the Lord gave the unclean spirits leave, and the unclean spirits went out (v.13), the man was now "sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind". He was now a "new creature in Christ"! He went from being "a nude dude, in a crude mood" to being a "normal" man, cleansed by the power of God! Eliminating his nudity was one of the first changes this new creation, of the Lord Jesus', made to his outward appearance. The indwelling Spirit of God now determined his character,conduct and clothing!!
However, is it not significant how today's society reflects this same Satanic tendency of baring the body? It is consumed with worshipping the "body beautiful", with varying degrees of nudity being accepted in all circles, including the circles of God's people. If we want to know how God feels about uncovering our bodies, or nakedness, Exodus 20:26 reads like this: "Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto Mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered". This verse amply illustrates the standard that God expects! And yet the devil's apparent influence is seen everywhere we go.
How cunningly sly is this angel of light, Lucifer, former son of the morning? It's no wonder that men of God are "falling like flies", when ungodly degrees of nudity are paraded before them in the Church! They are the prime targets of Satan to begin with! And, when their souls are not guarded by active memory and meditation on the Word of God, (the only Weapon that works against Satan's pointed attack), it should be expected that many will fall to this formidable enemy of the soul. Although we only see and hear about those that fall physically, many are doing the work of the ministry, preaching, praying, visiting, smiling, shaking hands,and speaking nice words outwardly, but inwardly, they too have fallen spiritually, and are operating in the strength of the "flesh"!
Wait a minute! Is this a diatribe on pastors, or a condemnation of the people of God? Am I critizing these, my own brethren, my own friends, my own flesh and blood? No, I am only speaking from my own experience! Please, allow me to give you a small portion of my own personal testimony: When, I allow these wretched sins of omission to be present, and memorization and meditation are absent from my "dying daily ritual", then the "flesh", "The Doorway to the Devil", takes control, ever so subtly, and my ministry is, silently, but ever so certainly, turned over to "another spirit". After all, memory and meditation on Scripture provide me with necessary thought control, giving control to the Lord, abiding in Him, thinking His thoughts, having His mind in me and not my own "fleshly" thoughts and appetites!
Now, it's time we all admitted it! God's program for spiritual success is as plain as the nose on our faces! It is recorded in His Word so many times I don' t think it is necessary here to quote Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2, and the other 10 references to meditation in Psalm 119, not to mention all the times other men of God in the Bible mention memorization and meditation on the Word! So, let's get on with doing the will and work of God His way! Let us set aside time each day to perform this ever so enjoyable work, yes it is work, and that is what it will take, a decision to do it, recognizing it is the work that we most desperately need to perform our ministry! Let us flood our souls with the Living Word of God, and allow the Lord Himself to do the work with His power!
Yes, "There's Going To Be A Fight", but, let us get the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, in this all important battle for the souls of men! Although we know the outcome of the "war", (The Lord is after all, Lord of Lords and King of Kings), let us be ready and willing soldiers of the Cross, fighting His battles in the "Good Fight" of the faith, and receive the eternal reward from the Lord: "Well done thou good and faithful servant".