Use Your Time Wisely

Standing In The Evil Day

“Therefore Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13).

This is a fighter’s verse. You can hear the sound of combat when you read it. You can sense the smoke and gunfire of desperate battle, of solders rushing to the front lines, and at the end of the verse, you can hear the sound of victory.

Ephesians 6:13 describes our current situation. The “evil day” is upon us. We have the armor of God. We are called to stand our ground and to fight to the end so that we may be standing when the day is done. Everything we need for this present moment is in this one verse.

Why Is Satan So Active In The World Today?

1. Christians have neglected the entire realm of spiritual warfare.

Why – because certain teachers have gone to extremes, many pastors have shied away from the subject of spiritual warfare altogether. And that means the people were not taught. Many people will go into battle unprepared.

2. Satan knows his time is short

Satan is so active today because we are living in the last days. 2 Timothy 3:1 tells us that in the last days “perilous times” will come. There seems to be a coalescing view of many Christians leaders that we are hurling headlong toward the end of human hi story as we know it. If that is true, we shouldn’t be surprised that Satan has redoubled his efforts, knowing that his time is short ( Revelation 12:12).

3. Satan is so active because society has rejected God and embraced evil In radical ways. When evil abounds, you may be certain that Satan is having a field day.

When there is pornography, open Satan worship, widespread drug and alcohol abuse, sexual immorality, add to that list the legalized killing of unborn and the sweeping redefinition of marriage. Sin has always been with us, and Satan has always been active, but in the 21st century, we have openly rejected God and His Word. When you turn from God, the only thing left is the worship of idols of your own making (Romans 118:24). Most of us know the verse that says, “This is the day the Lord has made” (Psalm 118:24). A wise observer said that we have turned that on its head; “This is the day the Lord has made.” What a perfect description of modern man and rebellion against God.

The Warning

“When the days of evil comes.“

Paul says, “When the day of evil comes” not if the day of evil comes because nothing is more certain that the conflict in the heavenly realm. The day of evil is power.

It’s important to understand what Paul means here. While every day had its share of evil, not every day is the “evil day.” There are moments in life when we feel the heat of the battle in a big way. In those days temptation flares us, tempers grow short, friends turn against us, discouragement sets in, and we feel like giving up.

Satan doesn’t fight fair, Why should he? He attacks us in our weakness, he uses circumstances to discourage us, he tempt us to do things we swore we would never do, he hits us when we are alone and vulnerable.

The “days of evil” comes sooner or later for all of us. And it comes again and again.

We have been largely shielded from the kind of suffering our brothers and sisters in places like Somalia, Sudan, India, and China routinely face, such as public abuse, legal restrictions, and sometimes arrests, imprisonment, and death . Things are bound to get worse for us in America as our society becomes more secular,

A March through church history reveals a long and sordid array of government-sponsored persecutions, it’s survey not showing rulers who understand and fulfill their God-given purpose. When persecution comes to America we shouldn’t necessarily expect our government to protect us. The current cultural trends show protection isn’t likely.

The day of evil always comes sooner or later. It had come again and again in church history. No one gets a free ride on the journey from earth to heaven. We in the west need to get together if we are to survive what is coming our way.

Perhaps you’ve had a good week, a good month, a good year. Enjoy every blessing you receive. But take nothing for granted. In the battle for your soul, Satan never takes a vacation.

The Command

“Put on the whole armor of God.”

What do you do when the evil day comes? You put on the whole armor of God. The Greek word for “put on” comes from the military vocabulary of the first century. It was used for the last thing the soldier would do before going out to battle. When the call came, the soldier would grab his armor, put it on, and head for the fight. When the evil day comes, before you go to battle, make sure you’re in uniform.

To many people don’t take this seriously. That’s why they get clobbered in the head.

The Armor of God remind us of who our enemies are. It’s too easy to look at the world today and think our enemies are certain politicians or certain entertainers or the Muslim radicals who behead their victims and then make videos bragging about it. When we see people fighting in favor of abortion and in favor of gay marriage and against Christian values in the marketplace, it’s easy to say “They are our enemies.”

But Paul has already said, “We don’t fight against flesh and blood.” That meant he wasn’t leading a revolution against the wicked emperor Nero who burned Rome and then blamed it on the Jews. Nero instigated a persecution of Jews across the empire that led to believers being burned alive and thrown to the lions. He eventually had Paul himself beheaded.

Our Enemy Is Invisible

Nero was not the enemy As wicked as he was, Nero was just a tool of the real enemy, Satan and the forces of wickedness is in the spiritual realm. This is what is going on today.

It’s easy to hate terrorists for what they are doing to our brothers and sisters in the Middle East and in Africa. They blew up the World Trade Center on 9/11. They intended to do much more in America when they get the chance.

We Do Not Fight Alone

Let it be clearly said that I favor doing whatever must be done to stop violence and pain inflicted on everyone throughout the World. But we must not view any political and ideological opponents as the ultimate enemy we face,

Our ultimate enemy is invisible. He cannot be seen or touched. His armies move in the spiritual realm.

This is actually a liberating perspective because it set us free to love those who hate us. If we believe what Paul is saying in this verse, we can stand strong when the world mocks our faith. When they curse, us we don’t have to respond in kind. If we put on the full armor of God, we won’t be thrown off stride.

What Is The Full Armor Of God?

In the larger context Ephesians 6: 14-27 answers that question. The armor has 6 parts:

  • The Belt Of Truth
  • Breastplate Of Righteousness
  • Shoes Of The Gospel
  • Shield Of Faith
  • Helmet Of Salvation
  • Sword Of The Spirit – The Word Of God

The armor remind us that our hope for Victory rests in the character of God.

No One Said Being A Christian Is Easy

Behind the belt of truth stands the God of truth. Behind the breastplate of righteousness stands the God of righteousness. Behind the hues of the gospel of peace, stand the God of peace. Behind the shield of faith stands the God, who is faithful. Behind the word of God stand the God of the Word.

We do not fight alone, or in our own power. When we take up the divine armor, God himself fights for us. Supernatural enemies require supernatural resources.

The Result

“You may be able to stand your own ground, and after you have done everything to stand.”

The phrase “stand your ground“ speaks of hand to hand combat. No one said being a Christian is easy. Any representations to the contrary are false and dangerous. When we sign up for Team Jesus, we join the Lord’s army. Maybe you knew that’s what you were doing. Or maybe you just prayed a prayer because you wanted Jesus in your heart,nor you walked an aisle and someone led you to Jesus. Perhaps you came to Christ because of the influence of a praying mother or father who set a good example or a youth pastor who challenged you about your spiritual life.

There are thousands of ways people come to Christ. God uses many means to bring people into His family.

Your In The Army Now

So it’s very possible you thought, “I want to know Jesus“ or “I want my sins forgiven” or “I want to know I am going to Heaven” or “ this is what I have been searching for.” It doesn’t matter why you signed up.

You’re in the army now.

You signed up for Frontline duty in the Army of Jesus. He doesn’t have any desk jobs where you can stay far behind the lines, and the other risk their lives for Christ. We’re all in this together as soldiers of Christ.

There is good news and bad news here. The bad news being that no one gets a break from the battle. We are under attack 24/7/365. Because Satan doesn’t sleep, we don’t have the luxury of going to sleep, spiritually. The good news is God has provided everything necessary, so that we might fight and win every battle we face.

This Day The Noise of Battle, The Next The Victor’s Song

The last phrase “ after you have done everything to stand” Pictures of soldier, standing in the middle of a battlefield after the conflict has ended. It has been a long, hard, brutal, fight, with many casualties, many wounded, many fallen. He stands and surveys the battlefield, his uniform soaked with sweat, dirt and blood. Eyes are red rimmed with exhaustion. There are craters all around him where the artillery had chewed up the ground. He hears the cry of those who have been hit. He does not smile because he knows the enemy will attack again tomorrow. But tonight he will rest well, knowing that he was still standing in the fighting ended.

Satan Never Sleeps

I have a family member that was fighting in Afghanistan. When they were serving I read a book about a soldier where the Commander always said. “The Taliban, can start a fight at any time they like, but we will finish it. Thinking about that, that was Paul’s idea was. We stand and fight in Jesus name, and when the smoke clears, we will, you’ll be standing victorious on the battlefield.

Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus

The battle we face is not ours. They are the Lord’s. Jesus won the greatest battle when he died and rose again. God intends that you stand in victory at the end of the day. But that won’t happen without a fight. We are not supposed to run and hide. Serving Jesus is for strong men and brave women.

I am not a pessimist. But it’s time to put on the Armor of God, belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness. Let’s make sure we’re wearing our gospel shoes. Put on the helmet of salvation, pick up the shield of faith and the sword of the spirit and head to the sound of the battle.

We were made for times like these. Stand firm on the evil day. Stand up for Jesus in the power of the Spirit.

The Victory Is Ours

The King Is Coming

Palm Sunday

The final week of Jesus’s ministry is is beginning, and triumphant entry is a prelude to so much that will happen that week, and in eternity as well that is lead us to Jesus’s Persecution.

Don’t worry about what the crowd says. The crowd will proclaim you a hero and a zero the next. You can know who you are whether they see it or not. Jesus wasn’t lifting up with pride by this reception, any more that He was angered by their later deception. He, knew who He was, and some of them would truly believe.

When Jesus rode in to Jerusalem on a donkey the people shouted Hosea Hosea – Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Waving their Palm leaves on and laying them on the ground.

Here’s some background in those days you went to the temple for one reason, which was to make an animal sacrifice but your sacrifice had to be approved by the temple priest for the forgiveness of sins. The priests stared to sell sacrifices at high prices. Israel was supposed to be the light of the world, but it had become a dark place. The temple that was supposed to be about missionary work indulged in mercenary work.

The Worshiped Jesus as King, yet one week later the Crucified, this lowly man that would change the world and eternity forever. But the people did not see.

When Jesus rode in the donkey, the disciples were ecstatic that people finally recognized Jesus as their King, their Savior. But not one realized He was The Lamb – their Salvation. The one who would take their sins away.

This week is Holy Week – it commemorates Jesus’s life, faith and the events leading up to His death and resurrection. This week is a dark week, when we realize Jesus was going to the cross for us.

Persecution Warning For Christians

It’s time to take note the persecution are ramping up as time goes on.

Bob Fu a Christian how left China after persecution against Christians that worsened in the 1990s. After helping the underground church in China served to meet the needs of Christians. Today, Fu see the same government overreach happening in America as he experienced in China.

That same way the government forced chute shut down during the Covid mirrored the language used to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Fu said “I saw the governor of California basically proscribe and order the church to shut down and say not only when they could worship, but how. The ways that he threatened to punish those churches and Pastor sometimes were word for word exactly the same as what the CCP is using against Chinese churches.”

Fu said not only are we witnessing church persecution, it will get worse. Understanding persecution from a biblical standpoint is imperative for younger generations today.

While we cannot know if we are in the final generation or not. We are experiencing “birthing pangs.” In Mark 13, the image of birth pains is used to describe several terrible and painful kinds of events, strife, earthquakes and famine. Matthew and Mark tells us, are the beginning of the birth pains, perhaps implying that bitter pains will get even worse than that, whether we’re read or not.

Matthew 24:9, he said “Then, all nations will hate you.” I never really focused on that word at all. If you read Matthew 24: 5-8, Jesus called the beginning of birth pangs and then “all nations will hate you.” That time hasn’t happened yet. That’s the future, and America is in that cluster. There is a time where all people that are true to the words of Jesus, really loyal to what He said, will suffer.

If we don’t stay true to Jesus, our end will be much worse. Revelation 9:6 says, “In those days men will seek death and will not find it. “They will hope for death, but it will escape them. Death will flee from them.

Today there a refusal in to be a faithful member of Christ, there no hiding the fact that persecution is part of the future. Jesse told us that there would be trouble in this world, but He had overcome it (John 16:33. The disciples knew early on that no matter what happened to them in this world, Jesus had already overcame sin and the grave. That’s why they were able to cling tight to Him and His Word despite being persecuted unto death and exile.

Focusing On Small Things Can Make A Big Difference

It’s easy to get caught up in the big life-changing moment that are affecting us, and rationalize their impact on. Everything else is happening around us.

But it’s a small things that have the biggest effect in the direction of our lives take.

Think of yourself as a small, snowball being rolled down the hill, getting bigger and stronger as it picks up, momentum, until it is one huge boulder, breaking down trees.

That entire process started with the act of creating a single snowball in the palm of your hand.

Don’t Get So Caught Up In The Big Things

It’s easy to get caught up in the big things in our lives. For example, the team you’re coaching that has blown a three goal lead loses by for when it’s all said and done.

The easy response is to get mad at the team and how this could have happened.

But the harder, more difficult response is to ask them what happened and what we can do next to make it better.

The small things are the players, what went wrong, what happened, and what will we do for the next time.

The big thing is the loss. But any good coach will tell you, that is now history.

It’s over, and it’s time to focus on what’s next. Focusing on the small things, taking those actions, as direct correlation to long term thinking.

Big things come from small strides. Any big change in your life is not the result of one big stride.

You don’t say you were going to lose weight and then have the weight shed off of you.

No, it takes the smaller actions of eating well, exercising, purging, bad behaviors – all small actions that when taken on their own might not amount you’re a big change in your life.

But when taken together in small steps, they will contribute toward a larger goal.

The small things put a goal within reach and make it attainable. Small strides make change inevitable.

People Remember The Small Things

Everyone knows what happened on Christmas and your birthday – they are big events that get celebrated with incredible fanfare.

But what about those small interactions that you encourage throughout the year?

Like when someone brought you coffee when you were feeling down, when you reach out to someone for a listening, ear, or when someone took the time to go for a walk with you to work out a problem.

Which one had the biggest impact?

The small cup of coffee, or the fanfare for Christmas?

If you want to make a difference in your life, focus on the small things, the relationships, the people, the interactions, the handshakes, the smiles.

It’s the tiniest of things that can make the biggest difference in someone’s life,

Seeing your grand gestures, do not yield the same return on investment as a steady investment in daily actions and commitment to consistent change.

Master the small, then move on to the next step, and do the same thing again.

One year for now, take stock of how far you have come, what do you have achieved, and where you are going.

Would you have been able to accomplish in that one big gesture?

Wouldn’t have made the same level of difference?

Focus on the small things – for your actions will lead to big differences. From there, the change you want to see happen in your life will happen.

The Power Of Faith

Read is the key to defeating all that comes against you. In order for the hand of God to work miracles in your life, you must believe that He is able. Your trials have no power over you, except for what you allow. For that reason, you must never let the fear of any painful situation in your life become bigger than God.

The Bible tells us that Jesus came to set the captives free. We were once in bondage to the evil of this world now have a power or darkness. The death and resurrection of Christ gave us victory over anything that seeks to destroy us. He paid a price for us to live life abundantly, despite what we have to endure. He became our strength to conquer all of our enemies. He has put death and destruction under His feet. Those who have a relationship with users have nothing to fear from this world. He alone is the hope for all that you need, and He will not fail you.

In Matthew 15, we read about the apostles, who were in a boat on the water that was being tossed around by the wind and the waves. During the night, Jesus came to them walking on the water and they became afraid. Peter jumped into the water to go and meet Jesus, but heveas afraid of the storm and began to sink. He called to Jesus for help, Jesus caught him and commented on his lack of faith.

The truth of this matter is that it was not the wind or the waves that brought Peter down, it was his fear. Instead of keeping his eye on the Creator who could save him from all things, Peter instead empowered the wind and the waves. He feared that he would perish even though the Master of the universe was right there with him. Jesus is over all that is in this world and even the wind must obey Him. With just a word Jesus was able to quiet the storm.

Every now and then there is a situation Jesus can’t take you out of. But He will take you through if your trust is in Him. He can give you peace in the trial that you are enduring. The power of the blood of Christ is able to meet you wherever you are. It does not matter what you have done, or how far you have strayed, His love is able to reach out and lift you up from the waters of trouble and bring you to safety. Jesus is always willing to forgive you and give you a future that has promise. For the believer, the strength to live in victory is always with you because Christ lives within you. He alone can defeat a serious health problem, financial difficulties or any addiction and pain you may have. Jesus alone had the power to heal a broken marriage and restore families. That is your heritage as a child of the living God! Nothing is impossible for Him who spoke the world into existence.

If you are to weary from the battles you are fighting, lift your eyes to Jesus Who is the source of all strength. He will not leave you, if you have faith, His plan for you will never fail. The enemy has been defeated by the cross and his power has been destroyed.

Our Lord is able to keep us on top of the water despite what trouble comes against us, and what we are going through. You are never alone and your situation is never impossible for the true God whose love you will never fail you.

Have Faith