READY
We are finishing our eleventh week of operating The SPRING Student Center. Of the 380+ kids, only about 10% have any relationship with Jesus or the church. Just this week kids have started asking questions about what the Bible says about certain topics. You see, they know we that are operating the place are Christian. We have to be ready for their questions.

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

All of us need to study God’s Word and pay attention to what the Holy Spirit is telling us as we go about our daily lives. We all need to be ready to answer the questions about our faith in Jesus Christ.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

NOTHING

There’s always going to be someone bigger than we are, or stronger, or smarter. Typically, people look to the superior being as a hero and we may be made to feel inferior in their presence.

However, there is no one bigger, stronger or smarter than God is, and He has called us to be His heirs, His children!

³⁵Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ³⁶(As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) ³⁷No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. ³⁸And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ³⁹No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35 - 39 (NLT)

So, when you are feeling overwhelmed by circumstances, by attacks, by people or anything else, just remember that NOTHING can get between you and God. NOTHING can separate you from the love of your heavenly Father.

If you have not trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, today is your opportunity to do so. Simply ask Him to forgive your past mistakes (sins) and come into your life. He will not disappoint! He cannot.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

PRIVILEGE

We see power abused in many aspects of our society; the politician who hides personal expenses that he charges to the state, the teacher who exploits the children in his or her care are just a couple of examples.

When we come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ we have His power available to us. In His name we have “right” on our side…

In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; ²⁷for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. John 16:26 - 27 (NKJV)

We have direct access to God the Father through Jesus Christ. We have the Holy Spirit in us, the Spirit of the Living God; the power to do God’s will. The Bible cautions us in the exercise of that power. Paul reminds us in his letter to Titus of the responsibilities that come with such power:

Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, ²to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. Titus 3:1 - 2 (NASB)

What we have to realize is, that being a child of God is an incredible privilege! Jesus had given His disciples power over demons in Luke chapter ten, but His words to them indicate that we are to be more excited about the privilege of being His children, than over the power that comes with that position.

When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” ¹⁸“Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! ¹⁹Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. ²⁰But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” Luke 10:17 - 20 (NLT)

God’s power is available to us to do His work. Just keep in mind that it is a privilege and we are no better than those that do not know Christ. I am reminded of that old saying, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

WEAPONS

I was talking to a kid one day and he said to me, “If those guys make fun of my little sister again, I’m going to go beat them to a pulp.” Perhaps you remember when you were a kid and somebody threw a rock at you. Your first impulse is to pick up a bigger rock and throw it back at them.

God’s ways are not our ways. When we follow Jesus, we must act like Jesus. When he was being whipped, he could have killed his tormenters with a single thought or called in an army of angels to destroy the entire town…but he didn’t. Jesus remained silent and left things in the hands of his Father.

Paul talks about the weapons we are to use in the spiritual battle we face every day in his second letter to church in Corinth:

⁴For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 2 Corinthians 10:4 (NKJV)

God presents Himself to us in His written word. He tells us that He is the One that watches out for us and defends us when we look to Him and acknowledge Him as Lord or our lives.

Here’s an example from the familiar story of David and Goliath…

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 1 Samuel 17:45 (NKJV)

David’s faith was so strong he knew that invoking the name of his God was enough; trusting in the LORD was enough to ensure his success in the battle against the giant.

We face battles every day, at work or at school. It may seem like we are being attacked as a person when in fact the attack is spiritual. Our response must be spiritual, not reacting out of human emotions, but acting out of love, the love of God. They may come at you with weapons of this world, but you must respond by coming to them in the name of Jesus Christ, the only one who lived a sinless life here on this earth.

We cannot see our spiritual enemies, the rulers, authorities, powers and spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). We can only call on the name of Jesus, the One who saved us from the grips of sin and death. He has told us He will never leave our sides. Jesus has already won the victory. Call on Him for help. Pray, read and study God’s Word and trust in God to win the battle.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

FIGHT

The battle for men’s minds and ultimately their souls, rages on in this world. As Paul said in Ephesians chapter 6, it is a spiritual fight, not a physical one. Paul goes into detail to tell us that call Jesus, Savior, how to defend ourselves. In Ephesians 6:16 he said, “Above all, taking the shield of faith…”

Faith is part of that spiritual battle. It is not something you can see. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul emphasizes the battle:

Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12 (NASB)

So, in what do we have “faith”?

1. Faith that God is our protector and defender

The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm. Exodus 14:14 (NLT)

2. Faith that God cares about our futures

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

3. Faith that God’s power is within us in the form of His Holy Spirit

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 1 John 4:4 (NLT)

4. Faith that, through Jesus, we are victors in the battle

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Romans 8:37 (NLT)

5. Faith in all the other promises that are put before us in God’s Holy Scriptures!

Fight on. Fight well. Make daily preparations in humble prayer before your God.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

SOLDIER

While sports may at times seem like war, there are significant differences. If we are friends with someone on the opposing football team, we will still do our best to defeat them. It’s different in war. If we are friendly with the enemy, we will not be able to defeat them.

Listen to this passage about the Christian life that Paul wrote to Timothy:

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 2 Timothy 2:3 - 4 (NKJV)

We are soldiers for Jesus Christ. We have been given certain objectives in this life that are not compatible with the world. Someone not focused on our Commander’s orders might be sidetracked by insisting on having their own way, by ignoring God’s command to think of others as more important than self or by throwing themselves into climbing the corporate ladder of success. But when God’s objective of reaching the lost world through the message of Jesus Christ is ignored, that person is useless as a soldier.

Now make confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.” Ezra 10:11 (NIV)

If we are to win the war, we must not fraternize with the enemy or be lured away by selfish desires! We are God’s people, bought with the blood of Jesus.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

RESIST

We live in a rich country. We spend more on games and leisure than most people in the world have to spend on food. We don’t really know what it is to do without something. We have become lazy, not necessarily in a physical sense, but in a spiritual sense. We have forgotten what it means to need and therefore have forgotten Who it is that provides for all of our needs. That should be a caution sign to us…

Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (HCSB)

Typically, people in need call on God for help. If we don’t feel we’re in need, we neglect God and therefore our relationship with Him. The devil is looking for such an opportunity. When we’re distracted, self-absorbed, too busy to pray or to read God’s Word…that’s when he will attack.

How can we be ready for that attack? Simple…DON’T NEGLECT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD! Remember when He first saved you. Read about His past acts of power in the scriptures and recall His mighty moving in your life. Renew your relationship with Him and you will be able to resist the attacks of the devil.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD