23. March 25, 2014 -23rd Day of Lent

Defeat the world with God and Be Perfect in Him

In the letter of Paul to Ephesians chapter 6:11-18, God shows us the perfect way to live in this world. They way to tide over the nasty tricks that the world plays on us. As long as we are in this world, we are exposed to its powers. But these powers can no longer enslave us because Our Saviour Jesus Christ has gained victory over this world and has defeated each and everything that is of this world. We are the children of Victory and not slavery. We should no longer be enslaved by the powers of this world. But in everything that we do, we must control it with the power of our Living God.

We often forget this truth and gets beaten by the worldly desires. We curse others for our condition. We stay selfish for our gain. We compete with our fellow beings, we get angry with out mates. All these acts from our side is gradually destroying ourselves, about which we are ignorant. We are really being fooled by the worldly powers, these powers rage us to stay in tension every moment and finally we get trampled on the ground, good for nothing.

For this our Lord says to us that,

Our fight is not against people on earth. We are fighting against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness. We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly places. -Ephesians 6:12

This rulers, powers and authorities of the world's darkness is found within us. Our passions, desires, selfish motives, and all such things that has gained dominion over us, taking our control, are the ones that make us impure. These powers keeps us away from God. We may find ourselves to loose our control over them.

In this Lenten time, we will face many temptations from these powers and authorities of the dark world. The foods that has enslaved us, the TV programmes that has taken our control, the web pages, the internet sites, the friendships, the desires, our emotions, anger, selfishness, our mentalities and attitudes and all such things that has enslaved us are the authorities and powers in us that is controlling us. God asks to fight against this evil spiritual powers dominating in us. We are the heavenly place for God. No evil should control it.

“The body is for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. And God will raise our bodies from death with the same power he used to raise the Lord Jesus. Surely you know that your bodies are parts of Christ himself.

You should know that your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit that you received from God and that lives in you. You don’t own yourselves. God paid a very high price to make you his. So honour God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:13-14,19-2

As our Father in Heaven helped Jesus to win over the powers and authorities of the dark world, we are also chosen to follow the same way with complete help and endless grace from our Loving Father and Jesus through the blood that He shed for saving us. But the promise that we should give to our Lord is our sincere commitment and love towards Him for saving us. Our God has equipped us with all weapons to fight against this powers. Let us recognize it and use it to win this world.

'That is why you need to get God’s full armour. Then on the day of evil, you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing. So stand strong with the belt of truth tied around your waist, and on your chest wear the protection of right living. On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong. And also use the shield of faith with which you can stop all the burning arrows that come from the Evil One. Accept God’s salvation as your helmet. And take the sword of the Spirit—that sword is the teaching of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times. Pray with all kinds of prayers, and ask for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready. Never give up. Always pray for all of God’s people.' Ephesians 6:13-18

With constant prayer and sincere commitment to our Lord we can win over the worldly influences in us. Let us begin our fight against the things that is overpowering us. This can be a small thing or a big thing, no matter the how deep or how great or how small the power is, let us begin the fight with prayer to our Lord. It is sure to have victory in Him.

Let us reflect ourselves and find out the things that influence us the most. It can be a habit or a food or an emotion or a relation or a program or media or dresses or a weakness or anything that haunts our mind always are we find it difficult to overcome it. Let us give that in hands of God and take the armour and start the fight. Let God be helped by us to change us like Him.

When we are being enslaved by the worldly powers and is tempted to do wrong, ask for Gods wisdom that moment, ask His help to take our armour. He will help us to do good always and guide us to keep ourselves holy. Let us offer our lives to Him, He will make us perfect.

“offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him—an offering that is only for God and pleasing to him. Considering what he has done, it is only right that you should worship him in this way. Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.” Romans 12:1-2

Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for giving us Jesus. Help us so that we can live like Him without shaking from You. Help us to realize the powers and authorities of the darkness of this world that is ruling us and in our friends ,and taking us away from You. Give us wisdom to take the armour that You has given us in the right time for fighting against the world and winning over it to keep ourselves heavenly for You to reside in us and transform us in Your love. Amen.

Reading

Ephesians 6:10-18

Romans 12

1Corinthians 6:12-20