MY FRIENDS, WILL WE EVER WIN THIS TUG-OF-WAR?

Oct. 24, 2015

MY FRIENDS, WILL WE EVER WIN THIS TUG-OF-WAR?

There is a spiritual tug-of-war daily, between self that loves the things of this world and self that is trying to completely die. A tug-of-war is defined as putting two opposing teams against each other in a test of strength each pulling in opposite directions with the goal of conquering the other.

We have all played the game or at least watched it being played. But in regards to our Salvation we are all players. With a stake in the outcome. Satan and the forces of evil on one side and our Character which is self on the other.

Paul tells us, “for I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate, Romans 7:17 (ESV) and the god of this world knows this. But he also knows there is no competition if we will only cry out, Lord Help!

My friends there is apart of us that just wants to hold on to the things of this world. It could be as simple as appetite. That is why at times Satan really doesn’t have to pull but so hard before we simply give up.

Vicki Yohe sings a song, in His presence which states, “In and out of situations, That tug-of-war at me All day long I struggle For answers that I need. But then I come into Your presence and all my questions become clear and for this sacred moment, No doubts can interfere.”

And that my friends is where we find victory, in the presence of Jehovah. When we need to be strong all we have to do is seek His presence and then reach for the arm of Christ and just hold on.

“Submit ourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” James 4:7-8 (NKJV) But we must understand drawing near to God means allowing self to die and we than we must live our life through Christ.

As we look all around us, there are so many forces that are pulling at us that we will never conquer if we do not seek the presence of Christ daily. In addition, Satan knows that his time has just about run out, so every area of our life is under attack by the enemy.

“When the cities were hushed in midnight slumber, when every man had gone to his own house, Christ, our example, would repair to the Mount of Olives, and there, amid the overshadowing trees, would spend the entire night in prayer.

He who was Himself without the taint of sin,—a treasure-house of blessing; whose voice was heard in the fourth watch of the night by the terrified disciples upon the stormy sea, in heavenly benediction.

Whose word could summon the dead from their graves,—He it was who made supplication with strong crying and tears.” (E.G. White, Pastoral Ministry pp 19) My friends, He who was without sin understood the power of prayer and being in the presence of His Father.

How much more of us who “was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did our mother conceive [us].” Ps. 51:5 (ESV) My friends, only on our knees and in God’s word as we allow His Spirit to guide us into all understanding will this tug-of-war ever end and we can claim victory.

And as we claim victory, we will then forever be in the presence of our Savior as He continues to guide us on our Journey to the “promise land and life eternal.

My Friends, where there is no vision, the people perish…..Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)