Tag: Body of Christ

James 4:7 – A Strategy for Victory in Spiritual Warfare

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James 4:7 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

We often hear the phrase “victory over the devil” in Christian circles, but few realize that James 4:7 provides a strategy for complete victory. The strategy is simple. First, one is to submit to God. Submission is obedience. It is obeying the voice of God and being submissive to whatever it is that He wants for your life. Submission is shunning sin, and embracing righteousness. Submission is allowing God to plan your direction and future.

After Christians have fully submitted to God’s sovereignty, they are to resist Satan. The word resist in James 4:7 means to withstand, strive against or oppose in some manner. The word resist is from the Greek word anthístēmi, which means to “take a complete stand against” or a “contrary position” and “refusing to be moved.”

In other words, Christians are taking a defense stand against satan as if readying to engage in war. No one goes to war without proper armor. Ephesians 6:13-18 explains what the armor is and also teaches us that the weapon used in spiritual warfare is a Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Using scripture is another means of gaining victory over satan.

When we take a strong spiritual stand, with God on our side, satan flees. In the Greek, the word for ‘flee’ is the word pheugō, and whenever this word is used in scripture it’s often used to describe someone fleeing for their lives, terrified that they’ll perish if they don’t escape. The technical definition is to seek safety by flight and to escape out of danger. These words help us understand just how dangerous Christians become when they stand against the devil.

When Christians are prepared for spiritual battle, satan knows he cannot have victory, and so he runs for his life, rather than experience defeat.

4 Beliefs You Need to Ditch if You Want to Be Happy

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Happiness experts all agree that it’s not what you have that makes you happy, but rather what you do and who you know. Despite evidence that things don’t make us happy, people still reach for stuff as if it might bring some joy to their lives. But the idea that stuff makes us happy isn’t the only belief that holds people back from happiness. There are a few other beliefs that keep people in a place of discontentment. Below are four beliefs that you need to ditch if you want to be happy.

The belief that you aren’t good enough. Low self-esteem and feelings of unworthiness bring unhappiness. In scripture, Satan is referred to as the “Accuser of the brethren.” He is a finger-pointer who attempts to bring shame and condemnation into the life of God’s children. If you want to be happy, you can’t live under condemnation. Instead, you must live in freedom, believing that the grace of God is sufficient for your weakness.

The belief that you aren’t loved. God loves you. You are loved. You are cherished by Him. You are not forgotten. We were created to be social creatures, and we are designed for relationships and love – so it is perfectly natural to yearn for love, approval, and acceptance. Thankfully, God loves, approves and accepts us.

The belief that your life needs to be perfect for you to be happy. Life will never be perfect. There will always be messes, bumps in the road, psychological fires to put out, and missteps. No one has a perfect life. If you wait for your life to be perfect before you choose happiness, then you’ll be waiting all your life. Choose to be happy even when life is a mess because perfection is unrealistic.

The belief that a bad past holds sway over your future. When people have a bad past, they are often fearful that their future has already been written, and that it won’t work out for their good. But scripture says the opposite: Romans 8:28 states that all things work together for the good to them that love God, and are called according to His purpose. Do you love God? Are you called to His purpose? Then things will work out for you, and your past has no sway over your future.

The Body of Christ Needs Unity

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When reading the Bible several weeks ago I happened upon Genesis 10:25, which states:

And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.

When I first read Genesis 10, I immediately thought of Pangea.

Scholars believe that this verse could indicate the division of the world physically. However, most theologians believe that it’s a social division.

There are three names mentioned in Genesis 10:25. Eber and his sons Peleg, and Joktan. Peleg means division which the verse clearly states. And Joktan means smallness. But what’s interesting is that Eber means the region beyond or it can mean ‘the region beyond the sea’.

The verse in and of itself tells a story of what’s happening during that time.

Maybe the verse isn’t just about social division, but also a physical division of the earth. What could have compelled Eber’s parents to give him such a name other than some earthly physical division that had already taken place? In congruence, Eber names his son Peleg, which further means division and what precedes division is Joktan – which makes perfect sense because  division often creates smallness.

When people are united with one mind and heart, they grow larger, and they can do great things. However, division brings pettiness, strife, anger, frustration and all the things that make a person small.

Reading what the Bible says about unity provides a better understanding of the consequences and effects of division. The Bible says a lot about unity, but when it speaks about unity it’s usually in the New Testament in the context of the Church.

We are told in Philippians 2; Be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. And the apostle Peter tells the church to have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, tender heart and a humble mind.  But before he tells the followers of The Way to have sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart and humble mind, he tells them to have unity.

Peter understands that unity of mind will make the church great.

Unity is what we need in the body of Christ, and it’s something that I pray for all the time. I didn’t understand the importance of such a prayer until I put it in the context of Genesis 10:25.

Live in unity with one another, love each other deeply from the heart. Pursue peace, and when you find it impossible to live in peace with someone, pray for them. Love them and pray that there would be reconciliation and unity.