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A Fight Always Follows Enlightenment:
Portions of this study are taken from Sparkling Gems of the Greek:
by Rick Renner.
Scripture Study::
"But call to remembrance the former days, In which, after ye were illuminated, Ye endured a great fight of afflictions...." [Hebrews 10:32]
Why All Hell Breaks Loose!
• Why Do Christians Come Under Spiritual
Attacks?
• Can the Devil Attack Christians?
• Can Demons Attack Christians?
• How Do I fight off Demonic Attacks?
• How Do I fight the Devil?
Have you ever received a word from the Lord that gave you the exact direction you needed? If so, let me guess what happened next. Suddenly - BOOM! It seemed like all hell broke loose! The craziest circumstances erupted, seeming to directly challenge and assault that word you had just received from God!
If I've just described what you've gone through or what you are going through right now, be encouraged! You must be right on
track because a spiritual fight usually does occur when you've been specially illuminated to the plan God has for your
life.
In Hebrews 10:32, the Bible says: 'But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions....'
Today I want us to took at three key words in this verse:
'great,' 'fight,' and 'afflictions.' These words describe what you and I might experience after the Lord has given us a word of instruction to illuminate us regarding His plan for our lives..
Word Study:
First, let's look at the word 'great.' In Greek, it's the word
'mega', and it describes something very big.
For instance, the word mega is where we get the word megaphone, an instrument for making a very big noise. People use this word mega when they speak of mega-bills, mega-problems, mega-work, and so on. By using this word, the writer of Hebrews tells us that
spiritual conflicts accompanying a word of divine direction are normally not small - they are usually mega! They are BIG!
The second word I want you to see is the word 'fight.' It comes from the Greek word
'athlesis' and refers to a committed athlete. This undoubtedly tells you that when you receive a word from the Lord, it may throw you into one of the greatest challenges of your entire life! You'll feel like you've just entered the ring and are competing for the prize!
Finally, we come to the third word, 'afflictions.' It is the Greek word
'pathema', and usually refers to mental pressure or to
suffering that affects the mind. This isn't talking about mental sickness; rather, it points to a war in your soul or an
attack on your mind.
Hebrews 10:32 could thus be taken to mean:
'After you were illuminated, you endured a mega-sized ordeal that threw you into the biggest fight you ever faced in your life. But the most critical part of the struggle resulted from the unremitting assaults that literally battered your mind....
'
Here Comes the Fight!
You can be sure that if you take a stance of faith in response to a word you received from God, every possible negative thought will come against your mind. Not only will the devil attempt to use
people and circumstances to thwart the plan, but he will also
affect your mind with all kinds of negative thoughts and accusations. He'll do everything he can to talk you out of doing what God has called you to do.
Don't be surprised by this! You must remember that Jesus experienced this type of attack as He hung on the Cross.
As He selflessly laid down His own life on the cross, the soldiers and other criminals hurled their horrible, slanderous statements at Him. But Jesus pushed aside all the assaults that came against His soul and endured, committing His life and destiny into the Father's hands.
Think About It:
If you have received a word from God for your life, let me ask
you:
-- Did you go through a mega-ordeal yourself after you were illuminated to God's plan?
-- Did you feel you were thrown into a fight that came to challenge what God had told you?
-- Did you find that the devil tried to assault your mind and emotions with Lies, accusations,
and fears?
If you have been in this place I'm talking about - or if this is exactly where you are right now - then be encouraged because this is probably your
clearest signal that you've received a real word from the Lord. You must be right on track, because the devil is terribly concerned about what will happen if you
act on what God has revealed to you.
Don't back down. Don't surrender to the enemy's vicious lies in your mind, his attacks against your body, his challenges to your finances, or his assaults on your relationships. Regardless of how much resistance he tries to bring against you, don't you dare back up on that word God gave you!
If you hadn't received a true word from the Lord, there would be nothing for the devil to challenge! The
fight you face is the greatest evidence you're right on track! Just hang on, and don't give up! You're clearly headed in the right direction!
Prayer For Today:
Lord, as I take my stand of faith in response to that word I have received from you for my life, I realize that Satan may try to use negative thoughts to war against my mind. Thank you for alerting me to the fact that the devil may even try to use people and circumstances to thwart your plan for my life. But I also thank you that Satan cannot stop your plan from coming to pass if I refuse to listen to his lies! With Your Spirit illuminating my mind, I know, I will be able to discern the attacks of the enemy and successfully resist each and every attack!
So I boldly declare that I won't back down! I won't surrender to Satan's vicious lies, his attacks against my body, his challenges to my finances, and his assaults against my relationships. Regardless of how much resistance he tries to bring against me, I will not back up on the word that you have given me, nor will I fail to do the thing that you have told me to do, or follow the leading of your Spirit.
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