The Fight (Spiritual Battle) Part 8
Last week in our series on spiritual battle we talked about Holy Spirit coming. We talked about the enemy being defeated but not departed. As we engage in the battle, we will do well to keep in mind the amazing ending of His story.
Revelation 21:1-5 (NIV)
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
God has never given up on His plan to dwell with His human family on this planet. The heavenly city will come down out of heaven and the earth will be renewed and as His family will receive resurrected bodies which are incorruptible and we will live forever with Him. While we wait for this, we are to be living as new creation people.
Put on the New Self
We are to choose to yield to Holy Spirit and dress ourselves in the new self.
Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
We are to become the imagers of God that He created us to be.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)
18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
As His imagers, we are partners with God in His plan. We are to go into all the world and tell people who are still being deceived by the evil rulers and authorities that there is a way to be reconciled to God.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
In effect we are to live as small working models of new creation. I think the best way to do this is to keep in step with the Spirit and allow the fruit of the Spirit to be evident in our daily lives.
Galatians 5:22-25 (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Steve Lawes is a church encourager and the lead pastor of Keys Vineyard Church.
