Rest easy, worried Christian. The duel is not between the church and Satan, but between Christ and Satan. These are the champions of the two sides. Gather round and watch the all-wise God joust with His crafty opponent. You shall behold the Almighty smite off this Goliath's head with his own sword, and take this wicked knight in the trap of his own schemes. That faith which ascribes greatness and wisdom to God will shrink up Satan's challenge into a thing of nothing. Unbelief fears Satan as a lion; faith treads upon him as a worm.
Observe God at work, and be assured that what He is about will be an excellent piece. Man's wisdom may be leveled with folly, but God's design is never interrupted. None can drive Him from His work. A builder cannot work when night draws the curtain, and he is driven off his scaffold by a rainstorm. But all the plots of hell and commotions on earth have not so much as shaken God's hand to spoil one letter or line He has been drawing. The mystery of His providence may hang a curtain before His work so that we cannot see what He is doing, but even when darkness surrounds Him, righteousness is the seat of His throne forever. Where is our faith, saints? Let God be wise, and all men and devils be fools. Even if a Babel seems more likely to go up than a Babylon to be pulled down, yet believe God is making His secret approaches and will besiege Satan's stronghold.
What does it matter though the church be like Jonah in the whale's belly, swallowed up out of view by the fury of men? Do you not remember that the whale had no power to digest the prophet? Do not be too quick to bury the church before she is dead. Be patient while Christ tries His skill before you give it over. By your prayers, bring Christ to its grave to speak a resurrection word. The saints of old exhibited admirable faith in circumstances which were just as dire.”
Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and
James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617
Artwork from Rose publishings Armor of God Wall Poster and brochure.
1 comment:
GOD OUTWITS HIS OPPONENT. What a great title! How true, and what a great article! Equipper, thanks for posting it.
I was raised a Catholic and with a Bible made boring to me in obligatory
'religious lessons'. At a certain age, having had it with the RC theatrical ceremonies and rituals, I officially unsubscribed from that organization. Because of my experience with the Bible stories as told at the RC school, I never had the inclination to pick up that Book. I thought I was ok believing in God and praying to Him. How wrong I was! Fortunately something bad happened in my life that got me to find out if I indeed was ok with God...! To make it short, I sifted out all the deceptions (including the RC doctrines) I had fallen prey to, and started reading, and later LISTENING (biblegateway.com, audio), to the Bible, all the way from the beginning. Yes, God outwitting His opponenent! Often times I find that Book so hilarious, I just laugh and laugh. It's useful to understand that God planned the when, where and how of Jesus' coming from the start. Then you can see how He doesn't let His plan be thwarted, despite strong opposing (spiritual) forces. The title of the article you posted, was exactly the wording I was looking for, while listening to the book of Esther, but it applies throughout the Bible. I will send your post to www dot trthndcptn dot punt.nl, to which weblog I am immensely grateful as well.
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