The Battle for Your Souls (Part 3)

The Battle for Your Souls (Part 3)

by Ron Wilkerson

 

As much as it deeply pains me to speak these words, we must move on in this fight. I must continue to speak with you. It is my sincere desire that you know that not only what I am writing to you comes from a sincere heart, but it is also a reflection of my life. I pray you can identify and I will speak as the Lord leads me. However this command, whether I like or not comes from my Father, "Keep not thou silence". In my desire to be obedient, I once again come unto you with a grateful heart to serve the Lord Jesus. My hope is that someone of you will be touched by my trials, the battle for my own soul. With this I shall begin our topic.

Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Galatians 6:14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Isaiah 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.

You know the three principle enemies which man must fight by now.

1. The flesh

2. The world

3. Satan and his angels

What has been left wanting from my discourse is the severe nature to which you will suffer. The devil has many upon many schemes by which to take you into the depths of despair. Me personally, I suffer from him right now in depression constantly, even to the point that desparaging thoughts of suicide cross my mind. I have to always, and I mean ALWAYS take these thoughts immediately into subjection to Jesus Christ. 

Let's take a detour on that note to thoughts. I have once read where you should figuratively place a bouncer in your mind. This bouncer would act like a filter, or a questioner by which all thoughts must pass a smell test before entering the mind and thus gaining entry into your most sacred place, the heart. This filter should ask the incoming thoughts a few things. 

1. Where did you come from and what is your purpose?

2. Why have you decided to come at this time?

3. Whom is your master or rather whom do you obey? Jesus or the world?

4. Do you bring confusion or clarity?

5. Would you satisfy my soul or harm my soul?

As a good bouncer (Holy Spirit) would do, He will continue asking these questions until the thoughts original author is revealed. Yes, please take note above that I gave thoughts=personal pronouns. Whether you are aware or not, thoughts always have an author. If you are not the author of that thought and Jesus is not the author, the Holy Spirit will reveal. This is where you take the thought into subjugation and leave it to Christ to deal with and move on. That thought has not passed the test and is found wanting. It is to be extinguished and you are to plead your cause to God alone. The Holy Spirit will help you in your prayer; because we do not know how to pray as we ought to.

Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Back to this fight. Today the arrows were particularly poignant. By this I mean very painful. It is hard to describe because this wicked force may not be viewed with my physical eyes. I can only describe it in this manner, the weight of the world is on my shoulders and much of it in the form of stress. I believe the devil is becoming angry that I persist in my calling to not be silent regarding that precious Gospel the Lord has entrusted me with in this day. Satan hates that I love you, he hates me to the core, he hates you too. He wants us all dead. I got news for you Satan, unless the Lord allows, I will be right here obeying. If you are mad then so be it, plead your case with God. I can tell you, God will point you to a cross where you were put to an open defeat and remind you of the day and hour that He placed the deposit of guarantee in my spirit. YOU LOSE SATAN! I am sorry for you but it is fact, not merely fanciful imagination.

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

2 Timothy 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

This fight we are in brothers and sisters is of the highest necessity in our lives. It is what I call a sign of life within. It may not be much more than awful pain to you but yet it is a sign that your spirit is struggling with your flesh, the world, and Satan. This is mere proof that a token has been placed inside you. Otherwise you would conform to this world and be one of them.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

One thing I might add here, a conscience is much different than the Holy Spirit which convicts. The conscience says yes is yes and no is no based on external factors. The Holy Spirit convicts from within and when this conviction sets in, there is no mistaking you are being given discernment well above and beyond simply knowing right from wrong. I would recommend to each of you one of C.S. Lewis' finest work's, on audio I might add as well, "MERE CHRISTIANITY". There is much to be said of conscience, our battle within, and Satan.

Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

May the God of all peace comfort you this very night. May He touch your dreams with His Holy Spirit and renew your zeal for His Holy Word. I pray that He touch me as well for I am indeed in great need because of my suffering and spiritual attack. I ask you all to be praying for me.


Until the next time. I love you!


Shalom