Spiritual Victory

So how does the once great Christian America rescue itself from spiritual captivity? Can our nation once again live by the Biblical principles upon which it was founded? We’ll answer the second question first: in a word, yes. The Old Testament tells us:

    “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Did you notice that I started this devotional with the premise that America was once Christian? Does that mean I believe all, or even the majority, of Americans was once Christian? Of course not, however as a nation we lived by Christian principles whether an individual knowingly embraced them as scriptural.

I have no doubt that if my atheist followers on Twitter read this they will swarm me with their evidence as to why we were never a Christian nation. I use to engage them in written battle, but I’ve learned that winning a historical debate with an atheistic historian is not why God has put them into my life. My job is to point them to the historical Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to win them to Christ. I’m finally realizing that my weapons are ineffective against satanic forces. I need to use God’s:

    “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:4)

To answer our first question we can do so in a word: Christ. Jesus Christ is our rescuer and American Christendom long ago abandoned its only hope to save America. It has poured billions of dollars and spent thousands of hours trying to change America through Washington DC and the 50 state capitols. No one has been guiltier of this than me. It does not mean that I’m checking out of politics; it means I’m putting politics in its proper place. It is King Jesus who will lead us to victory:

    “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)

The reason the majority of Christian warriors so valiantly, yet impotently, relied on politicians to do what only Christ could do is we misplaced our faith. We placed our faith in the efforts of men to overcome worldly evil instead of the Overcomer:

    “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4)

The recipe for rescuing our nation from spiritual captivity is to follow Jesus Christ. Individually we must renew our commitment to follow Christ no matter the personal cost: family, finances, or friends.

Corporately as a church our focus must be on unapologetically and unashamedly preaching and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. The flock must reject any shepherd who tries to preach any other gospel. If a pastor is teaching that which clearly violates the Bible, then he must be rebuked so he will hopefully repent. If he does not repent, he must be removed.

American Christendom cannot embrace the culture as it slides toward Gomorrah. We cannot win the lost by becoming like them. God must defeat the enemies of God and the only weapon by which they will be defeated is the Word of God.

    “Through You we will push down our enemies; through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us.” (Psalm 44:5)

Spiritual victory is ours if we will only follow the path to victory. King Jesus has blazed that path.

Are you on the right path?

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2014 David Jeffers

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