God so Loved the World that He Gave His Son: The greatest Spiritual battle ever fought – part twenty four
Well… here it is Friday again, and I have been asking the Holy Spirit for direction on what to write about this week. Last Friday, He directed me to write about orphans, and He prompted me to include Scripture about taking care of widows and orphans. I fully expected Him to lead me into talking about widows this week, but He didn’t go there. When I asked Him why, it became clear to me that with all the Scripture from last week, it was already very, very clear that we also have a responsibility to care for widows! Okay… what should I write about then?
The Holy Spirit never disappoints me! For the last couple of days I have had a song playing over and over in my mind. The lyrics to the song bring me to tears! This morning, as I was reading the words to my wife Shirley, I found it almost impossible to do for crying! Then the Holy Spirit spoke to my mind and said, “This is it; this is what I want you to write about this week!” This is going to sound a little preachy, so bear with me in love. It’s what He put on my heart. Here we go!
The Scripture passage I’ll be basing this writing on is Ephesians 5:25-32.
Ephesians 5:25-33 (NIV)
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church– 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery–but I am talking about Christ and the church.33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
At this point, I would encourage each of you to do a search on your computer or your hand held device for the following song: “Little Rock” by Collin Raye (Official Music Video). Watch the video and then listen to it again with your eyes closed! You may also want to ask for the song with lyrics.
I don’t know who needed to hear this message in song. However, you know if the Lord had you in mind, when He asked the Holy Spirit to put it on my heart! At first glance, this seems to be a message to men/husbands, and it certainly is. However, it is also a message to women/wives. Allow me to explain both:
Men/husbands:
It is time to get victory over the addictions the enemy has you trapped in! Alcohol, drugs, pornography, womanizing, or whatever has you bound! Almighty God is the answer! This is a Spiritual battle manifesting in the physical realm!
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NIV)
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Women/wives:
If any of the addictions apply to you, victory is found in the Lord just as I shared above for the men. If it is the man in your life who is struggling, then your prayers for him can result in overcoming the addiction through the power of the Lord!
James 5:16 (MSG)
16 Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.