Jesus continues to preach to the people in the temple area. Some of the crowd believed in him while others questioned who he was.
click here for an online Bible John 8:21-47
Jesus makes some challenging statements. In verse 24, he says that if people do not believe in him, they will die in their sins. Then he said that his disciples would know the truth and the truth would set them free. He was talking about freedom from sin.
Even those of us who know Christ sometimes forget the spiritual nature of things. We are so used to the idea of people “making decisions for Christ” that we miss the big picture. Jesus said that people are the children of Satan who is the father of lies. Jesus offers the truth but people are blinded to the truth.
When we share the gospel with people it is more than just giving information for somebody to make a decision. It is a spiritual battle. We are presenting the truth to someone who is blinded to truth by the father of lies. So, is it a useless attempt? No, because God is greater than Satan.
The gospel must be shared prayerfully. Pray for people to see the truth. Some believed Jesus then, and some will believe him now.
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4 comments:
I agree with Pastor Cliff, there is certainly a spiritual battle going on for the lost.
When I start to forget it's a spiritual battle the Lord brings to my mind the cool story in 2 Kings 6:16-17 where Elisha's servant is worried about the imposing army he sees before him. Elisha tells him not to worry because there is a larger army with them - then he prays for the servants eyes to be opened and the servant suddenly sees the huge number of horses and fiery chariots of God surrounding them and is no longer afraid.
The Apostle Paul said our true battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual powers and darkness (Ephesians 6:10-18). Prayer is our weapon in this battle. The victory is ours, but the battle must be fought now.
I remember this like it was yesterday - I was verbally attacked by my sister shortly after being born again because I tried to share the gospel with her in the form of a Billy Graham book at Christmas. She got within an inch of my face, spitting and screeching at me that I could do a few choice things with my religion. I was taken aback by her reaction - she had never been like that before and it was completely contrary to her personality. Later when I looked back on that encounter I realized that it wasn't my sister reacting - as never had I seen such a venomous reaction from her - but it was the devil acting through her to discourage me from sharing Christ with her. It almost worked until I saw the situation with spiritual eyes. I continue to share Christ with her at every opportunity - but mainly I pray for her to come into the light of Christ.
Wow Bobbie! That hit the spot. I will pray for your sister as well. I too remember all to well my bouts with these demonic spirits moving among people I have tried to share with. I have learned to keep my mouth shut (but it hurts too much) and now I must relearn the art with which to speak. I am a convicted just now that my desire to worship and speak out against satan is stronger than just letting my light shine. Me trying to do my very best is not enough -- satan has got some kind of light filter on these people. I have to pray more.
Thank you,
EJ
I totally agree with all of you. As my post yesterday said, I have been asked by some of my old friends about Christ. They are curious and see a change in my life. I share God's Word with them when they ask, and of course pray for them too. One of these people is also my sister, whom I love dearly. She wants to believe so badly, but keeps saying she doesn't understand God's Word fully. I try to help her understand, but know the "saving" isn't up to me alone. I can introduce it to her, but God is the only one to save. I never bring the subject up when we're together - she does, so I pray before I speak to her and ask God for wisdom. Then I continue to pray for her every day, that God will remove the blinders from her eyes so she can be saved. My other friends though, will ask about Christ and my faith, and then sometimes get angry. This is hard to deal with personally - I don't like conflict all that much, but who does? So, please keep my college friends in prayer. I've stopped talking to them about it, unless they ask a question. But, I do pray for them daily as I care about them and want everyone to experience God's grace and love, to walk around freely and not in bondage.
Hey SARAH! thanks for the feedback. It totally helps in trying to connect with you. I like what bobbie says about the devil being behind the rage when people hear the gospel. What she says, helps me see that yes it really is a spiritual warfare... and when I see that all I need to do is trust God, because seeing that the battle belongs to Him reminds me that I am just the vessel and I totally become committed to my Lord and Saviour all over again. You see, it takes me out of the picture, so I do not have to feel like I am the one fueling this fire. The big thing about an argument that I do not like is the personal attachment that it seems to bring... arguments seem to be saying "I do not like you." And that is never what I want to be perceived, quite the contrary. I want them to see my love for them. And, so it brings me great joy and satisfaction that I have the opportunity to be used by God to fight against these demons. We have to study our scripture to understand how these spirits work. Take for example Peter, Christ once told him to get behind Him, satan. He commanded His own disciple to get behind Him and called him satan. Not that he was satan, but rather that he was being misguided by satan.
I will pray for your sister as well, sarah. We need to realize no one, this side of heaven, knows all things or understands all things (except the One who comes from heaven, the Holy Spirit)... but on the other side of heaven we will know all things, as we are known by this Holy Spirit. Once when I was younger I did not like when people said they would pray for me... I felt at the time that it was so dismissive, but today I eat it up like pop rock candy! I love the work of the Holy Spirit, I am so satisfied in knowing that the Holy Spirit constantly prays on our behalf, when Jesus says the Father knows what you have need of before you ask He is speaking of the Holy Spirit. So, why pray if the Spirit will do it for us, because it is a worthwhile effort to try to align our hearts and thoughts with the Holy Spirit. The Father loves to see our efforts in trying to please Him. Even though we fail, we draw closer to Him by constantly trying and realizing (through His revelations) our shortcomings. The Spirit knows all things, and there is no power like the Holy Ghost power. Use it wisely.
Love,
EJ
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