WHAT CAN THE BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN EXPECT?

Beware, there is a battle ahead. Some people that love you may think you are crazy. Wives may turn against husbands and vice versa. Persecutions, temptations, sufferings, problems and the unexpected lie ahead. There is a war to be fought against all sorts of temptations: desires, pride, lusts, cares of this life, pleasures, riches, and wrong thinking. Our faith (or trust in God) will be tested to see if it is real–ref 1 Pe 1:7. Life is a test.

     Most people who come to Jesus do not realize the intense fight that lies ahead for them. Many of the Epistles address this very thing (note Eph 6). There are battles to be fought against the powers of darkness. Satan can be expected to use tactics against you that will catch you off guard. Satan will try to get you to return to the way you were before you repented. He succeeds with most. We can expect that what seems to be impossible situations will all of a sudden happen. God is with us through it all. Our biggest battle is with our self, including our fears, our desires, our plans. The more we deny self and pick up our cross and follow Jesus as God commands, the more successful we should be against Satan’s devices. We are to fight the good fight of faith. Looking back is a tool Satan uses. Our past hurts and rejections can all of a sudden pop up in our thoughts. 1 Cor 10:13–There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
     Satan’s power to tempt you and deceive you seem to be beyond most people’s understanding; for he deceives the whole world–ref Rev 12:9. Remember, the battle rages in our thoughts, flesh, and emotions. Ultimately, a person’s heart will decide whether or not he will follow Jesus steadfast to the end.
     Satan uses false religions, your devotion to a certain church or person, or things, or money, lusts, cares of this life, pleasures, pride, wanting to be loved, wanting to be something special, fear, worries, rejection, hurts, anger, unforgiveness and even love. Satan may use your best friend, your spouse, your relatives, and even your children to try to turn you back from following Jesus.
     When you try to study God’s Word, all sorts of distractions may happen. People just pop in. Telephones ring, kids interrupt you—the list is almost endless. You try to read your Bible, and all of a sudden your mind is filled with things you need to do right then. Satan put in Eve’s mind that God did not mean what He said. Expect the same to happen to you. If we look at the world and love this world, we can expect to fall. If we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and His Word, we can expect to stand. The Bible has much to say about this fight; yet few churches teach anymore on this spiritual warfare we go through.

     Eph 6:10–17–“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” The fiery darts are those overwhelming pressures you feel that tempt you to do contrary to God’s Word. They tempt you to sin. They stir up your emotions. They are so strong, they are difficult to resist; but resist you must by faith. Fear God, and depart from evil.

     1 Jn 2:15–17–Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
     Pv 3:7–Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
     2 Tim 4:3, l4–For the time will come (which is now) when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth (NIV).

Valley of Megiddo where Armageddon will take place.