DRAWING NEAR Devotion 1 of 16 The faith-life is one of spiritual aggression. Those in Christ have been provided spiritual weaponry designed to pull down bastions of false thought, imaginations, and every thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (2 Cor 10:5-6). When it comes to the "flesh," or the Adamic nature, "they that are Christ's HAVE crucified the flesh, with its affections and lusts" (Gal 5:24). With firmness of heart and purpose, grace has taught them to "deny ungodliness and worldly lusts," and to live "soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Tit 2:11-12). -- Tomorrow:
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Heb 10:19-22)
Faith has aligned the saints against spiritual forces that are staggering. Their foes are not flesh and blood, but "principalities and powers, spiritual wickedness in high places, and the rulers of the darkness of this world" (Eph 6:12). Their life is a "race" that has been laid out before them. It leads through craggy mountains as well as across dreary deserts. It is a race that must be "run," and not casually walked as though there were no foes, or that time was in abundance (Heb 12:1-2). From another perspective, living by faith is a "good fight," in which foes are opposed (1 Tim 6:12). Both defense and offense are required in this posture.
Because of the nature of salvation, believers "buffet," or pummel, their bodies, bringing them into subjection (1 Cor 9:27). They will not allow their natural appetites to dominate them, but "crucify the flesh, with its affection and lusts" (Gal 5:24). Acknowledging they are "strangers and pilgrims in the earth," they "abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul" (1 Pet 2:11). Make no mistake about this, Divine resources are required for the effort into which faith thrusts us. An aggressive spiritual posture is not possible without these resources, or graces.
Believers must "submit" themselves "to God," and "resist the devil," the most shrewd of all foes (James 4:7; 1 Pet 5:8-9). What they have been given, they must "keep," not allowing it to slip from their grasp, or be snatched from them by the devil (2 Tim 1:14; Heb 2:1; Matt 13:19). At all cost, the prize that is set before them must be obtained (Phil 3:14)! There is nothing about living by faith that will allow casualness--nothing at all!
The spiritual condition of the Western world requires a strong affirmation of the true situation. Any religion that allows spiritual casualness, apathy, or a lack of consistent involvement is not from God. Its claims are all spurious, it is not blessed by God, and it cannot facilitate the "great salvation" given to men through Christ Jesus.
Wherever an assembly is found that creates a comfort zone for the uncommitted, the adversary of our souls is at work. The Spirit is being quenched in such an environment, regardless of any profession or theological position. Either the preaching and teaching are off-target, or the people have hard and calloused hearts.
There is nothing – absolutely nothing – about the Gospel that encourages a disinterested spirit. The Holy Spirit never promotes or condones inconsistency or a lack of fervency. A quest for glory will not allow the individual to attempt mere cyclical involvement with the Almighty. A lack of spiritual appetite, fervency of spirit, and awareness of the things of God, do not come from God. The Lord Jesus does not give them. The Holy Spirit does not encourage them. This is simply a statement of the case, and requires no further explanations.
This section of the book of Hebrews deals with these conditions. Here the Holy Spirit urges the redeemed to an aggressive spiritual posture. The nature of salvation requires this sort of comportment. Your own experience will confirm to you that a casual spirit causes a fog to engulf the things of God. Even when the way is clear, we "see through a glass darkly." But when our hearts are not involved in the matter, the things of God become more and more obscure, until finally, they cannot be seen at all. There can be no spiritual illumination without walking in the light. There can be no fellowship with God's dear Son (1 Cor 1:9) without communion with Him.
The leading of the Spirit in the mortifying of the deeds of the body (Rom 8:13) is not possible when He is "quenched" and "grieved" (1 Thess 5:19; Eph 4:30). What we will now view is the opposite of quenching the Spirit. It is the only alternative to grieving the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to take the words seriously. They are not meant to intimidate or threaten, but to awaken the soul to the unique means through which the Lord Jesus is bringing us to glory.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to clearly see my situation in this world, and then to avail myself of the provisions You grant me in Christ.