Today is 5 days before the start of the Genesis Conflict and Rekindling Reformation series by Walter J. Veith. I must say that Satan and his host have been working overtime and in every area to stop the Amazing Discoveries team, of which I'm a part, to do these series or to add "speed bumps." I've never in my life experienced such mental and spiritual conflict. I've never in my life been so tempted in so many areas of my life. My emotional problems are a big area that is being targeted and others like appetite, coveting, lust etc. It's just crazy but I praise my Father and Jesus Christ through all of this for He has shown me that He is personally involved. He has first of all helped me to really believe and comprehend that these attacks come because I'm in the army of my Jesus and because Satan doesn't want these meetings to become available to the public.
I know for certain and from personal experience now that God's word is true. "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." (Ephesians 6:12).
In the last few days I was praying and asking my Lord Jesus to save because I perish in these spiritual battles. In His mercy, grace, love and goodness He answered my prayers by sending me two of my best friends: Michael Thoms and Danna Bunting (soon to be Thoms!). He has encouraged me greatly through them. I saw, while hiking and sharing in God's promises and faithfulness, that my Father has especially made this appointment to strengthen a weak and weary servant of His.
All these troubles I think also come as an answer to other prayers of mine. I know that I'm very far from the standard, the goal and purpose of a Christian and the "mark" (Phil 3:14) which is to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 3:18, Eph 4:13, 1 Peter 2:21,22). Therefore, I have asked my God a few things and I asked them earnestly: to humble me and to bring trials for I know that we are greatly refined through these "fires." I praise God though that He brings the trials at the right time and in the right proportion, so that I can handle them and grow through them. He wants us to grow and He longs to work in us and transform us into the image of His Son but it us that stop Him.
My Father again showed me that He is personally involved in our lives and that Jesus Christ is interceding day and night before His throne for you and for me. He sees and hears the cries of His people. He gives us these trials to strengthen us in Him and to show us our need and dependence upon Him. Without Him we would be killed by the devil without any other delay. But our God is here for us and He protects us.
God warns us through His Word, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour;" therefore, we are to "put on the whole armor of God, that [we] may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (1 Pet 5:8; Eph 6:11).
"From the days of Adam to our own time, our great enemy has been exercising his power to oppress and destroy. He is now preparing for his last campaign against the church. All who seek to follow Jesus will be brought into conflict with this relentless foe. The more nearly the Christian imitates the divine Pattern, the more surely wil he make himself a mark for the attacks of Satan. All who are actively engaged in the cause of God, seeking to unveil the deceptions of the evil one and to present Christ before the people, will be able to join in the testimony of Paul, in which he speaks of serving the Lord with all humility of mind, with many tears and temptations.
"Satan assailed Christ with his fiercest and most subtle temptations, but he was repulsed in every conflict. Those battles were fought in our behalf; those victories make it possible for us to conquer. Christ will give strength to all who seek it. No man without his own consent can be overcome by Satan. The tempter has no power to control the will or to force the soul to sin. He may distress, but he cannot contaminate. He can cause agony, but not defilement. The fact that Christ has conquered should inspire His followers with courage to fight manfully the battle against sin and Satan." (italics supplied) The Great Controversy, by Ellen G. White, pg. 510.
