Any man at his personal best outside the help of God is chicken feed to the devil; nothing but a toy in the hands of Satan and his cohorts.
But a man in God through Christ Jesus can resist the devil, and the devil will not simply walk away; he will flee.
James 4:6-8 Amplified Bible
6 But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but [continually] gives [the gift of] grace to the humble [who turn away from self-righteousness].”
7 So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.
8 Come close to God [with a contrite heart], and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people].
There is working and a walk as a born-again child of God. We must persist in engaging in that which sows to the Spirit; only then can we reap an everlasting harvest that never fades away.
Fear and weariness are a weapon of the devil; it is aimed at us to slow us down and stop us from doing what will make us stronger than him. The devil does not want us to have a spiritual advantage over him.
Galatians 6:8-10 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
8 For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
9 And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
10 So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers].
How to know when you are old?
- Can’t take correction
- React to correction
- Keep on making the same mistake
- No progress spiritually
- Easily take offence when corrected harshly.
- You go defensive when chastised.
- You will first become sulky and close yourself up when corrected, even respond rudely instead of apologising and correcting yourself.
- You have set your own bar for how far you will go for God.
- You refuse to allow anyone to pace you.
- Your sleep is more important to you. You will react even against the Holy Spirit and Angels if they dare interrupt your sleep.
- You are old if No one is bothering to correct you anymore.
As listed above, “how to know you are old?” is not talking about ageing naturally. It is the danger and reality of ageing spiritually even though young in the body.
See the scripture below – this is a man that is aged but not old.
Joshua 14:9-11 Amplified Bible
9 So Moses swore [an oath to me] on that day, saying, ‘Be assured that the land on which your foot has walked will be an inheritance to you and to your children always, because you have followed the Lord my God completely.’
10 And now, look, the Lord has let me live, just as He said, these forty-five years since the Lord spoke this word to Moses, when Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, look at me, I am eighty-five years old today.
11 I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so is my strength now, for war and for going out and coming in.
If any of the eleven above applies to you, your case is not hopeless; if you are willing and obedient, there is a way out. God can help you, but you need to decide to do the work.
The first step is a renewal of your mind. The scripture below will help you greatly to realign and start a process of spiritual regeneration; read it slowly and take the steps prescribed, and it shall be well with you in Jesus’ Name:
Romans 12:1-3 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
12 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
3 For by the grace (unmerited favour of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.
The Message Bearer
Cornelius Bella
corneliusbella 