Be On Guard

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<p id="viewer-6ia98">The key message of Col 2:8 is that we should be on guard not be taken captive as spoils of war by the defeated enemy. Hmn. How can a person whose Father defeated the enemy still be in prison? It is possible only if he has been deceived or kept in the dark. During the abolition of the slavery in the US, many slaves remained slaves because they were ignorant that freedom had been declared. When God translated us from the kingdom of darkness, it was total and final (Col 1:13) but some of us still struggle in captivity because of ignorance. God said my people perished due to lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). If Satan has been defeated completely (Col 2:15), why do we who have been translated from his kingdom into the kingdom of Light live in fear of him? It is because we either don’t know, or we don’t believe in our hearts that he has been defeated or we have been held captive by traditions of men, vain deceit, philosophy and rudiments of the world - the main reason why Apostle Paul advised us to be on guard.</p>

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<p id="viewer-f1gor">Anyone can be deceived when we don’t stay true to the gospel.We are advised to run the race with certainty (1 Cor 9:26-27). For a believer, we should not be afraid of Satan or glorify him by constantly declaring what he is doing in our lives. We should focus more on God’s promises and ensure that we stay under His cover. God is a refuge and a friend. It is the promises of God that make us share in the divine nature (2 Pet 1:4). In 1 Tim 6:11-12, we are advised to fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life. Why do I need to lay hold on what I already have? Because eternal life is not just going to heaven but the true knowledge of God (John 17:3). So as long as I deepen my fellowship with Jesus, I have nothing to be afraid of Satan. He has been defeated.</p>

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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b9d0e6_5b3a066af86c431ab233d10ffb3f2405~mv2_d_3850_5775_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_300,h_300,al_c,q_5/file.jpg" alt=""/></figure>

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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b9d0e6_5b3a066af86c431ab233d10ffb3f2405~mv2_d_3850_5775_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_740,h_1110,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/b9d0e6_5b3a066af86c431ab233d10ffb3f2405~mv2_d_3850_5775_s_4_2.webp" alt=""/></figure>

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<p id="viewer-1ehp4">Because we are in Christ and in fact died with Him on the cross, we are delivered from ALL the curses of the law (Gal 3:13-14). The death sentence has been passed on our “old life” and the full price of emancipation has been paid. Until this is the way I think in every situation, my mind has not been fully renewed. Thoughts that are not rooted in my new Identity in Jesus will take me captive from hearing God when He speaks to me. This will make me default to dead works to qualify for the promises of God forgetting that it is Jesus who already qualified me for the promises of God.</p>

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<p id="viewer-b040h">Remember, God made the new covenant with Jesus and not me personally (Gal 3:16-18) and that is why the covenant cannot fail.</p>

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<p id="viewer-43s53"><strong>Action Plan</strong></p>

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<ul><li>Sit down and identify belief systems that truly rule your life. What are the things that you consider first when making a decision? Do you look at life from the victorious point or from the human point of view?</li><li>After identifying some of these erroneous beliefs, find truth from the Bible to be used to counter those beliefs</li><li>Reiterate to yourself all Biblical truths you have found about the issue - over and over again</li><li>Anytime you find yourself drifting in the direction of error, take a breath, pause and firmly declare the truth of God’s words to immediately counter the lie.</li></ul>

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<p id="viewer-21f7d"><strong>Prayer:</strong></p>

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<p id="viewer-d4kn6">Father, today I realise some of the lies that I have believed in and I am sorry for these. I am grateful that you have brought me this awareness and from today and with your help, I choose your truth daily against the lying onslaught of the enemy. Thank you Jesus for this revelation.</p>

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