Date: Sunday, 17th November, 2024
Text: James 1: 13-15
Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan
Exhortation:
If a man is fighting against another man he can fight for himself, seek help from others or even seek help from God to defend him. If he is under attack by unseen forces of darkness he can call on the name of Jesus and devil will submit. In fact, if God himself is the one resisting a man, he can plead with the almighty for mercy.
However, if a man is his own enemy how will he be free? This is what I call the enemy within. A man is his own enemy when he is the one luring himself into sin.
The word of God says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1: 13-15
The elders say, “The external enemies have no power over you if the internal enemies are not complicit.” In other words, it is the internal enemy that open doors to the external enemy.
Everyone has the responsibility of mortifying his flesh; in order words kill every enemy within. The Holy Spirit through Apostle Paul says, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
“You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” Colossians 3:5-8
The flesh with its desires must be killed so that it doesn’t lead to condemnation.
Paul wrote I harden my body and bring it under complete control, to keep myself from being disqualified after preaching to others. 1 Corinthians 9:27
Prophetic Nugget: Receive grace to put your internal enemies to death by keeping your body and its desires under the firm control of the Holy Spirit in Jesus name.