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* DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS |
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Counter-Attack! |
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“…so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:” 1 Corinthians 9:26
Don’t block without countering, and don’t counter without blocking. That is the rule of thumb for martial arts sparring. Always counter! Hit back! Have you taken a hit? So what? Get back up and fight. In the movie Ghost and the Darkness, Remington, a veteran hunter, says to Patterson, after this one fails in an opportunity to kill a marauding lion, "You've been hit. Now the getting up is up to you". He’s saying in effect: “Don't wallow in defeat. Get back in the game with a new resolve to win, and to take out your opponent!” As in Rocky III, just like Stalone’s character gets back his fighting spirit, so you must get back that "Eye of the Tiger”. And in spiritual warfare, you must fight the enemy, and take back what he steals from you. You must go on the offensive. Your enemy, Satan, desires to keep you blind to the truth that you can get back up; that you can fight back effectively, and, in so doing, be victorious. He fears you laying hold of this truth. How many times in movies have you seen someone go down only to come back with more righteous rage and determination with seemingly more strength to defeat his, or her, foe? This is a truth and a desire that God has placed in the human heart. It is idiocy to think that our "wrestling" with "principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places", would only be defensive, that we would be given no offensive "technique", or weapon, with which to overcome our opponent. The Word of Truth is just that weapon. A fighter who only blocks, will eventually get hit, and then defeated. He must fight back and "invade" his opponent's space. Carmen, in his song "RIOT", or "Righteous Invasion of Truth", has it pegged correctly that Truth invades. It invades lies, as light invades darkness. It invades the dark corners where doubt, fear, and unbelief reside. The voice of Truth tells me I’m God’s child, forgiven, accepted, and more than a conqueror (Galatians 3:26; Eph. 4:32; Eph. 1:6; Romans 8:37). Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6), and Jesus' Kingdom is the Kingdom of Truth which invades the kingdom of darkness and sets the captive free. It is the rock cut without hands which invades, and some day will literally replace, the kingdoms of this world (Daniel 2:44, 45). As "children of light" (1 Thess. 5:5), and citizens of this new kingdom (Eph. 2:19), why should we tremble in our corner, and feel we should just try to hold our ground? Why should we not be on the offensive, taking new ground, when we have been given a "Sword and Shield", and the command from our Lord to "be strong and very courageous"(Joshua 1:7)? Our sword, the Word of God, is alive and powerful (Hebrews 4:12), and is truth (John 17:17). Our Shield of faith is the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4). It is our defense against the enemy's attacks (Eph. 6:16), but it is also that which allows us to overcome our opponent. "Overcoming" indicates "winning", and in order to win, a fighter must also attack. He/she must press back, pin, subdue, and "take out", in order to achieve victory. So get up, step out in faith, resist the enemy of your soul, and declare your trust in God and His promises. Invade the kingdom of darkness with the light God has given you. Witness to that friend, or to that co-worker. Encourage others with the encouragement God has given you. Take the initiative, and act sacrificially to meet the needs of others. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks. Praise God continually. Be a doer of the word. And "fight the good fight". God has made you to be an over-comer!
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, I choose to surrender to You and to resist the enemy. I choose to be clothed with the whole armor of God, and, with the Sword of the Spirit, Your Word of Truth, to put down the enemy’s lies. I thank you for Your mercy and grace. Thank You for the forgiveness of my sins. May I be obedient to Your truth and walk as the over-comer and conqueror that You say that I am. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
This devotional is taken from Pr. Phil’s book “The Ultimate Self Defense - Devotionals for the Warrior” This unique book draws analogies for the Christian walk and warfare from over 60 aspects of Martial Arts training. It also includes a defense for Christian involvement in Martial Arts as well as a section on practical self defense.
For Instructional Manuals by Prof. Lewis available on Shinsei Kenpo & Arnis, visit his online store section “Books and Manuals”. CLICK HERE |
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By Prof. Phil Lewis |
