The following is a tribute to every intending or potential overcomer of sin, who has been given the honour to fight the good fight of faith or who is facing reactions from the gates of hell; even while jealously holding unto the enlightenment of Christ Jesus - the Son of God.
Dearly Beloved,
1. All temptations are set by the devil and are mostly approved of by the Lord - as long as we can bear them (1Cor. 10:1-13, Jam. 1:13). Heaven employs them to test our allegiance to His word or so our affinity for vanity can be exposed (Deu. 8:2-3). They permit them because they want to grant us ownership of the word and life of faith we have received, which we should tenaciously hold unto - until we wear out the tempter (Matt. 13:18-23, Job 2:3). And so when - over various seasons - we aren’t being tempted to deny the faith, it may be an indication that we are not yet holding the mystery of faith or that our hearts haven’t kept the word (of faith) that usually attracts the enemy (1Tim: 3:9, Rev. 2:13, Matt. 13:18-23).
2. There are comforts of truth concerning ourselves from the Lord, that would hardly come our way except there is a change of season over our lives; from one where the world once wielded influence over our thoughts - to one where Christ now does (Rom. 15:4, 2Cor. 10:5c). Thereby would we be separated from looking for what we never lost (i.e. the world), and seek until we find the promise of life that Adam once mortgaged (Tit. 1:1-2). We would also inherit the first rest of the New Testament (i.e Christ) and acquire a docile heart that can learn and receive God - via the word of God (Matt. 11:28-29, Eze. 36:26).
3. There are spirits that were heavily anointed before they fell from heaven; who later specialized in warring against the migration of believers into the Kingdom; from righteousness into (estates of) peace; who wrestle by speaking ceaselessly or by telling believers who are on course with truth - why things aren’t going fine with them; and who, thereby, give strong arguments and evidence of the root cause of their challenges (Matt. 11:12, 2Cor. 10:5/12:7-10). Such seductive spirits would ceaselessly speak through our minds and think through our thoughts until the Lord delivers us by feeding us above their reach; and helps us with an understanding of nature of such warfares (1Pet. 1:13a, Ps. 23:5, Isa. 40:2).
4. There is a growth in grace and growth above some wicked (fallen) spirits that we can only come into when spirits that hate the life and walk of faith are commissioned to tempt, taunt us or speak ceaselessly and subtly against our hold on Christ; especially in seasons when we dare relate with the faith like it was ordained to be, or like few in the early Church found grace to (2Pet. 3:18, Lk. 1:71, Jude 1:3). Thereby would we appreciate in our sensitivity to the voice of the Lord, and would we be made irresponsive to the voice of the stranger (Jn. 10:5).
5. What would make a believer - who has been given the honour of hearing the faith and the eternal salvation that Christ Jesus authored and authorized for use in his flesh - to draw back at crucial seasons when he is meant to complete his sanctification (formation) in Christ or his consecration into God, are either unresolved thoughts or imaginations (about the past, present or future) through which the devil and his cohorts manifest themselves (Heb. 10:38, 12:2/5:9, 2Cor. 10:5). Such thoughts can only be undressed when the word of Christ dwells richly in us, and such imaginations can only be cast down as we receive and hold forth the comforts of truth that stream from the word of God (Col. 3:12-16, Phil. 2:16, Heb. 4:12).
6. The remission (or forgiveness) of sin is a provision made available, firstly, via the faith contained in the blood (life) of Jesus, and ultimately via the love content of His blood (Eph. 1:7, Acts 26:18d, 1Pet. 1:2, 1Jn. 5:6). So, it firstly washes and cleanses us of worldly sin - until Christ's faith becomes a divine substitute; so that seeking God for God can become a new norm; a daily habit and occupation (Eze. 36:25, Jn. 17:17, 1Jn. 5:18-20 ). And while doing so, we would be given the honour of relating with the love content of His blood (life); even the core contents of the life that abounds with eternal salvation; that furnishes/prepares our soul to become a comfortable above for the Son and Father (Jn. 14:23). Selah
Blessings!
Tayo Fasan