TITLE: building fences By Evelyn Rodgers 02/07/07 |
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Fences and Walls – Everyone has an eight foot stone or brick wall around their property. This is for security reasons. The wall keeps intruders out and gives us a sense of well-being. When they are painted and have hedges growing next to them, they can be attractive but many are left in that dull drab gray color and over time the grime and dirt of the city clings to it and it can be quite depressing.
For us
Canadians this is a new concept as we don’t have very many fences at all. Neighbors look out for each other and the police are there to keep us secure.
Application;
Fences can be beautiful if maintained and well kept. But, if left to themselves they become an unsightly mess. In our spiritual lives we need to maintain the fences of our spiritual armor. We are told in Ephesians to put on the whole armor of God to protect us against the wiles of Satan.
As we stay close to the Lord we are promised, ”a hedge from the Lord”, as he did for Job.
Job 1:10, “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has.” In Psalms we are told that angels guard our lives when we are dependent on the Lord. Psalms 91:11,” He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” What wonderful promises we have in God’s word for his children.
Should we fail to do our spiritual homework, we open the door to the demons that are ever on the watch to cause our downfall.
The following story makes a case in point: A lady who was being attacked by Satan to the point of hearing voices, etc. When I met her, her eyes were black and she had a frightful look about her. As we prayed the demons left and she was at peace. She had a totally different look about her. We encouraged her to read her Bible, to pray and to listen to Christian music. We would meet with her for Bible study and pray. As long as she did these things life was so much better. Then she slid back into her old rut and she was under attack again. The verses in Matthew 12: 43-44 say that when an evil spirit comes our- - - then returns and finds it empty - - - the final condition of the man is worse than the first.
Keeping our relationship with the Lord fresh and growing, makes for an exciting and blessed life. So many times Ephesians 3:20, “Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that I can ask or think. .” has been true in my life.
Satan will try so many ways to bring us down with discouragement and depression. But, if we recognize what is happening we can face this time with god’s Word and he will have to run. The following story shows us how this works.
We were in charge of a fledging retreat centre that planned a number of family week-ends each summer. As the time for such an event neared I would become despondent and doubts filled my mind. As I prayed, the Lord showed me that this was an attack from Satan. Having recognized this I started praising the Lord and anticipating what He was going to do at our meetings. My depression lifted and I was able to prepare for the retreat with joyful anticipation. Usually the greater the blessing of the week-end ahead the greater was the attack the week before.
Those fences in our spiritual lives are of utmost importance. Let be sure to keep them well maintained and then we will see great things happening.
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