Knowing the time, that now it is high time to
awake out of sleep… let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us
put on the armor of light. Romans 13:11, 12
Some day the Church
can relax her guard, call her watchmen down from the wall and live in safety
and peace—but not yet, not yet!
All that is good in
the world stands as a target for all that is evil and manages to stay alive
only by constant watchfulness and the providential protection of Almighty God.
The Church lives in a
hostile world. Within and around her are enemies that not only could destroy
her, but are meant to and will unless she resists force with yet greater force.
The Christian would collapse from sheer external pressure were there not within
him a counterpressure sufficiently great to prevent it. The power of the Holy
Spirit is, therefore, not optional but necessary. Without it the children of
God simply cannot live the life of heaven on earth. The hindrances are too many
and too effective!
A church is a living
organism and is subject to attack from such enemies as prey on living things.
The human body can fight its enemies even while it is asleep, but the Church
cannot. She must be awake and determined—or she cannot win.
She must recognize her
enemies for what they are and she must resist them: Unbelief, Complacency,
Self-righteousness, Fear of Man, Love of Luxury, Secret Sympathy with the
world, Self-confidence, Pride and Unholy thoughts. These we must resist with
every power within us, looking unto Jesus, author and finisher of our faith!
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