Engage

Michael is not just any angel—he is of the highest rank of angels, an archangel who has engaged in spiritual battles. Michael the archangel is a heavyweight! He is described in three books as fighting against evil spirits and forces of darkness. When Michael was sent to help Daniel, at the angel’s touch, Daniel fell down, trembling on his hands and knees (Daniel 10:10-14). In Revelation 12, we read of Michael leading the charge against “the dragon and his angels” (Revelation 12:7). Yet, with his high standing and spiritual strength, he dared not go after Satan on his own. In a showdown with Satan described in Jude 1:9, he depended on the Lord to fight for him. So must we.

Can anything separate you from Jesus? Can Sin? Defeat? The enemy? Let’s see what today’s passage says. In answer to the question, “Can anything separate you from Jesus?” the apostle Paul says…

The enemy is out to get you. Discredit you. Sit you on the sidelines. Destroy you. One of the things we need to talk to our Father about is spiritual protection. We have a dangerous adversary.

Where does temptation come from? The world? The flesh? The devil? Well, one thing we know for sure is that it doesn’t come from God.

Have you ever been tempted? Struggling with temptation? In our passage today, Paul gives us important instructions in this area.

Do you ever feel like retreating? Escaping from it all? Holing up in a safe place? Christians in every generation have the same temptation—the allure to retreat from the world. From business to education to recreation, there is a desire to only be involved with other believers. One problem ... that was not the intention of Jesus.

It was going to be a tough meeting. Those sitting around the table had some serious issues with each other. You could feel the tension—so thick you could cut it with a knife, as the saying goes. I knew this time together could blow up in my face. If it ended with me having to make a judgment, someone would leave the church. I also knew no one in the room was squeaky clean on this one. So, I began by reading Ephesians 4:32.

How many of you have a favorite passage of Scripture? How many of you have a passage of Scripture you really don’t like that much? Today’s passage is about loving your enemies, and I’ll admit that these verses are in my least favorite, “I really don’t want to do this” category.

“Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.” That’s what C. S. Lewis wrote in his compelling book, Mere Christianity. Forgiveness is a great concept until we must put it into practice. Do you have someone you need to forgive?