Spiritual Warfare

That God is faithful is a common theme throughout the Bible There is a great contrast between God's perfect faithfulness and human inconsistency, showing that while people often fail—through weakness, forgetfulness, or lack of love—God never fails. He keeps His promises, gives counsel, forgives sin, shows mercy, protects His people, and never forsakes them. Faithfulness is more than occasional good deeds or keeping rules out of duty. True faithfulness flows from love. God is faithful because He is love, and if we truly love Him, we will respond with steady, wholehearted faithfulness in return. God has never failed us, so how can we ever justify being unfaithful to Him?

Human reasoning, religion, philosophy, and even biblical knowledge alone cannot bring saving faith. People can know facts, organize doctrines into systematic theology, and even perform religious works, yet still be spiritually lost. Truth is not a system to be assembled — it is a Person. Jesus is not just a teacher or prophet but God incarnate, the exact image of the Father, who humbled Himself to become a man in order to bridge the gap between sinful humanity and a holy God. This calls for complete surrender: forsaking personal opinions and beliefs, pride, and self-made religion in order to truly know Christ. Salvation comes not from intellectual agreement with known facts, but from yielding to Jesus Christ as Lord and King. In the end, all we have, need, and claim is Jesus — and only by knowing Him can we know the truth and be made free.

We should apply to ourselves the words of Jesus to Peter in John 21:22 "What is that to thee? Follow thou me." We need to stop worrying about what others are doing — their faults, failures, faithfulness, or hypocrisy — and instead focus on our own walk with God. People will disappoint, churches will never be perfect, and this world will always be fallen, but none of that excuses us from obeying God. What will matter in eternity is how faithfully we walked with the Lord, not how much time we spent judging, fretting over, or trying to control others. The call is to live joyfully, trust God with other people, love even enemies, and keep our eyes on Christ.

Temptation is more than the pull toward sin; it includes trials, afflictions, and persecutions that test whether our faith is genuine. Every temptation asks the same question: will we trust God and remain faithful, or will we turn aside for relief or an easier way? God never tempts anyone to do evil, but He allows trials while the devil uses lies to deceive and destroy. Temptation always involves deception, offering promises that never deliver. Enduring temptation is possible because God provides a way of escape, and those who endure are strengthened, proven in their love for God, and promised the crown of life. Victory comes by taking temptation seriously, maintaining godly boundaries, and staying anchored in the Word of God.

God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. In times of discouragement, spiritual darkness, personal trials, and cultural decline, believers often lose heart because they lose sight of who God is. By considering God's infinite power revealed in creation, Scripture, and His dealings with His people, we are called to stop relying on our own strength and plans and to trust Him fully. God's work is never limited by our circumstances, failures, or imaginations. He is able to save to the uttermost, sustain the weary, defend His people, and finish what He has begun. Therefore, we are exhorted not to despair, not to give up on lost loved ones, not to grow weary in well-doing, but to keep our eyes fixed on the Lord who never fails.

The Bible is clear that Jesus is the only way to God, but that way is a holy, obedient way, not merely a belief or profession of faith. While most all professing Christians can agree on and accept the fact that Jesus forgives past sins, the real issue—and the great dividing line—is how a person deals with present, ongoing sin. It is our present sin over which theologians put a fork in the road. Scripture makes clear that those who are truly born again do not live in habitual, continual sin, because Christ came to destroy the works of the devil and to change lives now, not just someday in the by-and-by. Salvation is not just forgiveness of past sins, but a new life marked by repentance, obedience, and righteousness. True faith produces a changed heart and a changed direction.

The greatest danger in the last days is not violence, fear, or world events, but spiritual deception. Scripture teaches that many will depart from the faith by listening to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Jesus warned us repeatedly about the danger of being deceived in the last days. The constant exposure to the world's ideas, voices, and "knowledge" leads to confusion, fear, and spiritual decline. Deception often works through guile—truth mixed with error—which makes it especially dangerous. That's how the serpent deceived Eve. He didn't deny God outright—he questioned, reframed, and let her draw the wrong conclusion. In the end, guile doesn't shout. It whispers. And by the time you realize where it's led you, your thinking has already shifted. The only safeguard against deception is wholehearted devotion to Christ, disciplined separation from corrupt influences, and a faithful commitment to seeking truth from God alone. Christ must remain the sole authority over the believer's mind and heart.

Slander, blame, and false accusation are sins that are rooted in pride and are driven by an evil spirit—the spirit of the devil, who is the accuser of the brethren. The Scripture shows us clearly that blaming others began in the Garden of Eden and has marked every generation since, especially the last days. Accusation and slander are often used to hide personal guilt, justify sin, and destroy others, and they now dominate the world, politics, media, churches, and personal relationships. God condemns this behavior and promises judgment for those who practice it, while blessing those who walk uprightly, speak truth, refuse to backbite, and do not take up a reproach against their neighbor. The child of God is called to reject this spirit, guard the mind, repent of blaming and slander, and follow Christ's example—showing truth with mercy, taking personal responsibility, and living in charity and righteousness.

The righteous hate evil because God's Word gives them understanding, and His precepts define what is right in every area of life. True faith in God is identified by what a person loves and hates: loving good requires hating evil. God's people are often hated by the world because righteousness exposes sin, and following Christ brings reproach and persecution. The righteous hate evil because of the destruction it causes, the deadly end it always brings, and the dishonor it brings upon God. Evil is dangerous, deceptive, and progressive, often entering the life through what is popular, tolerated, or excused, and it leads to ruin of individuals, families, and nations. Believers are called to reject compromise, learn to discern good and evil through consistent reading and study of Scripture, separate from corrupt influences, and actively fill their lives with godly truth and fellowship. Only by esteeming God's Word above culture, guarding the mind and heart, and living out the truth can a Christian remain faithful in a world that increasingly calls evil good and good evil.

A person's true spiritual identity is revealed by what they love and what they hate. Scripture consistently shows two opposing realities: the righteous hate evil, and the wicked hate the righteous. There is no middle ground. Those who genuinely belong to God will hate evil—not redefine it, tolerate it, or coexist with it—but avoid it, distance themselves from it, and speak against it. This hatred of evil is not self-righteousness; it is the fruit of knowing and loving God through his Word. Jesus taught that the world hates His followers for the same reasons they hated Him first.

In John 14:6 Jesus declares that He alone is the way to God. A "way" is a passage that makes the unreachable reachable, and without a way, no one can arrive at the destination. Sin separated man from God, leaving mankind lost and unable to find its way back. Jesus did not merely point to a way—He Himself is the way. There is no knowledge of God, no access to the Father, and no hope of eternal life apart from Him. Men are skilled at making roads, bridges, and paths in the world, but spiritually they cannot build a way to God. All human religions, efforts, and self-made paths lead to destruction. Only Christ bridges the great gulf between sinful man and a holy God. To know Jesus is to know the Father; to see Jesus is to see the Father. The Christian life is a journey, not mere observation. Seeing truth is not enough—one must enter the way and follow it. This requires dying to self, abandoning all other ways, and submitting fully to Christ. The way is narrow, simple, ancient, and unchanged, and few find it because few are willing to give up their right to rule their own life and follow Jesus. Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy, the revelation of God, the mediator between God and man, and the only safe place for the soul. To be "in the way" is to continually look to Jesus, follow His steps, and trust Him through every trial. Salvation and life are found only by looking to Christ, believing Him, and walking in Him.

What we have been teaching on biblical womanhood and God's design for marriage, is from God's Word - not my opinion, and His commands are the only way to real joy, stability, and blessing. Much confusion and misery today comes from rejecting God's order, especially regarding marriage and the roles of men and women. Women have a clear responsibility before God to live according to His Word, and they will answer to God for their attitudes and obedience, just as men will. Submission, as Scripture teaches it, is not weakness or humiliation but a place of honor, power, and influence, rooted in humility and love. A godly woman, with a meek and quiet spirit and a pure heart, has great power to bless her home, change the world, and even win an unbelieving husband. Marriage belongs to God and only works when both husband and wife commit to His design. Ignoring God's ways leads to heartbreak, while obedience brings peace, strength, and blessing in the home.

Turning to John 14:6, we see Jesus' words that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Salvation cannot be divided into parts. I cannot seek the way, the truth, or the life separately or on my own terms. Christ must come first. True salvation is total surrender and union with Him, where He becomes preeminent in my life. Seeking religion, knowledge, moral living, or happiness without Christ always leads to confusion, pride, or emptiness. Many people try to find fulfillment through church activity, doctrine, pleasure, success, or self-made spirituality, but none of these bring real life. Only Christ changes a person, fills the emptiness of the soul, and gives abundant life. Salvation is not a ritual, a prayer alone, or a label—it is Jesus Himself. The call is simple but demanding: seek Christ first. When I know Him, I find myself walking in the true way, knowing the truth that sets me free, and living the life God intended.

Titus 2 teaches that older women are to live holy, steady, honorable lives and use their experience to guide younger women. They should avoid gossip, vanity, and lack of self-discipline, and instead teach what is good. Younger women, in turn, are to be sober-minded, love their husbands and children, be morally pure, run their homes well, and respect their husbands. These instructions are God's design for women of every age, leading to stability and blessing, while ignoring them leads to trouble and disappointment.

"And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know." - John 14:4 The issue isn't ignorance but refusal. Jesus said they knew, while they said they did not know. Who is telling the truth? People know God is real, know right from wrong, and know the way of righteousness, yet resist submitting to God because they don't want to give up their right to themselves. Unbelief isn't lack of understanding — it's a deliberate refusal to trust God with your life. It's choosing your own way while pretending you don't know better. God has made Himself known to all people through creation, conscience, Scripture, and preaching, so no one has an excuse. The call is simple: stop resisting, stop blaming others, and walk in the way you already know God has shown you.

"A nation rises or falls with the virtue of its women. The degeneracy of women marks a nation's fall." That standards for godliness for the female gender are clearly stated in the Word of God. Ignorance is not the problem - most people know what the Bible says, but they have set themselves against God in this matter and chosen to stand with the ungodly world and defy God and his Word. The standards God has set down in his Word concerning the relationships between male and female are the pillar of all morality. Moral collapse is always immediately preceded by the abandoning of God-given morals concerning sex. Men and women are mutually responsible to guard one another from fornication. However, there is an obvious double-standard among almost everyone now. This message is directed to women about their responsibility in this matter. We will talk about men and their responsibility later.

True thanksgiving isn't just words — it starts with a genuine heart of gratitude. Gratitude is a feeling of goodwill and appreciation toward the one who has blessed us, and it naturally leads to spoken thanks. Without that feeling, spoken "thanks" are empty; and without expressing it, the feeling doesn't bless the giver. True thankfulness always shows up both in the heart and in the mouth. Failing to give thanks — to God or to other people — reveals a darkened, selfish heart. Scripture shows that an unthankful heart is one of the first steps to a darkened heart. Many people enjoy God's blessings but never acknowledge Him. Telling others what God has done is part of true thanksgiving. Thankfulness must be expressed openly. The Bible tells believers to "make known His deeds among the people." Likewise, in everyday life we ought to openly thank spouses, family, friends, and anyone who blesses us. Children should be taught to say "thank you," not just as manners, but to form hearts that appreciate and are grateful for the kindnesses shown to them.

Jesus spent His last moments before the cross reassuring His disciples. They were scared and confused because He was leaving, but He told them not to let their hearts be troubled and reminded them that He had already overcome the world. He promised His presence, the coming of the Comforter, and that His death would lead to something greater. The lesson is that we often react just like the disciples when life gets difficult—we forget God's past faithfulness and let fear take over. Jesus' answer is to trust Him. Faith means relying on God's promises in every season. Just as He guided the disciples, He'll guide us too. So we're called to stay steady, remember what God has already done, and trust that Christ will never leave us without comfort.

Jesus said, "…lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth…" Earthly treasures are things that make us appear successful, comfortable, or proud — clothes, property, money, conveniences, status, and all the modern comforts people feel they must have. Jesus wasn't just warning against materialism — He was warning against the selfish mindset behind it. So when Jesus said, "…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…" we must consider that a selfish mindset is just as wrong in spiritual things as in earthly things. We cannot think of "laying up treasure in heaven" as personal gain or spiritual profit. The real heart of laying up treasure in heaven is tied to the greatest commandments, which are to love God, and to love your neighbor as ourselves. Treasures are not laid up in heaven by "taking care of myself spiritually." Instead, it comes from serving others, sacrificing, giving, helping, and seeking their good — not our own. We are laying up treasures in heaven when we are serving others, as part of the kingdom of God, and for the glory and honor of God, and not for ourselves.

We either trust in the Lord will all our heart, or we lean to our own understanding. The natural tendency is to lean on one's own wisdom. We trust in what we have learned through our experiences in life, both good and bad. We trust in what we have learned from the culture we have lived in. We trust in what our denomination or group that we have identified with. We trust in our feelings about things, but have a hard time really and truly trusting in the Lord with all our heart in everything. If the Bible says "thou shalt not..." and we do it anyway, we are NOT trusting in the Lord. If the Bible says "thou shalt..." and we refuse to do it, we are not trusting in the Lord, we are leaning to our own understanding. Next time you have a dilemma in your life, or a problem, or anything that perplexes you, stop and take a good, long, honest look at yourself and see how much you are leaning on your own understanding to figure it out, and how much you are really trusting in the Lord about it.