False teachers allure through the lust of flesh using enticing, empty words to the ones, you and me, who escaped the yoke of bondage. They “speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lust of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought out of bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.” (2 Peter 2:18-20).
We have escaped hell along with the corruption of the world, yet we are commanded again in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” He subtly uses people and their cunning words to entangle us back into bondage.
Again we are reminded in Galatians 5:1, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free; and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”
But how do we do this? By putting on the armor of God and preparing for spiritual battle.
Watch for temptation when inside enemy lines
We are a part of the Army of God. Think about that for a moment. We are warriors of Christ. What wise, loyal warrior in an army that is surrendered to the cause of the war sets his tent in the enemy’s camp? Yet that is what we tend to do as Christians.
We are fighting a war but are so comfortable with socializing with our enemy because we do not see it as a big deal. We act as though we can handle ourselves in the midst of the greatest temptation. This attitude refutes the truth of 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
Living by the Holy Spirit as laid out in Galatians 5:16-25 teaches us how to overcome our sin nature, the carnal man inside of us. The carnal man, our sinful nature will fight against the renewing that the Holy Spirit is doing within us. When we become born again and fully lay our lives down for Christ, we are committing ourselves to fight the good fight. We are enlisted in the war that rages against the darkness of this world.
Stand with courage
We must not be fearful, but rather trust that the Holy Spirit will empower and equip us for this battle against our carnal nature, which will continue trying to entice us and lure us back into bondage. We must daily crucify our flesh and put to death our lustful desires. Through our obedience to the Word of God, we will no longer be the old version of self but instead a new creation. Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Embrace spiritual training
In preparing for spiritual battle, be ready to go through a “refining of fire” season. Following the commands of Galatian 5:1, Peter 5:8, and Romans 2:2 is like going through a spiritual boot camp. Every Christian soldier needs it to try and test how genuine our faithfulness is. Yes, it will be the hardest season we will go through. But in the end it is always worth it because our faith will come out as pure gold.
Jessica Webb is the Administrative Assistant of the American Family Association Foundation. Before coming to work at AFA, Jessica was a stay at home mom. Her desire is to seek and serve the Lord with all of her heart and soul and to spread the gospel with people who are just like she once was, lost and in desperate need of a Savior.
Jessica was not raised in a Christian home and came to salvation in the spring of 2012 when God passionately pursued her. Shortly after surrendering her life to Christ her world began to change, becoming more Jesus-centered. She prayed the Lord would place her in an environment that would allow her to grow and learn, to be surrounded by Christians who would teach her how to pray, understand Scripture and walk the narrow walk. That is when the AFA Foundation became a direct answer to prayer.
Jessica loves this new life she has found in Christ. She stands in awe of God who loves a wretch and has replaced all she thought she knew about herself with what her Heavenly Father created her to be: a beautiful, extraordinary work in progress.
