08. Your shield in God Part 2
There is a non-stop conflict between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. There is equally this constant spiritual warfare that keeps going back and forth between the human race and the kingdom of darkness. The surge from the kingdom of darkness towards humanity has ever remained intense and their activities have alarmingly increased, more than ever before.
You might have heard of the statement which says that the invisible world is the real world, and the visible world is the mirror or shadow world. Indeed, many wrongs that happen in our society are influenced from this invisible world of darkness and perpetrated through human vessels. This may sound hard, but I would say that, roughly about 70 percent of humans allow themselves to be used as tools in the hands of forces of darkness at one given point in time or the other. Many don't even know when they are being used, but make a victim of the innocent before realising what deeds have been perpetrated through them. What we need to look at now is how NOT to become a victim of any agent in these delicate times and especially as we continue to sail through the ember months. The Word of God warns us in 1 Peter 5:8 "Be Sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour." Each person has a part to play: Watching and praying constantly.
God's Word promises that even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear NO evil, for God will be with us, His Rod and Staff to comfort us. (Psalm 23:4). Hence, standing upon the promises and faithfulness of God for protection is very vital. Psalm 91 Admonishes each one of us to dwell in God's secret place in order to receive due protection under the shadow of His wings. Always abiding in His presence; standing upon and declaring His promises of protection over our individual lives; living a life of submission to God's ways; will cause us to sail through victoriously.
God equally promised each one of his children that as they abide in Him, "There shall no evil befall them, neither shall any plague come near their dewilling place. For he shall give his angels charge over them to keep them in all their ways. Hence, escaping every enemy traps, snares, sudden affliction and death. Proverbs 18:10 states that: "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous run into it, and is safe". Please Note that this passage of Bible did not say: "The UNrighteous run into it, and is safe". No! The safety is to the righteous. Beloved. like a chick that hides under the feathers of its mother, let's hide ourselves under the feathers of God almighty, and we shall make our protection safe, fastened and sure. None of us shall be a victim of human hawkers in Jesus mighty name.
God's Word says: "And who is he that will harm you, if you be followers of that which is good?".(1 Peter 3:13). When a person is living in sin and disobedience to God's commandments, they deprive themselves of God's divine protection and become an easy prey to the enemy and human agents. The bible says that "God is angry with the wicked everyday". If a person is wicked in sinfulness against God and to their fellow human being, how will God fight for them? When a person defrauds or cheats their fellow human being, how can God defend or shield them? Denying another person their due right and not releasing what is theirs until bribe is collected can bring God's disfavour on the defrauder. Deliberate short changing another person, stealing, fornication, lying, hatred, malice, gossiping and the likes, will shorten God's hand to the rescuing of such people when they run into the enemies trap.
When a person's lifestyle is always contradicting God's Words and commandments, they automatically remove themselves from being shielded from invisible arrows that fly by night or in the day time. When God is already angry with a person because they have not yet surrendered their lives for Salvation from sin, and submitting their lives to God, such individual will be like a stiff necked and disobedience person in the sight of God. Hence he will not be able to receive any form of defence. Who will defend the disobedience in the day of trouble? Who will the proud and stiff necked call upon in the day of trouble? The Word of God says in Isaiah 55:7 "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: amd let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God he will abundantly pardon".
Finally beloved, God's Word admonishises us to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against wiles of the devil". I pray that God will protect and keep each one of us in Jesus name.~ Niola Ijad.