RELENTLESS

RELENTLESS

It is easy as believers to get weary and tired especially in well doing. But the call to us believers is to be relentless in prayer, in faith, in fasting, and in well doing. It is also said that it is not about starting well but the most important thing is finishing well, and so even through all the hardship and adversity we may come across we just need to fasten our seat belts and go on the ride.

Do we often wonder why God cannot just wipe off the enemy once and for all? It is just like what the children of Israel faced when other nations constantly hassled them, I am sure they also wondered why God didn’t just wipe away their enemies for good. But Romans 8: 28, 29 states that ‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.’ So we may not have all the answers but the good news is that no matter what the enemy brings all things whether good or bad surely works together for our good.

You might be a wife waking up at night to pray, feeling that you are in a hopeless situation and wondering if God is listening, because of the constant battles you have been going through, but Christians who are faithful to God are in a spiritual battle whether they like it or not, and anyone who is treasured by God is hated by satan, so the battle will never stop until Jesus locks Satan and his demons up in hell.  But again the good news is we will always win the battle so long as Jesus is on our side.

Believers should therefore be relentless and should fight back and wage spiritual warfare against the devil, because satan’s goal is to keep us from fighting back. There is also a deceptive teaching that says ‘Jesus defeated Satan on the cross therefore Christians never have to concern themselves about Satan or demons because to do so will just give them power they really don’t  have’.  1 Peter 5; 8-9 ⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:⁹ Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. Ephesians 6; 10-18 ¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.¹⁴ Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;¹⁵ And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;¹⁶ Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:¹⁸ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; These scriptures makes us understand that the devil is definitely not sleeping and Satan looks for weak minded people or believers who are not well equipped in the faith.

And so if how we finish is much more important than how we begin, the greatest finish will be to have Jesus say to us at the end of our race ‘well done, thou good and faithful servant’ How awesome that would be.

 

Olubukola Asafa