davidbowerkingwood

The Anniversary of the Birth of Alice Paul

On January 11, 1885 Alice Paul was born, a young woman who was to be influential in the fight for women’s suffrage. While this was a significant event for that cause, it is the motto associated with Alice Paul that caught my attention: “Deeds, not words.”

From “The Home School Mom” November 5, 2012, by Mary Ann Kelley

“Deeds, not words.” has a wonderful ring to it, don’t you think? How often do we let the opposite happen in our lives, we talk a good fight but that’s the beginning and the end of it.

I encounter this endlessly in the Christian community but with a pious twist, let’s pray about it, or I’ll pray for you sounds so devout, so holy and while prayer to God is very important it was never intended to replace action. Christianity is something you do; not just something you talk about or even pray about but something you take action on, something you do!

I’m Sinning, Please Pray for Me

As an online missionary for Global Media Outreach I get mail from all over the world from Christians who are struggling with various personal sins. I often get letters forwarded to me from others who have been asking for and getting prayers for the personal sins they are committing but are having no success in quitting these sins.

It’s almost as if there was a disconnect between the prayers and the sinful actions; just pray for me regarding my sin and suddenly something wonderful will happen and the sin will go away. That’s not the way it works; you can’t just pray about the sin and continue to practice it; you have to change your deeds, you have to change what you’re doing, you have to stop that sinful action! “Deeds, not words.”

The Problem with Personal Sin

Most Christians with whom I come in contact have no idea of the nature of their enemy. They have no idea they are soldiers who will live their entire lives on a spiritual battlefield. They have no idea they are under attack and must defend themselves if they are to be victorious in battle. They don’t even know there is a battle in progress.

I have written on this before in the series called, “To the Soldiers in the Spiritual War” a three part series that describes the challenges we face as Christians in the Lord’s army.

A vitally important point I try to emphasize is the fact that we cannot do it on our own; by ourselves we are fearfully outclassed and under powered. The Bible makes this clear in Ephesians 6:10-17 where it is written:

^“10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Battlefield Casualties

In the first essay of the series I wrote in the second paragraph:

“Although it will change during the final conflict, we are now dealing with destruction and carnage in the lives of everyone at a spiritual level as the spiritual battle for men’s soul’s rages around us. The carnage is being displayed in many lives as people make bad choices and cause themselves and others serious harm. Broken lives, broken marriages, broken commitments of many sorts litter the battlefield of this war.”

From a worldly perspective things may not appear too different from how they were before; but from a spiritual perspective we are seeing destruction and carnage in a cascading volume of misery and sin.

The Power of God, the Holy Spirit

When I write to Christians who are struggling against attacks from the “evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” I hasten to tell them of the power available to them in the person of God, the Holy Spirit.

I want them to understand how they can release that power in their lives; a power that can tip the balance in their favor as they engage in combat. This is promised to them in 1 John 1:9 where it is written: “⁹ But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” Confession releases the power of the Holy Spirit and helps us to defend ourselves against the attack of the enemy.

It is the power of God, the Holy Spirit that can make possible the deeds that will make the difference in our lives. Deeds that will turn back the attacks of personal sin and free us from the bondage we would otherwise suffer.

“Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.”