HARD TIMES

The New Testament describes the way we used to be before following Jesus. It is called our ‘old self’.

Rom 6.6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin.

Ephesians 4. You were taught by him (as the truth is in Jesus) ²² to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, ²³ to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.

Colossians 3. ⁵ Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.6 Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, ⁷ and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. ⁸ But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices.

That ‘old self’ doesn’t give in without a fight. A big part of the Christian life is putting off (kicking out) our old ways of thinking and acting. This means disagreeing with ourselves and asking God to give us the specific new attitude that we need in each situation we face.

Our ‘old self’ also called ‘the flesh’ (our mind, body and emotions) has lived according to the sinful nature for a long time - therefore, it has natural habits, reflexes and responses that are its ‘go to’ responses. We have to unlearn all these.  We make steady progress in changing from being controlled by the discredited habits of our ‘old self’ and we choose to follow the advice of the Spirit (the Counsellor). 

Satan does his best to feed those old desires and responses.  He tempts us with our stubborn old familiar ways. For example, if we used to snap at people we found annoying and put them down with a rude insult – then Satan will make sure to put such people in our workplace.

When we fall to his temptations, we will feel incredibly stupid and discouraged (just what he wants). The next step is to get us feeling that we just don't have the faith to make it as a Christian and we might as well stop fooling ourselves and go back to the grog!  He tempt us in all our areas of weakness whether its anxiety, laziness or whatever he can pull from his bag of tricks.

This is spiritual war.  Not only are we ourselves at risk, but anyone we might have truly helped to find hope in God will also be discouraged by our backsliding.

Like any war, we need to be prepared to defend ourselves. We have to arm ourselves with spiritual weapons in the right hand and in the left (2 Cor 6.7). 

This isn't ordinary warfare: 2 Cor 10.3-5 For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, 4 since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments 5 and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.

Being a follower of Jesus isn’t for the faint-hearted. This is why Paul tells we need to put on spiritual armour.

Ephesians 6.10. Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. ¹³ For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. ¹⁴ Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, ¹⁵ and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. ¹⁸ Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

This doesn’t mean that you just try harder – or just think nice thoughts!  Putting on this armour is to wrap ourselves in the truth and the promises of God.  For example: Temptation says, “Tell this muppet what you think of him!”  But now we arm ourselves with the truth of God, such as, “Love your enemies and pray for those who oppose you.”  Such truths disarm the enemy.

Don’t let discouragement cause you to dress yourself in the smelly, sweaty old clothes of your past failed life. Deliberately choose – by faith – to ask God for the new clean clothes he has for you.

1 Peter 4.² Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you.13 Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler. ¹⁶ But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name.

Fight on, with both eyes fixed on Jesus!  His help is on the way.