Are you a Christian? Are you born gain? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Then listen. You are living in a world where your soul is in constant dangers. Enemies are around you on every side. “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’ (Ephesians 6:12). Your own heart is deceitful. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it” (Jeremiah 17:9). Bad examples are very many around you. Satan is labouring day and night to lead you away from the narrow way that leads to heaven to the broad way that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). More than these, false doctrine and false teachers of every kind are too numerous to count. These and many more are the dangers that lie on your path.
To be on the safe side, you must be armed. You must provide yourself with the weapons, which God has given you for your help. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;” (II Corinthians 10:4). You must store your mind with the Holy Scriptures. This is wisdom. This is to be well armed! “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16).
A thorough knowledge of the written word of God is essential for victory in this battle against the devil. Read your Bible regularly. Become very familiar with your Bible. Our Lord Jesus said “search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). One of old also said “seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read” (Isaiah 34:16). If you neglect your Bible, nothing that I know of in this world can prevent you from error. Neglect your Bible and the enemy would have got the advantage where you least expect. Neglect your Bible and any plausible advocate of false teaching will easily lead you away from the true faith in Christ. Make it a rule to believe nothing except what is “written” in the scripture. The Bible alone is infallible. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).
“Now I want to ask you, do you really use your Bible as much as you ought? Answer this question honestly! There are many today who believe the Bible, yet read it very little. Does your conscience tell you that you are one of these persons?”
If so, you are the man that will not likely continue to show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end. You will not likely keep the graces of the spirit in exercise. You will likely turn your eye from Jesus, your aspirations and hopes from things heavenly, your affection from God. You are likely to fall into evil reasoning into stillness and reservedness, into that very subtle practical antinomianism, which consists in separating the life of faith from the walk of faith.
If so, you are the man who will not likely use the grace received as a sacred talent, and seeking to form the character thereby. You will find it difficult to take up the cross statedly and out of set purpose; and will not be content with your providential lot.
If so, you are the man who will not likely submit to the order of God, in poverty, in reproach, in affliction and will not seek fellowship with Christ in His sufferings. You will not likely put on meekness, gentleness, humbleness of mind, and over all, charity as the bond of perfection. You will not likely put on the whole armour of God and may not pray with all prayer, and watch there unto with all perseverance.
If so, you are the man that is likely to get little or no help from the bible in time of need. Trial will come your way. Your store of bible consolation may one day run very low. If so, you are the man that is unlikely to become established because you are not pressing further in the truth. I shall not be surprised to hear that you are troubled with doubts and questions about assurance, grace, faith, perseverance, holiness etc. the devil is an old and cunning enemy. He can quote scripture readily enough when he pleases. Now you are not sufficiently ready with your weapons to fight a good fight with him. You cannot obey the scripture that says “Fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). Your sword id held loosely and carelessly in your hand.
If so, you are the man that is likely to make mistakes in life. I shall not wonder if I am told that you have problems in your marriage, problems with your children, problem about the conduct of your family and about the company you keep. The world you steer through is full of sorrows, disappointment and other problems. You are not sufficiently familiar with your maps and charts for directions. If so, you are the man who is likely to be carried away by some fake teachers. It will not surprise me if I hear that one of these clever eloquent men who can make a convincing presentation is leading you into error. It will not surprise me if you are tossed to and fro like a dry wood on the crest of the
waves.
If so, you are the man that is likely to dream of being greatly used by God one day and yet not making any headway in God’s services. If so, you are the man that is likely to find it difficult to hear from God about your desires, marriage, God’s service, life career, place and time of being employed in God’s work, indeed about God’s total and complete plan for your life.
These situations make you totally uncomfortable. I desire that you escape them all. I counsel you therefore not to merely read your Bible a little but read it a great deal. Let the written word lead you to the living Word, Jesus Christ, to whom it constantly points us. Come to the Bible hungry and expectant, conscious of daily need to hear God speak. The Word of God is to be to us more than our necessary food. When we rise, it is to be our meat, as we lie to rest, our portion. As we walk and as we sit, it is to dominate our conversation. The very posts and gates of our homes are to know its constant adornment. It is to be a sign upon our hands and as frontlets between the eyes. It is to dwell in us richly and to crown our head. It is to dwell in us richly in all wisdom. In our youth, it is to cleanse our ways, in our pilgrimage to be our song, in our old age remembrance. In our prosperity we are to have it above fine gold. In our affliction though we be as a bottle in the smoke, it is to be our confidence. It is to be a lamp to our every step, our guide for the distant path. Every thought and intent must come beneath its scrutiny. By it we are born again and by it we are nourished every day. It is our bread, our milk, our meat. In the storm we have no other anchor and in the haven of His presence, His Word for ever settled there, remains His personal guarantee of our eternal good. The Word of God is to be the constant occupation of our heart and mind.
Read your Bible carefully, systematically, regularly and completely. Dear Christian, check your heart and remember your many enemies.
Falana Ayodeji is a pastor in a Pentecostal (Bible believing) church and also a senior lecturer in mechanical engineering department, university of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
