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We should never allow ourselves to go through life in ignorance not seeing
the snares and traps that the enemy tries to place in our life's path. We
are to be as the Bible tells us to be sober and vigilant being careful with
what we do in our daily life. There are many instances where people do not
see the traps of the enemy and in effect fall into the pit of his devices
not knowing how to be freed. (Psalm 142:3-7) (1 Peter 5:8-9) (Psalm 86:2-7)
The Lord Jesus Christ who died on the Cross to save mankind from their sins
paid the price once and for all and now all who trust in His finished work
have the privilege of being called a child of God. We receive the benefits
of what the Lord Jesus endured and now have the power of His Blood and
Authority to use His Name to defeat the powers and principalities of the
enemy. Be encouraged to study God's Word to learn who you are in Christ
and stand in who God has created you to be. (Romans 10:9-13) (Ephesians 6:10-18)
I hope this message ministers to your heart to invest in reading and
meditating on the Word of God to better equip yourself to defeat the enemy
and stand victorious through Jesus Christ.
THE CHESS LESSON
My nine-year-old son David plays chess, and plays well. He lives, breathes,
and eats chess. Sure, he only has three chess sets but he has a kind of
radar - chedar? - To find unique chess sets in stores.
Just the other night, he found a set of hand carved chess figurines from
the Alice in Wonderland story at an obscure mall store. They were a mere
$150.00 - each. Doing the math, I figured my spending money for the entire
year would disappear down the rabbit hole. I grumbled like the Mad Hatter,
and suggested we go with the crystal set instead.
If you think chess is a pastime of interest limited to a few gaunt guys who
can't get dates, think again. Chess has a devoted global following. Yes,
there are even chess groupies! Unless you play the game, it would be
tempting to think of chess as the only thing more boring on TV than golf.
Not so, according to chess aficionados.
Did you know that chess has its own magazine, This Week in Chess? The game
can even be played into sudden death overtime. Chess players even compete
for prize money, just like real athletes. And while there is no touchdown
dance, the winner of the match does get the satisfaction of being able to
smirk in the face of his vanquished foe and say, “Checkmate. Another game?”
Chess is a game of mental gymnastics, an exercise in logic, daring, and
strategy. The game is not about moving pieces around a checkered board so
much as it is a game of trying to out-think, out-maneuver, and out-play
your opponent. Its winner takes all. The blows hit more precisely and
painfully than that of any contact sport; they hit and bruise the ego.
There is a winner and a loser; just like real life.
Anyway, I really hadn't played the game with any passion in more than a
decade. My son took an interest so my wife and I taught him the basic rules
and maneuvers. He started getting good. The other night, he challenged me
to a spirited match. It took me nearly an hour to defeat him. His skill
level was clearly growing, his confidence unbounded, and his maturing
mastery of the game impressive. It was the first real challenging game he
had ever given me.
I also noticed, and summarily dismissed, the fact that he has been going to
the library and bringing home books on chess. Not just “The History Of...”
variety, but books that outlined specific moves and strategies. I have
never read a strategy book and always enjoyed playing by my wits. It proved
a fatal mistake.
Again, my son challenged me to a game. I warned him that because he was
getting so good, the gloves were off. I told I would play to the finish
with no pointers, I would offer no helpful hints, and I would play with no
mercy. If we were going to compete, from now on it would be for real.
Sometimes, love has to be tough.
Unthinkably, he beat me in three moves!
He used a strategy I had never seen before and he promptly walloped me. And
what was I saying about contact sports? He got up shrieking in unbridled
joy and actually did a victory dance! He didn't follow protocol and say,
“Check mate. Another game?” No, he said, “Checkmate. You lose!” I realized
my error. I was content to play the game. He played with a lone objective,
to win.
He caught me sleeping. He offered me no pointers, no helpful hints, and no
mercy. I lost.
The Bible says, in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your
adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may
devour.” The enemy of our soul has no power over a blood bought child of
God so he uses guile, strategy, temptation, and battle tactics. He plays
to win.
Like my son with his chess strategy books, we need to be meditating in
God's battle book, the Bible, to learn how to use the weapons of our
warfare. These weapons are not carnal but are mighty through God! We are
exhorted in 1 Corinthians 9:24 with this command. “Do you not know that
those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a
way that you may obtain it.”
Thank God for grace! I'm off to the library. There is a rematch coming and
this time I will be ready. I will not be a gullible sheep in the light. I
know my opponent's tactics and this time I will be ready for him.
By Bryan Hupperts
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Psalm 119:10-16 “With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not
wander from Thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I
might not sin against Thee. Blessed art Thou, O LORD: teach me Thy
statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of Thy mouth. I
have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I
will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways. I will
delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Thy word.”
Psalm 86:2-7 “Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy
servant that trusteth in Thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry
unto Thee daily. Rejoice the soul of Thy servant: for unto Thee, O Lord,
do I lift up my soul. For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and
plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee. Give ear, O LORD,
unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of
my trouble I will call upon Thee: for Thou wilt answer me.”
Ephesians 3:19-21 “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,
that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto Him that is
able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according
to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ
Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: HE GATHERS EVERY TEAR
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem98.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: HOW TO NOT STAY DEFEATED
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony146.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
