Just Saved? Be Ready For The Attack

Submitted by RVH on Sat, 12/04/2021 - 14:26
Expect attacks

John 14:15-18    NIV

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

 

John 14:15-18    KJV

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

In other translations of the Bible, Jesus says that God will provide the disciples a Helper.  So, we have translations of Advocate, Comforter and Helper referencing the Holy Spirit.

Jesus was preparing the disciples for His death and eventual return to God.

Think about the discouragement and fear that these 12 disciples, along with other followers, would be feeling at this point in time.

They had walked with Jesus for 3 years.

They had heard His words and teachings.

They had seen Him feed the 5,000 and the 10,000.

They had seen Him speak to calm the sea and walk on water.

They had seen His miracles of healing and raising Lazarus from the dead.

They were comfortable and secure, with Jesus being at their side.

However, Jesus told them that this was going to change.

He told them that He would die on the cross and later ascend to the Father.

What would they do?  How would they cope? Who would be their leader?

They were basically new Christians. Their faith had already faltered at times, even though they could see firsthand, the works of Jesus.  They were afraid.

Jesus comforted and assured them. He told them that God would provide for them, in His physical absence. He told them that God would provide an ADVOCATE, a COMFORTER, a HELPER.

 


BEING BORN AGAIN, BRINGS CHALLENGES


 

The disciples had times of wavering faith, even though they could physically see the works, teachings and miracles of Jesus.  If they had difficult times in their first three years with Jesus, we can be assured we will face challenges when we surrender our life to Jesus.

John 20:27-29    NIV

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

When a person is saved, they begin a new life, born again, with the old being gone and all things becoming new.

Remember the words of Jesus to Nicodemus?  "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."   John 3:3 NIV

It sounds easy doesn’t it, but as we all know, it is not.  Unfortunately, this is generally not discussed with prospective and new converts.

If you are a “young/new” Christian, you may be asking yourself and others, why isn’t it all good? “You said it would be good, why isn’t it?” “Why do I have problems?”

 

Satan's attacks

 

To begin with, ALL Christians have a target on their backs, at which Satan fires his best shots. He doesn’t have to worry about the unsaved, as he has them in his corner. However, the believers are a different story altogether.

Satan cannot destroy what God did on the cross of Calvary, so he tries his best to keep people from believing and getting believers to turn away.

Naturally, the most difficult time for most Christians is just after they have accepted Christ as Savior.

 

Satan attacks

 

Why is this?  We are “babes in Christ” at this point and this is when Satan attacks us with a fervor unequaled. We have not yet matured spiritually and our faith, our spiritual understanding and spiritual growth are typically at their lowest levels.

However, God provides for this by giving us the very same ADVOCATE, COMFORTER and HELPER that was given to the disciples. This “helper” indwells us, or lives within us when we become His child. It is the third member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit that abides in each believer.

When we accept Jesus as Savior, we are reconciled with God and from that point God takes up residence within us, in the form of the Holy Spirit.

1 John 3:24    NIV

24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

Ephesians 1:13-14    NKJV

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who[a] is the [b]guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Yes, it is often very tough for young Christians, as they live with unsaved family members; as they are friends with unsaved people; as their faith has yet been tested; as they are learning to walk as a Christian in their daily life.

Just remember, God has provided the same “Helper” for all of us, that He provided the disciples.

We have God living within us in the form of the Holy Spirit, to lead and guide us.

However, we must be listening for and obedient to the Spirit’s help.

We know for sure that Satan wants new Christians to fail. Satan wants new Christians to doubt God. The good news is that “new” Christians grow and mature spiritually, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

 

Get rooted

 

Does Satan stop attacking us as we grow spiritually? 

Definitely not, but as we grow closer to God, maturing and growing as Christians, it is easier to walk daily in His spirit, shining as the light of our portion of the world and exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit that the apostle Paul taught us about. Living holy lives before our Father in heaven.

As a child of God, Satan is our predator. Satan is our enemy.

Be prepared for the attack and always be prepared to draw upon the strength and guidance of this ADVOCATE, COMFORTER and HELPER that indwells within you.

God, in His love and wisdom has provided the help we need.

With the aid of this Helper, you can always be victorious over Satan, walking in the Spirit with the assurance that God is always with you.

Joshua 1:5    NIV

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

 

Prayer

 

RVH