Do you know what the enemy uses against you? If you don’t, how can you defend yourself? Simply ignoring doesn’t work – you need to defeat him in every area of your life about which he torments you. I think that he uses our greatest ‘fear’ in terms of how we are as Christians. Are you concerned about disappointing the Lord? Or maybe it’s a scripture such as, ‘Depart from Me… I never knew you…'(Matthew 7:21-23) or that though the Lord is preparing a place for you (John 14:2-3), you aren’t included.
There are a vast array of possible issues that can become our Achilles heels. Our problems are to not be consumed by them and allow them to cripple or incapacitate who we are and what we do. Certainly you make mistakes but when you do and they are more than a mere ‘mistake’ do you turn to the Lord and seek His forgiveness? (1John 1:9) Or don’t you believe in the truth of scripture?
I do believe that many of us are haunted by the question of – have we committed the unpardonable sin (Mark 3:28-29, Matthew 12:31-32, Luke 12:10). Do you know what this is? From the scriptures it is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. From a teaching by Billy Graham, based in the Matthew verses:
“Jesus had been performing miracles, including driving demons out of people
by the power of the Holy Spirit. Instead of recognizing the source of Jesus’
power and accepting Him as God’s Son, the religious leaders accused Him of
being possessed by the devil and driving demons out in the power of the devil.
Jesus responded by saying, “I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of
men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will
never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.”
Realize that this is a conscious act, not a slip, not a mistake. If you haven’t done this then you haven’t committed the unpardonable sin. This is one area that I believe the devil always tries to use against us. Talk about being incapacitated! It is so damaging and inaccurate. One advantage we do have is to remember that our enemy is not creative – he will use the same strategies he has tried before. Recognize, in your life, how he attempts to dissuade and upset you.
We all have our Achilles heel – perhaps this is akin to Paul’s ‘thorn in the side’? Regardless, WE have the responsibility to ‘tame’ and control this and not allow it to mislead. We certainly can’t claim we don’t know. And nowhere does it say you have to try to accomplish this alone. Turn to the Lord and seek His answers and strategies so that you continue to be an Overcomer!
