1. Knowing the Accurate Word of God
In the scripture, we can see that spiritual warfare is neverending. There is no break from it. The religious leaders are unifying to bring down Jesus. The Saduccees did not believe in the resurrection, nor in angels or demons, and they believed in only the first five books of the bible. As per custom, when a husband died and left a wife without children, his brother will take his place and bear him children. However, there were 7 brothers and they all took the previous brother’s place and died without having any children. Then, whose wife would the woman be? In questioning Jesus, the Saduccees wanted to trap Jesus. They studied the bible so much, yet they did not accurately understand the word of God. Even today, so many Christians read the bible, yet misunderstand it as a book of do’s and dont’s or a book of morals. They misunderstand that the bible is a talisman or contains mystical power. We need to realize the real purpose of the bible: redemption and salvation. Thomas Jefferson, for example, had a bible with all but 76 pages ripped out. Instead of seeing Jesus as Christ, Jefferson saw Jesus as a man of morals.
To accurately know the word of God, we need to accurately see the true spiritual problem of mankind. People are separated from God and are under sin, curse and enslaved under Satan’s authority. We may be saved, but there are still so many Christians who live as if they are enslaved to sin. They think just because they attend church, they are freed. Christ is the only way to meet God and once you personally meet God, everything is set. We belong to Christ and we rightfully can give ourselves to Him, who has washed away all our sin and completely freed us from curses. Even as children of God, we let Satan rule over our lives. Let’s realize that Christ has completely demolished Satan’s power and authority over us. There’s no different interpretations of the Gospel. We need to start with the correct knowledge to correctly understand the word of God. In Christ, the word of God points to one thing: redemption and salvation.
The worst feeling in the world is feeling lost. Many Christians say they live for the kingdom of God but are unsure what it means, or think it means living a moral upright life. Living for the kingdom of God means we stand before the world as living witnesses. When we accurately hold on to the world of God, we have sure assurance in who we are and what we live for. We live to rightfully enjoy and testify of Christ.
2. Believing in the Power of God
Do we really live in the power of our living God? God is a living God who is with us with power. Nothing is impossible for God. God has the power to save and the power to change. Let’s come before God asking him to change our lives, our family’s lives and our friends’ lives. We need nothing else but only God’s power. In the first five books, God’s power is fully demonstrated. God made the world from nothing. Enoch walked with God and then he was no more. Abraham was able to sacrifice his son because he believed in the power of resurrection. God led the Israelites into the wilderness and split the Red Sea. He performed miracle after miracle for them, yet still the Saduccees did not believe. Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, and fed 5,000 people, yet they did not believe in his power. When we hold on to the living word of God, the word of God renews us and gives us strength. It’s not just something we memorize but it captivates and moves our lives.
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all of these things will be given to you also.” (Matthew 6:33)
Praying holding onto the kingdom of God simply means claiming God’s promises for our own, reminding God that he promised and telling him to fulfill his promise in our lives.
3. The God of the Living
As Jesus references, Moses meets God, who says he is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Because they were no longer alive, God should have said he was their God, but God shows us that our lives are eternal. God is the God of the living, not of the dead. Let’s renew our faith in the resurrection.
Conclusion
When Satan attacks us, he attacks our spiritual state. We lose hold of the word of God but Satan makes us spiritually numb, unable to see we are spiritually dead. Only God alone can revive our spirits, and renew our minds and hearts. What are you most focused and concentrated on? What runs through your mind 24/7? In the new year of 2023, let’s concentrate on Christ, His Kingdom and His power of resurrection.
Let’s take an honest look at ourselves. Am I living as a Saduccee or am I living as a child of God? Let’s see the world with a heavenly perspective, and realize that we need to invest in eternal things. Everything in this world will pass. Let’s invest our lives on what will last forever.