These two scripture passages are essential: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 5:1-8—(4:18) “…we do NOT look at the things which are seen, but (we DO look) at the things which are unseen….” And (5:7), “For we walk by faith, and NOT by sight.” Obeying God’s word is probably life’s most essential truth (John 5:39-40).
Both Psalm 91:1-16 and John 15:1-27, command us with strict warning to get into God, through Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:3-14; 1 John 5:1-5), and then remain crucified, humble, and steadfast in Him, so He lives His life out through us (Galatians 2:20), and not us trying to live our life for Him.
The only reason to resist Satan, the devil, d evil 1, the wicked one, is when we cherish what to us is a worthy ideology, rather than a close, intimate, love-relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit, for people must be persuaded (manipulated) to carry out our personal ideology; otherwise, our personal ideology (self-religion) is dead and meaningless.
First John 5:18-21 makes this as clear as God can make it, for He lovingly warns all who are born of God (1 John 5:1-5), to keep ourselves in Him, making Him our first love (Revelation 2:4); otherwise, the satanic spirits will manipulate us into loving and serving a substitute god-idle, they convince us is the “true god”, yet it is Satan, but no longer disguised (2 Corinthians 11:13-15), when the chaplain of a city council prays to Allah, who he says is Satan; it shows Satan now works openly, knowing God is swiftly closing in on him (Revelation 12:7-12).
But with all these happenings, some well-meaning people have jumped in, trying to show Jesus’ love, but they unknowingly fail to understand it is Jesus people need to see, for once people see Jesus; they obviously see His love. Scripture never says to show people Jesus’ love, but to let them see Jesus, for it is Jesus the Person, people need to see; then His love is seen.
In John 12:20-26, some Greeks (Gentiles) came to Philip, telling him they wished to see Jesus, yet Philip did not lead them directly to Jesus, but told Andrew, “and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus” (verse 22), for in most cases we divert needy people who wish only to see Jesus, and not everything about Him, but we instead want them to see His love and blessings first, “and in turn” they will see Jesus later, but this is not God’s plan, so do it God’s way—let them see Jesus.
Hurting, dying people are not interested in God’s attributes, blessings, love, or a church invite, for all they want to see is the One True God, their Help, where they are right now, so get everything else out of the way, so they can know Jesus is God, their Creator-Sustainer-Owner, for He alone is their Anchor in their storm of life at their most desperate moment.
You who are hurting and desperate in some area of life, forget about searching the Bible for scriptural answers (John 5:39-40), simply cry out to God in Jesus’ name, any way you can; ask Him to help you get through whatever you are facing, because this is what God, in Hebrews 4:16 commands of us, “Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” So boldly, desperately go to God’s throng of grace, and in Jesus’ name ask for mercy and grace to help in your time of need, and keep at it until God, your Help, Peace, and Power shows up (Luke 11:9-13; Romans 8:24-27; Ephesians 2:13-14).
Jim Nabors
