02.13. The Christian Life, a Daily Struggle

13. The Christian Life, a Daily Struggle

There are many struggles going on in the world around us. There are nations groaning under oppression, and struggling for liberty. There are countries at War with one another, each struggling for the mastery. There is many a man, who has been unjustly accused, struggling to prove his innocence. There are people too, who have been brought low by misfortune, struggling against poverty, and trying hard to raise themselves in the world. All these struggles are going on at this moment. But there is another struggle, which no one ever yet earnestly engaged in without success. The Bible speaks of it, and calls it ’our warfare’ that is, the warfare which God’s people are engaged in. Let us see, I. What is the nature of this warfare.

II. What are the weapons which we are to use.

III. What is the object to be gained.

I. What is the NATURE of this warfare? It is a spiritual struggle. ’We do not war,’ says the Apostle, ’after the flesh for, as he says in another place, ’We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’ It is a conflict with Satan — and with our own evil nature.

There are in the world two great powers: the power of evil — and the power of good; the kingdom of God — and the kingdom of Satan. These are set one against the other. Satan is ever trying to advance his kingdom, and to get the upper hand. He struck his first blow, when he drew away our first parents from their allegiance to God — and he has tried ever since to mar the Lord’s work. And never did he try so hard, as when Jesus appeared in the world on His great errand of redeeming love. He then dared even to tempt the Son of God Himself, and endeavored to thwart His glorious work. And so now, wherever the gospel seed is sown, he is ready to pluck it up, or else to scatter tares among the wheat.

Here then is a great spiritual conflict going on in the world — a conflict . . .
between the Lord’s people and the servants of Satan,
between light and darkness,
between sin and holiness. But this is not exactly the conflict of which I am going to speak. There is still another — namely, that inward struggle, which goes on in a person’s own heart; not in every heart, but in the hearts of all God’s people. It is an inward and spiritual conflict, which none can feel but those who are under the influence of God’s grace. And this is the reason why I have called the spiritual life a daily struggle. When a soul is first awakened, opposition is sure to spring up:
opposition from the world — which is unwilling to part with one of its followers;
opposition from Satan, who before like ’a strong man armed,’ had peaceful possession of the soul, and will not now without a desperate effort unloose his grasp;
and opposition too nearer home, in our own heart.

Ah, once there was all ease and quietness within; there was no disturbance, no anxiety, no concern, no questioning of ourselves. And why? Because the soul was dead. But the moment grace began to work, then the struggle was felt. Hear how it was with Paul. He tells us how severe the warfare was in his case — what a conflict there was between his new and spiritual nature, and his old evil nature which still remained within him: ’I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin!’ Romans 7:18-25

Here was a violent conflict continually carried on in Paul’s soul between the old man and the new man, between the flesh — and the spirit, between the bad part of his character — and the better part. And this it was that led him to say to the Galatians, ’The flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. These are contrary the one to the other — so that you cannot do the things that you would.’ Is it any wonder then that Christ’s people are sometimes sad? Are we surprised that now and then they seem so anxious? It is because there is this great struggle going on in their souls. They earnestly desire to do right — but there is something within which hinders them — something continually pulling them back, when they wish to go forward. But it may be asked: Is this warfare always going on? Is this struggle a continual one? There are times, when the Christian is especially tried. There are periods in his experience, when the enemy assails him with unusual fierceness, when he has to gather up all his strength to oppose him; when he is forced to summon all his faith, and to apply earnestly to God for His promised aid. But besides these special occasions when the struggle is severe, there is a lesser warfare always going on in the Believer’s soul. There is a daily struggle — a struggle which lasts all the while we are in this wilderness world, and never ceases until we reach the heavenly Canaan.

Perhaps I am speaking to one who knows and feels that this is the case. Can we ever say that our warfare is accomplished, our journey ended, our race run — as long as we remain here in this poor world? No, there is always an enemy near, some danger to be guarded against, some evil to be overcome — some fresh gift to be sought. ’Not as though I had already attained,’ says the Apostle, ’either were already perfect — but I follow after.’ It is a daily ’pressing towards the mark.’

Such is the great warfare which the Word of God speaks of — a spiritual warfare — a warfare within the soul — a warfare that is always going on, so long at least as there is infirmity, temptation, and sin, to be resisted — in short, so long as life lasts.

Let us now inquire,

II. What are the WEAPONS with which we fight? We are told that, ’The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God.’ They are not such as men of the world use, but what God has provided. When the followers of the false prophet Mahomet began to spread their religion, they did it by violence — that was a ’carnal’ weapon. When Peter wished to defend his Master, he drew his sword — that again was a ’carnal’ weapon. How different were the weapons which that same Peter and his brother apostles used a few years after, when they won souls to Christ. Look at 2 Corinthians 6:1-18, and see by what means they gained their victories: ’By pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by love sincere, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness.’ These were their weapons — and they were ’mighty through God.’ And these too are the weapons by which hard hearts are broken, and souls won, in these days also. But I am not speaking now of the work which the minister of Christ is carrying on — but of that work of grace which is going on in the heart of every true Christian. How does he fight the good fight of faith? Is there a prize to be won — and he must strive for it as best he can? Is there a warfare to be waged — and he has no weapons but those with which nature provides him? We might well pity him, if this were the case.

Just suppose a person awakened to the importance of religion, earnestly desiring to serve God, and to reach Heaven — but yet left entirely to his own resources. He feels his faith to be weak — and how can he strengthen it? He has powerful enemies — how can he stand up against them? He has a sinful, treacherous heart — how can he subdue and sanctify it? If left to himself, he would indeed soon fail — and the little spark of religion would soon die within him.

But, thank God, He does not leave His people alone and unprovided for. He has bid us to seek His help in prayer, and lean upon His grace. He has given us an armor, in which we may subdue every foe, and be ’more than conquerors.’

Here is our great comfort; ’The Lord Almighty is with us — the God of Jacob is our refuge!’ Our dangers and our trials are great — but not greater than we can bear. When any one is earnestly engaged in fighting the good fight, God’s eye is upon that person — He stands ready to give him the wished-for support, and to help him according to his need.

Sometimes we feel almost disheartened with the toils and difficulties which are before us. Sometimes the way seems very rugged — and the hill very steep. Sometimes our trials seem too great for flesh and blood. Yes, and they would be too great, if we had only flesh and blood to meet them. But there is a Heavenly Helper — and with His assistance we can master them all. We ’can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.’ Oh, then, why should we ever be cast down? As weak as our own powers are — they will be ’mighty through God.’ As puny as we are in ourselves — we shall be as giants, if like David we go forth in the name of the Lord. But there is yet another inquiry to make.

III. What is to be GAINED by this warfare? What is the Christian’s great object, for which he struggles so hard? It is ’the pulling down of strongholds, the casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God;’ the ’bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.’

Here is a glorious work indeed to be accomplished. Here is something to be demolished; something to be kept under control; something to be won for Christ. Let me say a word upon each.

There is something to be demolished. There are ’strongholds’ to be ’pulled down.’ Just as in battle there are certain strong fortresses which must be completely destroyed, and leveled with the ground, or there will be no hope of victory — so it is in the Christian warfare. For instance, the love of the world, which naturally has possession of our hearts, is one of these strongholds. That must be pulled down, to make way for the love of Christ. Pride is another stronghold, which sets itself up in every unconverted heart. That too must be lowered, as it is written, ’The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of man shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted.’ In short, every sin which still strives for the mastery in the heart that is changed by grace — every such sin must be fought against, and subdued, and destroyed.

Ah, it may be a hard and a long warfare — but if we fight manfully, and in dependence upon God, we shall succeed at last. For the promise is, ’Sin shall not have dominion over you.’ God ’shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.’

Then, there is something to be kept under control — ’casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts against the knowledge of God.’ I am sure, if we know anything of our own hearts, we shall feel that there is a great deal that needs constant curbing there. Our vain thoughts, our vile affections, our unbelief, which are always rising up, and troubling us; our ignorance, which sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and leads us away from His truth — all these need to be kept under control. And how can we do this, unless we are ever on our watch, and ever seeking fresh and fresh grace from God? If we attempt it with our fleshly weapons — we shall fail. But if we use the grace which God so freely gives — then the victory will be ours.

Once more — there is something to be won to Christ, ’bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.’ He claims all our thoughts, and all our hearts — and it is our happiness to give them to Him. But it is no easy matter. And yet it may be done. Our weapons are powerful enough to effect it. Let us only strive and pray — strive as those who are really in earnest, and pray as those who feel that prayer is their strength — and we shall find that one thought after another, and one desire after another, will by degrees be subdued, and brought as a prisoner to Christ.

Happy those who are thus winning spiritual victories — who are learning to control their tempers, their wills, their desires — and are gradually bringing every feeling of the heart into sweet submission to their Lord! And now I will close this subject with two short directions. The first is, Learn to look on the Christian life as a Daily struggle. Do not expect it to be all smooth and easy. Be prepared for many a conflict. Enter heartily upon this warfare.

How is it as regards earthly things? Who are those who succeed in the world — who win, who gain the prize? The Strong Man, who gives himself vigorously to his work; the Student, who reads and studies that he may outstrip his fellows; the dauntless Sailor, who defies the storm, at the risk of his life runs up the rigging to obey his Captain’s orders; the Soldier, who at the sound of the bugle rushes from the trenches, springs into the deadly breach, and fights his way on and on, until his flag waves in victory above the smoke of battle!

Just so, it is the Christian who is earnest in faith, and strong in prayer, who wins the battle of the Lord. ’The kingdom of Heaven suffers violence — and the violent take it by force.’ My other direction is this, Whatever special work you engage in, remember that you need a strength better than your own — and that strength will be granted, if only you apply for it. Are you anxious to do some good to others, to win a brother’s soul, or to comfort a mourner’s heart? Do you want . . .
to overcome some of your own evil habits,
to destroy some sin, or
to obtain some Christian grace?

Never set about it as if you had power of your own to accomplish the work. This would be making the weapons of your warfare carnal. But rather throw yourself simply on God, and ask Him to work with you, and in you, by His Almighty power.

Such are the directions that I would give you. And may God enable you to act upon them, and thus to do greater things than you have ever yet done in His name!