Our Scripture reading for today is found in Ephesians 2, the first two verses, “And you hath he quickened, who are dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” Our text is found in the latter part of verse 2, “the spirit that now worketh.”
There is a spirit in this world that motivates and controls those who walk in disobedience to the divine commandments and contrary to the admonitions of God. it’s the spirit of our adversary, Satan, the arch foe of mankind, the enemy of all righteousness. This spirit manifests itself as it did in its father at the beginning. It exalts itself above the knowledge of God. It refuses to recognize a supreme authority. it chafes under any restraints we would subject it to. It exalts the will of man. It denies the rights of God in the lives of men. It is the spirit of anti-christ, the spirit of the end-time, the spirit of the last days. It is a stubborn spirit, a willful spirit, and an intemperate spirit.
At first it deceives men, then eventually destroys them. It originates in the pit, exercises itself in this earthly realm, and is ultimately consigned to the regions of darkness from whence it came. This spirit will brook no interference, resists correction, makes fools of its servants, and ridicules it opposers.
This spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience is the spirit of the prince of the powers of the air, Satan, the arch foe of mankind. This spirit cannot be destroyed with carnal weapons, cannot be controlled by human reason, and resists every control or limitation placed upon its activities. It is the enemy of all righteousness. It is a hater of God. It is no friend to man.
This spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience is permitted to exist because evil men desire such and God permits unregenerate man to choose his own course in this life. This spirit is permitted to operate in the world because the righteous need to be subjected to its testings and its adverse influence in order to bring out the best in them and causing them to discern between right and wrong, good and evil, God and the Devil. This spirit tries the patience of the saints, challenges their godly activities, but if resisted in the Spirit of the Lord, must give ground and flee.
Yet, there is another Spirit that worketh in this world also. He is the Spirit of God. He is the enemy of all unrighteousness. He opposes the works of the Devil. He exalts the law of God. He blesses and encourages the righteous. He convicts the sinner. He gives strength for the journey. He encourages the weak. He brings order out of chaos. He brings calm out of the storms of life. He is the promise of the Father. He was sent by the Son. His Name is the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit of God. Now He has come to abide with us. The period of His comfort is forever. He does not speak of Himself, but glorifies the One who sent Him. His ministry here is to convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. His ministry is to comfort, to inspire, to bless, to quicken, to prepare the church for the coming of her Bridegroom. He is meek, easy to be intreated, the direct opposite of the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. “To whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness.”
Thanks be unto God for this heavenly gift. We need no longer fear the spirit of this age. We need no longer be controlled by this power of evil. Christ hath gotten us victory. Though I may be subjected to evil influences, I need not be controlled by this influence. Though I am in the world, I am not of the world. My citizenship is in heaven. The spirit of that heavenly realm is today my life and my strength. I shall overcome the spirit of this age, for greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. Thank God for this glorious hope. I shall be victor. I shall not be defeated. Jesus Christ is mine today.
Oh, I’m so glad because I have Jesus, and I know that listening to me out there are hundreds who know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Aren’t you thrilled to know that your enemy, the enemy of your soul, is a defeated foe. Aren’t you thrilled to know the Lord is on your side and His Spirit has come to you, that one time, though you may have been possessed by the spirit of this world, the spirit of this age, the spirit of your adversary, your enemy, today you’ve been freed from that evil control and you’ve yielded yourself to God.
God has come to you of a truth. Though you may be subjected somewhat to the forces of evil around about, yet at the same time thou shalt overcome for the Lord is thy portion. He it is who keepeth thee in all thy ways and shall direct thy paths and cause thee to be victorious because that is His promise.
Oh, I’m so grateful because the promises of the Word of God are my promises. These are mine and I claim them. There may have been a time when I was subject only to the judgments written in this book, but now the blessings that are written here are my everlasting portion for I have accepted God’s way, His way of escape from the spirit of this age, the spirit of this day, God’s way of escape, Jesus Christ the righteous. One day He died upon the cross of Calvary. One day He suffered the pangs of dying. One day He suffered the onslaughts of the enemy, but He rose from the grave triumphant and He is now seated at the right hand of the Father on high, and because of that He is my Savior, my High Priest, my Mediator, my divine Intercessor, and I shall be conqueror because He has decreed it to be so.
You may feel like you are bound and you are suffering and you are weak and you are sick, but I want to tell you that your adversary is a defeated foe, and tough you go through many things down here you shall triumph gloriously, for the Lord is your portion. Oh, let us hope in the Lord for we may walk through a dark vale for a while, but the light is shining brightly just ahead and God shall bring the victory.
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