The Sea of Glass
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Michael Harper gives the alert that, “Behind the facade of religious life there is a spiritual battle raging. There seem to be many who are not fully aware of this war far. From time to time there is a dramatic collision between the power of the Spirit and that of Satan. Success for the Christian will depend in a large measure on recognizing the work of the devil and knowing how to defeat and expel him from every situation . . . “So it is today there is fierce conflict and there are those who do not wish to pass this way. But we cannot avoid the battle for if we do not fight the enemy, he will still come at us. . . .”
Harper goes on to say, “These wicked beings can suggest evil, but cannot coerce the will of another creature. They may spread snares and devices to ruin the child of God, but cannot compel any other being to comply with their designs, nor can they employ God’s creation other than as He decrees. They have never been able to defeat God, and actually God uses them as instruments to correct the erring saints.”
The key to practical faith is the ability to see the hand of God in the attitudes, actions and direction of those whom God places over our lives. Failure to discern God in rightly ordained authority will greatly decrease our awareness of Him and will greatly increase our conflicts and tensions with others.
God initiated the first step toward reconciliation. God told Nathan that David was forgiven give him a message of reconciliation: When you tell David what I’ve told you, he’ll think he’s going to die on the spot. But you’ve got to tell him he’s forgiven – that he’s not going to die! “Tell him also that I will walk with him through everything that comes upon him because of sin.”
Nathan told David “Look at all that God has done for you, all the blessings.” Sin gives Satan the right to enforce curses upon you. He’s given you The Lord was ready to give you all your heart’s desires. You’ve killed an innocent man, and taken his wife as your own. You have despised the Lord, David. And the enemies of God are rejoicing over what you did. The sword is not going to leave your home. Your wives will be taken from you. God will do all this before Israel. You will be judged publicly. David’s baby died.
There are consequences to your hidden sins; (Psa. 51) shows you David was afraid of his soul condition.
- “Take not thy holy spirit from me,” (Psa. 51:11).
- “Renew a right spirit within me,” (Verse 10)
- “Restore unto me . . . joy . . . .” (Verse 12).
- “Cast me not away from thy presence . . .” (Verse 11).
- Nathan told him: “The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shall not die,” (2 Sam. 12:13).
David cried out against sin and compromise: “Do I not hate them, O Lord that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies,” (Psa. 139: 21- 22). This bold statement came out of a repentant broken spirit. David had already examined his own heart! In the next verse he says, “Search me, O God and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me . . . .” (Verse. 23- 24).