We are all in the midst of the cosmic battle. We are all wounded warriors struggling to survive and even thrive. The other day, to remind myself how everyone is fighting a battle against the adversary in this conflict, I walked into my local grocery store. However, this time I did something different.

The cross tells us that Jesus died to forgive us and strengthen us to overcome sin.

Instead of just seeing random faces in the isles, when I saw the lady examining ripe tomatoes, I told myself, for all I know this woman just lost her father earlier this week. As I saw the man passing me in the other direction in the cereal aisle, I told myself, for all I know his wife just left him yesterday, As I went to get bread, I told myself the lady getting the whole wheat rolls may have just been diagnosed with cancer, As I waited in the checkout lane I told myself the teenage boy in front of me may be fighting an addiction that terrifies him, and yet he is too afraid to cry out for help for fear of his family and community condemning him and only making matters worse. So, the war rages inside of him while he battles alone, standing there in the middle of the supermarket crowd, feeling about as isolated as a lone kayaker swept out to sea.

Then I thought of how Jesus came into our dark world not only to conquer sin and death for His own sake but on behalf of every warrior who has been wounded by the adversary in the cosmic battle. What words would He have today for the boy fighting unimaginable addictions all alone, or for the others who were picking out produce, cereal and bread in the midst of their heart-wrenching ordeals? My mind remembered, 

“Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. He will not falter or lose heart until justice prevails throughout the earth. Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction Isaiah 42:1-4 NLT

Then I remembered a passage from Desire of Ages, I looked it up when I got home, and interestingly enough found it to be in the chapter entitled, “Days of Conflict.“

He passed by no human being as worthless, but sought to apply the saving remedy to every soul. In whatever company He found Himself, He presented a lesson that was appropriate to the time and the circumstances. He sought to inspire with hope the most rough and unpromising, setting before them the assurance that they might become blameless and harmless, attaining such a character as would make them manifest as the children of God. Often He met those who had drifted under Satan’s control, and who had no power to break from his snare. To such a one, discouraged, sick, tempted, and fallen, Jesus would speak words of tenderest pity, words that were needed and could be understood. Others He met who were fighting a hand-to-hand battle with the adversary of souls. These He encouraged to persevere, assuring them that they would win; for angels of God were on their side, and would give them the victory. Those whom He thus helped were convinced that here was One in whom they could trust with perfect confidence. He would not betray the secrets they poured into His sympathizing ear.-Ellen White, Desire of Ages, Pages 91-92. 

I remembered reading in Steps to Christ recently in prayer meeting, 

There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and who really desire to be children of God, yet they realize that their character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I would say, Do not draw back in despair. We shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God. No; Christ is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. –Ellen White, Steps to Christ, Page 64. 

I appreciated that fact that while we are in the midst of this cosmic battle that,

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:15-16, NLT.

So when we are tempted, we can go to our sympathizing High Priest to find the grace to obey (Romans 1:5) and do good works (Ephesians 2:8-10) and even live godly lives right here on earth (Titus 2:11-12). However, if for any reason we fall, God will never despise a broken and repentant heart (Psalm 51:17) no matter how many times the same sin has already broken the same heart. Every time we fall we are to claim His mercy and forgiveness. This is not cheap grace. This is expensive grace –biblical grace . Too many people have been accused of wanting cheap grace when in reality they are broken-hearted and tired of hurting their Savior. To such I say, “You hurt Jesus more by not accepting His forgiveness and mercy. Jesus promises the power to overcome when we are tempted, and if we fall He promises forgiveness.”

When you are tempted to sin don’t fall for the lie that you cannot overcome the temptation. “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Romans 8:37 NLT

When you have fallen into sin don’t fall for the lie that Jesus won’t forgive you. “But if we confess our sins to him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” 1 John 1:9 NLT 

In the midst of the raging cosmic battle, we never need to be discouraged. Mercy and grace, forgiveness and victory are all ours whenever we need them. When we are tempted, Jesus is telling us, “Don’t give up. I can help you overcome this temptation.” When we overcome, hallelujah, praise the Lord! Keep holding tightly to Jesus, because that’s the only way we overcame. But when we fall, Jesus tells us, “I can forgive you – again.” Either way Jesus is always telling us “Don’t give up!” 

Jesus is here to encourage us. Let’s encourage one another. 

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/we-are-not-left-alone-to-fight-in-the-cosmic-battle/

Daily Lesson for Wednesday 26th of February 2025

Satan’s quest to usurp God’s throne is also revealed in the temptation narratives found in Matthew 4:1-25 and Luke 4:1-44. In the striking encounter between Jesus and the tempter, much is revealed about the nature of the conflict. Here we see the reality of the great controversy between Christ and Satan, but played out in stark and graphic terms.

Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com

The Spirit had “led” Jesus into the wilderness for the express purpose that Jesus was “to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1, NKJV). And before facing this encounter, Jesus fasted for forty days. So when the devil came, he tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread, playing on Jesus’ extreme hunger. But Jesus countered this temptation with Scripture, and Satan’s ploy failed.

Then, in an attempt to get Jesus to act presumptuously, the devil tempted Jesus to throw Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple. Satan twisted Scripture to suggest that if Jesus were truly the Son of God, angels would protect Him. But with Scripture read rightly, Jesus again counters the temptation.

The third temptation clearly reveals just what the devil is trying to accomplish. He wants Jesus to worship him. Satan attempts to usurp the worship that is due to God alone.

And to do so, he shows Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory” and then claims: “ ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me’ ” (Matthew 4:8-9, NKJV). Indeed, in Luke 4:6, a text that parallels Matthew, the devil claims: “ ‘All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish’ ” (Luke 4:6, NKJV).

Once again, Jesus counters the temptation with Scripture, and again Satan fails.

In all three cases, Jesus used Scripture to defend against the enemy’s attacks.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25a-09-if-you-worship-me/