Iron Sharpens Iron. Standing up for Christ.

I think it is more than a coincidence that one of the first things we learn about Jesus adult ministry is that after forty days in the wilderness he refuses to make a deal with the Devil.

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While Jesus had to be in a physically weakened state, Satan offered him the whole world but Jesus would not accept. Jesus knew that God was in charge and not Satan.

While this should be a lesson for us all, too many Christians today have given up on trusting God and surrendered to the Devil. Whether for a supreme court seat, some selfish reason or just being misled, souls are being captured by Satans many acts of deception.

Iron Sharpens Iron. Proverbs 27:17
Iron Sharpens Iron. Proverbs 27:17

Complicit in this is the absent voice of church leaders. It is a mystery why they stand by and let their flocks be misled. While sermons on God’s forgiveness are wonderful, when the perils of sins such as selfishness, greed, immorality, dishonesty, corruption, injustice, racism and abuse show their ugly heads, the warnings of the need for true repentance go unspoken.

Example: How do immigrant children get taken from their parents and put into cages and I hear not so much as a prayer or sermon on their behalf during church services?

Where is the outcry from church leaders either in voice or in writing? People need to be WARNED that Satan is real and very active. That Hell is real. That we all are subject to temptation and falling.

If we do not think we need to examine our hearts and repent we start to become complacent. When we become complacent, we are easily led astray.

Many have heard rightly that if we repent God is faithful and just to forgive our sins. But how many have heard recently that in order to have forgiveness we must continually seek forgiveness through repentance.

Athletes are trained to overcome weakness in themselves to prepare for the battle of competition. That is how iron is sharpened. I feel too many Christians today are not prepared for the spiritual battles they encounter in their daily lives.

They have not been sharpened into iron against sin thus they surrender to the deals of the Devil. The great deceiver knows scripture and our weaknesses. He will exploit them to his advantage.

Satan loves us to be blind to evil instead of open-eyed to the truth. Christians must know scripture and also be aware of their weaknesses.

Christians need to be told to pray to the Holy Spirit for humility and wisdom so they are not overcome by Satan. Jesus was constantly calling out the Pharisees when he saw sheep being led astray.

Paul publicly called out Peter, John the Baptist called out the King, Martin Luther nailed the ninety-five theses on the church door all because they saw sheep being led astray.

What kind of coach would let their team go into competition unprepared? It should not be any different for the church. Now more than ever goodness needs to quit looking away from evil.

God does not ask us to look away during times of injustice. Christians have the Armour of God at their disposal for a reason. Not to give in to the Devil, but to stand against him. Not only for yourself but for those who cannot stand or speak (like the innocent children still in cages).

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” “We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17

By Tom Krause

Tom is a motivational speaker and 20-time Contributing Author to the Chicken Soup for Soul Book Series!