The COMPROMISED castle

 

Ezekiel 12:20

King James Version

20 And the cities that are inhabited 

shall be laid waste, 

and the land shall be desolate; 

and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

Ever been to a castle?

What is it for?

How are its walls?

Is it still inhabited?

If not, why was it abandoned?

I've been to one in Europe, and it's of stone.

I marveled at the solidity of its structure.

Bare, and bereft, it spoke of times past.

But what is a castle?

"A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars usually consider a castle to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble."

   -- Wikipedia

What causes castles to fall apart?

Age.

Time.

Battles.

Neglect.

Looting.

If castles have been stormed into, it's because of dispute.

Battles from encroachers.

Outside enemies.

Worse still, from infighting.

Wherein kings and queens are toppled.

From once-trusted advisors.

Who merely bade their time.

And made alliances with the enemies.

Further strengthening their resolve, and attack.

After victory, more battles occur.

The cycle keeps going.

How many castles, and fortresses, can sustain such battles?

The Bible attests wars to this:

James 4:1-3

King James Version

4 From whence come wars 

and fightings among you? 

come they not hence, even of your lusts 

that war in your members?

2 Ye lust, and have not: 

ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: 

ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, 

that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

How is the castle of your heart?

Is it strong?

Fortified?

Pure?

Safe?

Or are you hit on all fronts?

As born again, I'm hit on all fronts.

All the time.

The devil makes sure of that.

The enemy waits, in ambush.

Looking for any sign of weakness.

Looking for any compromised walls, windows, doors, gates, roof, foundation.

How he hates fortified, impenetrable structures.

All the more he wants to tear it down.

So he may mock GOD with it.

In my case, JESUS is the main occupier.

He is King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.

The ONLY occupier.

Mark 1:22

King James Version

22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: 

for he taught them as one that had authority, 

and not as the scribes.

How the enemies TREMBLE at His presence!

Mark 1:23-26

King James Version

23 And there was in their synagogue 

a man with an unclean spirit; 

and he cried out,

24 Saying, Let us alone; 

what have we to do with thee, 

thou Jesus of Nazareth? 

art thou come to destroy us? 

I know thee who thou art, 

the Holy One of God.

25 And Jesus rebuked him, 

saying, 

Hold thy peace, 

and come out of him.

26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, 

and cried with a loud voice, 

he came out of him.

Matthew 8:28-29

King James Version

28 And when he was come to the other side 

into the country of the Gergesenes, 

there met him two possessed with devils, 

coming out of the tombs, 

exceeding fierce, 

so that no man might pass by that way.

29 And, behold, they cried out, 

saying, 

What have we to do with thee, 

Jesus, thou Son of God? 

art thou come hither 

to torment us before the time?

James 2:19

King James Version

19 Thou believest that there is one God; 

thou doest well: 

the devils also believe, 

and tremble.

James 4:7

King James Version

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. 

Resist the devil, 

and he will flee from you.

A perfectly-fortified castle has JESUS in it.

Only He can keep evil at bay.

Only His WORD rules us.

By His WORD, enemies tremble.

A born again knows how to keep defenses up.

We must have the right dose of awareness.

And of humility.

We know our potential weakness.

We secure ourselves from it.

For it's usually from within.

A letting down of guard.

Literally, and figuratively.

That's what we guard against.

Carelessness.

Indifference.

Ignorance.

Pride.

Complacency.

And everything else the enemy has cooked up.

But we have our Scripture to live from

We have our LORD to protect us.

By our faith, we stand.

Acts 4:12

King James Version

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: 

for there is none other name under heaven 

given among men, whereby we must be saved.

More articles here.

Related material:

JESUS

POWER of JESUS

JESUS and Satan

The devil's DEVICES

cause of wars

Sin AWARENESS

CHRIST's soldier

WARRIOR of the SPIRIT 

The PURPOSE of the HOLY SPIRIT

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