Saturday, June 11, 2022

WAR


 The 'battle' is not political. The battle is not to impose morality by force of will. The battle is not one of 'rights' (i.e. entitlements). Here is the battle:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

The battle is a spiritual battle. To 'fight' the battle by our own understanding - wilfully, defiantly, and forcefully, attempting to conform the world to our idea of how things should be or what we think God wants - is an act of hubris and rebellion. Ultimately, it is witchcraft. The Bible is specific on what the true battle is, and how to fight it.

Paul says, in 1 Corinthians 2:12-16:  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST.

Again, Paul writes, in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5:  For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

These 'arguments' and 'lofty opinions' cannot be destroyed unless they have first been destroyed within the individual. The battle begins with the individual! It is not external, with 'those people out there'. Firstly, it is our own thoughts which must be taken captive toward obedience to the Mind of Christ Jesus. And, the one who has been born again has been given this mind.

Secondly, we must take care in HOW we fight against the demonic. Here is what the book of Jude says:  Jude 1:8-16 Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties. But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed. Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever. It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.

Have you witnessed a Preacher, Evangelical, or Prophet, ridiculing the devil, his demons, and the forces of witchcraft? Scorning and mocking a political leader, or otherwise? Prancing about the platform they have formed for themselves, loudly mocking and slandering those who do not fall in with them? Scoffing at those who do not conform to their ideologies and assertions? If so, turn and run from them! These irreverent and arrogant mockers are of the evil one. Have nothing to do with them! They are as dead as their evil deeds.  

Again, as stated in the book of Jude (1:18-19): In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts. These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.  

…do not follow them. They will lead you into hell - right along with them. You cannot participate in the victory Jesus won for us against principalities and powers by joining with the devil.

Ephesians 6:11-18 says:  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING put ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.

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