This month, we are covering a seemingly simple concept that has powerful, revelatory, and wide ranging applications: Right-Right vs Right-Wrong...Right WHAT-Right HOW/WHY vs. Right WHAT-Wrong (or NO) HOW/WHY.
In the previous post, we contrasted the sons of Sceva's method of Spiritual Warfare with Jesus SPECIFIC instances where what He spoke during Spiritual Warfare:
We have seen several accounts of Jesus participating in Spiritual Warfare. In each instance, Jesus made a Statement. He stated a will for something that was unable to state a will or act apart from its nature.
In today's example, the Spiritual Warfare participants made a Statement of their OWN will by someone else's faith (understanding and experience). EVERY WORD in the SENTENCE showed the participant in Spiritual Warfare had NO authority...they didn't know their Doctrine...they didn't know the HOW/WHY for the WHAT they were stating.
AGAIN, Spiritual Warfare depended on a person's ability to use WORDS and SENTENCES. It also looked like the person's understanding and experience with the WORDS and SENTENCES that were stated was critical.
Jesus was a MASTER at using WORDS and SENTENCES...the sons of Sceva were the contrastive example of Spiritual Warfare.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE: ENEMY'S METHOD
We looked at Acts 19 yesterday. The end of that passage was:
"16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and mastered both of them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17 And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified."
This event became known to ALL and fear fell upon them ALL...and the Name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
HOW/WHY did this event magnify the name of the Lord Jesus?
Today, we are going to answer this question and look at what happened next. (Do you know what happened next?)
If the benefit was ONLY that more people knew the Name of Jesus, then this would mean the comment by the evil spirit was profitable...it was based on an evil spirit. Also, how was the Name of the Jesus being known more a benefit in and of itself? There must have been something more that happened...something extremely profitable.
Acts 19
"18 Many also of them that had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds."
The cause was that people believed. The effect was that they confessed and declared their deeds. These people were growing in their belief.
"19 And not a few of them that practised magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver."
Wow! NOT A FEW of them that practised magical arts brought their books and burned them.
"20 So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed."
People confessing their deeds and repenting of their deeds was the reason the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
However, notice an extremely subtle point that had been in front of our eyes for decades...
What method did those who practiced magical arts use to do Spiritual Warfare for the enemy?
They used BOOKS...which were made up of SENTENCES...which were made up of WORDS.
We ALL know that those who do Spiritual Warfare for the enemy use WORDS and SENTENCES.
WHY do we think that Spiritual Warfare for God would be physical?
WHY do I have to spend so much time hammering the point that Spiritual Warfare is COMPLETELY made up of WORDS and SENTENCES when we ALL know the enemy practices Spiritual Warfare with WORDS and SENTENCES?
I need to do this because next month as we get into practical examples of Spiritual Warfare that we encounter every day, we are going to see it involves WORDS and SENTENCES...and most people don't consider the examples I will present as Spiritual Warfare BECAUSE it ONLY consists of WORDS and SENTENCES!
SUMMARY
Spiritual Warfare is COMPLETELY made up of WORDS and SENTENCES.
A person's ability to successfully participate in Spiritual Warfare COMPLETELY depends on their FAITH (understanding and experience) with the WORDS and SENTENCES they use.
Tomorrow, we will look at more examples of people participating in Spiritual Warfare.
Next Post
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Spiritual Warfare: Contrastive Example
This month, we are covering a seemingly simple concept that has powerful, revelatory, and wide ranging applications: Right-Right vs Right-Wrong...Right WHAT-Right HOW/WHY vs. Right WHAT-Wrong (or NO) HOW/WHY.
In the previous post, we summarized the instances where Jesus' spoke during Spiritual Warfare:
We have seen several accounts of Jesus participating in Spiritual Warfare. In each instance, Jesus made a Statement. He stated a will for something that was unable to state a will or act apart from its nature.
AGAIN, all of this depended on a person's ability to use WORDS and SENTENCES.
CLEARLY, Jesus was a MASTER at using WORDS and SENTENCES.
Today, we will look at an example of Spiritual Warfare that CONTRASTS with Jesus' examples...
SPIRITUAL WARFARE: CONTRASTIVE EXAMPLE
Acts 19
"13 But certain also of the strolling Jews, exorcists, took upon them to name over them that had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, who did this."
There were seven sons of a chief priest who SAID, "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth". Taking everything we learned from Jesus, what were the differences in this STATEMENT and Jesus' Statements? Let's cover three of them...
1. The Statement began with "I".
Jesus made Statements for the will of someone or something that didn't have a will. The demon/disease/weather was the subject of the Statement. Jesus didn't state HIS will over the demon/disease/weather.
Remember, the purpose of Spiritual Gifts and Spiritual Warfare is to benefit OTHERS! We saw the key factor in determining if someone is a false prophet is to determine who benefits from the prophecy. If the person stating the prophecy benefits, then they are a false prophet. A prophet from God does NOT personally benefit from the prophecy.
Who was benefiting from this Statement made by the sons of Sceva? Who was the subject of this Statement? This was pride...which wasn't the proper attitude to have during Spiritual Warfare.
2. What was "adjure"?
Strong's #3726 horkizo - "from 3727; to put on oath, i.e. make swear; by anal. to solemnly enjoin:-adjure, charge."
Strong's #3727 horkos - "a limit, i.e. (sacred) restraint (spec. oath):-oath."
The other use of horkizo in the Bible was in Mark 5...do you remember WHO used this WORD...AND to WHOM it was directed?
Mark 5
"1 And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes.
2 And when he was come out of the boat, straightway there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3 who had his dwelling in the tombs: and no man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain;
4 because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been rent asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: and no man had strength to tame him.
5 And always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones.
6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped him;
7 and crying out with a loud voice, he saith, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not.
8 For he said unto him, Come forth, thou unclean spirit, out of the man."
Jesus made a Statement for the will of the unclean spirit to come out of the man. The unclean spirit's response was to adjure Jesus by God to not torment the unclean spirit.
The evil spirit stated its will for an oath by God from Jesus not to be tormented. Notice, the purpose of the oath was stated. Also, the person being requested to abide by this oath was a Moral Person: Jesus. Finally, remember that Jesus did NOT torment the unclean spirit, but actually responded to the request with:
"9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he saith unto him, My name is Legion; for we are many.
10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
11 Now there was there on the mountain side a great herd of swine feeding.
12 And they besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
13 And he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed down the steep into the sea, in number about two thousand; and they were drowned in the sea."
Jesus had a conversation with the unclean spirit AND HELPED the unclean spirit achieve its request! (Again, what a strange passage...not one that gets taught in-depth in most churches and/or Bible studies.)
Getting back to the sons of Sceva in Acts 19, they were attempting to make an oath with an evil spirit! What was the purpose of the oath? They didn't state it.
TWO WORDS into their Statement, the sons of Sceva couldn't get more off-track. They were making themselves the focus and attempting to hold an immoral being to a sacred oath...REALLY?
3. The attempted oath was "by Jesus whom Paul preacheth."
This showed they had knowledge, NOT understanding. They were attempting to hold an evil spirit to a sacred oath by a person (Jesus) ACCORDING to another person's understanding (Paul). The sons of Sceva were stating they were the subject of the Statement, yet the understanding and experience (FAITH) backing their Statement was NOT theirs...it was Paul's!
Take a moment to truly appreciate the difference between what Jesus stated and what these people stated during Spiritual Warfare...
What was going to happen next in Acts 19?
"15 And the evil spirit answered and said unto them, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye?"
Notice, the evil spirit named two facts in the form of a Question.
Fact #1: The evil spirit knew Jesus.
Fact #2: The evil spirit knew Paul.
Question: Who are you?
No Statement FOR the will of the evil spirit was made...so what was the evil spirit going to do? What was in the nature of the evil spirit?
"16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and mastered both of them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded."
The evil spirit got physically destructive!
When Jesus participated in Spiritual Warfare, the event was made known and people had fear of Jesus. What was going to happen here?
"17 And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified."
This event became known to ALL and fear fell upon them ALL...and the Name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
HOW/WHY did this event magnify the Name of the Lord Jesus?
Tomorrow, we are going to answer this question and look at what happened next. (Do you know what happened next?)
SUMMARY
We have seen several accounts of Jesus participating in Spiritual Warfare. In each instance, Jesus made a Statement. He stated a will for something that was unable to state a will or act apart from its nature.
In today's example, the Spiritual Warfare participants made a Statement of their OWN will by someone else's faith (understanding and experience). EVERY WORD in the SENTENCE showed the participant in Spiritual Warfare had NO authority...they didn't know their Doctrine...they don't know the HOW/WHY for the WHAT they were stating.
AGAIN, Spiritual Warfare depends on a person's ability to use WORDS and SENTENCES. It also looked like the person's understanding and experience with the WORDS and SENTENCES that were stated was critical.
Jesus was a MASTER at using WORDS and SENTENCES...the sons of Sceva were the contrastive example of Spiritual Warfare.
Next Post
In the previous post, we summarized the instances where Jesus' spoke during Spiritual Warfare:
We have seen several accounts of Jesus participating in Spiritual Warfare. In each instance, Jesus made a Statement. He stated a will for something that was unable to state a will or act apart from its nature.
AGAIN, all of this depended on a person's ability to use WORDS and SENTENCES.
CLEARLY, Jesus was a MASTER at using WORDS and SENTENCES.
Today, we will look at an example of Spiritual Warfare that CONTRASTS with Jesus' examples...
SPIRITUAL WARFARE: CONTRASTIVE EXAMPLE
Acts 19
"13 But certain also of the strolling Jews, exorcists, took upon them to name over them that had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, who did this."
There were seven sons of a chief priest who SAID, "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth". Taking everything we learned from Jesus, what were the differences in this STATEMENT and Jesus' Statements? Let's cover three of them...
1. The Statement began with "I".
Jesus made Statements for the will of someone or something that didn't have a will. The demon/disease/weather was the subject of the Statement. Jesus didn't state HIS will over the demon/disease/weather.
Remember, the purpose of Spiritual Gifts and Spiritual Warfare is to benefit OTHERS! We saw the key factor in determining if someone is a false prophet is to determine who benefits from the prophecy. If the person stating the prophecy benefits, then they are a false prophet. A prophet from God does NOT personally benefit from the prophecy.
Who was benefiting from this Statement made by the sons of Sceva? Who was the subject of this Statement? This was pride...which wasn't the proper attitude to have during Spiritual Warfare.
2. What was "adjure"?
Strong's #3726 horkizo - "from 3727; to put on oath, i.e. make swear; by anal. to solemnly enjoin:-adjure, charge."
Strong's #3727 horkos - "a limit, i.e. (sacred) restraint (spec. oath):-oath."
The other use of horkizo in the Bible was in Mark 5...do you remember WHO used this WORD...AND to WHOM it was directed?
Mark 5
"1 And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes.
2 And when he was come out of the boat, straightway there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3 who had his dwelling in the tombs: and no man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain;
4 because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been rent asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: and no man had strength to tame him.
5 And always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones.
6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped him;
7 and crying out with a loud voice, he saith, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not.
8 For he said unto him, Come forth, thou unclean spirit, out of the man."
Jesus made a Statement for the will of the unclean spirit to come out of the man. The unclean spirit's response was to adjure Jesus by God to not torment the unclean spirit.
The evil spirit stated its will for an oath by God from Jesus not to be tormented. Notice, the purpose of the oath was stated. Also, the person being requested to abide by this oath was a Moral Person: Jesus. Finally, remember that Jesus did NOT torment the unclean spirit, but actually responded to the request with:
"9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he saith unto him, My name is Legion; for we are many.
10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
11 Now there was there on the mountain side a great herd of swine feeding.
12 And they besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
13 And he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed down the steep into the sea, in number about two thousand; and they were drowned in the sea."
Jesus had a conversation with the unclean spirit AND HELPED the unclean spirit achieve its request! (Again, what a strange passage...not one that gets taught in-depth in most churches and/or Bible studies.)
Getting back to the sons of Sceva in Acts 19, they were attempting to make an oath with an evil spirit! What was the purpose of the oath? They didn't state it.
TWO WORDS into their Statement, the sons of Sceva couldn't get more off-track. They were making themselves the focus and attempting to hold an immoral being to a sacred oath...REALLY?
3. The attempted oath was "by Jesus whom Paul preacheth."
This showed they had knowledge, NOT understanding. They were attempting to hold an evil spirit to a sacred oath by a person (Jesus) ACCORDING to another person's understanding (Paul). The sons of Sceva were stating they were the subject of the Statement, yet the understanding and experience (FAITH) backing their Statement was NOT theirs...it was Paul's!
Take a moment to truly appreciate the difference between what Jesus stated and what these people stated during Spiritual Warfare...
What was going to happen next in Acts 19?
"15 And the evil spirit answered and said unto them, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye?"
Notice, the evil spirit named two facts in the form of a Question.
Fact #1: The evil spirit knew Jesus.
Fact #2: The evil spirit knew Paul.
Question: Who are you?
No Statement FOR the will of the evil spirit was made...so what was the evil spirit going to do? What was in the nature of the evil spirit?
"16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and mastered both of them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded."
The evil spirit got physically destructive!
When Jesus participated in Spiritual Warfare, the event was made known and people had fear of Jesus. What was going to happen here?
"17 And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified."
This event became known to ALL and fear fell upon them ALL...and the Name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
HOW/WHY did this event magnify the Name of the Lord Jesus?
Tomorrow, we are going to answer this question and look at what happened next. (Do you know what happened next?)
SUMMARY
We have seen several accounts of Jesus participating in Spiritual Warfare. In each instance, Jesus made a Statement. He stated a will for something that was unable to state a will or act apart from its nature.
In today's example, the Spiritual Warfare participants made a Statement of their OWN will by someone else's faith (understanding and experience). EVERY WORD in the SENTENCE showed the participant in Spiritual Warfare had NO authority...they didn't know their Doctrine...they don't know the HOW/WHY for the WHAT they were stating.
AGAIN, Spiritual Warfare depends on a person's ability to use WORDS and SENTENCES. It also looked like the person's understanding and experience with the WORDS and SENTENCES that were stated was critical.
Jesus was a MASTER at using WORDS and SENTENCES...the sons of Sceva were the contrastive example of Spiritual Warfare.
Next Post
Friday, June 26, 2009
Spiritual Warfare: Offense Examples
This month, we are covering a seemingly simple concept that has powerful, revelatory, and wide ranging applications: Right-Right vs Right-Wrong...Right WHAT-Right HOW/WHY vs. Right WHAT-Wrong (or NO) HOW/WHY.
In the previous post, we showed background from the Bible proving we ought to confront the spiritual enemy:
Clearly we ought to be able to confront the spiritual enemy in a way that results in people being better off in the Long Term.
However, there is a way to confront the spiritual enemy in a way that appears to be good in the short-term, but the person actually ends up worse in the Long Term.
Today, we will look at SPECIFICALLY how the spiritual enemy is confronted...
SPIRITUAL WARFARE: OFFENSE EXAMPLES
Mark 1
"21 And they go into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.
22 And they were astonished at his teaching: For he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes."
(Notice, Jesus taught in the synagogue as one having authority...not as the scribes. The scribes taught a Right WHAT with NO HOW/WHY. The scribes taught knowledge (facts). Jesus taught a Right WHAT with a Right HOW/WHY. Jesus taught understanding. Doctrine is the HOW/WHY. Jesus (like Daniel) had the Right Doctrine and was teaching truth...so what do you think will happen next?)
"23 And straightway there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24 saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus thou Nazarene? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God."
(Notice, there was IN THE SYNAGOGUE listening to Jesus teach, a man with an unclean spirit. There was an unclean spirit IN THE SYNAGOGUE. Jesus was teaching truth and the unclean spirit could NOT take it. How many people today teach well enough that people with unclean spirits can't take it? The unclean spirit asked two Questions and then spoke knowledge...NOT truth.)
"25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
26 And the unclean spirit, tearing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him."
(If the unclean spirit spoke truth, then Jesus wouldn't have silenced him. However, Jesus didn't want people to base their faith on an unclean spirit. Notice, this passage told us SPECIFICALLY what Jesus said! "Hold thy peace, and come out of him." Was that a verse from the Old Testament...that day's "Bible"? No. Jesus spoke a Statement and Mark called it a rebuke. Jesus' Statement worked!)
"27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What is this? a new teaching! with authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.
28 And the report of him went out straightway everywhere into all the region of Galilee round about."
(Jesus helped the man by removing the unclean spirit. The people recognized what Jesus did AND called it "a new teaching!". In fact, they referenced AGAIN that Jesus did this with authority...He knew the HOW/WHY.)
(The same story was related in Luke 4 with additional information after what we have just covered in Mark. For the record, if someone asks you what book of the Bible they ought to read first, I'd recommend Mark. I call it the action Gospel. Mark completely focused on the action and the story moved very fast which is what people need who are afraid of being overwhelmed with the Bible.)
(Let's pick up the story in Luke 4...)
Luke 4
"38 And he rose up from the synagogue, and entered into the house of Simon. And Simon's wife's mother was holden with a great fever; and they besought him for her.
39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she rose up and ministered unto them.
40 And when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
41 And demons also came out from many, crying out, and saying, Thou art the Son of God. And rebuking them, he suffered them not to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ."
(We know that healing people from demons is Spiritual Warfare. However, Luke combined Jesus' ability to heal diseases with removing demons. Is healing diseases also Spiritual Warfare?)
"42 And when it was day, he came out and went into a desert place: and the multitudes sought after him, and came unto him, and would have stayed him, that he should not go from them.
43 But he said unto them, I must preach the good tidings of the kingdom of God to the other cities also: for therefore was I sent.
44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee."
(Jesus could have stayed in one place and kept healing, but He didn't. He had to preach other places which meant NOT everyone got healed...only those who acted in faith THAT day.)
(Let's look at another passage from the action Gospel...)
Mark 9
"17 And one of the multitude answered him, Teacher, I brought unto thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit;
18 and wheresoever it taketh him, it dasheth him down: and he foameth, and grindeth his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast it out; and they were not able."
(The man had a son who had a "dumb spirit". Notice, this LINKS disease with a spirit...)
"19 And he answereth them and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him unto me."
(We have looked at this passage before when we discussed faith. Faith is proven by actions (effects). The Disciples were unable to get the effects so Jesus called them a "faithless generation". Jesus put this harsh statement within a Question. This was a subtle point: If Jesus had made his frustration known in a Statement, it may have been interpreted as impatience or frustration or judgment. However, Jesus put this feeling into a Question...which was NOT a statement of the will.)
"20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him grievously; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
21 And he asked his father, How long time is it since this hath come unto him? And he said, From a child."
(Jesus asked the father a Question. WHY? I believe He did this for our benefit...so we would know this was a DIFFERENT situation than other situations. This "dumb spirit" had been with this person since he was a child.)
"22 And oft-times it hath cast him both into the fire and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.
23 And Jesus said unto him, If thou canst! All things are possible to him that believeth.
24 Straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."
(Jesus restated the father's IF Statement and explained HOW/WHY to make the IF possible: believe. I hope you can see Jesus was a MASTER with His WORDS and SENTENCES. There were so many ways this could have been Unprofitable if it was stated anything less than perfectly. However, EVERYTHING Jesus stated was PERFECT...objectively perfect...to the degree that if we want to learn Spiritual Warfare, we can examine Jesus' WORDS and SENTENCES to learn from the MASTER.)
"25 And when Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him."
(AGAIN, we have a record of SPECIFICALLY what Jesus said. It was a Statement that was NOT recorded in the Old Testament...the "Bible" of Jesus' time.)
"26 And having cried out, and torn him much, he came out: and the boy became as one dead; insomuch that the more part said, He is dead.
27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose.
28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, How is it that we could not cast it out?
29 And he said unto them, This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer."
(At least the Disciples wanted to know the HOW/WHY so they wouldn't fail next time! Jesus' answer was that THIS kind could come out by NOTHING, save by prayer. Yesterday, we said that prayer was in the WHOLE armor of God according to Paul. It looked like Jesus agreed!)
(Matthew also related the same story. However, the ending was different, but not contradictory...)
Matthew 17
"20 And he saith unto them, Because of your little faith: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 But this kind goeth not out save by prayer and fasting."
(Jesus told the Disciples the HOW/WHY that they couldn't cast it out had to do with lack of faith...AND also required prayer and fasting. Remember, the story began with Jesus asking a Question that included a comment about the Disciples being "faithless". Mark had the action Gospel...the minute the action was over, he moved on to the next story. To me, Matthew was the Moral Gospel...as in, he tended to focus on the moral to the story. Matthew did a great job focusing on the conclusion.)
(From Matthew's account, there was some interesting Doctrine...First, Jesus said that lack of faith prevented them from casting out the demon. Then Jesus stated that even the littlest amount of faith would allow us to move mountains. Notice, a mountain is an inanimate object...it does NOT have a will. Second, Jesus stated that you have to SAY to the mountain a Statement. This was completely consistent with everything we've seen Jesus said during Spiritual Warfare. It also was consistent with everything Paul stated about Spiritual Warfare centering on WORDS and SENTENCES and stating your will. So far, every example of Spiritual Warfare from Jesus involved Jesus making a statement of the will FOR the demon...)
(Before we go any further, I have to stress the importance of understanding the sequel to "Modeling God"...."Modeling God's Wills" resolves the thousands of years old mystery behind HOW/WHY God's Will comes about through understanding the Bible. "Why does evil happen if God is all powerful?" The material we are covering this month will be used to write the third and final book in the series: "Modeling Church"...so it only makes sense that a person would need to understand "Modeling God" (God's Nature and prayer and truth) and "Modeling God's Wills" (HOW/WHY God's Will comes about and the Apostles' Doctrine) in order to understand Spiritual Warfare well enough to participate.)
(The correct application of this teaching about speaking to mountains from Jesus would cause us to speak our will over things that don't have a will: inanimate objects, the weather, animals...demons? The destructive application of this teaching from Jesus would cause us to speak our will over PEOPLE. "Modeling God's Wills" explains HOW/WHY God is All-Powerful: God has COMPLETE control over EVERYTHING that does NOT have a will. People get contradictory (and Calvinistic) when they attempt to use the Bible to prove God has complete control over people. The Bible clearly showed that God can ONLY override the will of the individual in RESPONSE to JUSTICE.)
(Finally, Jesus stated this kind came out by prayer and fasting. Notice, you had better have a non-contradictory understanding of the Doctrine of Prayer before you participate in Spiritual Warfare. I believe one of the reasons we don't see more success in Spiritual Warfare is that we do not understand the Doctrine of Prayer. "Modeling God" presented the Doctrine of Prayer according to the Bible. I have had numerous people speak and write against this presentation of the Doctrine of Prayer, yet NONE of them will explain what THEY believe is the Doctrine of Prayer.
(Prayer is different than speaking to God or God speaking to us...which is grace. We have seen that every prayer in the Bible followed the same four steps and was different than just speaking to God or God speaking to us. If a person wants to believe the Doctrine of Prayer is different than what the Bible stated, then they ought to at least admit their doctrine of Prayer is not supported by the Bible.)
(Prayer is an exchange of value. It is a statement of the will of the individual on how he wants to use his spiritual value. I believe Jesus was stating that this type of demon can only be removed by someone who has spiritual value and states his will that he wants to use his spiritual value to remove this demon. AGAIN, all of this depends on WORDS and SENTENCES.)
(The next story from the action Gospel took place at the beginning of Chapter 5. I want to look at the end of Chapter 4 to set the scene...)
Mark 4
"36 And leaving the multitude, they take him with them, even as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him.
37 And there ariseth a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insomuch that the boat was now filling."
(Once again, Jesus had helped a multitude of people AND must get moving to the next place. This time he left in a boat and a "weather event" occurred...to the point the boat was in danger of sinking.)
"38 And he himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion: and they awake him, and say unto him, Teacher, carest thou not that we perish?"
(Apparently, Jesus was a hard sleeper! He was sleeping though a weather event in an open boat that was taking on water. The Disciples woke Him and asked Him a Question. The Disciples had learned something. If they had made this a Statement (You don't care if we perish), the guilt they would have faced may have been unbearable.)
"39 And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
(Jesus SAID to the sea "peace, be still". Again, Jesus made a Statement of the will FOR something that didn't have a will (inanimate object and weather) and it happened. That was followed by Jesus asking the Disciples two Questions...with one of them involving lack of faith. The first Question involved fear...with the final verse stating the result was the Disciples feared exceedlingly AND they asked each other a Question.)
(So, Chapter 4 ended with the Disciples amazed at Jesus' ability to state a will for inanimate objects. Now, we can look at Chapter 5...)
Mark 5
"1 And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes.
2 And when he was come out of the boat, straightway there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3 who had his dwelling in the tombs: and no man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain;
4 because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been rent asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: and no man had strength to tame him.
5 And always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones."
(As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit met Jesus. This man was the ultimate example of Physical power. "no man had strength to tame him" So, in one corner, we had the ultimate Physical power...in the other, the ultimate Spiritual Power. Which one was going to win? How would this battle be fought: Physically or Spiritually? Which (the Physical or the Spiritual) do you REALLY believe is more powerful?)
"6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped him;
7 and crying out with a loud voice, he saith, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not.
8 For he said unto him, Come forth, thou unclean spirit, out of the man."
(This was told out of chronological order! Mark was so focused on the action, he stated the dramatic response first...then he stated the Statement that caused the dramatic response second.)
(Chronologically, Jesus AGAIN made a Statement "Come forth, thou unclean spirit, out of the man". AGAIN it was a statement of the will over a demon. However, this time, the man with the demon worshiped Jesus and asked a Question and then made a request of mercy. Clearly, this demon was NOT like the one that only came out by prayer. What was Jesus going to do? Was He going to torment the demon? Was He going to extend mercy? Was He going to silence the demon like He did in every other example? Was He going to talk to the demon?)
"9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he saith unto him, My name is Legion; for we are many."
(Jesus asked the demon a Question! The demon answered factually...and the answer was that Jesus was not dealing with a single demon...but many. Now we know WHY no man could hold this man down. However, as it relates to the spiritual, we now have a battle between Jesus and MANY demons!)
"10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country."
(The many demons besought Jesus much that they would not be sent away out of the country. What an odd statement. Were they bargaining with Jesus? Do they think Jesus would do what they asked?)
"11 Now there was there on the mountain side a great herd of swine feeding.
12 And they besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them."
(It looked to me like the demons had a preference...they could make choices...however, they could NOT make this choice happen...they were unable to go into the swine. In fact, it looked like they were unable to leave the man's body...otherwise, they could have left and gone into the swine on their own. I believe these demons were unable to do something apart from their nature. It is NOT in their nature to NOT torment someone...to leave someone willingly.)
"13 And he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed down the steep into the sea, in number about two thousand; and they were drowned in the sea."
(Jesus gave them leave...Jesus ALLOWED them to leave. Notice, the unclean spirits went into about 2000 swine...and the swine drowned themselves. First of all, I believe this passage was put here for us to realize around how many unclean spirits were in the man...about 2000! Second, either the pigs didn't want to live with unclean spirits in them or the pigs' death allowed the spirits to be free to roam in the same country. I don't think I have enough information to state a definitive answer.)
"14 And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they came to see what it was that had come to pass.
15 And they come to Jesus, and behold him that was possessed with demons sitting, clothed and in his right mind, even him that had the legion: and they were afraid.
16 And they that saw it declared unto them how it befell him that was possessed with demons, and concerning the swine.
17 And they began to beseech him to depart from their borders."
(The people in charge of the pigs told others what happened. These people intentionally wanted to "come to Jesus". Whether they wanted to demand an answer or find out what was going on, we will never know because they immediately got distracted by the man who had been possessed...he was clothed and in his right Mind...AND that made the crowd AFRAID. THAT caused the people that saw the events to explain to those that came to Jesus what happened...and THAT caused these people to beseech Jesus to leave their borders!)
(Notice, when Jesus was successful at Spiritual Warfare, observers got in fear.)
"18 And as he was entering into the boat, he that had been possessed with demons besought him that he might be with him.
19 And he suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go to thy house unto thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and how he had mercy on thee.
20 And he went his way, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men marvelled."
(Jesus dissuaded someone from following Him. In fact, Jesus told him to tell everyone what the Lord had done for him...and the man did it. He PUBLISHED his story and ALL men marvelled. This was the first instance, that I'm aware, of a person publishing his story of how he overcame his personal struggles with the help of the Lord.)
SUMMARY
We have seen several accounts of Jesus participating in Spiritual Warfare. In each instance, Jesus made a Statement. He stated a will for something that was unable to state a will or act apart from its nature.
AGAIN, all of this depended on a person's ability to use WORDS and SENTENCES.
CLEARLY, Jesus was a MASTER at using WORDS and SENTENCES.
Next week, we will look at more examples of Spiritual Warfare from people other than Jesus...
Next Post
In the previous post, we showed background from the Bible proving we ought to confront the spiritual enemy:
Clearly we ought to be able to confront the spiritual enemy in a way that results in people being better off in the Long Term.
However, there is a way to confront the spiritual enemy in a way that appears to be good in the short-term, but the person actually ends up worse in the Long Term.
Today, we will look at SPECIFICALLY how the spiritual enemy is confronted...
SPIRITUAL WARFARE: OFFENSE EXAMPLES
Mark 1
"21 And they go into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.
22 And they were astonished at his teaching: For he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes."
(Notice, Jesus taught in the synagogue as one having authority...not as the scribes. The scribes taught a Right WHAT with NO HOW/WHY. The scribes taught knowledge (facts). Jesus taught a Right WHAT with a Right HOW/WHY. Jesus taught understanding. Doctrine is the HOW/WHY. Jesus (like Daniel) had the Right Doctrine and was teaching truth...so what do you think will happen next?)
"23 And straightway there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24 saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus thou Nazarene? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God."
(Notice, there was IN THE SYNAGOGUE listening to Jesus teach, a man with an unclean spirit. There was an unclean spirit IN THE SYNAGOGUE. Jesus was teaching truth and the unclean spirit could NOT take it. How many people today teach well enough that people with unclean spirits can't take it? The unclean spirit asked two Questions and then spoke knowledge...NOT truth.)
"25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
26 And the unclean spirit, tearing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him."
(If the unclean spirit spoke truth, then Jesus wouldn't have silenced him. However, Jesus didn't want people to base their faith on an unclean spirit. Notice, this passage told us SPECIFICALLY what Jesus said! "Hold thy peace, and come out of him." Was that a verse from the Old Testament...that day's "Bible"? No. Jesus spoke a Statement and Mark called it a rebuke. Jesus' Statement worked!)
"27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What is this? a new teaching! with authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.
28 And the report of him went out straightway everywhere into all the region of Galilee round about."
(Jesus helped the man by removing the unclean spirit. The people recognized what Jesus did AND called it "a new teaching!". In fact, they referenced AGAIN that Jesus did this with authority...He knew the HOW/WHY.)
(The same story was related in Luke 4 with additional information after what we have just covered in Mark. For the record, if someone asks you what book of the Bible they ought to read first, I'd recommend Mark. I call it the action Gospel. Mark completely focused on the action and the story moved very fast which is what people need who are afraid of being overwhelmed with the Bible.)
(Let's pick up the story in Luke 4...)
Luke 4
"38 And he rose up from the synagogue, and entered into the house of Simon. And Simon's wife's mother was holden with a great fever; and they besought him for her.
39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she rose up and ministered unto them.
40 And when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
41 And demons also came out from many, crying out, and saying, Thou art the Son of God. And rebuking them, he suffered them not to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ."
(We know that healing people from demons is Spiritual Warfare. However, Luke combined Jesus' ability to heal diseases with removing demons. Is healing diseases also Spiritual Warfare?)
"42 And when it was day, he came out and went into a desert place: and the multitudes sought after him, and came unto him, and would have stayed him, that he should not go from them.
43 But he said unto them, I must preach the good tidings of the kingdom of God to the other cities also: for therefore was I sent.
44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee."
(Jesus could have stayed in one place and kept healing, but He didn't. He had to preach other places which meant NOT everyone got healed...only those who acted in faith THAT day.)
(Let's look at another passage from the action Gospel...)
Mark 9
"17 And one of the multitude answered him, Teacher, I brought unto thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit;
18 and wheresoever it taketh him, it dasheth him down: and he foameth, and grindeth his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast it out; and they were not able."
(The man had a son who had a "dumb spirit". Notice, this LINKS disease with a spirit...)
"19 And he answereth them and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him unto me."
(We have looked at this passage before when we discussed faith. Faith is proven by actions (effects). The Disciples were unable to get the effects so Jesus called them a "faithless generation". Jesus put this harsh statement within a Question. This was a subtle point: If Jesus had made his frustration known in a Statement, it may have been interpreted as impatience or frustration or judgment. However, Jesus put this feeling into a Question...which was NOT a statement of the will.)
"20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him grievously; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
21 And he asked his father, How long time is it since this hath come unto him? And he said, From a child."
(Jesus asked the father a Question. WHY? I believe He did this for our benefit...so we would know this was a DIFFERENT situation than other situations. This "dumb spirit" had been with this person since he was a child.)
"22 And oft-times it hath cast him both into the fire and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.
23 And Jesus said unto him, If thou canst! All things are possible to him that believeth.
24 Straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."
(Jesus restated the father's IF Statement and explained HOW/WHY to make the IF possible: believe. I hope you can see Jesus was a MASTER with His WORDS and SENTENCES. There were so many ways this could have been Unprofitable if it was stated anything less than perfectly. However, EVERYTHING Jesus stated was PERFECT...objectively perfect...to the degree that if we want to learn Spiritual Warfare, we can examine Jesus' WORDS and SENTENCES to learn from the MASTER.)
"25 And when Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him."
(AGAIN, we have a record of SPECIFICALLY what Jesus said. It was a Statement that was NOT recorded in the Old Testament...the "Bible" of Jesus' time.)
"26 And having cried out, and torn him much, he came out: and the boy became as one dead; insomuch that the more part said, He is dead.
27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose.
28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, How is it that we could not cast it out?
29 And he said unto them, This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer."
(At least the Disciples wanted to know the HOW/WHY so they wouldn't fail next time! Jesus' answer was that THIS kind could come out by NOTHING, save by prayer. Yesterday, we said that prayer was in the WHOLE armor of God according to Paul. It looked like Jesus agreed!)
(Matthew also related the same story. However, the ending was different, but not contradictory...)
Matthew 17
"20 And he saith unto them, Because of your little faith: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 But this kind goeth not out save by prayer and fasting."
(Jesus told the Disciples the HOW/WHY that they couldn't cast it out had to do with lack of faith...AND also required prayer and fasting. Remember, the story began with Jesus asking a Question that included a comment about the Disciples being "faithless". Mark had the action Gospel...the minute the action was over, he moved on to the next story. To me, Matthew was the Moral Gospel...as in, he tended to focus on the moral to the story. Matthew did a great job focusing on the conclusion.)
(From Matthew's account, there was some interesting Doctrine...First, Jesus said that lack of faith prevented them from casting out the demon. Then Jesus stated that even the littlest amount of faith would allow us to move mountains. Notice, a mountain is an inanimate object...it does NOT have a will. Second, Jesus stated that you have to SAY to the mountain a Statement. This was completely consistent with everything we've seen Jesus said during Spiritual Warfare. It also was consistent with everything Paul stated about Spiritual Warfare centering on WORDS and SENTENCES and stating your will. So far, every example of Spiritual Warfare from Jesus involved Jesus making a statement of the will FOR the demon...)
(Before we go any further, I have to stress the importance of understanding the sequel to "Modeling God"...."Modeling God's Wills" resolves the thousands of years old mystery behind HOW/WHY God's Will comes about through understanding the Bible. "Why does evil happen if God is all powerful?" The material we are covering this month will be used to write the third and final book in the series: "Modeling Church"...so it only makes sense that a person would need to understand "Modeling God" (God's Nature and prayer and truth) and "Modeling God's Wills" (HOW/WHY God's Will comes about and the Apostles' Doctrine) in order to understand Spiritual Warfare well enough to participate.)
(The correct application of this teaching about speaking to mountains from Jesus would cause us to speak our will over things that don't have a will: inanimate objects, the weather, animals...demons? The destructive application of this teaching from Jesus would cause us to speak our will over PEOPLE. "Modeling God's Wills" explains HOW/WHY God is All-Powerful: God has COMPLETE control over EVERYTHING that does NOT have a will. People get contradictory (and Calvinistic) when they attempt to use the Bible to prove God has complete control over people. The Bible clearly showed that God can ONLY override the will of the individual in RESPONSE to JUSTICE.)
(Finally, Jesus stated this kind came out by prayer and fasting. Notice, you had better have a non-contradictory understanding of the Doctrine of Prayer before you participate in Spiritual Warfare. I believe one of the reasons we don't see more success in Spiritual Warfare is that we do not understand the Doctrine of Prayer. "Modeling God" presented the Doctrine of Prayer according to the Bible. I have had numerous people speak and write against this presentation of the Doctrine of Prayer, yet NONE of them will explain what THEY believe is the Doctrine of Prayer.
(Prayer is different than speaking to God or God speaking to us...which is grace. We have seen that every prayer in the Bible followed the same four steps and was different than just speaking to God or God speaking to us. If a person wants to believe the Doctrine of Prayer is different than what the Bible stated, then they ought to at least admit their doctrine of Prayer is not supported by the Bible.)
(Prayer is an exchange of value. It is a statement of the will of the individual on how he wants to use his spiritual value. I believe Jesus was stating that this type of demon can only be removed by someone who has spiritual value and states his will that he wants to use his spiritual value to remove this demon. AGAIN, all of this depends on WORDS and SENTENCES.)
(The next story from the action Gospel took place at the beginning of Chapter 5. I want to look at the end of Chapter 4 to set the scene...)
Mark 4
"36 And leaving the multitude, they take him with them, even as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him.
37 And there ariseth a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insomuch that the boat was now filling."
(Once again, Jesus had helped a multitude of people AND must get moving to the next place. This time he left in a boat and a "weather event" occurred...to the point the boat was in danger of sinking.)
"38 And he himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion: and they awake him, and say unto him, Teacher, carest thou not that we perish?"
(Apparently, Jesus was a hard sleeper! He was sleeping though a weather event in an open boat that was taking on water. The Disciples woke Him and asked Him a Question. The Disciples had learned something. If they had made this a Statement (You don't care if we perish), the guilt they would have faced may have been unbearable.)
"39 And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
(Jesus SAID to the sea "peace, be still". Again, Jesus made a Statement of the will FOR something that didn't have a will (inanimate object and weather) and it happened. That was followed by Jesus asking the Disciples two Questions...with one of them involving lack of faith. The first Question involved fear...with the final verse stating the result was the Disciples feared exceedlingly AND they asked each other a Question.)
(So, Chapter 4 ended with the Disciples amazed at Jesus' ability to state a will for inanimate objects. Now, we can look at Chapter 5...)
Mark 5
"1 And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes.
2 And when he was come out of the boat, straightway there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3 who had his dwelling in the tombs: and no man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain;
4 because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been rent asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: and no man had strength to tame him.
5 And always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones."
(As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit met Jesus. This man was the ultimate example of Physical power. "no man had strength to tame him" So, in one corner, we had the ultimate Physical power...in the other, the ultimate Spiritual Power. Which one was going to win? How would this battle be fought: Physically or Spiritually? Which (the Physical or the Spiritual) do you REALLY believe is more powerful?)
"6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped him;
7 and crying out with a loud voice, he saith, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not.
8 For he said unto him, Come forth, thou unclean spirit, out of the man."
(This was told out of chronological order! Mark was so focused on the action, he stated the dramatic response first...then he stated the Statement that caused the dramatic response second.)
(Chronologically, Jesus AGAIN made a Statement "Come forth, thou unclean spirit, out of the man". AGAIN it was a statement of the will over a demon. However, this time, the man with the demon worshiped Jesus and asked a Question and then made a request of mercy. Clearly, this demon was NOT like the one that only came out by prayer. What was Jesus going to do? Was He going to torment the demon? Was He going to extend mercy? Was He going to silence the demon like He did in every other example? Was He going to talk to the demon?)
"9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he saith unto him, My name is Legion; for we are many."
(Jesus asked the demon a Question! The demon answered factually...and the answer was that Jesus was not dealing with a single demon...but many. Now we know WHY no man could hold this man down. However, as it relates to the spiritual, we now have a battle between Jesus and MANY demons!)
"10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country."
(The many demons besought Jesus much that they would not be sent away out of the country. What an odd statement. Were they bargaining with Jesus? Do they think Jesus would do what they asked?)
"11 Now there was there on the mountain side a great herd of swine feeding.
12 And they besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them."
(It looked to me like the demons had a preference...they could make choices...however, they could NOT make this choice happen...they were unable to go into the swine. In fact, it looked like they were unable to leave the man's body...otherwise, they could have left and gone into the swine on their own. I believe these demons were unable to do something apart from their nature. It is NOT in their nature to NOT torment someone...to leave someone willingly.)
"13 And he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed down the steep into the sea, in number about two thousand; and they were drowned in the sea."
(Jesus gave them leave...Jesus ALLOWED them to leave. Notice, the unclean spirits went into about 2000 swine...and the swine drowned themselves. First of all, I believe this passage was put here for us to realize around how many unclean spirits were in the man...about 2000! Second, either the pigs didn't want to live with unclean spirits in them or the pigs' death allowed the spirits to be free to roam in the same country. I don't think I have enough information to state a definitive answer.)
"14 And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they came to see what it was that had come to pass.
15 And they come to Jesus, and behold him that was possessed with demons sitting, clothed and in his right mind, even him that had the legion: and they were afraid.
16 And they that saw it declared unto them how it befell him that was possessed with demons, and concerning the swine.
17 And they began to beseech him to depart from their borders."
(The people in charge of the pigs told others what happened. These people intentionally wanted to "come to Jesus". Whether they wanted to demand an answer or find out what was going on, we will never know because they immediately got distracted by the man who had been possessed...he was clothed and in his right Mind...AND that made the crowd AFRAID. THAT caused the people that saw the events to explain to those that came to Jesus what happened...and THAT caused these people to beseech Jesus to leave their borders!)
(Notice, when Jesus was successful at Spiritual Warfare, observers got in fear.)
"18 And as he was entering into the boat, he that had been possessed with demons besought him that he might be with him.
19 And he suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go to thy house unto thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and how he had mercy on thee.
20 And he went his way, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men marvelled."
(Jesus dissuaded someone from following Him. In fact, Jesus told him to tell everyone what the Lord had done for him...and the man did it. He PUBLISHED his story and ALL men marvelled. This was the first instance, that I'm aware, of a person publishing his story of how he overcame his personal struggles with the help of the Lord.)
SUMMARY
We have seen several accounts of Jesus participating in Spiritual Warfare. In each instance, Jesus made a Statement. He stated a will for something that was unable to state a will or act apart from its nature.
AGAIN, all of this depended on a person's ability to use WORDS and SENTENCES.
CLEARLY, Jesus was a MASTER at using WORDS and SENTENCES.
Next week, we will look at more examples of Spiritual Warfare from people other than Jesus...
Next Post
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Spiritual Warfare: Offense Background
This month, we are covering a seemingly simple concept that has powerful, revelatory, and wide ranging applications: Right-Right vs Right-Wrong...Right WHAT-Right HOW/WHY vs. Right WHAT-Wrong (or NO) HOW/WHY.
In the previous post, we summarized the WHOLE armor of God:
EVERYTHING that Paul mentioned that was in the WHOLE armor of God was based on WORDS and SENTENCES!
Today, we will begin looking at the offensive perspective of Spiritual Warfare...
SPIRITUAL WARFARE: OFFENSE BACKGROUND
Some people don't believe we are supposed to intentionally confront the spiritual enemy. So, before we look at SPECIFICALLY how to confront the enemy tomorrow (Offensive Spiritual Warfare), we will spend today's post showing how the Bible consistently stated there is a spiritual enemy that needs to be confronted.
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was in the prophets, so people were not supposed to participate in offensive Spiritual Warfare...only the prophets. Here were some verses showing that people were NOT supposed to engage at all with the spiritual enemy:
Leviticus 19
"31 Turn ye not unto them that have familiar spirits, nor unto the wizards; seek them not out, to be defiled by them: I am Jehovah your God."
Leviticus 20
"6 And the soul that turneth unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto the wizards, to play the harlot after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people."
Deuteronomy 18
"9 When thou art come into the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
10 There shall not be found with thee any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, one that practiseth augury, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,
11 or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12 For whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto Jehovah: and because of these abominations Jehovah thy God doth drive them out from before thee."
Psalm 106
"36 And served their idols, Which became a snare unto them.
37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto demons,
38 And shed innocent blood, Even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, Whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with blood."
However, in the New Testament this changed because Jesus and his followers had the Holy Spirit. Tomorrow we will look at the SPECIFICS of these encounters. Today's passages were focused on proving the need to confront the spiritual enemy:
I John 4
"1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
Luke 8
"1 And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good tidings of the kingdom of God, and with him the twelve,
2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary that was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
3 and Joanna the wife of Chuzas Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered unto them of their substance."
Mark 3
"11 And the unclean spirits, whensoever they beheld him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
12 And he charged them much that they should not make him known."
Luke 10
"17 And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject unto us in thy name.
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven.
19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.
20 Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Testing the spirits, casting them out, charging them to not make Himself known, and having demons subject unto us in Jesus' Name all require a person to confront the spiritual enemy. The final passage of today's post was a long (and familiar) one. I'm going to comment in parenthesis...
Matthew 12
"22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a demon, blind and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the dumb man spake and saw."
(Jesus healed a blind and dumb man who was possessed of a demon to the point that he was able to see and speak. This definitely involved confronting the spiritual enemy.)
"23 And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, Can this be the son of David?
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub the prince of the demons."
(The people recognized that Jesus was able to help this man. The Pharisees looked for a reason why Jesus was NOT able to help the man EVEN THOUGH HE CLEARLY DID. The Pharisees got so desperate to ignore a person who got helped that they stated that Jesus must be from the prince of demons!)
"25 And knowing their thoughts he said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26 and if Satan casteth out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
28 But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you."
(Notice, this passage began by establishing that Jesus knew their thoughts...so He was not projecting...He was responding to facts. Jesus used non-contradiction to state that the Pharisees needed to establish if helping people was from God or not because these people claimed to help people. They couldn't say their help was from God but they could say Jesus' help was from the devil. Which one was it? Then Jesus closed with a HUGE point and it was stated in IF/THEN: IF Jesus was casting the demons out BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THEN the kingdom of God had come upon you...which meant the Pharisees were in REAL trouble.)
"29 Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
30 He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
31 Therefore I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
32 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come."
(Jesus just warned these people that speaking against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven...which meant these people better be careful when they told Jesus that His act of casting out demons by the Holy Spirit was ACTUALLY by the prince of demons!)
"33 Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit."
(This was a clear statement that people need to resolve their contradictions. Either say the tree is good because the fruit is good OR say the tree is bad because the fruit is bad. Then Jesus made a causality statement: a tree (CAUSE) is known by its fruit (EFFECT). I would not want to be a religious leader who tries to rationalize away people getting help apart from the religious leaders's traditional way of dealing with people.)
"34 Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."
(Jesus was stating that EVERY WORD we speak will be JUDGED! WORDS will justify and WORDS will condemn. Considering that this statement came after the explanation of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, this was a HUGE statement.)
"38 Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee.
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet:
40 for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here.
42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here."
(Jesus just used all four God-given principles to PROVE the Pharisees were wrong. Jesus used non-contradiction, contrastive thinking, and causality to facilitate the Pharisees' growth. The Pharisees ignored Jesus' proof that they had the wrong causes and they tried to convince Jesus that He needed to justify Himself to them with a sign (effect). Jesus responded by saying that an evil and adulterous generation sought after signs (effects). Jesus was explaining to them they ought to be about the causes. This was the passage we looked at earlier this month concerning false prophets. Now we see it came out of a confrontation after Jesus healed a man.)
"43 But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation."
(Jesus pulled the entire situation together by saying that when an unclean spirit was cast out, it wandered looking for a place to rest. When it could find none, it went back to the original person with seven other spirits MORE evil and they dwelt there. Jesus said the person was ACTUALLY worse off after getting the evil spirit cast out. Then Jesus said the generation He was speaking to was the same...they got relief because of Jesus, but if they didn't keep growing, their situation would be worse.)
SUMMARY
Clearly we ought to be able to confront the spiritual enemy in a way that results in people being better off in the Long Term.
However, there is a way to confront the spiritual enemy in a way that appears to be good in the short-term, but the person actually ends up worse in the Long Term.
Tomorrow, we will look at SPECIFICALLY how the spiritual enemy is confronted...
Next Post
In the previous post, we summarized the WHOLE armor of God:
EVERYTHING that Paul mentioned that was in the WHOLE armor of God was based on WORDS and SENTENCES!
Today, we will begin looking at the offensive perspective of Spiritual Warfare...
SPIRITUAL WARFARE: OFFENSE BACKGROUND
Some people don't believe we are supposed to intentionally confront the spiritual enemy. So, before we look at SPECIFICALLY how to confront the enemy tomorrow (Offensive Spiritual Warfare), we will spend today's post showing how the Bible consistently stated there is a spiritual enemy that needs to be confronted.
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was in the prophets, so people were not supposed to participate in offensive Spiritual Warfare...only the prophets. Here were some verses showing that people were NOT supposed to engage at all with the spiritual enemy:
Leviticus 19
"31 Turn ye not unto them that have familiar spirits, nor unto the wizards; seek them not out, to be defiled by them: I am Jehovah your God."
Leviticus 20
"6 And the soul that turneth unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto the wizards, to play the harlot after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people."
Deuteronomy 18
"9 When thou art come into the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
10 There shall not be found with thee any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, one that practiseth augury, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,
11 or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12 For whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto Jehovah: and because of these abominations Jehovah thy God doth drive them out from before thee."
Psalm 106
"36 And served their idols, Which became a snare unto them.
37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto demons,
38 And shed innocent blood, Even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, Whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with blood."
However, in the New Testament this changed because Jesus and his followers had the Holy Spirit. Tomorrow we will look at the SPECIFICS of these encounters. Today's passages were focused on proving the need to confront the spiritual enemy:
I John 4
"1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
Luke 8
"1 And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good tidings of the kingdom of God, and with him the twelve,
2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary that was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
3 and Joanna the wife of Chuzas Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered unto them of their substance."
Mark 3
"11 And the unclean spirits, whensoever they beheld him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
12 And he charged them much that they should not make him known."
Luke 10
"17 And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject unto us in thy name.
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven.
19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.
20 Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Testing the spirits, casting them out, charging them to not make Himself known, and having demons subject unto us in Jesus' Name all require a person to confront the spiritual enemy. The final passage of today's post was a long (and familiar) one. I'm going to comment in parenthesis...
Matthew 12
"22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a demon, blind and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the dumb man spake and saw."
(Jesus healed a blind and dumb man who was possessed of a demon to the point that he was able to see and speak. This definitely involved confronting the spiritual enemy.)
"23 And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, Can this be the son of David?
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub the prince of the demons."
(The people recognized that Jesus was able to help this man. The Pharisees looked for a reason why Jesus was NOT able to help the man EVEN THOUGH HE CLEARLY DID. The Pharisees got so desperate to ignore a person who got helped that they stated that Jesus must be from the prince of demons!)
"25 And knowing their thoughts he said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26 and if Satan casteth out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
28 But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you."
(Notice, this passage began by establishing that Jesus knew their thoughts...so He was not projecting...He was responding to facts. Jesus used non-contradiction to state that the Pharisees needed to establish if helping people was from God or not because these people claimed to help people. They couldn't say their help was from God but they could say Jesus' help was from the devil. Which one was it? Then Jesus closed with a HUGE point and it was stated in IF/THEN: IF Jesus was casting the demons out BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THEN the kingdom of God had come upon you...which meant the Pharisees were in REAL trouble.)
"29 Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
30 He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
31 Therefore I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
32 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come."
(Jesus just warned these people that speaking against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven...which meant these people better be careful when they told Jesus that His act of casting out demons by the Holy Spirit was ACTUALLY by the prince of demons!)
"33 Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit."
(This was a clear statement that people need to resolve their contradictions. Either say the tree is good because the fruit is good OR say the tree is bad because the fruit is bad. Then Jesus made a causality statement: a tree (CAUSE) is known by its fruit (EFFECT). I would not want to be a religious leader who tries to rationalize away people getting help apart from the religious leaders's traditional way of dealing with people.)
"34 Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."
(Jesus was stating that EVERY WORD we speak will be JUDGED! WORDS will justify and WORDS will condemn. Considering that this statement came after the explanation of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, this was a HUGE statement.)
"38 Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee.
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet:
40 for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here.
42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here."
(Jesus just used all four God-given principles to PROVE the Pharisees were wrong. Jesus used non-contradiction, contrastive thinking, and causality to facilitate the Pharisees' growth. The Pharisees ignored Jesus' proof that they had the wrong causes and they tried to convince Jesus that He needed to justify Himself to them with a sign (effect). Jesus responded by saying that an evil and adulterous generation sought after signs (effects). Jesus was explaining to them they ought to be about the causes. This was the passage we looked at earlier this month concerning false prophets. Now we see it came out of a confrontation after Jesus healed a man.)
"43 But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation."
(Jesus pulled the entire situation together by saying that when an unclean spirit was cast out, it wandered looking for a place to rest. When it could find none, it went back to the original person with seven other spirits MORE evil and they dwelt there. Jesus said the person was ACTUALLY worse off after getting the evil spirit cast out. Then Jesus said the generation He was speaking to was the same...they got relief because of Jesus, but if they didn't keep growing, their situation would be worse.)
SUMMARY
Clearly we ought to be able to confront the spiritual enemy in a way that results in people being better off in the Long Term.
However, there is a way to confront the spiritual enemy in a way that appears to be good in the short-term, but the person actually ends up worse in the Long Term.
Tomorrow, we will look at SPECIFICALLY how the spiritual enemy is confronted...
Next Post
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
The Whole Armor of God
This post has become very popular through people "googling" it. Most likely you googled this post and are anxious to get an explanation of The Whole Armor of God. (Thank you for selecting this site!) I realize you are most likely in a rush to answer some burning question...and that is okay...and you will get a non-contradictory answer. However, please mark this post and come back to it when you have more time to look at the associated links. This post is a part of a Series. If you choose to look at the associated links, you will end up with an understanding of The Whole Armor of God that exceeds what you will hear from "the experts". If you are in a rush, skip down to "THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD" heading.
Also, people who believe the Whole Armor of God is Offensive are deceived. There were three very specific types of Spiritual Warfare mentioned in the Bible and all three were different and had a different purpose. The Enemy has a method of Spiritual Warfare and it is nothing like our method of Spiritual Warfare. Our response to the enemy's method of Spiritual Warfare is Defensive Spiritual Warfare which is the Whole Armor of God. The back is not covered in the Whole Armor of God because the enemy does NOT attack from behind. The enemy's method is based on us CHOOSING to accept the enemy's method of taking us on a journey rather than STANDING. People who do not understand this are leading you astray. Here is an excerpt from the previous post explaining the meaning of verse 11:
"11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
Well, this was warfare because he was describing "the WHOLE armor of God"! Armor is used for warfare and Paul would eventually describe the WHOLE armor of God. However, notice the WHY behind putting on this warfare armor: to be able to stand against the WILES of the devil. Stand implied that we are DEFENDING, NOT attacking! The purpose of EVERYTHING we will look at today ought to result in STANDING...defending. What were WILES?
WILES was Strong's #3180 methodeia - "from a comp. of 3326 and 3593 [comp. "method"]; travelling over, i.e. travesty (trickery):-wile, lie in wait."
As for the two words making up this compound word:
-meta was Strong's #3326 "a prim. prep. ...denoting accompaniment"
-hodeuo was Strong's #3593 "to travel:-journey".
So, WILES were trickery by travesty...by deception...by accompanying on a journey! This was NOT STANDING...there would be movement!
Paul was saying to put on the whole armor of God so that you can be able to stand against the devil's trickery by deception...and the devil does this by convincing you to cease from STANDING and go on a journey! AGAIN, EVERYTHING about Spiritual Warfare relates to dealing with deception, NOT Physical aspects. In fact, Paul was going to stress THAT point because he was not done giving us the WHY.
Again, please read the previous post if you aren't convinced about this being DEFENSIVE Spiritual Warfare.
Finally, we have an Offensive Spiritual Warfare method that is ONLY initiated through us by the Holy Spirit. Please take the time to review the three previous links that give an overview to each if you are serious about understanding what THE BIBLE said about Spiritual Warfare.
This month, we are covering a seemingly simple concept that has powerful, revelatory, and wide ranging applications: Right-Right vs Right-Wrong...Right WHAT-Right HOW/WHY vs. Right WHAT-Wrong (or NO) HOW/WHY.
In the previous post, we summarized the intent of the other critical passage from Paul on Spiritual Warfare (Ephesians 6):
Paul spoke to the Ephesians about Spiritual Warfare from a defensive perspective. Paul talked about putting on the WHOLE armor of God so that we can stand against the WILES of the devil. This is DEFENSIVE...don't be deceived.
Again, everything that Paul described related to Spiritual Warfare involves being able to handle deception (trickery and travesty) from the devil.
Also, in this Series, there are posts that cover:
Deception
Spiritual Warfare
What SPECIFICALLY is said during Spiritual Warfare
(That last post is the first in a series of seven posts examining all the Spiritual Warfare examples from the Bible where what people spoke during Spiritual Warfare is documented.)
Today, we will cover the specific components of the WHOLE armor of God.
THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD
Ephesians 6
"14 Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one."
So far, the WHOLE armor of God involves:
-Truth (for the loins)
-Righteousness (for the heart)
-Gospel of peace (for the feet)
-Faith (shield to quench ALL fiery darts)
I have written a lot about each of these. Here is ONLY a summary of each area with corresponding links:
TRUTH
Truth is facts that create. Truth has a Right WHAT with a Right HOW/WHY.
Deception has a Right WHAT, however, since it doesn't have a Right HOW/WHY, it doesn't create.
(Notice, the whole armor of God does NOT have a covering for the back. That is because this armor is defensive and is focused on withstanding an attack...not an ambush. The wiles of the devil come directly at us as a Right WHAT...with a Wrong HOW/WHY. I can't stress this enough, DECEPTION is a Right WHAT with a Wrong (OR NO) HOW/WHY. Check out the link provided above. Also, James wrote: resist the devil and he will flee. Notice, this means that we KNOW the devil is attacking. If the devil were able to attack without us knowing...from behind...then we wouldn't know to resist...and the Word of God would be WRONG. The Word of God is NOT WRONG.)
Today, religious leaders speak of truth, but they either don't have a definition or they have a definition that doesn't create. For instance, one of the more popular definitions of truth is "reality"...as in "truth is reality".
However, there are things that are real that are NOT truth...for instance, the devil is real, but in him there is no truth. Stating that "truth is reality" is actually a form of deception...it is the first step in allowing people to see the devil as truth.
The KEY aspect to TRUTH is that it CREATES. Everything else is either a fact (reality that doesn't create), lie (something that is NOT reality/fact), or deception (a fact that destroys).
Notice what part of the body is protected by TRUTH...the loins...the source of creation. If our loins are girded by truth, then our ability to create will be profitable. If our loins are not guided by truth, our loins won't create, or worse, they will be destructive.
RIGHTEOUSNESS
Righteousness from us is works and leads to Reward.
Righteousness from God through us is grace and leads to Salvation.
Grace is "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life".
The heart is different than the mind and brain.
The heart cannot lie.
Notice what the breastplate of Righteousness covers: the heart.
GOSPEL OF PEACE
We saw that The Gospel is actually in three parts:
1. Christ Died
2. Christ was Buried
3. Christ was Resurrected
We also saw in the same post The Gospel (based on a teaching done by Joel Swokowski) how these three aspects follow: Salvation (Death), Reward (Burial), and Eternal Life (Resurrection).
We also found out that Peace is active...it is a harmonizing between individuals. Peace is the effect!
Preparation in this passage referred to being prepared...
So, we ought to be prepared to share the Gospel (cause) well enough the effects are Peace between individuals.
We also saw how a person was supposed to keep themselves so clean that all they needed to do was wash the dust from their feet. (John 13 "10 Jesus saith to him, He that is bathed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.)
In the post titled, "Dust, we saw how dust represented the world. We ought to come in contact with the world in order to witness to them...to preach The Gospel. However, we are not supposed to let the world get all over us...we shouldn't be covered in dust...just our feet.
So, our feet (the point of contact with the world) ought to be covered with The Gospel of Peace. However, notice this said "the preparation"...this meant we ought to be prepared to share The Gospel. This is NOT an emotional thing. Preparation meant we understand the HOW/WHY...not just state the WHAT. How much preparation does it take to learn the Right WHAT? (Even the enemy knows the Right WHAT.)
FAITH
Faith is the belief in something that can't be seen and/or belief in something that hasn't happened yet.
Faith is built on understanding and experience.
In order to grow in faith, a person must get more understanding and/or experience with the object of their faith.
Faith is proven in actions.
Notice, faith is a shield that protects us from ALL the fiery darts of the enemy. We know the weapons of the enemy is based on deception and made up of THOUGHTS...which are based on WORDS and SENTENCES. Faith is what protects us from the deceptive THOUGHTS, WORDS, and SENTENCES from the enemy.
Notice, this meant that faith is more than emotion...it requires THINKING.
Now, back to the rest of the armor of God:
"17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,
19 And on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."
HELMET OF SALVATION
Notice that Salvation was associated with the mind/brain. We spent an entire month doing a Series on Salvation. We saw that Salvation is based on grace and faith...two causes that can be intentionally grown in and based on UNDERSTANDING and experience.
Also, from the I Corinthian Series: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ." (I Corinthians 2:16)
SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
If there was any doubt as to HOW Offensive Spiritual Warfare occurs, this should make it obvious. The ONLY Offensive weapon in Spiritual Warfare is the Sword of the Spirit. Paul stated the Sword of the Spirit...the ONLY Offensive weapon in Spiritual Warfare...is the Word of God.
WORDS are the KEY to Spiritual Warfare!
(I realize I'm taking this slow this week, but I want to make sure everyone gets their thinking on track before we get into the details of Spiritual Warfare. People who don't realize this ALL depends on WORDS end up being confused and disappointed when we get to the scriptures and practical applications of Spiritual Warfare. People think we are going to have lightning shooting out of our fingers, when it is actually more like truth coming out of our mouths. The following posts will PROVE that the ONLY time Offensive Spiritual Warfare was successful in the Bible was when it was initiated by the Holy Spirit AND the correct WORDS and SENTENCES were spoken. If you are interested in Offensive Spiritual Warfare, please continue reading the Series by clicking "Next Post" at the end of this blog entry.)
In fact, look at how Paul closed this section with these words: prayer, supplication, utterance, mouth, speak...EVERYTHING pointed to Paul using WORDS and SENTENCES.
In fact, prayer and supplication are ALSO a part of the armor of God.
SUMMARY
EVERYTHING that Paul mentioned that is in the WHOLE armor of God is based on WORDS and SENTENCES!
In order to understand the SPECIFIC application of Spiritual Warfare and how The Whole Armor of God is ACTUALLY supposed to work, we need to look at the passages in the Bible that documented the SPECIFIC WORDS used during Spiritual Warfare.
Remember, WORDS are the SPECIFIC application of Spiritual Warfare according to Paul in 2 Corinthians 10.
Tomorrow, we will look at how the offensive perspective of Spiritual Warfare...
Next Post
Author's Aside: This post is very popular with people who google "Whole Armor of God". This post is only one part of the two month Series on Spiritual Warfare.
On July 31, 2009, this Series was completed. Here is the link for the Conclusion to this Series: Spiritual Warfare Conclusions.
Here is the summary of the conclusion:
There are two aspects to Spiritual Warfare: Defensive and Offensive.
Defensive Spiritual Warfare involves removing strongholds, taking all our thoughts into captivity, aligning our doctrine with God's Doctrine, guarding our hearts, and not focusing on the cares of this world. The SPECIFIC HOW of Defensive Spiritual Warfare was described by Paul in Ephesians 6 as "The Whole Armor of God"...but this is ONLY Defensive Spiritual Warfare.
Defensive Spiritual Warfare is a work we ought to constantly do so that we are ready for when the Holy Spirit initiates Offensive Spiritual Warfare. Paul stated this in II Corinthians 10. So, put on the Whole Armor of God so that you are ready to avenge all disobedience when the Holy Spirit leads you!
Offensive Spiritual Warfare involves casting out unclean spirits and healing people. In every successful instance, we have saw the participant in Offensive Spiritual Warfare makes a Statement that is a statement of the will for someone or something that can't state a will OR for someone who has faith and is in agreement.
Offensive Spiritual Warfare is made up of WORDS and SENTENCES. These WORDS and SENTENCES are a Statement of a will. This Statement of a will depends on the faith (understanding and experience) of the individual. Notice, in "The Whole Armor of God" there is ONE Offensive Weapon: The Sword. What did the Sword stand for? The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God! Offensive Spiritual Warfare is initiated by the Holy Spirit and COMPLETELY involves WORDS! How much more blatant does this have to be?
Why don't we see more signs and wonders? Ultimately, we aren't successful in Defensive Spiritual Warfare. While we have seen that our doctrine tends to be based on man-made tradition instead of God's Doctrine, there is no reason why a person needs to have all of God's Doctrine before they participate in Offensive Spiritual Warfare. However, having strongholds can prevent the Holy Spirit from operating at full capacity because there is always a part of you that the enemy can access. We need to remove strongholds, especially the biggest ones.
Also, people who believe the Whole Armor of God is Offensive are deceived. There were three very specific types of Spiritual Warfare mentioned in the Bible and all three were different and had a different purpose. The Enemy has a method of Spiritual Warfare and it is nothing like our method of Spiritual Warfare. Our response to the enemy's method of Spiritual Warfare is Defensive Spiritual Warfare which is the Whole Armor of God. The back is not covered in the Whole Armor of God because the enemy does NOT attack from behind. The enemy's method is based on us CHOOSING to accept the enemy's method of taking us on a journey rather than STANDING. People who do not understand this are leading you astray. Here is an excerpt from the previous post explaining the meaning of verse 11:
"11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
Well, this was warfare because he was describing "the WHOLE armor of God"! Armor is used for warfare and Paul would eventually describe the WHOLE armor of God. However, notice the WHY behind putting on this warfare armor: to be able to stand against the WILES of the devil. Stand implied that we are DEFENDING, NOT attacking! The purpose of EVERYTHING we will look at today ought to result in STANDING...defending. What were WILES?
WILES was Strong's #3180 methodeia - "from a comp. of 3326 and 3593 [comp. "method"]; travelling over, i.e. travesty (trickery):-wile, lie in wait."
As for the two words making up this compound word:
-meta was Strong's #3326 "a prim. prep. ...denoting accompaniment"
-hodeuo was Strong's #3593 "to travel:-journey".
So, WILES were trickery by travesty...by deception...by accompanying on a journey! This was NOT STANDING...there would be movement!
Paul was saying to put on the whole armor of God so that you can be able to stand against the devil's trickery by deception...and the devil does this by convincing you to cease from STANDING and go on a journey! AGAIN, EVERYTHING about Spiritual Warfare relates to dealing with deception, NOT Physical aspects. In fact, Paul was going to stress THAT point because he was not done giving us the WHY.
Again, please read the previous post if you aren't convinced about this being DEFENSIVE Spiritual Warfare.
Finally, we have an Offensive Spiritual Warfare method that is ONLY initiated through us by the Holy Spirit. Please take the time to review the three previous links that give an overview to each if you are serious about understanding what THE BIBLE said about Spiritual Warfare.
This month, we are covering a seemingly simple concept that has powerful, revelatory, and wide ranging applications: Right-Right vs Right-Wrong...Right WHAT-Right HOW/WHY vs. Right WHAT-Wrong (or NO) HOW/WHY.
In the previous post, we summarized the intent of the other critical passage from Paul on Spiritual Warfare (Ephesians 6):
Paul spoke to the Ephesians about Spiritual Warfare from a defensive perspective. Paul talked about putting on the WHOLE armor of God so that we can stand against the WILES of the devil. This is DEFENSIVE...don't be deceived.
Again, everything that Paul described related to Spiritual Warfare involves being able to handle deception (trickery and travesty) from the devil.
Also, in this Series, there are posts that cover:
Deception
Spiritual Warfare
What SPECIFICALLY is said during Spiritual Warfare
(That last post is the first in a series of seven posts examining all the Spiritual Warfare examples from the Bible where what people spoke during Spiritual Warfare is documented.)
Today, we will cover the specific components of the WHOLE armor of God.
THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD
Ephesians 6
"14 Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one."
So far, the WHOLE armor of God involves:
-Truth (for the loins)
-Righteousness (for the heart)
-Gospel of peace (for the feet)
-Faith (shield to quench ALL fiery darts)
I have written a lot about each of these. Here is ONLY a summary of each area with corresponding links:
TRUTH
Truth is facts that create. Truth has a Right WHAT with a Right HOW/WHY.
Deception has a Right WHAT, however, since it doesn't have a Right HOW/WHY, it doesn't create.
(Notice, the whole armor of God does NOT have a covering for the back. That is because this armor is defensive and is focused on withstanding an attack...not an ambush. The wiles of the devil come directly at us as a Right WHAT...with a Wrong HOW/WHY. I can't stress this enough, DECEPTION is a Right WHAT with a Wrong (OR NO) HOW/WHY. Check out the link provided above. Also, James wrote: resist the devil and he will flee. Notice, this means that we KNOW the devil is attacking. If the devil were able to attack without us knowing...from behind...then we wouldn't know to resist...and the Word of God would be WRONG. The Word of God is NOT WRONG.)
Today, religious leaders speak of truth, but they either don't have a definition or they have a definition that doesn't create. For instance, one of the more popular definitions of truth is "reality"...as in "truth is reality".
However, there are things that are real that are NOT truth...for instance, the devil is real, but in him there is no truth. Stating that "truth is reality" is actually a form of deception...it is the first step in allowing people to see the devil as truth.
The KEY aspect to TRUTH is that it CREATES. Everything else is either a fact (reality that doesn't create), lie (something that is NOT reality/fact), or deception (a fact that destroys).
Notice what part of the body is protected by TRUTH...the loins...the source of creation. If our loins are girded by truth, then our ability to create will be profitable. If our loins are not guided by truth, our loins won't create, or worse, they will be destructive.
RIGHTEOUSNESS
Righteousness from us is works and leads to Reward.
Righteousness from God through us is grace and leads to Salvation.
Grace is "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life".
The heart is different than the mind and brain.
The heart cannot lie.
Notice what the breastplate of Righteousness covers: the heart.
GOSPEL OF PEACE
We saw that The Gospel is actually in three parts:
1. Christ Died
2. Christ was Buried
3. Christ was Resurrected
We also saw in the same post The Gospel (based on a teaching done by Joel Swokowski) how these three aspects follow: Salvation (Death), Reward (Burial), and Eternal Life (Resurrection).
We also found out that Peace is active...it is a harmonizing between individuals. Peace is the effect!
Preparation in this passage referred to being prepared...
So, we ought to be prepared to share the Gospel (cause) well enough the effects are Peace between individuals.
We also saw how a person was supposed to keep themselves so clean that all they needed to do was wash the dust from their feet. (John 13 "10 Jesus saith to him, He that is bathed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.)
In the post titled, "Dust, we saw how dust represented the world. We ought to come in contact with the world in order to witness to them...to preach The Gospel. However, we are not supposed to let the world get all over us...we shouldn't be covered in dust...just our feet.
So, our feet (the point of contact with the world) ought to be covered with The Gospel of Peace. However, notice this said "the preparation"...this meant we ought to be prepared to share The Gospel. This is NOT an emotional thing. Preparation meant we understand the HOW/WHY...not just state the WHAT. How much preparation does it take to learn the Right WHAT? (Even the enemy knows the Right WHAT.)
FAITH
Faith is the belief in something that can't be seen and/or belief in something that hasn't happened yet.
Faith is built on understanding and experience.
In order to grow in faith, a person must get more understanding and/or experience with the object of their faith.
Faith is proven in actions.
Notice, faith is a shield that protects us from ALL the fiery darts of the enemy. We know the weapons of the enemy is based on deception and made up of THOUGHTS...which are based on WORDS and SENTENCES. Faith is what protects us from the deceptive THOUGHTS, WORDS, and SENTENCES from the enemy.
Notice, this meant that faith is more than emotion...it requires THINKING.
Now, back to the rest of the armor of God:
"17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,
19 And on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."
HELMET OF SALVATION
Notice that Salvation was associated with the mind/brain. We spent an entire month doing a Series on Salvation. We saw that Salvation is based on grace and faith...two causes that can be intentionally grown in and based on UNDERSTANDING and experience.
Also, from the I Corinthian Series: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ." (I Corinthians 2:16)
SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
If there was any doubt as to HOW Offensive Spiritual Warfare occurs, this should make it obvious. The ONLY Offensive weapon in Spiritual Warfare is the Sword of the Spirit. Paul stated the Sword of the Spirit...the ONLY Offensive weapon in Spiritual Warfare...is the Word of God.
WORDS are the KEY to Spiritual Warfare!
(I realize I'm taking this slow this week, but I want to make sure everyone gets their thinking on track before we get into the details of Spiritual Warfare. People who don't realize this ALL depends on WORDS end up being confused and disappointed when we get to the scriptures and practical applications of Spiritual Warfare. People think we are going to have lightning shooting out of our fingers, when it is actually more like truth coming out of our mouths. The following posts will PROVE that the ONLY time Offensive Spiritual Warfare was successful in the Bible was when it was initiated by the Holy Spirit AND the correct WORDS and SENTENCES were spoken. If you are interested in Offensive Spiritual Warfare, please continue reading the Series by clicking "Next Post" at the end of this blog entry.)
In fact, look at how Paul closed this section with these words: prayer, supplication, utterance, mouth, speak...EVERYTHING pointed to Paul using WORDS and SENTENCES.
In fact, prayer and supplication are ALSO a part of the armor of God.
SUMMARY
EVERYTHING that Paul mentioned that is in the WHOLE armor of God is based on WORDS and SENTENCES!
In order to understand the SPECIFIC application of Spiritual Warfare and how The Whole Armor of God is ACTUALLY supposed to work, we need to look at the passages in the Bible that documented the SPECIFIC WORDS used during Spiritual Warfare.
Remember, WORDS are the SPECIFIC application of Spiritual Warfare according to Paul in 2 Corinthians 10.
Tomorrow, we will look at how the offensive perspective of Spiritual Warfare...
Next Post
Author's Aside: This post is very popular with people who google "Whole Armor of God". This post is only one part of the two month Series on Spiritual Warfare.
On July 31, 2009, this Series was completed. Here is the link for the Conclusion to this Series: Spiritual Warfare Conclusions.
Here is the summary of the conclusion:
There are two aspects to Spiritual Warfare: Defensive and Offensive.
Defensive Spiritual Warfare involves removing strongholds, taking all our thoughts into captivity, aligning our doctrine with God's Doctrine, guarding our hearts, and not focusing on the cares of this world. The SPECIFIC HOW of Defensive Spiritual Warfare was described by Paul in Ephesians 6 as "The Whole Armor of God"...but this is ONLY Defensive Spiritual Warfare.
Defensive Spiritual Warfare is a work we ought to constantly do so that we are ready for when the Holy Spirit initiates Offensive Spiritual Warfare. Paul stated this in II Corinthians 10. So, put on the Whole Armor of God so that you are ready to avenge all disobedience when the Holy Spirit leads you!
Offensive Spiritual Warfare involves casting out unclean spirits and healing people. In every successful instance, we have saw the participant in Offensive Spiritual Warfare makes a Statement that is a statement of the will for someone or something that can't state a will OR for someone who has faith and is in agreement.
Offensive Spiritual Warfare is made up of WORDS and SENTENCES. These WORDS and SENTENCES are a Statement of a will. This Statement of a will depends on the faith (understanding and experience) of the individual. Notice, in "The Whole Armor of God" there is ONE Offensive Weapon: The Sword. What did the Sword stand for? The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God! Offensive Spiritual Warfare is initiated by the Holy Spirit and COMPLETELY involves WORDS! How much more blatant does this have to be?
Why don't we see more signs and wonders? Ultimately, we aren't successful in Defensive Spiritual Warfare. While we have seen that our doctrine tends to be based on man-made tradition instead of God's Doctrine, there is no reason why a person needs to have all of God's Doctrine before they participate in Offensive Spiritual Warfare. However, having strongholds can prevent the Holy Spirit from operating at full capacity because there is always a part of you that the enemy can access. We need to remove strongholds, especially the biggest ones.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Spiritual Warfare: Defense
This month, we are covering a seemingly simple concept that has powerful, revelatory, and wide ranging applications: Right-Right vs Right-Wrong...Right WHAT-Right HOW/WHY vs. Right WHAT-Wrong (or NO) HOW/WHY.
In the previous post, we summarized the practical application of Spiritual Warfare (2 Corinthians 10:1-7):
Avenging all disobedience is the reason (WHY) for Spiritual Warfare. The method (HOW) of Spiritual Warfare is the ability to handle OUR thoughts and arguments (and the thoughts and arguments of people)...however, we don't war against people...we war against the thoughts and arguments (of people) that are in disobedience to God.
However, we aren't supposed to war until our obedience is made full...until we have won the Spiritual War in our own lives.
How do we get our obedience to be made full?
Today, we will begin looking at how we get our obedience full...
SPIRITUAL WARFARE: DEFENSE
As critical as 2 Corinthians 10 is to Spiritual Warfare, Paul also gave us another very critical descriptive passage on Spiritual Warfare. This passage focused on the defensive aspect of Spiritual Warfare...
Ephesians 6
"10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might."
Paul was clearly stating that what follows was the specific explanation of what it meant to "be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might"...which sounded like warfare...
"11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
Well, this was warfare because he was describing "the WHOLE armor of God"! Armor is used for warfare and Paul would eventually describe the WHOLE armor of God. However, notice the WHY behind putting on this warfare armor: to be able to stand against the WILES of the devil. Stand implied that we are DEFENDING, NOT attacking! The purpose of EVERYTHING we will look at today ought to result in STANDING...defending. What were WILES?
WILES was Strong's #3180 methodeia - "from a comp. of 3326 and 3593 [comp. "method"]; travelling over, i.e. travesty (trickery):-wile, lie in wait."
As for the two words making up this compound word:
-meta was Strong's #3326 "a prim. prep. ...denoting accompaniment"
-hodeuo was Strong's #3593 "to travel:-journey".
So, WILES were trickery by travesty...by deception...by accompanying on a journey! This was NOT STANDING...there would be movement!
Paul was saying to put on the whole armor of God so that you can be able to stand against the devil's trickery by deception...and the devil does this by convincing you to cease from STANDING and go on a journey! AGAIN, EVERYTHING about Spiritual Warfare relates to dealing with deception, NOT Physical aspects. In fact, Paul was going to stress THAT point because he was not done giving us the WHY...
"12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
This verse was similar to 2 Corinthians 10, however, when it comes to explaining what we are specifically warring against, Paul got REALLY SPECIFIC. It looked like there are levels of what we can wrestle/war against: principalities, powers, world-rulers, and spiritual hosts.
Perhaps you believe there are no levels in the spiritual realm and this is a description of EVERY spiritual enemy. It is possible you are right. However, here is why I believe this passage was speaking about levels...
Principalities was Strong's #746 arche - "a commencement, or (concr.) chief (in various applications of order, time, place or rank):-beginning" (To me, this clearly was speaking about the first in order of increasing rank.)
Powers was Strong's #1849 exousia - "from 1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subj.) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (obj.) mastery" (To me, this was of a higher rank than principalities.)
The next two were the highest two in rank. The next rules over the world and the highest level operates in heavenly places.
"13 Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand."
Paul summarized this mini-explanation by AGAIN stating the entire goal was to be able to continue to STAND...to NOT fall and NOT move (go on a journey). There was nothing in this passage that talked about going on the offense.
SUMMARY
Paul spoke to the Ephesians about Spiritual Warfare from a defensive perspective. Paul talked about putting on the WHOLE armor of God so that we can stand against the WILES of the devil.
Again, everything that Paul described related to Spiritual Warfare involved being able to handle deception (trickery and travesty) from the devil.
Tomorrow, we will cover the specific components of the WHOLE armor of God.
Next Post
In the previous post, we summarized the practical application of Spiritual Warfare (2 Corinthians 10:1-7):
Avenging all disobedience is the reason (WHY) for Spiritual Warfare. The method (HOW) of Spiritual Warfare is the ability to handle OUR thoughts and arguments (and the thoughts and arguments of people)...however, we don't war against people...we war against the thoughts and arguments (of people) that are in disobedience to God.
However, we aren't supposed to war until our obedience is made full...until we have won the Spiritual War in our own lives.
How do we get our obedience to be made full?
Today, we will begin looking at how we get our obedience full...
SPIRITUAL WARFARE: DEFENSE
As critical as 2 Corinthians 10 is to Spiritual Warfare, Paul also gave us another very critical descriptive passage on Spiritual Warfare. This passage focused on the defensive aspect of Spiritual Warfare...
Ephesians 6
"10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might."
Paul was clearly stating that what follows was the specific explanation of what it meant to "be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might"...which sounded like warfare...
"11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
Well, this was warfare because he was describing "the WHOLE armor of God"! Armor is used for warfare and Paul would eventually describe the WHOLE armor of God. However, notice the WHY behind putting on this warfare armor: to be able to stand against the WILES of the devil. Stand implied that we are DEFENDING, NOT attacking! The purpose of EVERYTHING we will look at today ought to result in STANDING...defending. What were WILES?
WILES was Strong's #3180 methodeia - "from a comp. of 3326 and 3593 [comp. "method"]; travelling over, i.e. travesty (trickery):-wile, lie in wait."
As for the two words making up this compound word:
-meta was Strong's #3326 "a prim. prep. ...denoting accompaniment"
-hodeuo was Strong's #3593 "to travel:-journey".
So, WILES were trickery by travesty...by deception...by accompanying on a journey! This was NOT STANDING...there would be movement!
Paul was saying to put on the whole armor of God so that you can be able to stand against the devil's trickery by deception...and the devil does this by convincing you to cease from STANDING and go on a journey! AGAIN, EVERYTHING about Spiritual Warfare relates to dealing with deception, NOT Physical aspects. In fact, Paul was going to stress THAT point because he was not done giving us the WHY...
"12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
This verse was similar to 2 Corinthians 10, however, when it comes to explaining what we are specifically warring against, Paul got REALLY SPECIFIC. It looked like there are levels of what we can wrestle/war against: principalities, powers, world-rulers, and spiritual hosts.
Perhaps you believe there are no levels in the spiritual realm and this is a description of EVERY spiritual enemy. It is possible you are right. However, here is why I believe this passage was speaking about levels...
Principalities was Strong's #746 arche - "a commencement, or (concr.) chief (in various applications of order, time, place or rank):-beginning" (To me, this clearly was speaking about the first in order of increasing rank.)
Powers was Strong's #1849 exousia - "from 1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subj.) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (obj.) mastery" (To me, this was of a higher rank than principalities.)
The next two were the highest two in rank. The next rules over the world and the highest level operates in heavenly places.
"13 Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand."
Paul summarized this mini-explanation by AGAIN stating the entire goal was to be able to continue to STAND...to NOT fall and NOT move (go on a journey). There was nothing in this passage that talked about going on the offense.
SUMMARY
Paul spoke to the Ephesians about Spiritual Warfare from a defensive perspective. Paul talked about putting on the WHOLE armor of God so that we can stand against the WILES of the devil.
Again, everything that Paul described related to Spiritual Warfare involved being able to handle deception (trickery and travesty) from the devil.
Tomorrow, we will cover the specific components of the WHOLE armor of God.
Next Post
Monday, June 22, 2009
Strongholds and Imaginations
This month, we are covering a seemingly simple concept that has powerful, revelatory, and wide ranging applications: Right-Right vs Right-Wrong...Right WHAT-Right HOW/WHY vs. Right WHAT-Wrong (or NO) HOW/WHY.
In the previous post, we summarized last week's overview of Spiritual Warfare:
The enemy's ultimate goal is disconnection. The enemy wants us disconnected from God. The enemy wants us disconnected from each other. Disconnected from God is the OPPOSITE of the First Command: Love the Lord they God...
Disconnected from each other is the OPPOSITE of the Second Command: Love your neighbor...
Notice that the First and Second Commands involve love which is the first listed fruit of the Spirit.
YOU CANNOT SUCCEED IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE WITHOUT BIBLICAL GRACE!
YOU CANNOT SUCCEED IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE IF YOU ARE JUDGING OTHERS!
The true difference in HOW the warring factions interact with individuals is:
1. The enemy CONDEMNS
2. The Holy Spirit CONVICTS
Notice, there is a subtle difference between these two approaches. The key to understanding the difference is to understand the WORDS and SENTENCES that are used by the enemy and by the Holy Spirit.
Ultimately, Spiritual Warfare is made up of WORDS and SENTENCES! Having contradictory and wrong WORDS and SENTENCES results in destruction. Having non-contradictory and right WORDS and SENTENCES results in Profitability.
Taking in all that you have read this week, please read the critical passage on Spiritual Warfare again.
Today, we will look more closely at this critical passage on Spiritual Warfare...
STRONGHOLDS AND IMAGINATIONS
2 Corinthians 10
"1 Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you:
2 yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present show courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, who count of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh
4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),
5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.
7 Ye look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also are we."
We saw that Paul made the case that Spiritual Warfare does NOT involve the flesh or anything Physical like the warfare we are all familiar with. However, the verses that gave the specific description were 3-6. Let's look at them more closely...
"3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh
4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),"
Verse 3 made the point that this war is NOT according to the flesh...then Paul made a parenthetical comment! Verse 4 established the fact that while this warfare is NOT according to the Physical, it is still very powerful! In fact, the WEAPONS of our warfare are MIGHTY BEFORE GOD to the casting down of strongholds. This is stating that these weapons are so mighty, they are able to cast down strongholds. Said another way, strongholds are really difficult to cast down and we are able to do it with the weapons of our warfare. What are "strongholds"?
Strongholds was Strong's #3794 ochuroma - "from a remote der. of 2192 (mean. to fortify, through the idea of holding safely); a castle (fig. argument):-stronghold" (By the way, Strong's #2192 was echo - "to hold")
There are three points to be made:
1. fortify - a stronghold is able to fortify...it is the SOURCE of ammunition and supplies! Since the strongholds that are intended to be cast down are the enemy's stronghold, this would mean the SOURCE of the enemies ammunition and resources are WITHIN this stronghold.
2. holding safely - Notice, a source of ammunition and supplies that comes from WITHIN the enemy's territory is NOT concerned with being held safely. The sources that the enemy needs to be held safely are WITHIN the enemy's opposition's territory...our enemy's strongholds are WITHIN us. A stronghold is a very specific and powerful source of ammunition and supplies BECAUSE it exists WITHIN the opposition's territory. As long as the stronghold is held safely, ammunition and supplies can be immediately and readily obtained.
3. argument - The entire stronghold is figuratively seen as "an argument". Paul was NOT talking about a Physical stronghold...THAT was the point of Paul stating the weapons of our warfare aren't Physical (literal)...they are Spiritual...the figurative version of the Physical.
The "stronghold" is an argument posed by the enemy that is safely held WITHIN us (our brain) and is used AGAINST us...it is the source of ammunition and resources for the enemy. Remember, the enemy does NOT create...they need our help. We saw the enemy gets help by deceiving people...by people supplying their own energy towards a Right WHAT with a Wrong HOW/WHY.
The weapons of our warfare are able to cast down the enemy's source of ammunition and resources...AND the source of ammunition and resources are an argument made up of WHAT?
"5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;"
The stronghold is made up of "imaginations" and thoughts. What are "imaginations"?
Imaginations was Strong's #3053 logismos - "from 3049; computation, i.e. (fig.) reasoning (conscience, conceit):-imagination, thought."
Well, this definition was consistent with "an argument". Let's go deeper...what was #3049?
#3049 logizomal - "from 3056; to take an inventory, i.e. estimate (lit. or fig.):-conclude"
This involved taking inventory...being aware of everything...AND concluding...stating one's will! This was a fully conscious statement of the will. Let's go deeper...what was #3056?
#3056 logos - "from 3004; something said (including the thought); by impl. a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive;"
This was the same word used in John 1 when Jesus was described as The Word...The Logos! WOW!
Jesus is the thing that is spoken along with the thought...He is the subject of discourse, reasoning, and motive!
For our application, "logos" fits the fully conscious statement of will because it is the thing spoken as a result of reasoning and discourse. It is the motive spoken...statement of the will. Let's take this all the way down to the root which was #3004:
#3004 lego - "a prim. verb; prop. to 'lay" forth, i.e. relate (in words [usually of systematic or set discourse;"
THROUGHOUT all the definitions of "imaginations" the meaning was "the WORDS that are consciously stated as a result of discourse, reasoning, and motive".
Looking at verse 5 again, Paul said we ought to cast down every statement of OUR WILL that is preferred and in opposition to the knowledge of God. Paul also said we ought to bring EVERY thought (good and bad) into captivity of the obedience of Christ.
The method (HOW) of Spiritual Warfare is our ability to handle OUR thoughts and arguments (and the thoughts and arguments of people)...which are made up of WORDS and SENTENCES. What is the reason (WHY) we ought to be able to do this HOW (method) of Spiritual Warfare?
"6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full."
Notice how this was worded. We ought to be ready to avenge all disobedience (which is Warfare) WHEN our obedience is made full.
Avenging all disobedience is the reason (WHY) for Spiritual Warfare. The method (HOW) of Spiritual Warfare is the ability to handle OUR thoughts and arguments (and the thoughts and arguments of people)...however, we don't war against people...we war against the thoughts and arguments (of people) that are in disobedience to God.
However, we aren't supposed to war until our obedience is made full...until we have won the Spiritual War in our own lives.
How do we get our obedience to be made full?
Tomorrow, we will begin looking at how we get our obedience full...
Next Post
In the previous post, we summarized last week's overview of Spiritual Warfare:
The enemy's ultimate goal is disconnection. The enemy wants us disconnected from God. The enemy wants us disconnected from each other. Disconnected from God is the OPPOSITE of the First Command: Love the Lord they God...
Disconnected from each other is the OPPOSITE of the Second Command: Love your neighbor...
Notice that the First and Second Commands involve love which is the first listed fruit of the Spirit.
YOU CANNOT SUCCEED IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE WITHOUT BIBLICAL GRACE!
YOU CANNOT SUCCEED IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE IF YOU ARE JUDGING OTHERS!
The true difference in HOW the warring factions interact with individuals is:
1. The enemy CONDEMNS
2. The Holy Spirit CONVICTS
Notice, there is a subtle difference between these two approaches. The key to understanding the difference is to understand the WORDS and SENTENCES that are used by the enemy and by the Holy Spirit.
Ultimately, Spiritual Warfare is made up of WORDS and SENTENCES! Having contradictory and wrong WORDS and SENTENCES results in destruction. Having non-contradictory and right WORDS and SENTENCES results in Profitability.
Taking in all that you have read this week, please read the critical passage on Spiritual Warfare again.
Today, we will look more closely at this critical passage on Spiritual Warfare...
STRONGHOLDS AND IMAGINATIONS
2 Corinthians 10
"1 Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you:
2 yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present show courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, who count of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh
4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),
5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.
7 Ye look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also are we."
We saw that Paul made the case that Spiritual Warfare does NOT involve the flesh or anything Physical like the warfare we are all familiar with. However, the verses that gave the specific description were 3-6. Let's look at them more closely...
"3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh
4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),"
Verse 3 made the point that this war is NOT according to the flesh...then Paul made a parenthetical comment! Verse 4 established the fact that while this warfare is NOT according to the Physical, it is still very powerful! In fact, the WEAPONS of our warfare are MIGHTY BEFORE GOD to the casting down of strongholds. This is stating that these weapons are so mighty, they are able to cast down strongholds. Said another way, strongholds are really difficult to cast down and we are able to do it with the weapons of our warfare. What are "strongholds"?
Strongholds was Strong's #3794 ochuroma - "from a remote der. of 2192 (mean. to fortify, through the idea of holding safely); a castle (fig. argument):-stronghold" (By the way, Strong's #2192 was echo - "to hold")
There are three points to be made:
1. fortify - a stronghold is able to fortify...it is the SOURCE of ammunition and supplies! Since the strongholds that are intended to be cast down are the enemy's stronghold, this would mean the SOURCE of the enemies ammunition and resources are WITHIN this stronghold.
2. holding safely - Notice, a source of ammunition and supplies that comes from WITHIN the enemy's territory is NOT concerned with being held safely. The sources that the enemy needs to be held safely are WITHIN the enemy's opposition's territory...our enemy's strongholds are WITHIN us. A stronghold is a very specific and powerful source of ammunition and supplies BECAUSE it exists WITHIN the opposition's territory. As long as the stronghold is held safely, ammunition and supplies can be immediately and readily obtained.
3. argument - The entire stronghold is figuratively seen as "an argument". Paul was NOT talking about a Physical stronghold...THAT was the point of Paul stating the weapons of our warfare aren't Physical (literal)...they are Spiritual...the figurative version of the Physical.
The "stronghold" is an argument posed by the enemy that is safely held WITHIN us (our brain) and is used AGAINST us...it is the source of ammunition and resources for the enemy. Remember, the enemy does NOT create...they need our help. We saw the enemy gets help by deceiving people...by people supplying their own energy towards a Right WHAT with a Wrong HOW/WHY.
The weapons of our warfare are able to cast down the enemy's source of ammunition and resources...AND the source of ammunition and resources are an argument made up of WHAT?
"5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;"
The stronghold is made up of "imaginations" and thoughts. What are "imaginations"?
Imaginations was Strong's #3053 logismos - "from 3049; computation, i.e. (fig.) reasoning (conscience, conceit):-imagination, thought."
Well, this definition was consistent with "an argument". Let's go deeper...what was #3049?
#3049 logizomal - "from 3056; to take an inventory, i.e. estimate (lit. or fig.):-conclude"
This involved taking inventory...being aware of everything...AND concluding...stating one's will! This was a fully conscious statement of the will. Let's go deeper...what was #3056?
#3056 logos - "from 3004; something said (including the thought); by impl. a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive;"
This was the same word used in John 1 when Jesus was described as The Word...The Logos! WOW!
Jesus is the thing that is spoken along with the thought...He is the subject of discourse, reasoning, and motive!
For our application, "logos" fits the fully conscious statement of will because it is the thing spoken as a result of reasoning and discourse. It is the motive spoken...statement of the will. Let's take this all the way down to the root which was #3004:
#3004 lego - "a prim. verb; prop. to 'lay" forth, i.e. relate (in words [usually of systematic or set discourse;"
THROUGHOUT all the definitions of "imaginations" the meaning was "the WORDS that are consciously stated as a result of discourse, reasoning, and motive".
Looking at verse 5 again, Paul said we ought to cast down every statement of OUR WILL that is preferred and in opposition to the knowledge of God. Paul also said we ought to bring EVERY thought (good and bad) into captivity of the obedience of Christ.
The method (HOW) of Spiritual Warfare is our ability to handle OUR thoughts and arguments (and the thoughts and arguments of people)...which are made up of WORDS and SENTENCES. What is the reason (WHY) we ought to be able to do this HOW (method) of Spiritual Warfare?
"6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full."
Notice how this was worded. We ought to be ready to avenge all disobedience (which is Warfare) WHEN our obedience is made full.
Avenging all disobedience is the reason (WHY) for Spiritual Warfare. The method (HOW) of Spiritual Warfare is the ability to handle OUR thoughts and arguments (and the thoughts and arguments of people)...however, we don't war against people...we war against the thoughts and arguments (of people) that are in disobedience to God.
However, we aren't supposed to war until our obedience is made full...until we have won the Spiritual War in our own lives.
How do we get our obedience to be made full?
Tomorrow, we will begin looking at how we get our obedience full...
Next Post
Friday, June 19, 2009
Good vs. Evil
This month, we are covering a seemingly simple concept that has powerful, revelatory, and wide ranging applications: Right-Right vs Right-Wrong...Right WHAT-Right HOW/WHY vs. Right WHAT-Wrong (or NO) HOW/WHY.
In the previous post, we covered an overview of the Holy Spirit:
1. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God
2. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth
3. The Holy Spirit will declare to us things to come
4. The Holy Spirit is crucial to Salvation
5. The Holy Spirit will convict the world in respect of sin, righteousness, and judgment
6. The Effects of the Holy Spirit are Spiritual
The enemy is condemning people in this world.
The Spirit is convicting people in this world.
Sounds like there is a war going on...
Today we will summarize this overview of Spiritual Warfare by contrasting these warring combatants...
GOOD vs. EVIL
Before we get into the practical applications of Spiritual Warfare next week, let's take a moment to summarize the two warring factions...
Galatians 5
"13 For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.
14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,
21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.
24 And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.
25 If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.
26 Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another."
Recall that Evil destroys in the Long Term, while Good creates in the Long Term. Evil can appear good in the short-term. Good can appear evil in the short-term. Here are the list of effects for the flesh and the Spirit:
Flesh
1. Fornication
2. Uncleanness
3. Lasciviousness
4. Idolatry
5. Sorcery
6. Enmities
7. Strife
8. Jealousies
9. Wraths
10. Factions
11. Divisions
12. Parties
13. Envyings
14. Drunkenness
15. Revellings
Spirit
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Longsuffering
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Meekness
9. Self-control
Notice, ALL of the effects of the flesh result in disconnection. ALL of the effects of the Spirit result in connection.
The Meaning of Life is Church and Marriage: two communities that can go on forever because of the exchange of value due to uniqueness via the connection.
The enemy's ultimate goal is disconnection. The enemy wants us disconnected from God. The enemy wants us disconnected from each other.
Disconnected from God is the OPPOSITE of the First Command: Love the Lord they God...
Disconnected from each other is the OPPOSITE of the Second Command: Love your neighbor...
Notice that the First and Second Commands involve love which is the first listed fruit of the Spirit.
The enemy tries to disconnect us from God by bringing a deception regarding grace. Grace is the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life. This is THE CONNECTION with God. Making grace into "unmerited favor" is an attempt to disconnect people from God. We will see the practical application of grace next week. For now know this:
YOU CANNOT SUCCEED IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE WITHOUT BIBLICAL GRACE!
The enemy tries to disconnect us from each other by bringing a deception about judgment. Jesus and Paul told us NOT to judge each other. However, we saw that "The System" that the church has in place ACTUALLY encourages people to believe they are judging others FOR GOD...which causes them to do the OPPOSITE of the Bible and encourage others to judge people. This comes out in rationalizations why "religious" people don't need to get all the facts or talk with people they are judging! These people LITERALLY look for reasons NOT to get MORE information before judging others! Next week we will look at the practical applications of judging others. For now know this:
YOU CANNOT SUCCEED IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE IF YOU ARE JUDGING OTHERS!
The true difference in HOW the warring factions interact with individuals is:
1. The enemy CONDEMNS
2. The Holy Spirit CONVICTS
Notice, there is a subtle difference between these two approaches. The key to understanding the difference is to understand the WORDS and SENTENCES that are used by the enemy and by the Holy Spirit.
Ultimately, Spiritual Warfare is made up of WORDS and SENTENCES!
Having contradictory and wrong WORDS and SENTENCES results in destruction.
Having non-contradictory and right WORDS and SENTENCES results in Profitability.
Taking in all that you have read this week, please read the critical passage on Spiritual Warfare again.
2 Corinthians 10
"1 Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you:
2 yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present show courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, who count of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh
4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),
5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.
7 Ye look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also are we."
Next week we will look at the practical application of Spiritual Warfare...
Next Post
In the previous post, we covered an overview of the Holy Spirit:
1. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God
2. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth
3. The Holy Spirit will declare to us things to come
4. The Holy Spirit is crucial to Salvation
5. The Holy Spirit will convict the world in respect of sin, righteousness, and judgment
6. The Effects of the Holy Spirit are Spiritual
The enemy is condemning people in this world.
The Spirit is convicting people in this world.
Sounds like there is a war going on...
Today we will summarize this overview of Spiritual Warfare by contrasting these warring combatants...
GOOD vs. EVIL
Before we get into the practical applications of Spiritual Warfare next week, let's take a moment to summarize the two warring factions...
Galatians 5
"13 For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.
14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,
21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.
24 And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.
25 If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.
26 Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another."
Recall that Evil destroys in the Long Term, while Good creates in the Long Term. Evil can appear good in the short-term. Good can appear evil in the short-term. Here are the list of effects for the flesh and the Spirit:
Flesh
1. Fornication
2. Uncleanness
3. Lasciviousness
4. Idolatry
5. Sorcery
6. Enmities
7. Strife
8. Jealousies
9. Wraths
10. Factions
11. Divisions
12. Parties
13. Envyings
14. Drunkenness
15. Revellings
Spirit
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Longsuffering
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Meekness
9. Self-control
Notice, ALL of the effects of the flesh result in disconnection. ALL of the effects of the Spirit result in connection.
The Meaning of Life is Church and Marriage: two communities that can go on forever because of the exchange of value due to uniqueness via the connection.
The enemy's ultimate goal is disconnection. The enemy wants us disconnected from God. The enemy wants us disconnected from each other.
Disconnected from God is the OPPOSITE of the First Command: Love the Lord they God...
Disconnected from each other is the OPPOSITE of the Second Command: Love your neighbor...
Notice that the First and Second Commands involve love which is the first listed fruit of the Spirit.
The enemy tries to disconnect us from God by bringing a deception regarding grace. Grace is the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life. This is THE CONNECTION with God. Making grace into "unmerited favor" is an attempt to disconnect people from God. We will see the practical application of grace next week. For now know this:
YOU CANNOT SUCCEED IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE WITHOUT BIBLICAL GRACE!
The enemy tries to disconnect us from each other by bringing a deception about judgment. Jesus and Paul told us NOT to judge each other. However, we saw that "The System" that the church has in place ACTUALLY encourages people to believe they are judging others FOR GOD...which causes them to do the OPPOSITE of the Bible and encourage others to judge people. This comes out in rationalizations why "religious" people don't need to get all the facts or talk with people they are judging! These people LITERALLY look for reasons NOT to get MORE information before judging others! Next week we will look at the practical applications of judging others. For now know this:
YOU CANNOT SUCCEED IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE IF YOU ARE JUDGING OTHERS!
The true difference in HOW the warring factions interact with individuals is:
1. The enemy CONDEMNS
2. The Holy Spirit CONVICTS
Notice, there is a subtle difference between these two approaches. The key to understanding the difference is to understand the WORDS and SENTENCES that are used by the enemy and by the Holy Spirit.
Ultimately, Spiritual Warfare is made up of WORDS and SENTENCES!
Having contradictory and wrong WORDS and SENTENCES results in destruction.
Having non-contradictory and right WORDS and SENTENCES results in Profitability.
Taking in all that you have read this week, please read the critical passage on Spiritual Warfare again.
2 Corinthians 10
"1 Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you:
2 yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present show courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, who count of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh
4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),
5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.
7 Ye look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also are we."
Next week we will look at the practical application of Spiritual Warfare...
Next Post
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Holy Spirit Overview
This month, we are covering a seemingly simple concept that has powerful, revelatory, and wide ranging applications: Right-Right vs Right-Wrong...Right WHAT-Right HOW/WHY vs. Right WHAT-Wrong (or NO) HOW/WHY.
In the previous post, we covered Satan's helpers:
Satan's helpers are deceived. They are unaware they are working for Satan! They believe they are working for God because they state a Right WHAT. They believe the simplicity of Christ means they don't have to understand the HOW/WHY...it "just happens". It doesn't require ANY thinking. THAT is the deception.
If they intentionally thought, they would realize they are stating a Right WHAT, but they have a Wrong (or NO) HOW/WHY. They do not create...they are NOT profitable...and they are proven out in the end!
Today, we will look at the role of the Holy Spirit according to the Bible...
HOLY SPIRIT OVERVIEW
Here is a brief overview of the characteristics of the Holy Spirit according to the Bible:
1. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God
I Corinthians 2
"10 But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God."
Matthew 1
"18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit."
The Holy Spirit is the ONLY Being who knows the things of God. God the Father impregnated Mary THROUGH the Holy Spirit...through HIS Spirit.
The next passage actually had two characteristics of the Holy Spirit:
2. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth
3. The Holy Spirit will declare to us things to come.
John 16
"12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you.
15 All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you."
From the first characteristic, we know HOW/WHY the Holy Spirit is able to guide us into all truth and declare to us things to come: The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. However, these two characteristics (all truth and things to come) have wide ranging applications, especially when we think about dealing with the enemy. For now, here are more verses supporting these two characteristics:
TRUTH
Mark 13
"11 And when they lead you to judgment, and deliver you up, be not anxious beforehand what ye shall speak: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye; for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit."
John 14
"26 But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you."
THINGS TO COME
2 Peter 1
"21 For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit"
I Corinthians 2
"12 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words.
14 Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, and he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."
Romans 8
"26 And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered;
27 and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."
The last two passages dealt with prayer...which is focused on future events.
Notice with BOTH "truth" and "things to come", the Holy Spirit will give us WORDS and SENTENCES!
Take a moment to let this point sink in: The Spirit of God in all His power brings to you WORDS and SENTENCES! Truth is made up of WORDS and SENTENCES. Prayer is made up of WORDS and SENTENCES. Even when we are unable to utter the crucial WORDS and SENTENCES, the Holy Spirit will make intercession for us with "groanings" which we are unable to utter!
4. The Holy Spirit is crucial to Salvation
Acts 2
"14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spake forth unto them, saying, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words.
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose; seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 but this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams:
18 Yea and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days Will I pour forth of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy."
Salvation in EVERY dispensation has occurred by grace through faith. We have seen that grace is the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life. In the previous dispensation of the Law, this influence came through the Law and prophets...who had the Holy Spirit IN them:
Isaiah 63
"11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit in the midst of them?"
In our dispensation, the influence comes from within EVERYONE through the Holy Spirit. As the Acts 2 passage stated, Pentecost fulfilled what Joel the prophet had spoken: that God's Spirit would be UPON all flesh. Today, the Holy Spirit is UPON EVERYONE. In order to get the influence from within, you have to state your will that you want the Holy Spirit IN you.
Luke 11
"13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"
Being "born again", ACTUALLY is being born from above...birthing your spiritual nature by first choosing to have the Holy Spirit in you. For a deeper explanation, please read the post titled, "Understanding Born Again". As we saw in the I Corinthian Series, Paul spoke to believers who had made this decision:
I Corinthians 6:19
"19 Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own;"
We have covered how the Holy Spirit is UPON EVERYONE and how believers have the Holy Spirit IN them. There is a third way to interact with the Holy Spirit...to be FILLED with the Holy Spirit:
Acts 2
"4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
Salvation occurs by having the Holy Spirit IN you. Being FILLED with the Holy Spirit leads to more benefits, however, I don't believe it is a requirement for Salvation.
Also, while we are talking about the Holy Spirit and Salvation, there was a contrastive verse for us to remember:
Matthew 12
"32 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come."
Again, this post is just an overview. We will be looking at the Holy Spirit to a greater degree at a later date. For now, just know that the Holy Spirit is CRUCIAL to our Salvation during this dispensation!
5. The Holy Spirit will convict the world with respect to sin, righteousness, and judgment
"7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you.
8 And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more;
11 of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged." (John 16:7-11)
This is a subtle point that has been covered in previous posts: The Holy Spirit is currently in charge of the Church!
LET ME BE CRYSTAL CLEAR ON THIS...
Jesus will be the Head of the Church in eternity. Jesus' death and resurrection not only is the reason (WHY) for Jesus to have a Bride, His death and resurrection ALSO provide the WAY (HOW) for us to get to heaven: grace through the Holy Spirit. Jesus did this by ALWAYS and COMPLETELY taking direction from God the Father through the Holy Spirit. Jesus ALWAYS and COMPLETELY humbled Himself and NEVER judged ANYONE. Jesus said He did NOT come to convict the world. (Remember this verse that occurred immediately following the most well known verse in the New Testament? "For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him." John 3:17)
Jesus went away to prepare a place for us. He sent the Holy Spirit in His place. "Modeling God's Wills" shows the Holy Spirit is "earnest"...the engagement ring...to the Church WHILE the Groom is AWAY. The Holy Spirit is currently in charge of the Church and able to CONVICT the world! The Holy Spirit COMPLETELY KNOWS and ALWAYS DOES the Will of God...which includes convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment so that God can bring about His Universal Will.
We look at people who lived under the Law and wonder WHY they didn't understand the dispensation in which they were living. Unfortunately, the people of the next dispensation (Millennium) will think the same thing about us.
Romans 14
"16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
The Law focused on effects which were PHYSICAL.
Our dispensation is NOT focused on the the Physical. We OUGHT to be focused on the Spirit Realm.
So, if the effects of our dispensation are NOT Physical, what are the effects of this dispensation?
This leads us to the final characteristic of the Holy Spirit...
6. The Effects of the Holy Spirit are Spiritual
Galatians 5
"13 For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another."
(There was TOO MUCH in this one verse to adequately cover here. Notice the "freedom" was grace through the Holy Spirit. Paul was BLATANTLY stating that this freedom should not RESULT in the Physical (flesh). Then he specifically stated the effect is love through serving one another. We saw that Biblical Leaders facilitated the Purpose and Progress of OTHERS, NOT themselves...they served each other. This is the ONLY way that we can ALL be Leaders...and Jesus' last sermon at the Last Supper was to teach us that we ALL OUGHT to be Leaders.)
"14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
(Fulfilled meant EFFECT. Remember, the First Command is the CAUSE...Love the Lord thy God. The Second Command is the EFFECT of the First Command...Love thy neighbor. Paul confirmed this...and it was NOT a Physical effect!)
"15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would."
(Paul BLATANTLY stated the Spirit and the flesh are NOT compatible Long Term. It looked like Paul was drawing up sides...he was presenting warring combatants: Spirit vs. flesh.)
"18 But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law."
(Led by the Spirit is OUR dispensation. The Law was the previous dispensation. Why do some pastors and believers (including Calvin) want to keep us under the Law?)
"19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,
21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
(Paul listed the effects of the flesh. ALL of it is destructive. NONE of it is Profitable. NONE of it can go on forever. Notice, all of these things eventually require laws to attempt to make people in the flesh Not Unprofitable.)
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law."
(Paul listed the effects of the Spirit. ALL of it is Profitable. All of it can go on forever. In fact, Paul stated that NONE of these effects require a law.)
"24 And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.
25 If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.
26 Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another."
We will look at this passage again tomorrow.
SUMMARY OF HOLY SPIRIT OVERVIEW
1. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God
2. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth
3. The Holy Spirit will declare to us things to come
4. The Holy Spirit is crucial to Salvation
5. The Holy Spirit will convict the world in respect of sin, righteousness, and judgment
6. The Effects of the Holy Spirit are Spiritual
The enemy is condemning people in this world.
The Spirit is convicting people in this world.
Sounds like there is a war going on...
Tomorrow we will summarize this overview of Spiritual Warfare by contrasting these warring combatants...
Next Post
BONUS SECTION
The Holy Spirit is unpredictable. He doesn't follow a pattern...
"8 The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8)
(Notice, people who are born of the Holy Spirit are unpredictable.)
"20 Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went; thither was the spirit to go: and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels." (Ezekiel 1:20)
(Again, the Holy Spirit directed everything in a way that did not follow a pattern.)
In the previous post, we covered Satan's helpers:
Satan's helpers are deceived. They are unaware they are working for Satan! They believe they are working for God because they state a Right WHAT. They believe the simplicity of Christ means they don't have to understand the HOW/WHY...it "just happens". It doesn't require ANY thinking. THAT is the deception.
If they intentionally thought, they would realize they are stating a Right WHAT, but they have a Wrong (or NO) HOW/WHY. They do not create...they are NOT profitable...and they are proven out in the end!
Today, we will look at the role of the Holy Spirit according to the Bible...
HOLY SPIRIT OVERVIEW
Here is a brief overview of the characteristics of the Holy Spirit according to the Bible:
1. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God
I Corinthians 2
"10 But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God."
Matthew 1
"18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit."
The Holy Spirit is the ONLY Being who knows the things of God. God the Father impregnated Mary THROUGH the Holy Spirit...through HIS Spirit.
The next passage actually had two characteristics of the Holy Spirit:
2. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth
3. The Holy Spirit will declare to us things to come.
John 16
"12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you.
15 All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you."
From the first characteristic, we know HOW/WHY the Holy Spirit is able to guide us into all truth and declare to us things to come: The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. However, these two characteristics (all truth and things to come) have wide ranging applications, especially when we think about dealing with the enemy. For now, here are more verses supporting these two characteristics:
TRUTH
Mark 13
"11 And when they lead you to judgment, and deliver you up, be not anxious beforehand what ye shall speak: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye; for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit."
John 14
"26 But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you."
THINGS TO COME
2 Peter 1
"21 For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit"
I Corinthians 2
"12 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words.
14 Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, and he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."
Romans 8
"26 And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered;
27 and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."
The last two passages dealt with prayer...which is focused on future events.
Notice with BOTH "truth" and "things to come", the Holy Spirit will give us WORDS and SENTENCES!
Take a moment to let this point sink in: The Spirit of God in all His power brings to you WORDS and SENTENCES! Truth is made up of WORDS and SENTENCES. Prayer is made up of WORDS and SENTENCES. Even when we are unable to utter the crucial WORDS and SENTENCES, the Holy Spirit will make intercession for us with "groanings" which we are unable to utter!
4. The Holy Spirit is crucial to Salvation
Acts 2
"14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spake forth unto them, saying, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words.
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose; seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 but this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams:
18 Yea and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days Will I pour forth of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy."
Salvation in EVERY dispensation has occurred by grace through faith. We have seen that grace is the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life. In the previous dispensation of the Law, this influence came through the Law and prophets...who had the Holy Spirit IN them:
Isaiah 63
"11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit in the midst of them?"
In our dispensation, the influence comes from within EVERYONE through the Holy Spirit. As the Acts 2 passage stated, Pentecost fulfilled what Joel the prophet had spoken: that God's Spirit would be UPON all flesh. Today, the Holy Spirit is UPON EVERYONE. In order to get the influence from within, you have to state your will that you want the Holy Spirit IN you.
Luke 11
"13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"
Being "born again", ACTUALLY is being born from above...birthing your spiritual nature by first choosing to have the Holy Spirit in you. For a deeper explanation, please read the post titled, "Understanding Born Again". As we saw in the I Corinthian Series, Paul spoke to believers who had made this decision:
I Corinthians 6:19
"19 Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own;"
We have covered how the Holy Spirit is UPON EVERYONE and how believers have the Holy Spirit IN them. There is a third way to interact with the Holy Spirit...to be FILLED with the Holy Spirit:
Acts 2
"4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
Salvation occurs by having the Holy Spirit IN you. Being FILLED with the Holy Spirit leads to more benefits, however, I don't believe it is a requirement for Salvation.
Also, while we are talking about the Holy Spirit and Salvation, there was a contrastive verse for us to remember:
Matthew 12
"32 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come."
Again, this post is just an overview. We will be looking at the Holy Spirit to a greater degree at a later date. For now, just know that the Holy Spirit is CRUCIAL to our Salvation during this dispensation!
5. The Holy Spirit will convict the world with respect to sin, righteousness, and judgment
"7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you.
8 And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more;
11 of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged." (John 16:7-11)
This is a subtle point that has been covered in previous posts: The Holy Spirit is currently in charge of the Church!
LET ME BE CRYSTAL CLEAR ON THIS...
Jesus will be the Head of the Church in eternity. Jesus' death and resurrection not only is the reason (WHY) for Jesus to have a Bride, His death and resurrection ALSO provide the WAY (HOW) for us to get to heaven: grace through the Holy Spirit. Jesus did this by ALWAYS and COMPLETELY taking direction from God the Father through the Holy Spirit. Jesus ALWAYS and COMPLETELY humbled Himself and NEVER judged ANYONE. Jesus said He did NOT come to convict the world. (Remember this verse that occurred immediately following the most well known verse in the New Testament? "For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him." John 3:17)
Jesus went away to prepare a place for us. He sent the Holy Spirit in His place. "Modeling God's Wills" shows the Holy Spirit is "earnest"...the engagement ring...to the Church WHILE the Groom is AWAY. The Holy Spirit is currently in charge of the Church and able to CONVICT the world! The Holy Spirit COMPLETELY KNOWS and ALWAYS DOES the Will of God...which includes convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment so that God can bring about His Universal Will.
We look at people who lived under the Law and wonder WHY they didn't understand the dispensation in which they were living. Unfortunately, the people of the next dispensation (Millennium) will think the same thing about us.
Romans 14
"16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
The Law focused on effects which were PHYSICAL.
Our dispensation is NOT focused on the the Physical. We OUGHT to be focused on the Spirit Realm.
So, if the effects of our dispensation are NOT Physical, what are the effects of this dispensation?
This leads us to the final characteristic of the Holy Spirit...
6. The Effects of the Holy Spirit are Spiritual
Galatians 5
"13 For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another."
(There was TOO MUCH in this one verse to adequately cover here. Notice the "freedom" was grace through the Holy Spirit. Paul was BLATANTLY stating that this freedom should not RESULT in the Physical (flesh). Then he specifically stated the effect is love through serving one another. We saw that Biblical Leaders facilitated the Purpose and Progress of OTHERS, NOT themselves...they served each other. This is the ONLY way that we can ALL be Leaders...and Jesus' last sermon at the Last Supper was to teach us that we ALL OUGHT to be Leaders.)
"14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
(Fulfilled meant EFFECT. Remember, the First Command is the CAUSE...Love the Lord thy God. The Second Command is the EFFECT of the First Command...Love thy neighbor. Paul confirmed this...and it was NOT a Physical effect!)
"15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would."
(Paul BLATANTLY stated the Spirit and the flesh are NOT compatible Long Term. It looked like Paul was drawing up sides...he was presenting warring combatants: Spirit vs. flesh.)
"18 But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law."
(Led by the Spirit is OUR dispensation. The Law was the previous dispensation. Why do some pastors and believers (including Calvin) want to keep us under the Law?)
"19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,
21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
(Paul listed the effects of the flesh. ALL of it is destructive. NONE of it is Profitable. NONE of it can go on forever. Notice, all of these things eventually require laws to attempt to make people in the flesh Not Unprofitable.)
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law."
(Paul listed the effects of the Spirit. ALL of it is Profitable. All of it can go on forever. In fact, Paul stated that NONE of these effects require a law.)
"24 And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.
25 If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.
26 Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another."
We will look at this passage again tomorrow.
SUMMARY OF HOLY SPIRIT OVERVIEW
1. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God
2. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth
3. The Holy Spirit will declare to us things to come
4. The Holy Spirit is crucial to Salvation
5. The Holy Spirit will convict the world in respect of sin, righteousness, and judgment
6. The Effects of the Holy Spirit are Spiritual
The enemy is condemning people in this world.
The Spirit is convicting people in this world.
Sounds like there is a war going on...
Tomorrow we will summarize this overview of Spiritual Warfare by contrasting these warring combatants...
Next Post
BONUS SECTION
The Holy Spirit is unpredictable. He doesn't follow a pattern...
"8 The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8)
(Notice, people who are born of the Holy Spirit are unpredictable.)
"20 Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went; thither was the spirit to go: and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels." (Ezekiel 1:20)
(Again, the Holy Spirit directed everything in a way that did not follow a pattern.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)