26 September 2019

A Few Thoughts on Spiritual Warfare

God’s way of alertness, knowledge, truth, and action versus the other way of passivity, experiences, feelings, etc.

Ephesians 6:10-18 WEL
10 Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the highest spiritual forces, powers, rulers of darkness of the world, and spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies.
13 Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and after doing everything possible to still stand.
14 Therefore, stand having truth fastened around your loins and having the breastplate of righteousness on,
15 And your feet shod, prepared by the Gospel of peace.
16 Most importantly taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts from the wicked.
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
18 In every situation be praying in the spirit with all prayer and earnest requests, and be alert in the same with persistence and earnest requests for all saints.

B1 There is no victory without God’s grace: 2 Corinthians 1:21 NLT It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ...
B2 Know and study the truth. This includes
C1 Facts and abilities about ourself
D1 The source of sin of any type is me. We have to look in the mirror and realize that. Deception is common to us, so we must study the truth.
D2 Pride is easy; humility hard. We must face the truth.
C2 Doctrine
D1 God’s character and traits
D2 God’s views on Himself (theology proper) and other teaching
C3 WorldviewGod’s versus any other
C5 What deception is and how to avoid it
C6 Knowing the truth, studying the truth, gives victory: 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 GNB The weapons we use in our fight are not the world's weapons but God's powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments; 5 we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ.
B3 Know the weapons of the enemy.
C1 Essentially, these are the character traits opposite of God’s.
C2 God’s desires versus the enemy’s desires
D1 God want us to be alert; the devil not alert.
E1 1 Peter 5:8 GNB Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
E2 We have to be alert to fight a spiritual fight: 2 Corinthians 6:7 NLT We faithfully preach the truth. God's power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense.
D2 God wants us to enjoy, but He does not want us to follow fleshly desires; the devil does want us to:
E1 1 Peter 2:11-12 NLT Dear friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
E2 Galatians 5:17 NLT The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
C3 Methods of deception
D1 Lies (of any type for only a few are presented here. Often, we hear what we want to hear, instead of seeing if it is true).
E1 Something is good and pleasant when it is not
E2 Something is safe when it is not
E3 No one will know
E4 Everyone one does it
E5 Bad advice as
F1 Follow your heart
F2 This is your only opportunity
F3 You will lose your opportunity
F4 I don’t see anything wrong with it: 2 Corinthians 10:12 NLT Oh, don't worry; we wouldn't dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!
F5 God love us anyway
E6 Quoting some incorrectly on purpose or even ignorantly. (See this article: Scripture Twisting Methods of the Cults).
E7 Pretend that God is withholding something for your pleasure as “He does not want you to enjoy what others enjoy.”
F1 Genesis 3:4-5 GNB The snake replied, "That's not true; you will not die. 5 God said that because he knows that when you eat it, you will be like God and know what is good and what is bad.
F2 1 John 2:16 NIV For everything in the worldthe lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of lifecomes not from the Father but from the world.
D2 AddictionsSin is the greatest addiction:
E1 Romans 8:8-9 NLT That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)
E2 John 8:34 NLT Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.
E3 Romans 6:16 NLT Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.
E4 2 Peter 2:19 NLT They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.
C4 Assuming: Luke 12:45 NLT But what if the servant thinks, 'My master won't be back for a while,' and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk?
C5 Not paying attention: Luke 21:34 NLT "Watch out! Don't let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don't let that day catch you unaware,
C6 Following a false leader, especially those who present themselves as great men/women of God or even Messiah: Luke 21:8 NLT He replied, "Don't let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and saying, 'The time has come!' But don't believe them.
C7 Following blind, ignorant leaders: Isaiah 56:10 NLT For the leaders of my peoplethe LORD's watchmen, his shepherdsare blind and ignorant. They are like silent watchdogs that give no warning when danger comes. They love to lie around, sleeping and dreaming.
C8 Following leaders who do not teach truth: Jeremiah 5:4 NLT Then I said, "But what can we expect from the poor? They are ignorant. They don't know the ways of the LORD. They don't understand God's laws.
C9 Following leaders who are hypocrites: Romans 2:21-22 NLT Well then, if you teach others, why don't you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples?
C10 Following teachers who teach that the only law for a Christian is to love others. God does have rules for believers today: Romans 13:12-13 NLT The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.
C11 Drifting into errors of a passive mind: 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 NLT So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.
C12 Ignoring warnings: Deuteronomy 29:19 NLT Those who hear the warnings of this curse should not congratulate themselves, thinking, 'I am safe, even though I am following the desires of my own stubborn heart.' This would lead to utter ruin!
C13 Associating with people who claim to be Christians but their lives are not Christian:
E1 1 Corinthians 5:11 NLT I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don't even eat with such people.
E2 1 Corinthians 6:10 NLT or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat peoplenone of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.
C14 Having false priorities: Matthew 13:22 NLT The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God's word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.
B4 Know those against who oppose God, for they do not want the best for you. They want to neutralize or destroy you.
B5 Ephesians 6:10-18 WEL
10 Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
C1 Without God’s help, we will fail. It is God’s grace that gives us insight, wisdom, strength to do what is right.
D1 Hebrews 13:8-9 NLT Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God's grace, not from rules about food, which don't help those who follow them. [Emphasis is mine]
D2 2 Timothy 2:1 NLT Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.
C2 Jesus is our strength. He has proven Himself. John 16:33 NLT I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.
C1 We must have the whole armor.
C2 This is armor God has given us, so it is the best. He gives these things in wisdom and love.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the highest spiritual forces, powers, rulers of darkness of the world, and spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies.
C1 Worldly war is not allowed. It is the spiritual war that we fight.
C2 It is a war against lies, sin, pride, etc.
C3 It is a war between God’s worldview and the worldview that is not God’s.
13 Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and after doing everything possible to still stand.
C1 Even if it looks like we are failing, we must stand.
C2 Look how many times we have been tempted to give up, but God gives us the strength to continue. His grace might be our brothers and sister to encourage us.
D1 1 Thessalonians 4:18 NLT So encourage each other with these words.
D2 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
D3 2 Timothy 4:2 NLT Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
D4 1 Peter 5:12 NLT I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God's grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.
14 Therefore, stand having truth fastened around your loins and having the breastplate of righteousness on,
C1 Truth
D1 John 8:32 NLT And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
D2 John 14:6 NLT Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
D3 Psalm 25:5 NLT Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.
D4 John 17:17 NLT Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.
C2 Righteousness
D1 This is living in alignment with God’s standards.
D2 Philippians 3:9 NLT and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith.
D3 Hebrews 11:7 NLT It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.
D4 2 Peter 3:13 NLT But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God's righteousness.
15 And your feet shod, prepared by the Gospel of peace.
C1 This is the Gospel. We must know it, know why (to defend its truths), and believe God’s Gospel.
C2 1 Corinthians 15:2-4 NLT It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told youunless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.
16 Most importantly taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts from the wicked.
C1 Shield of faith
D1 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
D2 Hebrews 6:17-18 NLT God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
C2 Fiery darts of the wicked. These are to destroy and cause pain. Things as discouragement, memories of past failures, temptations, etc.
D1 Proverbs 25:18 NLT Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.
D2 Psalm 64:3-6 NLT They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent, attacking suddenly and fearlessly. They encourage each other to do evil and plan how to set their traps in secret. "Who will ever notice?" they ask. As they plot their crimes, they say, "We have devised the perfect plan!" Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning.
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
C1 Helmet of salvation
D1 Romans 5:2-3 NLT Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.
D2 Galatians 5:5 NLT But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us.
D3 1 Peter 1:3 NLT All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation.
D4 Romans 13:11 NLT This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
C2 Sword of Spirit: Hebrews 4:12 NLT For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
18 In every situation be praying in the spirit with all prayer and earnest requests, and be alert in the same with persistence and earnest requests for all saints.
C1 Be alert
C2 Be persistent


1 Corinthians 1:3 NLT May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

No comments:

Post a Comment