where is the war?
29Jun10
2 corinthians 10.3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
bro when i read these verses alone ( 2 cor 10:3-5) and you are asking ‘where is the war?’… for some reason i see the crown of thorns. am i crazy? i don’t want to derail the discussion!
that works in light of this…
1 peter 4. 1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.
in other words, Jesus’ willingness to humble himself as a servant – obedient all the way to the point of death – was in itself a weapon against all the power of the devil.
but how would that relate to 2 corinthians 10.3-5, or this passage from ephesians?
ephesians 6.10-13 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
where is the war?
the ephesians verses are what i have been meditating on for a few days now and it is very clear from His Word and personal experience that we are not fighting flesh and blood. the war is in the heavenly places and this is how i am fighting back:
Jam 5:16 –
Confess [your] trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Jam 5:17 –
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.
Jam 5:18 – And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
Jam 5:19 – Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,
Jam 5:20 – let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
1Jo 5:14 –
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
1Jo 5:15 – And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
1Jo 5:16 – If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin [which does] not [lead] to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not [leading] to death. There is sin [leading] to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.
Eph 6:17 – And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
Eph 6:18 – praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints–
The war is in the heavenly places and we put on the whole armor to STAND. Being submissive to all authorities in deed and truth (not attempting to slay with tongue) and waring in the Spirit being watchful and praying. All rooted in real brotherly love.
in the soul (mind, will, emotions)
it is difficult for me to find the words to explain these things. but yes our very flesh must become set apart, sanctified (purified) and preserved for Christ. we continually abide in Christ in truth and love. but there is another realm you are ‘aware’ of and is manifest in spiritual hosts of wickedness (on this earth), but the spiritual wickedness is not from or a product of this earth. it is in/from the heavenly places. all these things are ultimately from the evil one and are defeated in firm stance (and faith) combined with mighty weapons of God which is beyond anything carnal (and mightier than he who is in/of the world).
could it be as simple as…”your thought life”?
colossians 1.21-23 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith.
ephesians 2.1-3 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
2 corinthians 4.3-4 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
romans 12.1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
yes! ive always wanted to address this issue in this manner! just nails it on the head! look how perfectly and fully stated it is in His Word! glen, this is awesome.
The war was fought and won by Christ upon the cross. In each of the verses Glen cited regarding our war, the following statements point to what Jesus did for us at the cross.
*the weapons of our warfare… are mighty in God (2 Cor 10:3-5)
*Christ suffered for us in the flesh (1 Pet 4:1)
*be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Eph 6:10-13)
*yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death (Col 1:21-23)
*And you He made alive (Eph 2:1-3)
*the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Cor 4:3-4)
*by the mercies of God… present your bodies a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1-2)
Paul called our fight “the good fight of faith.” Satan is doing everything he can to pull believers away from the simplicity that is Christ. If he can get us to place our faith in our works, then we will continue to lose the battle against the flesh because we were never meant to fight this battle in our strength. We were always meant to continually place our faith in Christ’s victory so the Holy Spirit may empower us. If our faith is in anything other than Christ, then the Holy Spirit cannot support our efforts because grace comes to us only by faith in what Jesus did for us at the cross (Gal 2:21).
I believe this is the message of the gospel, which gives us access to every gift from God. God changed my life as a believer when He showed me that I had to stop looking to myself and continue to keep my faith in the same thing that got me saved!
exactly…
romans 5.10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
romans 8.31-32 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
…and let me extend what matt finished with above, to say that remaining in that same place of desperate need that found ourselves in when we first cried out to God will allow us to see the kingdom of God operate as powerfully on the offense as it has on our defense.
when we say the kingdom of God allows violence, & the violent take it by force…we’re talking about standing up in full confidence of the finished work of Christ, and in that radically taking hold of the kingdom of heaven. we’re not trust fund brats, and the riches of the kingdom aren’t there for us to live in cruise control…there is an arsenal available to us, and a world desperate to see this salvation.
knowing that Father didn’t spare his own Son for our sakes, and knowing that this totally guarantees that He will now give us all things, it’s about time we start pressing in and taking Him up on ALL THINGS >>