Warfare Spirituality part 3 (The Flesh, the Soul)

How do we deal with the flesh (our soul)?  How do we overcome temptations, which are common to all of us?  Is not the Living God who dwells in us Greater than that which opposes the formation of His Son in us?

Yet temptation is a reality for all of us.  We must be ruthless with ourselves, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  We must speak to ourselves Truth (see Psalm 42 & Romans 12:1-2) to overcome the Lies which abound.  We must realize who we are in Christ and that sin SHALL NOT be our master, because we are not under law but under Grace.  And one last tremendous thought before we discuss common temptations, did you ever stop and think that the Father allows these common temptations to arise and often persist in our lives to bring a greater revelation of His Son in you?  We often pray “Lord remove this temptation” right?  But God deals with us on much deeper levels, that would cause us to flee to Him and discover that “through it all” Christ is able, Christ is Mighty, Christ is the Victor in the believer who abides in Him.

Temptation to Anger (Insofar as depression is anger turned inward, these affirmations are relevant for depression as well.)

1. This is sin. "The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God" (Jas. 1:20). [This is not dealing with anger against sin (cf. Ezek. 7:3; Mark 3:5), but with sinful anger (Gal. 5:20).]
2. I do not want to sin. Sin is beneath the dignity of the person I have become in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:4-7).
3. I do not have to sin. I am no longer under the power of sin, but I am alive to God in Christ Jesus (Rom. 6:11; 8:12-14).
4. Then why am I tempted to get angry? Because I have embraced wrong thinking. I have committed myself to unrealistic plans. [I am using "unrealistic plans" in the sense of plans that, for whatever reason, did not come to fruition. For example, I may be committed to the short-term plan of catching a particular flight so that I can get to a meeting on time. If a flat tire blocks this plan, it was "unrealistic"--it was not realized. The problem was not in desiring to get to the meeting on time, but in making my sense of well-being dependent on it.]
5. The correct way to think is to remember that God is in control and has my best interests at heart (Rom. 8:28).
6. My response to this truth is first to trust in the Lord and not lean on my own understanding (Prov. 3:5-6). [Since 5 is true, God must have intentions in this situation that I cannot presently grasp.]
7. Second, I will walk by the Spirit and not carry out the desire of the flesh (Gal. 5:16). The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).

Temptation to Seek Revenge

This is sin. "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. . . . If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge" (Rom. 12:17-19).
2. I do not want to sin. Sin is beneath the dignity of the person I have become in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:4-7).
3. I do not have to sin. I am no longer under the power of sin, but I am alive to God in Christ Jesus (Rom. 6:11; 8:12-14).
4. Then why am I tempted to seek revenge? Because I want justice. [This may be as trivial as someone cutting me off in traffic or as deep-seated as the unforgiving spirit (and bitterness) of harboring a resentment against another person for years.]
5. But God did not give me justice (what I deserve); He treated me with mercy (not giving me what I deserve) and grace (giving me better than I deserve).
6. Because I have been forgiven, I will forgive others and treat them with mercy and grace (Col. 3:12-15). [The better I understand God's mercy and grace in my life, the more I will be willing and ready to forgive others when they sin against me.]
7. I will walk by the Spirit and not carry out the desire of the flesh (Gal. 5:16). The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).

 

More to follow on the flesh/Soul.

Warfare Spirituality part 2

3. Warfare on Three Fronts

·        The World

 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
1 John 5:4

·        The Flesh

 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
Galatians 5:16-17

·        The Devil

 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.    
John 16:11
 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
1 John 2:14
 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
1 John 4:4

 “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors"

C. S. Lewis, Preface to The Screwtape Letters

4. Warfare With the Flesh (handling temptations)

 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Colossians 2:23
 For in my inner being I delight in God's law;
 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.
Romans 7:22-23
 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Romans 8:23
 For in my inner being I delight in God's law;
 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.
Romans 7:22-23
 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
Colossians 1:13

More to come on handling Warfare with the Flesh

From AW Tozer’s Renewed ~ Day By Day ~ Devotional

The Unchanging Faithfulness of God

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever. Hebrews 13:8

IT IS A GRACIOUS THING IN OUR RELATIONSHIP with the heavenly Father to find that He loves us for ourselves and values our love more than galaxies of new created worlds.
The added blessing is to discover His faithfulness—for what He is today we shall find Him tomorrow, the next day and the next year!
Actually, the fellowship of God with His redeemed family is beyond all telling. He communes with His redeemed ones in an easy, uninhibited fellowship that is restful and healing to the soul.
He is not sensitive nor selfish nor temperamental. He is not hard to please, though He may be hard to satisfy. He expects of us only what He has Himself first supplied.
He is quick to mark every simple effort to please Him, and just as quick to overlook imperfections when He knows we meant to do His will. Surely He loves us for ourselves!
Unfortunately, many Christians cannot get free from their perverted notions of God, and these notions poison their hearts and destroy their inward freedom. These friends serve God grimly, as the elder brother did, doing what is right without enthusiasm and without joy, and seem altogether unable to understand the buoyant, spirited celebration when the prodigal comes home. Their idea of God rules out the possibility of His being happy in His people!
How good it would be if we could learn that God is easy to live with, the sum of all patience, the essence of kindly good will!

Warfare Spirituality part 1

The spiritual warfare is not optional for believers in Christ. Scripture clearly teaches and illustrates the dynamics of this warfare on the three battle fronts of the world, the flesh, and the devil. The worldly and demonic systems are external to the believer, but they entice and provide opportunities for the flesh, which is the capacity for sin within the believer..

Warfare Spirituality: Warfare with the Flesh and the World

1. World Views and Warfare – Basic Assumptions about Reality: How we view the world and our surroundings are VITAL!  As Keith Green sang about the devil years ago, “no one believes in me anymore.”  According to Scripture there is another dimension to the True Reality that includes God, his holy angels who serve Him and the fallen angels that oppose God and the work of Christ and this is where our true battle takes place.

2. The Reality of Warfare

·        Spiritual Conflict in the Old Testament

ü The Devil

It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter. Psalm 74:17
 In that day, the LORD will punish with his sword, his fierce, great and powerful sword, Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea. Isaiah 27:1
 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.  Saul's attendants said to him, "See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.  Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the harp. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes upon you, and you will feel better."  So Saul said to his attendants, "Find someone who plays well and bring him to me."  One of the servants answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him."
 Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep."  So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.  David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers.  Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, "Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him."  Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him. 1 Samuel 16:14-23
 The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand 1 Samuel 18:10
 But an evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the harp, 1 Samuel 19:9

ü Deceiving Spirits

Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD and said, 'I will entice him.'  " 'By what means?' the LORD asked. " 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,' he said. " 'You will succeed in enticing him,' said the LORD. 'Go and do it.' 1 Kings 22:21-22

ü Demons

They sacrificed to demons, which are not God-- gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your fathers did not fear. Deuteronomy 32:17
 They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. Psalm 106:37

ü Powerful Territorial Beings

But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Daniel 10:13
 So he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come;  but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince. Daniel 10:20-21

·        Spiritual Conflict in the New Testament

ü NT references to evil spirits 208X

ü NT references to Satan 120X

ü Satan

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44

 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert,  where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.  The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."  Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'"  The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.  And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.  So if you worship me, it will all be yours."  Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"  The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here.  For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;  they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"  Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"  When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. Luke 4:1-13

ü Demonic Spirits

Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,  "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"
 "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!"
 The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.  The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." Mark 1:23-27
 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.
 All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"  But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."
 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.  If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?  And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.  But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.  "Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house. Matthew 12:22-29

Spirit-Filled Spirituality: part 7

Spirit-Filled Spirituality: Openness & Discernment: Finding A Balance

1. There are Strengths and Weaknesses of Both Sides of the debate over Spiritual Gifts, and whether they are all in operation.  This is often for a number of reasons that include but are not limited to: misuse, excesses, a lack of experience, blinders because of man’s theologies and just plain stubbornness.  I would encourage… let the Scriptures speak for themselves.

2. The Spirit Points to Christ.  This is the main role of the Holy Spirit… to present the Lord Jesus.

He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.
John 16:14
 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,  and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, Ephesians 1:17-19
 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19

3. And finally we are to Keep in Step with The Holy Spirit, not leading Him (as if we could) or lagging behind.  We must appropriate the Power of The Spirit in order to Live the Christian life.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 1 Corinthians 4:20
 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:23
 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:3-5
 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:4-5
 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:13

·        Admitting our Weakness

 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

·        Surrendering our Will

·        Confessing our sin and disobedience

Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. Romans 6:13
 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. 1 John 3:24

·        Sanctifying our desires

·        Trusting God and His promises

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, BE FILLED with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18
 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Galatians 5:16
 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

Spirit-Filled Spirituality: part 6

Discovering Your Spiritual Gift(s) Here’s a few thoughts on how to proceed (I would also recommend a book on Spiritual Gifts called: S.H.A.P.E. by Erik Rees)

Asking – ask the Lord to give, reveal to you Gifts of the Spirit

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5
Awareness study Romans 12; 1 Cor 12-14; Eph 4

Awareness – make note and be aware how God is using you, how you are wired and what you desire to do

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:13
Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 1 Timothy 3:1

Activity – serve and see how God is leading and blessing you in your ministry

Affirmation – see how others respond to you use of gifts in ministry

Dangers of Abuse; clearly this are of Spiritual Giftedness is one of the hottest debated areas within the church… we must look at God’s Word, and put our preconceived ideas to the side as we search the Scriptures.  Remember…

·        Spiritual Gifts are not merely for personal use

·        Spiritual Gifts are not gained by merit or begging

·        Spiritual Gifts can be abused by being exercised in the flesh

·        Spiritual Gifts Discovery is not an Option

·        Spiritual Gifts should not be a cause of discouragement

·        Spiritual Gifts should not be a cause for Pride

·        Spiritual Gifts should not be sought as an end in themselves

·        Avoid Extreme Positions on the Gifts, that go beyond or ignore Scripture

·        Spiritual Gifts can be counterfeited by the flesh or demonic forces

·        Spiritual Gifts should not be sought as an end in themselves

Remember the Gift Never Leaves the Hand of the Giver!!! (translation… it’s all in Jesus)

Spirit-Filled Spirituality: part 5

So far we’ve discussed the…

1. Diversity and Unity in the Body of Christ

2. The Nature and Purpose of Spiritual Gifts

Now…

3. The Benefits of God’s Gifts (all God’s Gifts Are Good, they can’t be otherwise when given from Him)

The Gifts are Desirable for 3 Reasons

·        You will be Satisfied

·        Others will be Edified

·        God will be Glorified

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11

Now most Christians know that there is an in-house Debate Over the Gifts, which ones are in and which ones are out.  Typically it is defined as: Cessationists (meaning certain gifts have ceased) VS Non-Cessationists (meaning that all gifts are operational for today).  While there are clearly excesses and misuses of spiritual gifts, there does not seem to be ANY indication from Scripture to discount any Spiritual gift, that God gives to whomever He wills.

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 1 Corinthians 12:12-20

I’m not going to say much here, except that many over the years have gone to great length to discount certain gifts, despite the very Word of God that they affirm.  Most of the time these books/papers/sermons come from a “lack of experience” so therefore they must not exist today.  Some churches tend to be more “Word Centered Churches” and others tend to be “Spirit Centered Churches.”   It has been my desire and that of leadership of the church I pastor to be a “Christ Centered Church.”  Our lives are centered on Christ – He is our life, both individually and collectively.

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27

Lastly (at least for this time) let me say that the “Gift Does Not Leave the Hand of the Giver.”  Which means that God’s Grace, Gifts and Life are all in Christ.

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:11-13