February 4, 2024 NOT FLESH AND BLOOD
2 Corinthians 10:3-5,7a “For though we walk in there flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are talking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” “You are looking at things outwardly.”
We tend to be shortsighted; and we tend to focus on the wrong target. Because we are fleshly human beings, we deal in the fleshly-unless we have come to know the truth. The truth is that the major battle taking place is a spiritual battle; spiritual forces may use ‘flesh and blood’ (people), but the real warfare is in the spiritual realm. If we are indeed focused on the fleshly, we will not see victory. We live in the midst of ‘flesh and blood’ and we constantly interact with people, and sometimes conflict arises; when it does, we must remember that spiritual forces are at work behind the scenes. We must address the conflicts and the wrongs that arise, but we do so knowing that we are in a spiritual battle. The enemy uses people, but he also tries to influence the culture through subtle lies, tempting humans to believe what is untrue. Our battle is on at least two fronts; one is flesh and blood, and the other is a false narrative the culture adopts and promotes-a narrative that is contrary to the gospel. Everything, and every philosophy that is ‘raised up against the knowledge of God’ is a lie that must be exposed. In our own minds, we must guard against any thoughts that are contrary to Christ and the kingdom of God. We must rule over our minds, having our minds subject to the Spirit of God who indwells us. The Holy Spirit in us is ‘divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses;’ the enemy wants to build fortresses made up of lies that keep individuals captive and prevent them from experiencing the life of Christ. We must understand this: the devil does not care about us personally; his motive is to get back at God through His family members (believers); his scheme is to convince people to live according to their own ways and not according to the ways of God. Let us not look at things outwardly; we can identify the real enemy. We have the Holy Spirt who not only gives us discernment in this spiritual warfare, He also gives us weapons that are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. It is crucial for us to ‘take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ;’ we must not let our thoughts drift from the truth of the gospel of God; we must monitor our minds and be continually renewing our minds. We are in a battle, (believe it or not) but victory is assured for those who know God and walk according to His ways.
Ephesians 6:11-13 “Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”
Blessings, Buddy
2 Corinthians 10:3-5,7a “For though we walk in there flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are talking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” “You are looking at things outwardly.”
We tend to be shortsighted; and we tend to focus on the wrong target. Because we are fleshly human beings, we deal in the fleshly-unless we have come to know the truth. The truth is that the major battle taking place is a spiritual battle; spiritual forces may use ‘flesh and blood’ (people), but the real warfare is in the spiritual realm. If we are indeed focused on the fleshly, we will not see victory. We live in the midst of ‘flesh and blood’ and we constantly interact with people, and sometimes conflict arises; when it does, we must remember that spiritual forces are at work behind the scenes. We must address the conflicts and the wrongs that arise, but we do so knowing that we are in a spiritual battle. The enemy uses people, but he also tries to influence the culture through subtle lies, tempting humans to believe what is untrue. Our battle is on at least two fronts; one is flesh and blood, and the other is a false narrative the culture adopts and promotes-a narrative that is contrary to the gospel. Everything, and every philosophy that is ‘raised up against the knowledge of God’ is a lie that must be exposed. In our own minds, we must guard against any thoughts that are contrary to Christ and the kingdom of God. We must rule over our minds, having our minds subject to the Spirit of God who indwells us. The Holy Spirit in us is ‘divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses;’ the enemy wants to build fortresses made up of lies that keep individuals captive and prevent them from experiencing the life of Christ. We must understand this: the devil does not care about us personally; his motive is to get back at God through His family members (believers); his scheme is to convince people to live according to their own ways and not according to the ways of God. Let us not look at things outwardly; we can identify the real enemy. We have the Holy Spirt who not only gives us discernment in this spiritual warfare, He also gives us weapons that are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. It is crucial for us to ‘take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ;’ we must not let our thoughts drift from the truth of the gospel of God; we must monitor our minds and be continually renewing our minds. We are in a battle, (believe it or not) but victory is assured for those who know God and walk according to His ways.
Ephesians 6:11-13 “Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”
Blessings, Buddy
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