From the moment of our Redemption we are actively enlisted in the army of GOD and because we are GOD's GOD has made divine arrangements for us and our needed protection. Because our unseen and unknown enemy is spirit, with the exception when a spirit has taken up residence within a person or some other living host it is unseen or known. There was a time in history when the Obedient were invincible and many of these men had divine strength as seen in many places in the old testament record. I want to look at our Spiritual Conflict to begin with. Those who are working for the enemy of mankind are unaware of their state and condition for the most part, but there are a few who deliberately work the works of Satan. Those who are babes in Christ often confuse the words of GOD as our being judgemental when speaking of spiritual things concerning those being used by evil and for evil purposes. But first Pastor Hoekstra and his writing on Grace and our Living by Grace. Then with the use of the ESV translation and the LORD I will under take the subject matter.
"Liberty by the Holy Spirit"
"Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2Coritnthians 3:17)
"As we have seen, that the old covenant of Law produces spiritual bondage in those who attempt to live under it. The great heavenly remedy for that bondage is the New Covenant of Grace, because it produces Spiritual Liberty and Freedom. This liberty is a work of the Holy Spirit. "Now the LORD is the Spirit." The Life-giving LORD of Grace is the Spirit of GOD: "the New Covenant, is not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives Life" (2Corinthians 3:6). This could be restated, restores GOD's Life within mans Redeemed and Sanctified soul of marrow where Life flows from and blood is produced by it. Because the word of GOD is a two edged sword that divides bone and marrow Hebrews reveals this in, Hebrews 4:12 "The word of GOD is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Mans first beginnings of this Newness of Life is a growth and learning process full of spiritual hardships and many traps waiting for the unlearned souls of these new creatures and they're not knowing that the Bible they hold in the hand is a spiritual book a tool of weaponry. This does not become revealed until there is a maturity of spirit in man and a death to the old way of life in blindness and hardness of heart and mind.
Living by rules and regulations ("of the letter") has a deadening, binding spiritual effect on people. This is how the Pharisee's "ministered." "For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders" (Matthew 23:4). Jesus came to liberate people, to set them free. This is why Jesus ministered by the Holy Spirit. "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed" (Luke 4:18). As Jesus, the Son of GOD, humbly served the Father, the Holy Spirit empowered Him to rescue captives, to release the oppressed. From their (mans) spiritual deadness and slavery of the enemy of mankind as seen in His many works of healing and deliverance. Jesus ushered in the spiritual warfare in a fashion not then known by man and those who remain as Israel has blind to the workings of GOD and who remain under the Law, slaves to the spirit of sin and death.
Rescuing people from sin and unrighteousness is the fundamental, liberating work of Jesus. "And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness" (Romans 6:18). Now, we are free to grow in a Life of Righteousness. Our newfound freedom is not for personal indulgence. It is for the serving the LORD of Hosts. "As free, yet not using your liberty as a cloak for vice, but as servants of GOD" (1Peter 2:16). Now that we are free, we can use our freedom to lovingly minister to others. To aid them into the maturity required by GOD for His Host as divine warriors, "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another" (Galatians 5:13). In this spiritual war many remain unaware of the battle taking place for the souls of mankind and remain in darkness by choice for this many will be judged. Because they are in effect at odds with the LORD of Hosts.
Another wonder of Christ's rescuing, liberating work is that He wants to save us from self-dependent striving to develop a life of godliness and loving service. He accomplishes this by the work of the Holy Spirit. "For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2). As we walk in humble dependency, the Holy Spirit imparts to us the Life that is in Christ Jesus. This liberates us from the tendency to rely upon fleshly human resources, which are inadequate (due to sin and spiritual deadness)."
The Spiritual Conflict, the characteristics of Spiritual warfare:
An Inward Battle,
Romans 7:21-25 "I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of GOD, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive (again) to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to GOD through Jesus Christ our LORD! So then, I myself serve the law of GOD with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin."
Spiritual Weaponry,
2Corinthians 10:1-6 "I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the Knowledge of GOD, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete."
Invisible Foes,
Ephesians 6:10-20 "Finally, be strong in the LORD and in the strength of His might. Having put on (being clothed in) Christ 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 the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the (the temples that have the outward appearance of being) heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole (spiritual) armor of GOD (that is being one in Christ), that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of Truth, and having put on the breastplate of Righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the Gospel of Peace (Peace with GOD our spiritual position in Christ). In all circumstances take up the shield of Faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts (thoughts of mere man and vain things when thrown, disparaging words, insults, angry words, slanderous words bitter words of hatred, judgments, critical words spoken of you as fiery darts*) of the evil one; and take the helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word (Oracle or revelation) of GOD, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To the end of keeping alert with all perseverance, making supplication (intersession to stand strong in obedience of faith) for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the Gospel (of Christ in man), for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak."
(* the flesh has appetites and hungers, cravings known as lusts such as the lust of the eyes of sensual things the sweet things that tantalize mans fallen nature. These things are part of the enemies influence of spiritual warfare that work against man.)
Young Soldiers Enlisted,
1Timothy 1:12-17, 18-2:7 "I thank Him Who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our (spiritual) LORD, because He judged me faithful, appointing me to His service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in (religious and spiritual) unbelief, and the Grace of our LORD overflowed for me with the (spiritual law of) Faith and Love that are (received and realized) in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for Eternal Life. To the King of the Ages, immortal, invisible, the only GOD, be Honor and Glory forever and ever, The Amen.
This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of GOD our Savior, Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the Knowledge of the Truth. For there is One GODd, and there is One Mediator between GOD and men, the man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the Truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and Truth."
A Fight of Faith,
1Timothy 6:11-16 "As for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue Righteousness, Godliness, Faith, Love, Steadfastness, Gentleness. Fight the good fight of the Faith. Take hold of the Eternal Life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of GOD, Who gives Life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, Who in His testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will display at the proper time—He Who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and LORD of lords, Who alone has immortality, Who dwells in unapproachable Light, Whom no one has ever seen or can see. To Him be Honor and Eternal dominion. The Amen."
Demands Entire Consecration,
2Timothy 2:1-7 "You then, my child, be strengthened by the Grace that is Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrusted to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Sharing in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the One Who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the LORD Will give you understanding in everything."
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