Continuing on with the Armor of GOD which those who have been restored to and are now actively Living as Christ ones now are clothed with. I will look at some general references to our spiritual weaponry. But first a look at Pastor Hoekstra's teaching on Grace and how Grace effects those who are restored back to GOD's original Family unit, our being one with HIM again. You know like having say a chocolate cake (Genesis 2) and a small piece having been cut (Genesis 3) and taken from it does not change that one piece. As it remains just a small piece of the whole, it does not become say a carrot cake just because it a piece. Man is no different now is he. After Grace's teaching I will then use the ESV translation and show more of the Armor of GOD in scripture and if the LORD gives more insight I will add it there and then.
"Once More on Bondage versus Liberty"
"Abraham (keep in mind that Abram was a man who walked with GOD just as we all are too we have received the Light of wisdom and understanding of Truth because then our own name is also changed as was this mans to reflect his relationship with the LORD GOD.) had two sons . . . which . . . are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage . . . and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in (political religious) bondage with her children — but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all . . . So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. Stand fast therefore in the liberty (not being held in slavery to political religionism of laws) by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of (this kind of) bondage." (Galatians 4:22-5:1)
"In our present verses, the two sons of Abraham are in view. "Abraham had two sons." Although these boys (Ishmael and Isaac) were actual historical characters, they represent a spiritual allegory: "which . . . are symbolic." These two sons present a vivid historical illustration of law and grace. "For these are the two covenants."
Ishmael, the first of Abraham's sons, pictures a life of self-sufficiency under the (political religion of) law: "the one from Mount Sinai." Such an approach to life produces spiritual bondage: "which gives birth to bondage." The citizens of earthly Jerusalem are also given as an example: "and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children." When Paul wrote Galatians, the Roman Empire held the city of Jerusalem in oppressive bondage. Abraham and Sarah trusted in their human ingenuity, using Hagar to bear their child. Thus, Ishmael was born, a child of fleshly bondage.
This is what our lives are like when we try to produce a Christian life by our own sufficiency (when held in the snare and trap of mans political religious laws which carries a heavier penalty over sin because within it man denies the cross and blood of Jesus). We are placing ourselves under the law (performance-based living). This is a path of spiritual bondage (spiritual idolatry and fornication through the worth-ship of traditions, rite, rituals, ceremonies, holidays, customs and habits of religious performance, worship of the idol and image of a far off someday event). We can only bring forth "fleshly Ishmaels."The trying to make the piece of the cake something else than it is not through politics and often religious practices......illustrated like sitting in your cars garage and claiming yourself to be that auto that you've always wanted.....ie. a "Christ like one" a "Christian." When you already are just a piece of the greater whole but lack wisdom and knowledge of your spiritual state.
Isaac, the second of Abraham's sons, is a portrait of living under grace. In GOD's sufficiency is now our source. Isaac was born by GOD's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. Trusting in GOD's Faithfulness produces spiritual freedom. Heavenly Jerusalem is the example here. "The Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all," a picture of the greater whole. We who follow Christ have been born again with New Life from above. New Jerusalem is the "hometown" to which we are headed. Spiritual freedom characterizes such citizens from above. "So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free." The LORD of lords calls us to live by the liberating Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, renouncing all inclinations toward the bondage of self-sufficient legalism of mans political religion performances. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage, having taken the yoke of freedom in Christ (Matthew 11:28-30)."
General References to spiritual Weapons:
1Samuel 17:41-47 "The Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field." Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, Whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a GOD in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hand."
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 (Light) of GOD, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete."
Ephesians 6:10-18a "Finally, be strong in the LORD and in the strength of His might. Having put on (Christ being found in Him) the whole armor of GOD (in Light), 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 (political religious laws or) forces of evil 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 (in your witness of Christ within you) 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. In all circumstances take up the shield of Faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of GOD, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication."
Hebrews 3:7-4:13 "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put Me to the test and saw My works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart; they have not known My ways.' As I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'" Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the Living GOD. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (unbelief and bound in political religious laws). For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were (remain) disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as He has said, "As I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest,'" although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. For HE has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And GOD rested on the seventh day from all His works." And again in this passage He said, "They shall not enter My rest." Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again He appoints a certain day, "Today," saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." For if Joshua had given them rest, GOD would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of GOD, for whoever has entered GOD's rest has also rested from his works as GOD did from HIS. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For 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. And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account."
Revelation 12:7-12 "War arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our GOD and the authority of HIS Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our GOD. And they have conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"
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