Post by alan4jc on May 17, 2007 23:43:07 GMT -5
In the Spiritual War over the souls of men, the men are never the enemy. We only
have one enemy, Satan. We fight him and his fellow spiritual powers.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor
of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our
struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God,
so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and
after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of
truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of
peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can
extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on
all occasions with all kinds of prayers and
requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the
saints.” Ephesians
6:10-18
We fight to deliver people from the power of the enemy.
“Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know
they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must
be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must
gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to
a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape
from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” 2
Timothy 2:23-26
They are his captives.
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot
see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2
Corinthians 4:4
The people cannot see the glory of Christ.
“When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.”
Romans 6:20
The people are slaves of sin.
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,” Ephesians 2:1
The people are dead in their sins.
“They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God
because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.”
Ephesians 4:18
The people are decadent.
“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and
debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage,
selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the
like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not
inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21
These people may be serving the enemy but they are not the enemy. We do not
fight them. They are to be captured from the enemy.
In the Lord Jesus Christ,
Jim Wilson
have one enemy, Satan. We fight him and his fellow spiritual powers.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor
of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our
struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God,
so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and
after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of
truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of
peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can
extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on
all occasions with all kinds of prayers and
requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the
saints.” Ephesians
6:10-18
We fight to deliver people from the power of the enemy.
“Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know
they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must
be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must
gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to
a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape
from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” 2
Timothy 2:23-26
They are his captives.
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot
see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2
Corinthians 4:4
The people cannot see the glory of Christ.
“When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.”
Romans 6:20
The people are slaves of sin.
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,” Ephesians 2:1
The people are dead in their sins.
“They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God
because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.”
Ephesians 4:18
The people are decadent.
“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and
debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage,
selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the
like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not
inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21
These people may be serving the enemy but they are not the enemy. We do not
fight them. They are to be captured from the enemy.
In the Lord Jesus Christ,
Jim Wilson