Forsaking ourselves

 'The cleaving of soul and spirit means not only their separation but also a cracking open of the soul itself. Since the spirit is enveloped in the soul, it cannot be reached by the Word of life save through a cracked shell. The Word of the cross plunges in and splits open a way into and through the soul so that God’s life can reach the spirit within and liberate it from the bondage of its soulish shell. Having received the mark of the cross, the soul now can assume its proper position of subjection to the spirit. But if the soul fails to become a “thoroughfare” to the spirit, then the former surely will become the latter’s chain. These two never agree on any matter. Before the spirit achieves its rightful place of pre-eminence it is challenged persistently by the soul. While the spirit is striving to gain freedom and mastery the strong soul power exerts its utmost strength to suppress the spirit. Only after the cross has done its work on the soulish life is the spirit liberated. If we remain ignorant of the damage this discord between the spirit and soul can bring or remain unwilling to forsake the pleasure of a sensuous walk, we shall make hardly any spiritual progress.'  The Spiritual Man- Watchman Nee (Excerpt)

Spiritual progress.

Are we unwilling to forsake the pleasure of a sensuous walk?

How much of our lives is spent appeasing our senses in one way or another?

There are and there have been many people who believe that they need to forsake a lot of the material world in order to walk with God. Could they be right? We don't want to believe they are. We don't want to believe we may have to give up any of our creature comforts. We reason all around and in many different ways convincing ourselves we do not need to stop pleasing our senses.

Think on the following verse for a while….

Mat_16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself

When you've thought on this for a while ask yourself a question- What are you to deny?

More on this tomorrow by the grace and mercy of our Lord, Jesus Christ!!!

Our Weapon, Our Light

So why don't we?

Why don't we quote scripture during our fights against temptation?  Is it because we aren't truly invested in the spiritual war? Is it because we want the prize without running the race? We want heaven without denying ourselves or even really looking at the cross waiting to be picked up.  We are wretched, we are poor, we are miserable, we are blind, we are naked, we are truly of Laodicea- the last church mentioned in Revelation.

Rev 3:14  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 

Rev 3:15  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 

Rev 3:16  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked

We don't quote the Word of God when we need to (which is often and every day- several times a day) because we believe we DON'T need to.  We've come to a place in our lives where quoting the scripture against spiritual attacks is foreign to us. In the back of our minds we believe only those who have gone off the deep end mentally would truly do such a thing.

We are wretched, we are miserable, we are poor, we are blind and we are naked.

We need-

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 

Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 

Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 

Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 

Rev 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 

We need Christ's righteousness, we need the faith of Christ, we need the Holy Spirit.  We need our Spiritual armor, we need to be protected, and we need our spiritual weapon.

Our need is great. The weapon of our warfare is lay down before us so easily.

A weapon that will light our way.

Psa_119:105  Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

With all our particular sins that so easily beset us- we can go to the Word and praying- seek to be shown the Words from the Word of God that we need in our spiritual fight.  We can find these words by the grace of God and wield them- praying constantly as we do. We must never forget that our Savior was in constant communication with God, the declared Father whom He was relying upon for all things.

Heb_12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us

Joh_5:19  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Joh_8:28  Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

Joh_10:30  I and my Father are one.

Joh 10:31  Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 

Joh 10:32  Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 

Our Savior can be in us-

Col_1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory

Christ is our hope. Through Christ we - wretched as we are- continue to Hope In our HOPE!

In the name of our Savior, our Lord, Jesus Christ, now and forever!

Jesus Used the Sword of the Spirit, Why Don't We?

Do you quote from the scriptures?

Do you know God's word? How well do you know God's word? Is your knowledge of God's word superficial? In this moment right now, I feel that mine is.

Yes, I know some scripture, but do I know it enough to quote it when I'm being attacked spiritually? When the Holy Spirit helps me to discern that I am under attack even in the very small, subtle ways that Satan loves to use, my response should be scriptural.

Jesus' responses to Satan were scriptural. Yes, Jesus was speaking to Satan face to face, but are we so blind we don't realize that Satan is present in tempting us as well?

Satan is behind every single temptation to sin.

Mat_4:10  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Mat_12:26  And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

Mar_4:15  And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

Luk_10:18  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Luk_13:16  And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

Luk_22:3  Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

Luk_22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat

Joh_13:27  And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

Act_5:3  But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Act_26:18  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Rom_16:20  And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

1Co_7:5  Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

2Co_2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

2Co_11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

2Co_12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

1Th_2:18  Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

2Th_2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders

1Ti_5:15  For some are already turned aside after Satan.

Rev_2:9  I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

Rev_2:13  I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Rev_2:24  But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

Rev_3:9  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Rev_12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Rev_20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

Rev_20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison

*******

Do you still think Satan isn't real?   You cannot believe in Jesus without believing in Satan. Jesus believes in Satan and know his power and our weakness. 

Jesus led by example and Jesus used the Sword of the Spirit- the Word of God- against Satan.

So why don't we?

Spiritual Attack.

The Word was made flesh. Jesus.

We are to use the Word of God as our spiritual weapon.

The Word of God- by the Word.

Jesus quoted the word of God, the word He knew, the word He gave.

We are to TAKE the sword of the Spirit--

Eph 6:17  And take …the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

And when a person takes a sword it is with what intent? You take a sword to protect yourself from an enemy. When the enemy attacks you'll be armed and ready to defend yourself.

So how do we take the word of God and wield it as a spiritual sword protecting ourselves from a spiritual attack?

Jesus used it when Satan spoke to Him, tempting Him. 

Satan doesn't speak to us, at least no one I personally know.

In fact, Satan has shrouded his attacks on us under many guises so many that we scarcely know when we are being attacked.

Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 

Php 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 

Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 

Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 

Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

Php 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 

Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 

Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Lights in the World

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 

Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 

Php 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 

Php 2:16  Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 

Php 2:17  Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 

Php 2:18  For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me

When we read passages such as the one above we need to suspect that we are under a spiritual attack when we are not looking out for others good before our own. We have to suspect attacks when we are filled with strife or vainglory, and are not lowly in mind. When we do not obey the word of God, we are being influenced by Satan. If we are filled with murmurings and disputing, we are under attack.

The truth is, there is a standard we are to look to in our lives- Jesus Christ our Lord.  The mind that is in Christ needs to be in us. When we fall short of this standard we are in need of forgiveness. We must never cease striving to have Christ in us, in our lives, in our actions. 

All our striving will not give us salvation. Salvation is a gift freely given. Our striving is because we desire to live as our Savior.

Satan would have us under constant attack, and we cannot ignore the attacks. The Holy Spirit will give us discernment and when we recognize we are being attacked we have to use the SWORD of the SPIRIT, the WORD of GOD. 

Christ quoted from the only scriptures available to Him in Hit time on earth. We need to quote from the scriptures available to us. Seriously, we need to learn to do this. It may sound bizarre but it's truth!

More on this tomorrow by the GRACE and MERCY of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST!

The Word Made Flesh

The Word wrapped in flesh, an ancient Word knowing all, having lived all but never before in the confines of flesh. To live in flesh having been only spirit, a new existence prevailed. The flesh grew as living flesh can only do and changed over time from infant to man. Many years spent knowing, spent growing, spent living with others of flesh - others who couldn't know all.

The Word comprehended as those around Him comprehended Him not. For thirty years the Word existed waiting and watching. Thirty years taking part in an earth bound venture. Thirty years gaining intimate knowledge of day to day flesh existence. Thirty years of waking, of sleeping, of eating, of committing all necessary activities of daily flesh life. Thirty years of witnessing- birth, death, anger, heartache, pain, sickness, happiness, marriage, rituals, sacrifices.  Thirty years of mission silence.  Thirty years of preparation. 

For thirty years the Word was raised with those intent on living in the confines of their knowledge given to them by the Word while spirit.  The Word lived His word given long before the Word took on flesh.  Daily prayers, daily rituals, daily duties, daily law abiding- and it was good. There was no law given that the Word found impossible to live in His flesh. Temptations abounded, the Word in flesh was not born into an innocent world. While all around Him succumbed to temptations, He alone of all Flesh sinned not. He witnessed flesh sinning and never sinned. He felt sin's pull without being lured away. His power from His declared Father, the God He was God with- before He took on flesh, was His fortress, His prayer.  God in flesh prayed to God in spirit. The flesh needs to pray. The flesh has a dependency. The flesh is a created thing. Flesh created from dust.  The flesh of the Word was human - dust made flesh and it was mysteriously infused with God declared Son. In joining the dust-flesh, the Word was indeed made flesh with all flesh propensities, with all flesh needs- physically, mentally, spiritually. The Word needed to pray and He prayed to His declared Father. As God with God, the distinction between the two came when one was declared Son the other declared Father.  By decree the Son became the Son, the Word- the Son.  And encumbered by flesh the Word prayed.  In prayer unceasingly- He was ever protected from any lust being conceived and that resulting in sin.

*******

Eph 6:17  And take …the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

Joh 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 

Joh 1:10  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 

Joh_5:19  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Joh_8:28  Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

Gen 2:6  But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. 

Gen 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 

1Co_13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Luk 1:35  (YLT)  And the messenger answering said to her, `The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also the holy-begotten thing shall be called Son of God

Heb_4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Psa_2:7  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

1Th_5:17  Pray without ceasing.

Practical Application- Armor/Weapon

Practical application-

From yesterday-

'We fight against the devil.

We fight against things that aren’t of flesh and blood.

We fight against principalities.

We fight against powers.

We fight against rulers of darkness.

We fight against spiritual wickedness.

When was the last time you saw the devil? Can you see the power you are to wrestle against? What rulers of darkness are you familiar with? Where have you had contact with spiritual wickedness? 

All those things- the devil, principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness are to be FOUGHT against. We have a helmet, our loins covered, a breastplate, footwear, a shield, and a sword.  Our body is all protected, and we have a weapon. Protection and a weapon of warfare.

TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, FAITH, SALVATION - These ALL protect us!

SPIRIT of the WORD of GOD- This is our defense. '

*******

Protection against evil.  Why are we told to "PUT ON" the spiritual armor if we DON'T put it on? If we don't even have it in our wardrobe? If we never even think about it? When a person wears tangible armor they are very aware of it on them. Most can't wait to take it off- the armor is cumbersome, it adds extra weight, it add warmth which is only good if you're in a cold climate.  Armor is not clothing, it's an addition to clothing. We are told to--

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

PUT ON the WHOLE armor of God.

And yet we refuse protection when we don't seek ONLY-

TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, FAITH, SALVATION.

To be protected we  must have TRUTH.  Christ's truth! We must have Christ's righteousness! We must have Christ's peace! We must have Christ's faith! We must have Christ's salvation!

To fight we must have the Spirit- The WORD of GOD.

The practical application of the armor and weapon is for us to recognize when we NEED to use the weapon and to realize that we ALWAYS need our armor. Unlike tangible armor, spiritual armor will never be cumbersome or uncomfortable in a physical way- but it CAN be very cumbersome and very uncomfortable to the soul-self in us that wars against the spirit-self in us. 

Just as in a tangible war soldiers wear their armor no matter how awful it may feel. In our spiritual war we spiritual soldiers need to wear our spiritual armor no matter how awful it makes us feel, because it is those feelings we are warring against being predominant in us, over the spirit. Our trust in Christ must grow, it must. 

Recognizing the state we are in at any given moment- this is the Spirit's revelation to us. What we do with the revelation is a CHOICE for us make.   The practical application is recognition, realization, relenting- it is acting mentally, emotionally, physically, and most of all spiritually. 

The weapon is tangible, we can literally hold it in our hands, we can read it with our eyes, we can memorize it, we can study it, it is a weapon that is so incredibly alive that we could read it a million times and each time we would learn from it anew.

More about this tomorrow by the GRACE and MERCY of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ now and forever!

Amen!

Our protection, our defense.

So, how do we react when we are shown our soul-self?  Is there instant remorse? Instant pain that we are so self-centered?  That's what we are. When our tempers flare, and our aggravation is ignited it is our self-centeredness that fuels those emotions. We are thinking of SELF and how we don't want to be inconvenienced in any way at all. We don't want to be inconvenienced when we are clearly busy doing our own thing (selfish thing or selfless) we just don't want to be bothered because we are busy. We want consideration for ourselves. We want others to comprehend that we do not want to be bothered, why? Because we are SO concerned with our OWN need, our OWN desire, our OWN situation, our OWN work, our OWN life.

We have to comprehend that we are truly in war unlike any other war! Why were we given armor if we don't need armor? Seriously? Why?

When a person puts on ANY sort of armor they are expecting that there may be a necessity for that armor. Very few will don armor without believing there is a need for it. Of course nowadays people will put it on in play form for gaming. But real armor for real battle, people do not wear it without a reason. Law enforcement of all kinds will put on bulletproof vests before going into danger. Firefighters will put on a lot of protective gear when they go out on a call. Our armed forces have armor they wear when they are going into wars.  We are given armor and yet how often are we aware of that armor and the NEED for that armor?

In this war we are in great need… let's read the familiar verses-

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 

Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 

Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 

Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 

Eph 6:19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 

Eph 6:20  For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 

*******

We fight against the devil.

We fight against things that aren’t of flesh and blood.

We fight against principalities.

We fight against powers.

We fight against rulers of darkness.

We fight against spiritual wickedness.

When was the last time you saw the devil? Can you see the power you are to wrestle against? What rulers of darkness are you familiar with? Where have you had contact with spiritual wickedness? 

All those things- the devil, principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness are to be FOUGHT against. We have a helmet, our loins covered, a breastplate, footwear, a shield, and a sword.  Our body is all protected, and we have a weapon. Protection and a weapon of warfare.

TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, FAITH, SALVATION - These ALL protect us!

SPIRIT of the WORD of GOD- This is our defense.

Now, what is the practical application of all the above…. More tomorrow on that by the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Now and forever!

Amen!