by David Brenneman
"Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some. Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.” 2 Timothy 2:14-19.
"For though we walk in the 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 taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we." 2 Corinthians 10:3-7.
Our world right now is assaulting the minds and hearts of billions in mere moments...even within these moments of which it's taking you to read this.
There was something said a long time ago that there's truth in fiction. In many dozens of ways this has come about.
Subtlety has been the hallmark of Satan's schemes. Don't quickly read over that statement. Read it carefully and read it again. Subtlety has been the hallmark of all of Satan's schemes.
Getting people to buy into his distractions a little bit at a time, one generation at a time. Never quickly because he learned that quickly means swifter intervention by God. Subtlety allows him to believe he's getting away with things while the work of the Spirit of God still comes about.
We get suckered into and sucked into trains of thought that we're still learning defenses against.
In the midst of the first passage we read of "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed" Re-read that as "make every effort to be in public as well as privately to present yourself in such an acceptable way before your Father and your Savior as a doer of the Word of God who has been wholly obedient to your calling in Christ Jesus".
Meaning in everything.
Meaning we are actively fighting back against these spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Meaning that we are intentionally seeking to understand the things of God.
Our minds are under assault and constant pressure to cave into worldly desires and pleasures.
We are tempted to live in the past because of the worldly belief that is where happiness lies.
We are tempted to live in our current successes because that is where happiness lies.
We are tempted to embrace the rush of attention garnered by honesty embarrassing others in captured videos of people. It's an adrenaline rush that's addictive.
We are taught from childhood, and it's not really the fault of those raising us, that in some singular way to compromise in something in order to get along with others in the world. Each successive generation teaches even more compromise is necessary.
You and I are at war and it's a war of the mind.
Consider...we have Scripture that says that we should set our minds on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. So what temptation arises? The temptation to desire things that are of this world.
Consider...that we have Scripture that says we should take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus. We then face every onslaught of thought to keep from doing so. So many that we cave in and don't even try.
Consider why Jesus taught His Disciples to stop and get away from the battle of the world to be alone with His Father.
Consider why Satan's schemes are what they are. It's to keep Believers in Christ watered-down and ineffective. To ultimately prevent them from having any semblance of a crown of righteousness to give back to Jesus.
Satan's schemes are going to include form-fitting temptations that we will wholeheartedly believe aren't sins. While these temptations appear as wonderful things we don't stop to realize that our enemy the devil has been prowling around stalking us waiting for the approved moment to strike.
He doesn't sleep. His minions don't sleep. They study every single aspect of every breathing human being because they take this war seriously.
A really important tactic for him to use is to get you to believe that you aren't that important to him. That you don't matter that much so you don't have that much to worry about.
God's truth is that EVERY single member of the body of Christ is important to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ as well as the Spirit of God therefore YOU are under assault.
As soon as Believers take all this seriously they will see Satan's ugly head rear up in opposition.
You say you're ok? Really? What consumes your life? Your time? How much of your time does Jesus get? Does everything else in this world get more of your time, energy and effort than Jesus does? Do you wear symbols of idolatry on your clothing? Is your happiness found in the world and not in your walk with Jesus? Are you a busy body for no good reason? Always doing but not really doing what the Spirit is wanting of you?
Realize that the battle is going to be for your entire life. Satan's needing Believers to be ineffective to keep away the return of Jesus Christ as long as is possible. Until that last person designated by the Father to find salvation in Jesus Christ is saved the Rapture of the Church cannot happen.
You're either growing in Christ or aiding the enemy of the cross of Jesus Christ. There's no vacations from spiritual battles.
We're to put on the whole armor of God for a reason. Putting off the old self with its evil practices for a reason.
Take time right now to see where you really are in this situation. Wake up and know that the desire of God for you in Christ is to grow in Christ to be Christ to this fallen world around you. The desire of Satan is keep that from happening by any approved means at his disposal. Read the book of Job.
It's time to be who we are meant to be in Christ.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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