"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."
1 John 4:2-4 (KJV)
"2 Hereby know ye the SPIRIT of GOD: Every spirit that confesseth that JESUS CHRIST is come in the flesh is of GOD:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that JESUS CHRIST is come in the flesh is not of GOD: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of GOD, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Most believers know WHO they stand with for their salvation. JESUS CHRIST is who we identify WITH as being our LORD and SAVIOUR! But do we understand who we fight "AGAINST" in the Spiritual warfare we find ourselves in? Can we identify the enemy in his worldly beauty and glamor? Are we able to recognize the enemy when he is camouflaged as "an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:4)?
Many so-called leaders in churches today pose no danger to the enemy because they are not prepared to battle (wrestle, struggle, fight, or be in conflict with) a spiritual enemy, one that they can't see, feel or touch. But Paul informs us "we wrestle not "AGAINST" flesh and blood" in our earthly battles, but "AGAINST" principalities (a prince), powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places! Our battle is with an enemy that will masquerade himself as something good, when his intent is Evil all along!
1 John tells us "Every spirit that confesseth that JESUS CHRIST is come in the flesh is of GOD". If a spirit is proclaiming any other name but JESUS CHRIST the next verse proclaims "that spirit of antichrist"! Acts 4 says that the "name of JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth" is the only "name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved". If a spirit is ashamed of, or embarrassed by the name of JESUS CHRIST, there is a STRONG signal that we need to disassociate ourselves with it. Separation from the world can prove to be a painful experience, but PEACE can only come through JESUS CHRIST and HE will not share space with another spirit!
Being a believer in JESUS CHRIST is all about LOVING HIM. We also must LOVE our enemy (Matthew 5:44). We can and should love the enemy while rejecting his premise of us doing whatever WE want. Surrendering to JESUS CHRIST and HIS will for our lives is what we are called to do. The enemy made everything APPEAR "physical" in the Garden of Eden and caused man to sin. The enemy continues to keep the focus off of the "Spiritual" because the war for our Spirits has already been fought and the winner determined! The only thing we have to determine is who we are "AGAINST"???
No comments:
Post a Comment