Friday, October 11, 2019

(10/11/2019) Spiritual Combat Against Sin


The image depicts the Whole Armor of God


Today, reply is on spiritual combat. Many claiming to be followers of Jesus Christ display an eagerness to physically fight with others, and a mentality declaring that GOD has granted Christians exclusive authority, divine entitlement, and full license to demonize, slander and verbally assault their enemies, to be victorious in war, to maintain stockpiles of weapons, and to deploy nuclear bombs throughout the earth at their own discretion. Properly understood, the divine goal is life using change, rather than destruction. Therefore, believers are called and recruited to serve as fishers of men, soul winners, and those who preserve communities by becoming “the salt of the earth.” The present day is a season of grace for sinners, wherein threats of damnation, punishment for sin, and the second death are replaced by opportunity for fellowship with divinity, gradual growth, rest, revelation, unselfish service, and vision. In place of coercion, brute force, deception, and lies, divinity draws to themselves and releases those living in error and sin by using sacred tools such as healing, forgiveness, mercy, nonviolence, prophecy, reconciliation, and spiritual rebirth. Christians are not to behave as hoodlums and thugs; however, neither are they to be beggarly, cowardly, undisciplined, and weak. The followers of Christ are to display the image of GOD, and will not make for others the choices others must demand from themselves. Developing and mature believers are not to shrink from the life challenges wherein sinners are helped to see and make the choice for new life through Jesus Christ. It is written: 1st Corinthians 3: 11-15, King James Version (KJV): 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every mans work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is. 14 If any mans work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any mans work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. One of the fighters in the “Yahoo! Answers” public forum on Religion and Spirituality who uses the ID “Anonymous” (no profile is shown) posted the following:



What is spiritual combat?



THE GOLDEN ARROW: And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19: 11-16, KJV)



THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Conflict Among Multiple Wills? (09/20/2019); Justified By Church Attendance? (06/21/2019); Salvation Through Jesus Christ (03/25/2019); Peace Or A Sword? (01/29/2019); The Lion of Judah (01/22/2017); War and Peace? (07/17/2014); God Bless America? (09/12/2013); Law, Slavery and Redemption (09/13/2013)



Anonymous”, all Christian believers on the earth are warriors in spiritual combat against the operations of sin. Sin is understood as an “enigma” for mankind (i.e., a puzzle or question that has no clear origin, no fixed answer, and no reliable solution). Divinity has not put forth sin as part of Creation, and sin has no spirit content from the makeup of GOD, yet, the operations of sin may dominate consciousness and self-will within created beings and living creatures. Sin opposes the continued existence of sacred law, the Lawgiver, and of divine order throughout the universe. Sin promotes destruction, nonexistence, and a return to the conditions of chaos, confusion, and movement of substance without direction and form that were in place before the founding of heaven and earth (we say, preexistence).

Divinity is the inseparable fullness of all spirit-matter; and where they remain in spirit, they must be known as immortal and invisible. Within the Godhead are to be found such elements as faith, holiness, forbearance, hope, longsuffering, lovingkindness, oneness without sameness, personhood, righteousness, wisdom, and wrath against sin. Using the form of human flesh, GOD has appeared through Jesus Christ to demonstrate that divinity are to be known by those on the earth through sacred operations, divine process, and by receiving fresh endowments of the same life essence (breath; spirit; word) imparted to Adam from the makeup of the Creator. The Creator is not an abstraction, an immaterial object, a mechanical device, or a man-made product from human imagination, mind, and carnal reason. Mankind is to have integrity of being, maintain self-government, and serve as a life companion to divinity; however, humanity must continue to exist within the boundaries and frameworks created and provided by divinity. Included are birth, death, resurrection, opportunity, divine prerogative, eternal purpose, possibility, reality, time and space.

The conflicts that exist within Creation are not all visible to the senses of mankind, and must be resolved without continuing corruption (decay, disintegration, rot) that is material, social, and spiritual. Believers must contend against such obstacles as anger, arrogance, covetousness, envy, fear, lust, presumption, exaggerated pride, selfishness, and stubbornness. The living are not to “fight the good fight” using gun violence and weapons of mass destruction. Rather than as the outcome of battles that exploit the mortality of mankind, the preservation of Creation and peace are the outcomes of divine judgment where conflicts are resolved and disputes are settled by applying the sanctions and standards in the law. Christians are to wage war against sin by displaying Christ-likeness and godliness in their lifestyles and daily routines. At every levelhow they speak, what they say, and what they dobelievers are to make choices, determinations, and sound decisions that acknowledge and conform to meaning, quality, and value from the Maker. Consider the following that uses language from the Bible, and the presentation from the music ministry of the Gaither Vocal Band:

1. Psalms 7: 9-11, King James Version (KJV): 9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins. 10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. 11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

2. Ephesians 6: 11-18, KJV: 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. 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. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

3. 2nd Corinthians 10: 3-5, KJV: 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example 4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsDCH0Y2aiU.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.


Image downloaded 5:14 PM, October 10, 2019 @ https://i.pinimg.com/originals/57/59/e6/5759e6ee190909539836b51d053db052.jpg



THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

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