Leave The Word With The People

Leave (Leaf) The Word With The People

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)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; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

There happen to be some things I see in the flow of this text.
2 CORINTHIANS 10:1-6   is  WAGING WAR! there is first a accusation made. 

Notice the way Paul approaches this defense of his ministry.  First with meekness, and gentleness of Christ, in verses 1-2, Meekness, gentleness, just like Jesus.  Meekness is not weakness, rather it is strength under control.   Paul does not deal with his issues in a worldly or fleshly way.   But recognizing that the issues he faces, the problems he has, are spiritual in nature.   He does not live by the standards of this world.

Do you blast the person behind the counter when you have an issue with your order or a bill?   Do you assume every rumor you hear is totally true, and some you even know are not, yet start to wonder if they are?   Do you see issues only through the natural eyes, as most of us do? because we walk in the carnal mind.   Paul's accusations came from men, but Paul did not see these men as the enemy, rather he recognized there are spiritual forces at work.  First the accusations, how we view our situations will effect how we deal with them. 

 There is then an assignment ...

The assignment is to live in the world (or in the flesh) but wage war with the weapons God gives us.   There are worldly weapons, and there are spiritual weapons.

The world uses Guns, Bazookas, Tanks, and Bombs.  The flesh fights with rage, harsh language, and violence  and always will, it knows no other way to fight.

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The worlds weapons are familiar to us, and when we like Paul are accused, we can react with in the flesh or in the Spirit.  You can say things that cut, lashing out without thought, and cursing.   You can use harsh words or toss some trash out, but that only make things worse.

We can shun the people who hurt you.  You can have actions and body language that make everyone know that you are mad and you are at war. I know that to be true, it has happen to me, I am certain there has been a time or two you can remember your actions and body language too, and it was talking loud about how angry you were, if your mouth never said a word.  

But sometimes these wars are in our own homes.  We speak curly to the people we love the most, we hurt those who are closest to us, we hurt them with our actions and our mouths. 

The husband, the father, who says cruel words -- because “I am at war, I am angry.”

James 1:19-20 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

My anger/ your wrath/  will never accomplish Gods will.  Human anger is a worldly weapon that can not win Spiritual battles.  Be that a battle from the pit of hell or be that a disagreement with you spouse.  Your assignment, like Paul did, is to recognize spiritual issues and not react in the flesh.

The Christian solider uses different weapons.  We have put down the arms of the world and taken up the arms of the Spirit.  Our weapons have divine power, and they are mighty  in the face of spiritual warfare, persecution, hardship, and troubles.

For the battle is not ours anyway, but the Lords. How often do we use the Lords weapons and defenses to fight our battles like we are instructed to do???? Most times we will not stop and do what Ephesians instructs us to do in 6:10-18... Put on the whole amour of God. 

As Christians we often fail in spiritual warfare because we do not recognize who the enemy is. We look at the person in front of us and they become our enemy. 

You have the husband angry with the wife so she becomes the enemy, the wife is then feeling abandoned and that makes him become her enemy...and the cycle moves down to the children who run through the house and are at that point making to much noise and both the parents jump them, they feel not loved and want to run away so now the parents are the enemies..... when all along everything has started out in the minds of them all, from thoughts planted by the real enemy.

See the strategy of the devil,  to come against you not with all the demons of hell, but by the subtle workings of people.  People in your own home, your church, or your place of work.   His plan to cause you to develop hard feelings, to read into things, to judge your brother and sister.

 We will look into the Devil's schemes and deception in  our next   

  "Leave (Leaf) The Word With The People " part 2

  
 In order that Satan might not outwit us.   For we are not unaware of his schemes . 
 

Are you aware of the schemes of the devil?   More importantly, are you aware that God has equipped believers with what they need to overcome his schemes?   Lets look quickly at God's weapons.   First notice that it is God's armor, not yours, you are powerless to fight spiritual battles in your flesh.   

#1st.  Truth. 

3 John 4 – (Jesus said) I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Truth is powerful it is able to not only settle a dispute, but it is able to keep one from occurring.   The armor baring believer has truth all about his waist.  She is protected by the truth in every situation.  

            #2^nd  Righteousness.

Righteousness, covers the front parts of the believer, it keeps Satan at from getting to your heart.  The enemy's main weapon is the lie, Jesus said,  “he is a liar, the father of all lies.”   Satan says, “you are no good, other people may say you are unclean, you’ve gone to far, there is no forgiveness for you.”  Even your own heart will condemn you, but by the blood of Jesus Christ all who call upon his name, have an imputed righteousness.  We are positionally right before God - by faith in Jesus.

            #3rd. Readiness of the Gospel.

John 10:10 (Jesus said) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Satan never has a nice day.  He wants to steal your joy, kill your peace, and destroy your soul.    Jesus comes to bring abundant life, that comes from the gospel of peace.  I Spiritual battles, we declare the gospel, like David defeating Goliath, he told him who he was, and declared who God is, for the battle belongs to the Lord.

            #4th Faith.

Faith is a shield to protect us from the fiery darts that come.  That is the reason Paul doesn’t just blast these guys in Corinth, he has faith, he knows that it will all work out in the end.   That's why David did not kill Saul when he had the opportunities, he knew by faith that God will take out Saul in his way, and in his time.

No place in the bible does any human ever address Satan or speak to him.  Jesus says, “get behind me Satan” to Peter, when his mouth was being used by the Devil.   Jude tells us that Michael said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you.”   But nowhere in the bible does anyone except God address Satan.   We carry the shield of faith in Jesus Christ and with that faith fiery darts are extinguish.

            #5. Salvation.

Is protecting our head.  When stones were flying at Steven, the first Christian martyr, he was preaching the gospel and asking the Lord to forgive those who were killing him.  How could he do that?  The helmet of salvation, he knew that when all is done, those who trust in Christ will pass from this life to the next.  And not because of what they had done, but because salvation is of the Lord.   Is Jesus your Lord? 

            #6.  Word of God.

That is how Jesus defeated Satan when he was tempted.   He quoted the powerful word of God.  Learn it, use it, quote it to others and to your own heart.

            #7. Prayer.

Phil 4:6-7  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Prayer will give you peace in the middle of a battle.   Like Paul here, the accusations were flying and he is about the ministry.  I might have be trying to get even, but Paul has peace, his heart is guarded, his thoughts are pure, his mind is clear, because he is communication with the Lord.   Prayer is the one weapon that ties it all together.    The old gospel song:

Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,            -----      Stand in his strength alone,

The arm of flesh will fail you.            -----      Ye dare not trust your own.

Put on the gospel armor.                    ------     Each piece put on with prayer.

Where duty calls, or danger. ------     Be never wanting there.

First we see the accusation.  Our enemy is called the accuser of the brethren ,  Next we see the assignment.  To fight our battles with the power of God, the armor of God.   Finally.  

Leave (Leaf) The Word With The People   Part 3