Surrounded On Three Sides In Our Spiritual War

Through the power of the spirit inside of us we must put to death the deeds of our sinful nature. We must be led by the spirit of God. We use Christianisms all the time in church circles that must drive people crazy. One such saying is that we need to "walk in the spirit." What this is trying to say is that in order to gain the victory over our flesh nature, the enemy and the world, we must be led by the Holy Spirit within us at all times. Daunting? Yes but not impossible. All things are possible with God. Will we fail from time to time? Absolutely, but the quicker we get back to following after the Spirit inside of us the quicker we can get back to being successful for God and in our walk. The key verse today says that we must know our enemy and not be ignorant to his schemes. The truth is that we have enemies, not just an enemy. They work in concert together against us and against the nature of God. Forgetting any of them is hazardous to our health. If we minimize the flesh then we exempt ourselves from blame and play the victim. If we minimize the devil then we are engaged in a war without knowing the true enemy. If we minimize the world then fail to see the harm in pitching our tents towards Sodom. They work together. Take the sin of adultery. The world downplays this to the point where now there are websites devoted to help you have an affair. So the world sets the stage by mocking the morality of God. The flesh sees the pretty co-worker and wants what it wants. The world only serves to assist the flesh in pursuing what it wants -- morals be damned. And there in your office, with the world telling you it's no big deal and your flesh demanding the sin, the devil comes along and whispers in your ear that there is no harm in a little flirt. Put your foot in the water"it's warm. You aren't doing anything wrong. It's not like you are cheating. When David saw Bathsheba bathing the world told him he was king! The flesh demanded that someone go and fetch her. The devil whispered that he needed to cover it up by murdering Uriah. They work together for our destruction.

But glory be to God for the Holy Spirit is stronger than all three of them combined! It isn't even a fair fight. The world says adultery is not a big deal but the Spirit of God inside of you reminds you what God has already said. The flesh nature demands sin but we are no longer obligated to it. The devil says to go on over and say hello"just a harmless flirt"but that Spirit of the Living God inside of you tells Satan to get behind you because your marriage and your sacred vows to God and your wife mean more to you than any fleshly desire. It isn't even a fair fight when we properly reflect to and walk in the Holy Spirit. When we are no longer ignorant of what we face. When we pitch our tents towards heaven.

Reverend Anthony Wade - July 23, 2012

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