Wrestling With The Spiritual Darkness

[Mr. M]

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

 Spiritual Warfare takes place within yourself. Where to you think this wrestling takes place?

2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Matthew 7:5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Not your physical eye! The single eye of comprehension. Follow me here.

Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works to the Lord,
And your thoughts will be established.

Matthew 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us comprehension, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 

What does all this have to do with Eph. 6:12? All of these spiritual powers are vying to be heard through the "worldly voices" that surround us. Until you can isolate and recognize the Voice of the Spirit from all other competing voices (thoughts), the lamp of the Lord cannot lead, and you are not filled with Light. How can one say they are obeying the Lord if they can't hear His Voice? Sit in silence until you can. Keep listening for that Voice in every situation. You cannot be perfected if the only time you (think you are) hearing from God is in church, or during private devotions. The Spirit chastens me throughout the day when my mind wanders into ungodly thoughts, and sets me back on course. He could not do that before when I wasn't listening. This is spiritual warfare...

James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

Hear who?

The First and Greatest Commandment...

"Shema O Israel"=Listen and Obey

This is the single eye of comprehension, and obedience to the Voice of God.

"Love the Lord with ALL your heart, soul, and mind and ability(strength)."

[Waggles]

Titus 2:11  For the grace of God hath appeared to all men bringing salvation, 
12  instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present age; 
13  awaiting the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 
14  who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a people for his possession, zealous of good works. 

[farouk]

2 minutes ago, Waggles said:

Titus 2:11  For the grace of God hath appeared to all men bringing salvation, 
12  instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present age; 
13  awaiting the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 
14  who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a people for his possession, zealous of good works. 

@Waggles Great passage there, keeping the reader on a Godward perspective, we trust, indeed........

[Waggles]

John 16:13  But when that one comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he heareth, these shall he speak: and he shall declare to you the things to come. 
14  HE shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it to you. 

Edited March 28, 2023 by Waggles

[Mr. M]

1 minute ago, Waggles said:

John 16:13  But when that one comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he heareth, these shall he speak: and he shall declare to you the things to come. 
14  HE shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it to you. 

2 Co 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

[Waggles]

14 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

2 Co 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Unfortunately, liberty is a two edged sword.

In order to walk in the Spirit a disciple must exercise discipline to obedience and a love of righteousness. The battle against the wiles of the evil one requires effort on our part to make use of the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit to stay in our love of God and righteousness keeping our eyes firmly on the end goal - salvation.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not the freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be bondmen one to another. Galatians 5:13

16  But I say, Walk in Spirit, and ye shall in no wise fulfill the lusts of the flesh. 
17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary one to another; that ye may not do what things ye would. Galatians 5:

[Sower]

5 hours ago, Mr. M said:

Where to you think this wrestling takes place?

In the mind.

The battle for the mind!

"Above all,   taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked"

I personally believe the fiery darts are doubts, lies, and faith is the shield.

Faith comes by hearing. The Word.  Yes.........(study to show THYSELF approved)

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth"

"Thy word have I hid (memorized) in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (ammunition for the battle)

 

It is a constant battle for the mind. But, in Christ, we have the mind of Christ.

          Abide!

PS.  The way I sorts view this is, our inherited corrupted hard drive mind/brain infected by the apple virus, and then receiving/down loading the anti virus Jesus Christ.., is still plagued by the 'cookies' within us, alerting the enemy when we are venerable. (for attack)
I have to listen then to my WiFi, the holy spirit, of where/what I am thinking!

So enter not into temptation(s), lest I fall, and lose/forget the way of escape.

And become A crippled wounded soldier.

 

[farouk]

4 hours ago, Sower said:

In the mind.

The battle for the mind!

"Above all,   taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked"

I personally believe the fiery darts are doubts, lies, and faith is the shield.

Faith comes by hearing. The Word.  Yes.........(study to show THYSELF approved)

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth"

"Thy word have I hid (memorized) in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (ammunition for the battle)

 

It is a constant battle for the mind. But, in Christ, we have the mind of Christ.

          Abide!

PS.  The way I sorts view this is, our inherited corrupted hard drive mind/brain infected by the apple virus, and then receiving/down loading the anti virus Jesus Christ.., is still plagued by the 'cookies' within us, alerting the enemy when we are venerable. (for attack)
I have to listen then to my WiFi, the holy spirit, of where/what I am thinking!

So enter not into temptation(s), lest I fall, and lose/forget the way of escape.

And become A crippled wounded soldier.

 

There's a book called 'The Christian in Complete Armour" by William Gurnall and written in the 17th century; it's basically a commentary on Ephesians 6.

[Sower]

1 hour ago, farouk said:

There's a book called 'The Christian in Complete Armour" by William Gurnall and written in the 17th century; it's basically a commentary on Ephesians 6.

I saw it is three volumes, and about 1200 pages. Have you read it, and what say ye?

Thanks for the heads up..

[Wayne222]

There is good in silence. I notice at work there is always loud music playing. It distract me very much from thoughts of God. The holy spirit always speak softly and it's hard to notice if your not paying attention.