Our struggle

[Heidi]

Ephesians 6:12, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, agains the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly rhealms."

So please, folks, let's not make the mistake of thinking that our battle is against flesh and blood (each other) but instead it's the battle between Satan and God. But if we are under the illusion that man has free will, then we make our battle against flesh and blood instead of between God and Satan.

Claiming that people could have chosen to do the right thing breeds shaming, blaming, and judgmental attitudes. It also elevates human pride when one thinks that he himself has made the right choices in life by his own will. But acknowledging that one cannot help himself because he has been blinded, breeds, grace, mercy, and forgivenss. The latter is all over the bible and is from the humility and grace of the Spirit. Some of Christ's last words were; "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

So I think if we adopt the grace and mercy that comes with acknowledging that people can't help themselves and only God can change their hearts, then there will be less of a battle against flesh and blood here and leave it only between God and satan.

 

[unred typo]

Heidi wrote:

Ephesians 6:12, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, agains the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly rhealms."

So please, folks, let's not make the mistake of thinking that our battle is against flesh and blood (each other) but instead it's the battle between Satan and God. But if we are under the illusion that man has free will, then we make our battle against flesh and blood instead of between God and Satan.

Claiming that people could have chosen to do the right thing breeds shaming, blaming, and judgmental attitudes. It also elevates human pride when one thinks that he himself has made the right choices in life by his own will. But acknowledging that one cannot help himself because he has been blinded, breeds, grace, mercy, and forgivenss. The latter is all over the bible and is from the humility and grace of the Spirit. Some of Christ's last words were; "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

So I think if we adopt the grace and mercy that comes with acknowledging that people can't help themselves and only God can change their hearts, then there will be less of a battle against flesh and blood here and leave it only between God and satan.

Dear Heidi, the battle has been given to us to fight, and we are also given the strength we need to do all things to conquer sin and become the children of God. Notice it says our struggle, not the Lord’s struggle. It isn’t prideful to take your responsibility seriously and be a good steward of the resources and power given to all who choose to follow Christ.

Consider the following verses:
Proverbs 3:31
Envy you not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

John 9:41
Jesus said unto them, If you were blind, you should have no sin: but now you say, We see; therefore your sin remains.

Romans 7:9
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

What hasn’t been given us is to judge another person unworthy or unable to become the child of God. Judge this rather that no one put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in another’s way. God doesn’t put all mankind in one wicked bag and randomly choose out those whom he will save. Consider what Abraham asked of God and God’s response in Genesis 18:
25, That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from you: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
God doesn’t correct Abraham and say that all humans are evil anyway, does he? In fact, Lot was called ‘righteous Lot’ because of his disgust of the sin around him. We need to judge righteous judgment and judge our own selves first of all. When we see sin in others, we need to gently and lovingly correct as if we, under similar circumstances, might stumble and fall from steadfastness ourselves.

1 Peter 5:7-9
7Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.
8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:
9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

 

[Heidi]

Heidi wrote:



Dear Heidi, the battle has been given to us to fight, and we are also given the strength we need to do all things to conquer sin and become the children of God. Notice it says our struggle, not the Lord’s struggle. It isn’t prideful to take your responsibility seriously and be a good steward of the resources and power given to all who choose to follow Christ.

Consider the following verses:
Proverbs 3:31
Envy you not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

John 9:41
Jesus said unto them, If you were blind, you should have no sin: but now you say, We see; therefore your sin remains.

Romans 7:9
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

What hasn’t been given us is to judge another person unworthy or unable to become the child of God. Judge this rather that no one put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in another’s way. God doesn’t put all mankind in one wicked bag and randomly choose out those whom he will save. Consider what Abraham asked of God and God’s response in Genesis 18:
25, That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from you: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
God doesn’t correct Abraham and say that all humans are evil anyway, does he? In fact, Lot was called ‘righteous Lot’ because of his disgust of the sin around him. We need to judge righteous judgment and judge our own selves first of all. When we see sin in others, we need to gently and lovingly correct as if we, under similar circumstances, might stumble and fall from steadfastness ourselves.

1 Peter 5:7-9
7Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.
8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:
9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Our struggle means the battle within us which is between God and Satan. So so you believe that the bible is wrong and that our struggle is between flesh and blood instead of between God and Satan?

Who do you think wins the battle against Satan? God or humans? Read the bible to see who wins. And it's Jesus Christ, not flesh and blood. Flesh and blood is deceived by Satan. Only God isn't. So it's the Holy Spirit in us that fights the battle, not our own flesh and blood.

 

[unred typo]

Heidi wrote:

Our struggle means the battle within us which is between God and Satan. So so you believe that the bible is wrong and that our struggle is between flesh and blood instead of between God and Satan?

Who do you think wins the battle against Satan? God or humans? Read the bible to see who wins. And it's Jesus Christ, not flesh and blood. Flesh and blood is deceived by Satan. Only God isn't. So it's the Holy Spirit in us that fights the battle, not our own flesh and blood.

No, I think you are confused. It seems that by claiming the battle is God’s, you are subtly removing yourself from the front lines. When David said that the battle was the Lord’s, he was reaching into his rock bag to load his sling. We have a struggle in front of us and we aren’t going to be carried on a pillow of rose petals to heaven’s gates.

The passage is not saying that the battle is not ours to fight but unlike David, our battle isn’t against a human being. We must wage the war on our earthly lusts which are incited by Satan to do evil instead of good. When we yield to our evil desires to satisfy our natural passions and cravings at the expense of other’s well being, we are not fighting the good fight that Paul spoke of. The Holy Spirit helps those who want to do what’s right and follow the teaching of Christ. He brings those who are doing wrong under conviction and tries to turn wayward souls to the light.

 

[Heidi]

Heidi wrote:

No, I think you are confused. It seems that by claiming the battle is God’s, you are subtly removing yourself from the front lines. When David said that the battle was the Lord’s, he was reaching into his rock bag to load his sling. We have a struggle in front of us and we aren’t going to be carried on a pillow of rose petals to heaven’s gates.

The passage is not saying that the battle is not ours to fight but unlike David, our battle isn’t against a human being. We must wage the war on our earthly lusts which are incited by Satan to do evil instead of good. When we yield to our evil desires to satisfy our natural passions and cravings at the expense of other’s well being, we are not fighting the good fight that Paul spoke of. The Holy Spirit helps those who want to do what’s right and follow the teaching of Christ. He brings those who are doing wrong under conviction and tries to turn wayward souls to the light.

And who do you think motivates us to battle Satan? Satan? :o Sorry, but Satan can't cast out Satan. So no unbeliever battles Satan, because they follow satan. Only the Holy Spirit inside believers battles Satan. Why do you think the bible says that the victory belongs to the Lord instead of to human beings?:

 

[unred typo]

Heidi wrote:

And who do you think motivates us to battle Satan? Satan? Sorry, but Satan can't cast out Satan. So no unbeliever battles Satan, because they follow satan. Only the Holy Spirit inside believers battles Satan. Why do you think the bible says that the victory belongs to the Lord instead of to human beings?

It doesn’t only say that the victory over sin is the Lord’s. When we battle sin and overcome evil in our lives, we are applauded and rewarded by God. Hebrews 11:5-6 We are encouraged to seek this praise for doing his will. God makes a distinction between those who make the sacrifice to follow Christ and those who give in to temptation and live carelessly. It is the faithful followers who are counted worthy to wear white in Revelation 3:4 and worthy to receive the new world to come in Luke 20:34-36 . In Revelation 15:2 John sees those who had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. Paul encourages us to seek “glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God†in Romans 2:10.

 

[Bick]

There is no doubt that Satan, the Adversary, is very powerful.

Paul, in his defense before King Agrippa in Acts 26:17-18, describes his conversion and commission: "I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God..." NIV.

It is my understanding that Satan attacks us through our minds, or hearts, to weaken our walk through doubts as to God's Word, and weakening, perhaps, our own faith.

As for unbelievers, Paul says in 2 Cor. 4:4 "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." NIV.

And in Eph. 2:2: unbelievers are "following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience." RSV.
"For Satan himself masquerades as an angel (messenger) of light." 2Cor.11:14. NIV.

SO, while Satan is powerful, God is all powerful and we know that "...greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." 1 John 4:4

Some verses to know in our struggle against Satan:

Eph. 4:26-27, "Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil." RSV.

Eph. 6:11, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil....Above all taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one." RSV.

James 4:7, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." RSV.

FINALLY, when it comes to our contending against the spiritual forces of evil, it is certainly not against blood and flesh.

Bick