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| Hebrews 6:1
"Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection"
Do we try to live in holiness, or do we try to not live in
unholiness? The latter describes a legalistic outlook on life in
the law. It strives for minimum satisfaction of the law rather
than for reaching and growing in Christ and His holiness which comes in
obeying the two greatest commandments: 1) to love the Lord your God
with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with
all your strength & 2) to love your neighbor as yourself.
These two not only fulfill the law, but reach beyond it, toward an
infinitely holy God. Do we have a certain idea of what is not
holy and then just avoid walking in it? We are to grow in
holiness and continually seek a deeper understanding of what holiness
is in Christ. Do not be turned off by the word "perfection," for
the word in this sense entails a continual process of purification and
cleansing with no defined end. Basically we can always grow
closer to the perfection embodied in Christ. | | |
| Spiritual Warfare
I've been learning a lot about spiritual warfare, being home and
all. My dad is very very lost and blind. Please take a
moment to pray for him. His name is Terence and there are
strongholds of pride, anger, and money over him. I think the
anger is possibly demonic. He says the Holy Bible is a good book,
and nothing more. The Lord has been telling me to just keep quiet
lately and I wasn't sure why. Then I read II Corinthians 10:3-6
& II Corinthains 4:3-5:
II Corinthians 10:3-6 (NKJV)
" 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 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."
II Corinthians 4:3-5 (NKJV)
" 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4
whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest
the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of
God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
The use of words such as "strongholds", "arguments,"
"thought," & "knowledge" indicate that the battleground described
is the mind. I realize now that Satan has strongholds
specifically over my dad's mind and he simply cannot understand
anything I say that has to do with the word of God. From that passage I
also realize that it is necessary for me to be walking in obedience if
I am going to be used in this battle. The Greek word ekdikeo, translated
above as "punish," can also be translated as "to execute right
& justice." This kind of makes sense. Basically it says
"don't be a hypocrite." The second passage indicates that Satan
blinds the minds of people. Together with the first passage one
can reason that Satan blinds peoples minds by way of strongholds or
holds that are strong. The Lord has told me it is going to take
much prayer and fasting in obedience. These principles may seem
elementary to some, but God seems to have deepened my understanding about
it. The light over the subject has become a little brighter and it has become even
clearer to me. The Lord wants me to be quiet about Him around my
dad. It makes so much sense now. The battle must be fought
without a word. I found this passage to be of great interest and
explanation concerning how we should witness to authorities God has
placed over us.
I Peter 3:1-2
" 1 Wives, likewise, be submissive
to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they,
without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear."
It seems that the Lord desires to use our
conduct to win our authorities to Him. I believe from the passage
that if my dad asks me about certain things concerning the Lord, I can
answer him, as I am to be submissive, but that my words can be used to
clarify things for him when he is ready to receive the answers, rather
than the words being used specifically as a weapon, as they are in
other forms of evangelism.
I hope this encourages all who read it. Please pray that I would
have grace, which is for obedience (Romans 1:5), from the Lord and that I would yield to it. Please also pray that I
would have the conduct necessary to win my dad to Jesus who is SO WORTHY! | | |
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