2 Corinthians 10

Quit Fighting Like a Girl {2 Corinthians 10}

12:15 PM


How are you doing these days? How have you managed during this time of self-distancing? Have you learned things about yourself? Have you learned more about our Savior during these past few months?

Did you know that there is a war of the mind going on in this world and in our lives? It is not waged by military force or nations over geographical territory but in the mind and heart of every human being. Peter knew:



The enemy’s mission is to attack and degrade all the knowledge of God and His Truths, for if He can get you to believe his lies as truth, he wins! If he can fill us with discouragement and hopelessness, he succeeds in keeping us from reaching our full potential. Now multiply this by the multitudes! This is why Paul writes:


“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”— 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ESV

Spiritual warfare is something that every Christian will face, but fortunately Jesus has already won every battle.  “Though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.”  Instead, God decided to equip us with “weapons of  warfare” to fight against the schemes of the enemy.

1.)   By filling us with the Holy Spirit,
2.)   Giving us prayer so we can be in communion with Him,
3.)   Giving us the truth of His word.

I believe F. B. Meyer put it best:
Christ counts evil thoughts as traitors not only to us, but also to Him. Like the psalmist, you may say, “I hate vain thought, not only because of the curse they bring to my heart, but for the grief they give to my King.” Their intrusion is forbidden by the double barrier of our own choice and the keeping power of Jesus. 
Let the peace of God keep the door of your heart and mind, scrutinizing each intruder and turning back the unfit. Let the Holy Spirit bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
Let the faithful Savior have the keeping of the soul entrusted to Him. He is well able to keep what is committed to Him. He will not fail the suppliant whose lips are familiar with the prayer:  “Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You and worthily magnify Your holy name.”–F. B. Meyer
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You can fight back against lies and temptation from the enemy in your own life by relying on the truth of what God has spoken to us through His word, through prayer, and through the people He has placed around you.

AND next time you see the enemy at work in the lives of those around you, you can fight against that by speaking truth, life, prayer and encouragement to them. Anything that is against what God has spoken to be true can be demolished through the power of the Holy Spirit that is at work in your life. 

We have the power to win! To be all God has ordained for us to be! And to help those around us be all they can be as well!

Blessings!

Sue


Fighting

What are you fighting about? {James 4}

9:00 AM


Do you ever see something and have a deep desire that you just have to have it?  Perhaps it's the newest fashion or hairstyle.  Perhaps someone has a job you wished you could have.  Or maybe, they are a stay-at-home mom, and you have to work.  Perhaps it's a lifestyle, like someone who goes on nice vacations, yet your income simply cannot afford those vacations.  Perhaps it's health or body style, someone else just seems to be able to lose weight and look fantastic, yet you cannot find what works for you.  What happens when you cannot get what you want?  Do you find yourself dreaming of "if I win the lottery, I will..."  Or are you the type of person who becomes nit-picky with friends or co-workers because they are telling of yet another vacation that you would love to go on.  Or maybe it's your best friend showing off her new hairstyle or beautiful clothes and there's this hint of jealousy.  Do you thoughts go down the trail of, 'I wish I had....'  


James tells us that covetousness leads to war.  "...You covet, but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.  You do not have because you do not ask.  When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."  (2-3) (emphasis mine)


I have a confession, I struggle with covetousness!  I have a tendency to see what others have and I want it!  It's a real difficulty for me.  Some things are worse than others, but it's a real battle.  But it's the result of living by the wisdom of the world, rather than the wisdom of God.  What should Christians do when they realize that's the path they've been on?  James answers those questions in chapter 4.  This passage continues to build on the end of chapter 3.  Previously, James described the so-called wisdom of the world: figure out what you really want out of life (bitter envy) and plan to get it for yourself at any cost (selfish ambition).  He described this earthly, unspiritual, philosophy as the source of disorder and all sorts of evil in the world. (James 3:15-16).


James has been writing to Jewish Christians of the first century (James 1:1).  Here, in chapter 4, James says to these very readers that a worldly, unspiritual road is the very one they have been following.  This is what causes fights and quarrels among them.  When people follow this road, they try to get what they want for themselves, frustrated by the people standing in their way.  Some people are described as 'control freaks'.  So, they fight, quarrel, even kill.  Instead of trusting that they have a loving heavenly Father to provide in His perfect timing, worldly-minded people insist on fighting to get what they want.


James elevates our awareness of how serious this problem is by putting a sharp label on it:  adultery!  Are you following the wisdom of the world, while claiming to be a Christian believer?  If so, you're cheating on God with this world system of serving yourself first and at all costs.  You can't do both.  If you make yourself a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God (4:1-5) 


James writes that if in your pride you stay on that path, God will oppose you, but He will not reject you.  Repentance is always possible.  He gives more grace (4.6)

So, James's plea to those caught up in the wisdom of the world is simple:  turn around!  Submit to God.  Resist the devil.  Move closer to God.  He will move closer to you.  What grace!  Cleanse yourself of sin, and be truly sad about it.  Humble yourself by quitting your life's work of getting what you want, and trust God to exalt you far above anything you could have done for yourself (4:7-10).  What better time to do this than Lent.  Take time over these next 6 weeks, and draw closer to God and let go of what is standing in your way.

God is the only judge.  He wrote the Law.  Don't make it your business to judge other people as if you are either the judge or lawgiver.  That's God's job (4:11-12)


In true humility, Christians understand that their lives are fragile and short.  Unless God allows it, they can accomplish nothing.  Don't be so arrogant as to declare what you will do to gather good for yourself.  That's just empty, arrogant, evil, foolish boasting.  Instead, make your plans with the humble awareness that God may change them at any time (4:13-16).


This chapter also presents a unique aspect of Christian ethics.  Rather than simply not harming others, the Bible actually obligates us to actively do what is right.  As James says, it is a sin to know the right thing to do, and choose not to do it (4:17)