For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:12 ESV

This verse is part of the section of Ephesians where Paul instructs the believers in Ephesus to put on the whole armor of God. Take a few moments to read these verses – after all, context is king.

Look at how many times Paul repeats the word “stand” in the first half of this section. When you see an idea or word repeated in scripture, it should alert you that this is a very important point. Standing means not moving. It infers stability, and since the context of this passage is focused on military armor, we should think about standing in a manner militant.

A soldier on guard duty is to stand his ground, not turn and run at the first sign of hostility. The equipment that a first century soldier wore helped him fulfill his duty. Likewise, God equips the saints (That’s you, believer!) to do the same today.

Now look at what each piece of this armor represents for the Christian: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation and the word of God. Notice that none of these things are inherent in the soldier – they are all gifts from God. As a defender and guard, the Christian soldier of today needs to know all these things are at his disposal for his own well-being and for the greater purpose for which he stands.

So, with whom is this soldier engaged in battle? Verse 12 answers that question. It is not against our fellow man, but against the powerful forces of evil that have invaded and continue to pervade this world. The ‘flesh and blood’ we encounter in our daily interactions are usually victims or slaves of these forces. They are not the enemy, but they belong to him.

This is where our weapon comes in handy; more than handy actually. It is the only effective weapon against our foe. It is The Sword of the Spirit – The Word of God. Just as our armor is a gift of God, the only weapon we wield is the word of God. Our armor is defensive; it helps us stand our ground. But when we are in danger of being pushed back, we have to struggle and fight against our enemy hand-to-hand and drive him back with the sword.

The word of God is revealed primarily and most perfectly in the person and work of Jesus Christ. And it is through Him that our enemy will ultimately be defeated. In Hebrews 4:12-13, we learn that the word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword and discerns the intentions of the heart. In Revelation 19:15 we see this same imagery when Jesus returns to unleash the wrath of God. A sharp sword comes out of his mouth (like a word) to strike down His foes.

This is all the well-armored Christian may do offensively, wield the word. It is the spirit of God that does the piercing, the dividing, and the discerning. We must only speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15) and remember that the human beings we address are God’s image bearers, but fallen, deceived and dead in sin like we were at one time (Rom. 3:23, Eph. 2:1). They may be set free and saved from their slavery to sin, but it will not be the doing of flesh and blood, but of the spirit of God through His Holy Word.

Not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, the cosmic powers and the spiritual forces of evil.

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. – Numbers 21:4-9

Many Reformed Christians tend to focus on their sin so much that they quickly despair. We might think that by enumerating our every peccadillo, we’re somehow more repentant and therefore more loveable to God. That’s just not the case. We’re much worse than we can imagine, and God is much greater than we can imagine.

The gap (between Holy God and sinful man) that the cross of Christ bridges is larger than any mere human can imagine.

I found this quotation from John Newton online this week:

When the brazen serpent was erected in the wilderness, to cure those who must otherwise have died, the benefit was not restrained to those who had been bitten by the fiery serpent but once or a few times.  The worst case amongst the people was relieved as soon and as certainly as the very slightest.  The remedy was universally proposed to every person.  The application was easy; it was only, look and live.  But if a man had spent all his time in measuring or counting his wounds, instead of looking to the ordinance of God, he might have died, though the means of life were within his view.  The sense of the evil of sin is given to quicken application to Christ, and not to discourage our approach. The Scripture has concluded all under sin, and as such we are all condemned already.  But the Gospel proclaims a free pardon to everyone who, with the eye of his mind, looks for life to him who hung upon the cross.  (Letters of John Newton , 198) [Emphasis mine]

What wonderful news!

What a grace that shames our shame.

Look to the cross and live!

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

More Linkin!

Linking to noteworthy articles from other blogs and websites.

My ministerial friends… have now dubbed me simply ‘the Anti-Celebrity Celebrity.’ Some are born hypocrites; I have found hypocrisy thrust upon me.

What are your clothes saying about you, sister? What are they supposed to say to your brothers? “Hey, look at this?” … While it may be true that I’m the one holding the matches, you won’t help me if you pile twigs all around my feet and douse them with lighter fluid.

…too often these hard core Biblicists simply assume the gospel. Jesus is not emphasized as the means and motivation for righteousness. Instead Christianity becomes a laboratory to apply biblical principles. Sanctification is rooted in a striving to do and be better. Slowly but surely Jesus, his dying and doing for sinners, gets benched for my living and doing for God..

“Neither do I condemn you” creates an unconditional context within which “go and sin no more” is not an “if.” The only “if” the gospel knows is this: “if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous” (1 John 2.1).

1. Remorse misdiagnosed as repentance
2. Selfish ambition misdiagnosed as God’s direction
3. Rebellion misdiagnosed as Spiritual drought
4. Attendance misdiagnosed as Holiness
5. Discipline misdiagnosed as Persecution

The first verse of John, which in the NIV reads “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” becomes “Before time itself was measured, the Voice was speaking. The Voice was and is God.”

The bible speaks about comfort in many different ways. Primarily, the Holy Spirit is known as The Comforter.

Jesus, in John 14:16, tells His disciples that he will ask the Father to send “another Comforter” The Greek word for Comforter in this verse is Paráklētos, from which we get the little-used, transliterated English word paraclete. A paraclete is not a little bird, it is one who is called in to help. Literally, one who comes along side you in a time of distress to comfort and help you or to advocate on your behalf. Other translations substitute the word Counselor, Advocate or Helper for Paraclete.

Other interesting facts about this word for those interested

Take a look at this link: http://bible.cc/john/14-16.htm Notice that every instance of the word, no matter the translation, is capitalized. This is because it is a proper name for the Holy Spirit.

John is the only writer to use this word in the NT. Five times. (John 14:16, John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7; 1 John 2:1) Given his long life and imprisonment, he uniquely understood the meaning of comfort in Christ.

Look at the context of John chapter 14: The disciples are disconsolate at the thought of Jesus leaving them and are in need of a true comforter. This is not going to be one who makes them feel tranquil or (God forbid!) lethargic. Jesus uses the word another to communicate that the Comforter will do what Jesus himself did for the disciples; encourage them, push them and hearten them.

All this background brings us to this quotation:

Comfort is… that which encourages and nerves, not in the modern sense of that which tranquilizes and enervates. The quest for ‘comfort’ in the modern sense is self-indulgent, sentimental and unreal; and the modern ‘I-go-to church-for-comfort’ religion is not Christianity. – J.I. Packer, Knowing God, Chapter 22.

If the modern notion of comfort was what Jesus meant in John 14:16, then the disciples might have settled down far from Jerusalem, perhaps somewhere in the vicinity of Capernaum. They probably would have arranged for themselves to be elders in a couple of churches, and lived a comfortable lifestyle made possible by the generous believers who lived nearby.

And Christianity would have died out within two generations.

Jesus sent His disciples the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who didn’t do anything that would look comfortable to our modern sensibilities. Observe:

• The Comforter spurred the apostles to travel far from home, to every known continent at the time. The modern notion of comfort is antithetical to travel; even more so in the Middle East in the first Century.

• The Comforter directed and enabled some of the apostles (notably Peter, Matthew and John) to write down all that they remembered of Christ Jesus and to further instruct His followers in His ways. Putting their names on what was considered subversive literature (to the Romans and to the Jews) brought them under constant persecution.

• The Comforter guided Peter and the other apostles to preach the Gospel in the temple courts in Jerusalem. The Sadduces had them jailed, brought before the council and flogged. They went away rejoicing. (Acts 5:17ff)

• The Comforter compelled Paul to write more and travel more (as far as we know) than any of the other apostles. He was imprisoned, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked and lost at sea. He lived through sleepless nights, severe hunger, thirst, cold and exposure. (2 Cor. 11:23ff) Through all this, he said he was content. (2 Cor. 12:10)

• The Comforter led Stephen to speak the truth of the Gospel to the powerful Sanhedrin (the High Priests and Scribes of Jerusalem). He didn’t withhold any hard facts and ended his sermon with an accusation of deceit, lawbreaking and murder against them and their fathers. They killed him for it (Acts 7:1ff), and as he was being stoned, Stephen prayed, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

These are just a few of the uncomfortable situations that The Comforter guided the apostles to and through in the first century.

At his death, the Spirit gave Stephen a heart for forgiveness. After being beaten severely, the Spirit gave the apostles a heart for rejoicing. Under constant persecution, the Spirit gave the New Testament writers the courage to continue spreading the Good News. Through all his hardships, the Spirit taught Paul to boast of his weaknesses and to be content in every situation.

What kind of comfort do you seek from the Holy Spirit?

Is it the warm, fuzzy emotion you have when you walk out of church on Sunday feeling happy because they sang your favorite songs? Or is it the resilience to keep a cheerful spirit as you care for a chronically ill relative.

Is it the peaceful feeling you get because you know the pastor skips difficult bible verses and never says anything that makes you feel uneasy? Or is it the conviction to stop a sinful behavior that you love, because you know it’s wrong.

Is it the confidence of knowing that through education and skill you can accomplish your goals? Or is it the brokenness of knowing that our days are numbered just like the hairs on our head and everything is in God’s hands.

Many Christians are too comfortable (self-indulgent and sentimental), and yet desperately in need of a comfort (invigoration and encouragement) that only the Holy Spirit can provide.

Please join me in praying that the Holy Spirit will give us the comfort we need, rather than the comfort we seek.

God expresses His love in Mark 10:21-22 and John 11:5-6 just as much as He does in John 3:16.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property. Mark 10:21-22

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. John 11:5-6

Verses 5 and 6 paraphrased: “Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Therefore, when he heard Lazarus was sick; he didn’t go to him right away. He waited around until he knew Lazarus was dead.” This makes no sense to our human sensibilities. Death is our greatest enemy, right? We want it to say, “Jesus loved them so much that he ran as fast as he could and healed Lazarus.” But it doesn’t say that. Instead, because of Jesus’ great love for them, He didn’t go right away. He put them through a miserable trial so the final outcome would make them even more joyful and bring God greater glory.

Jesus wanted to do something extraordinary for these friends he loved so dearly. He wanted to do something for them that he had never done for anyone else before, and would never do again. He brought his friend Lazarus back to life after four days in the tomb!

(Isaiah 54:7,8; 49:14-15; Romans 8:18)

How often does the love of God manifest itself in ways that are directly opposite what we expect?

How often do we thank God for this?

In Mark 10:21-22, the Bible says that Jesus felt a love for the rich young man who came to him seeking the way to eternal life. How did he show his love for the young man? He did this in a way similar to that of Mary and Martha; he put a trial before him. It was certainly not what the man (or the disciples for that matter) expected. Don’t you think that Mary and Martha expected Jesus to immediately come and heal Lazarus?

The point of this trial seems to be a test of whether the rich young man really wanted to be a part of the Kingdom of heaven or not. There is nothing you can lose in this life (including this life itself) that Christ cannot give back to you twofold or more in the next. (Job 42:10, Matthew 19:29)

Jesus spoke the truth in love for the benefit of the young man’s soul, but the man wasn’t willing to bear the cost of discipleship. Unlike the account of Lazarus’ resurrection, this one doesn’t have a happy ending. The young man went away grieving, because the cost was too high. From a salvation perspective, the rich young man committed suicide that day. He stood in the presence of the light of the world, and chose darkness. He stood before Him who was life itself, and chose death.

And Jesus let him walk away.

This is the natural state of the heart of every person on earth. Do we have free will? A right to choose? Yes we do – and we choose sin and death over love and life every single time. We have no ability, unless acted upon by God, to choose to love and trust Him. Even Martha and Mary failed to believe when Jesus tarried so long (John 11:21, 32).

In both cases, Jesus used these events to teach a lesson to His disciples. In both cases the lesson was the same. Believe, trust and obey, and you will have eternal life in His Kingdom (Jer. 39:18; Ezek. 36:26-7; John 11:40, 14:1; Rom. 15:13).

Isn’t that what John 3:16 is all about?

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

I’m talking about direct, personal communication from God.

Usually it takes the form of something like, “I’ve been praying to God that my son will stop stealing from me. This morning I woke up and God’s answer was in my head, ‘Be as patient with him as I’ve been with you.’” This is the “answered prayer” form of direct, personal revelation. It takes the position that God speaks directly to people in words, thoughts, dreams or visions.

But how do you know that word is really from God? Do you have Caller ID?

It might sound right, it might feel right, and it might even be effective, but that doesn’t mean that it is from God.

Maybe you should be patient with your son and not provoke him to anger (Ephesians 6:4). But then again, maybe you shouldn’t enable his sinful actions anymore by being patient. It could be time for you to apply the rod for a change (Proverbs 13:24, Proverbs 23:13-14).

This supposed ‘word from God’ has a tendency to encourage the non-discerning Christian to “Let go and let God.” It’s a pithy saying, but it lacks something that is rather important:

Infallible authority.

God has spoken. He has revealed his Word to us primarily, unerringly and unfailingly through His Son, Jesus (John 1:1, 14, Hebrews 1:1-2) and through His Word as written by the Prophets and Apostles. The Holy Bible, in its autographs, is inerrant and infallible (2 Tim. 3:16). Our faithful translations are the only reliable, sure and authoritative source for knowing the will of God.

Ideas that pop into your head, dreams and nightmares, an odd pressure in the pit of your stomach and feelings you ’sense,’ do not carry the same weight as the Word of God found in the Bible. Temper your liver shivers with a knowledge that is deeply rooted in God’s word if you want to avoid chaos and confusion.

I’m not saying that God never ‘speaks’ to people in this way. I don’t know if He does or not. What I do know is that the God of the Bible is not the God of confusion or contradiction (1 Cor. 14:33). If the ideas or words that you “hear” from God are clearly opposed to Holy Scripture, then they are not from God.

On the flip side, if the message you received from God really is from God, then it is infallible and should be in the Bible, right? And you must be a prophet that can say along with Moses, “Thus saith the LORD:_________.” Are you really comfortable with that?

Be discerning, know your Bible, talk to your pastor or a trusted elder about what the Bible says. Be sure to test the things you ‘hear’ (Acts 17:11) before you obey the voices in your head (1 John 4:1).

Updates:

Dan Phillips of the Pyromaniacs blog has more to say about this subject.

Tim Challies chimes in on the subject as well.

Dorothy has been thinking about this too.

I also highly recommend a short book I read this past summer if you want to learn more about finding God’s will. Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung

Matthew 25:31-34: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

v. 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

v. 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

The Question: Do you believe this?

Do you believe that Jesus is coming again and that He will judge both the living and the dead?

Do you believe that He will separate all humanity into two groups?

Do you believe that one group will go away to eternal torment and the other to eternal life in the presence of God?

A simple yes or no is required. Either you believe it or you don’t.

If you don’t believe it and you call yourself a Christian, you either need to repent for your unbelief or stop calling yourself a Christian. I’m serious. You shame the name of Christ if you disbelieve His own testimony of what will happen at the end of days.

If you do believe it but don’t engage in personal evangelism, you either need to repent for your unbelief or stop calling yourself a Christian. I’m even more serious now. You shame the name of Christ even more if you say you believe his testimony, but disobey his commandments (John 3:36).

I think that there are only a few Christians who personally engage in evangelism to the extent they can. If you are doing so, may God strengthen you and bless your efforts.

Matthew 28:19-20 – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

In all likelihood, most of the readership of this little article believe that Jesus means what He says but, for some reason, don’t give much effort to personal evangelism. If this is the case with you, as it is with me, then we have some repenting to do.

If we really believed what Jesus said about a final judgment and eternity in either heaven or hell, then we would be far less complacent about our unbelieving co-workers, neighbors and family members.  But many of us don’t really believe Jesus, even though we say we do. The proof is found in our action or inaction in the face of certain death and torment for those on the judge’s left.

O Father in Heaven: Your ways are so far above and beyond my ways. Except for your amazing grace, I would be counted among the goats. Forgive my unbelief and strengthen me to share the Good News with those who need to hear it. Embolden me to speak the truth with love and humility to my family, friends and neighbors. For the sake of Christ Jesus and his unforgettable work on the cross, grant that I might become a better witnesses to the transcendent love that is you, O God. Amen.