SCHEMES

It doesn’t matter who our friends are, what we read, what we argue about, or what we watch on TV (or internet). After all, it’s our business. It’s our life.

Does the above statement hold true if you are a child of God, saved by His Son Jesus Christ?

God addresses those issues in His Word (2 Corinthians 6:14-15; 1 Timothy 6:20; 1 John 2:15; Ephesians 5:4).

When you think of the Christian life as spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6), there are forces that would have us ignore God’s direction for our lives. It is up to us to plead the blood of Jesus and know what He wants of us…

so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes. 2 Corinthians 2:11 (NASB)

Now comes the question, are you ignorant of Satan’s schemes? What tactics does he use to stifle our walk with the Lord?

Perhaps by convincing us, as he did with Eve in the Garden of Eden, that God would not keep us from reading those other philosophies. In fact, God would want us to be well informed. The problem comes when we consider these things that we read to be on the same level of importance as the Bible, God’s Word.

And of course, God wouldn’t mind if our best friend, or our boyfriend/girlfriend wasn’t a Christian. After all, we might be able to save them!

Satan wants us to be tied up in the sensory experiences that we have (if we can touch it and feel it, it must be real). We tend to trust those experiences more than those things we cannot touch and see. But wait! What about God? We can’t see Him or touch Him. See! Doubt can begin to creep in. The attacks of the enemy, Satan, are real.

Guard your heart and your mind. Read God’s Word and trust the One that created this world and you! Trust that He knows what is best for you and for me. His ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts are above, superior, to ours.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

WEAPONS

Every day we battle things we cannot see: ideas, feelings & emotions, words & hurts. These are some of the things that affect our spirits. The greatest battle we are engaged in is a spiritual one.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NASB) ³For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, ⁴ for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. ⁵We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

God, our Creator, has given us weapons to use in this daily battle.

Defensive weapons:

In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16 (NASB)

Faith that God is Who He says He is. Faith that He will protect us and guide us as we look to Him for help and leadership. Faith that Jesus Christ died so that our sins would be forgiven and we could have fellowship for eternity with our Creator. You can’t see faith, but you can live it!

Offensive weapons:

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17 (NASB)

Our faith and God’s word are our greatest offensive weapons. He makes promises to us in His word. We believe Him by faith. He tells us how to live in His word to keep on the right track. We believe Him by faith. The ‘trick’ is, you have to read His word (the Bible) in order for it to be useful in your life.

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:4-5 (NIV)

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

AUTHORITY

Can you explain everything you see or experience? Do you believe there may be different dimensions of existence?

The Bible tells us that other dimensions do exist…

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (NASB)

In 2 Corinthians 10:3, Paul tells us “though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh”. How does one “war” according to the flesh?

First, one must have the authority to do so. Our authority comes from Jesus Christ and this we accept by faith. Jesus tells us in the Gospel of Mark,

“These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; Mark 16:17 (NASB)

Now, what good is authority if it is not exercised? So, trust in God, in the power of His might and go forward in battle. The Lord is on your side, you cannot fail.

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (NASB)

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD