Monday – February 8, 2016
Greeting from Eastern Gate Ministries International, it is Monday, and time once again for God’s Word. The picture to the left is of me, Dr. Wood delivering a Bible teaching in 2007.
First back to our main text in Colossians then on to our secondary text from First Peter 5:5-10.
Colossians 2:1 (KJV)
1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
In our primary text above we found the Apostle Paul in Spiritual Warfare for the saints and faithful brethren at Colossae and Laodicea. This has launched us into this study of Spiritual Warfare. We have discovered that this fight is a faith fight which means it is about what we believe, what we think, what we say, and what we do. It is recognizing the right thoughts, words, and actions which are the thoughts, Words, and actions of our Heavenly Father.
1 Timothy 6:12 (KJV)
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
We also discovered that this Spiritual Warfare is not with other people (flesh and blood) but with evil spirits, the ideas (thoughts), words, and actions of evil spirits which are expressed through other people, and the systems of this world.
Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Notice that we, not the Lord is in this fight. A common myth is that the Lord is fighting our battles which is a corruption of the Word of God brought to us commercial free by our spiritual enemy. In every case in Scripture where the idea and reality of the Lord fighting our battles comes up the person had to do something to allow the power of God to flow. For example let’s look at the situation when the children of Israel had left Egypt under the leadership of Moses and they find themselves faced with the Red Sea in front of them and the Egyptian Army behind them. They believed they were about to die right there and then in the wilderness.
Exodus 14:13-14 (KJV)
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
So what did the children of Israel have to do to bring the power of God into their situation? They had to get fear out of their thoughts, words, and actions. They had to stand still. In addition the account goes on to include the Red Sea opening up for them to go to the other side and they had to choose to enter between the walls of water and walk the sea bottom to the other side. I hope you are noticing that they had to do some things that were very hard under the circumstances but in their submission, in their obedience to the Word of the Lord the Hand of the Lord was loosed and saved them all. What about the next passage?
2 Chronicles 20:15-17 (KJV)
15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
In this passage we find the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir were attacking Judah when the Word of the Lord (God spoke to a Prophet and the Prophet spoke to the people) came giving instruction to the king and the people. And may I remind each of us that He will do the same for us. The king and the people were praying and fasting for God to show them His thoughts, Words, and ways in this dire situation. He answers them through a Prophet. God tells them to not be afraid (fear is the opposite of love), and not to be intimidated for He would take care of it. Prayer is words which are spirit, God is a Spirit, and the armies coming against them are motivated by evil spiritual forces and Gods response is a spiritual solution having a physical manifestation. The people had to go to where the armies would be, to be in battle array, stand still, and again he tells them not to be afraid or intimidated (dismayed). Do you suppose this took some courage, some faith in God? In both cases presented there was an issue, a mountain if you will before them, they had to speak to the Lord about how to proceed and He gave them direction and they followed it and the mountain was removed, the victory was given. I think we can see how these two cases of Spiritual Warfare dovetail just fine with our text from First Peter. Now, let’s look at 1 Peter 5:5, 6, and 7 again.
1 Peter 5:5-10 (KJV)
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
I will pick-up this interesting and vital study right here tomorrow, in the meantime remember you are blessed.
By Pastor David R. Wood
