Monday – February 22, 2016
It is Monday and time to resume our study of God’s Word and to be resolute in our decision to make what He thinks, what we think, what He says what we say, and what He does is what we do. Our aim, our energies are focused on becoming just like Jesus in this life. I will be continuing this study of Spiritual Warfare until the Lord releases me to move on, so let’s get back to our primary text.
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;
We saw the phrase “what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea”. The Apostle was engaged in Spiritual Warfare on behalf of the saints and faithful brethren at Colossae and Laodicea.
First let us remind ourselves that we are talking about a faith fight or phrased another way it is a what we really believe fight. Something upon which when push comes to shove we are unwavering. This is something we have proven in the Scripture beyond any doubt, a Truth we have established just as they did at Berea (Acts 17:11). This is different than stubbornness about a tradition in the Church or home, I am talking about The Truth. Back to the good fight of faith, Spiritual Warfare. Of course proving what we believe is also Spiritual Warfare.
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.
I have talked about how important it is to recognize ungodly ideas and eliminate them from our minds. Praise God we have the Holy Spirit and He will teach us, guide us into all the Truth, we just need to ask Him.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (KJV)
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
As soon as we become aware that we are going down a wrong road with our thinking, before it pops out our mouth, and certainly before we act on it, we must cast it down, take it captive to the Word of God. If we are thinking about something and we are not sure if it aligns with the Word of God, then devote some time researching that in your memory and the Word of God. Ask the Lord right on the spot if this is proper Godly thinking or not. There are thoughts (imaginations) and words (high thing) that the world and the demonic enemies will introduce hoping we will give them a place higher than the Word of God. If we do, at that moment we are in spiritual adultery having declared a new god, just as Adam did in the Garden. Our proper response is to say “no” to the new idea(s), word(s), and action(s) and to think, speak, and do the Word of God.
2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
The word ‘fear’ in this verse means timidity portending a lack of faith. We are not timid about things which are unshakeable in our thinking but what can be shaken we are more timid concerning. This is not from God since He is not timid and He has no lack of faith, and He is unshakeable.
The word ‘power’ in this verse is wonderworking power, it is the healing, raising from the dead power of the Holy Spirit of God working through us. When we walk in unshakeable faith we will not be ashamed or timid before men or God that our Heavenly Father will perform His Word.
Romans 10:11 (KJV)
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
The word ‘love’ from 2 Timothy 1:7 is Bible love, agape from the Greek meaning selflessness, cognizant of and obedient to the Blood Covenant, and unwavering obedience of God’s Word. It means we value God and His Word above all else, nothing else is even close.
We now come to the phrase “sound mind”. A sound mind is a controlled and disciplined mind. We must ask ourselves “do I have a sound mind, am I controlling my mind, and am I disciplining my mind to think like Jesus”? We are not a victim of our mind, we are in control of our mind, and our Heavenly Father will teach us to think like Him. That is what having a heart after God and the mind of Christ is about.
Tomorrow I will pick up with our text from James focusing on verse five.
James 4:1-5 (KJV)
1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
By Pastor David R. Wood
