THE WAY OF CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP
Christianity and Faith
For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (BSB)
If we live by the Spirit, we should also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 (BLB)
Spiritual living is about shifting our focus from the natural realm to the spiritual realm. As simplistic as that may sound, it's not so easy. Humans are body, soul and spirit. It's the spirit being that true Christians are led to tap into. Salvation quickens the Holy Spirit in us and from then on, we are to set our gaze toward the spiritual. Being joined with Christ Jesus allows us the privilege of coming before Almighty Yahweh's Throne of Grace under the Messiah's Righteousness. There are two major components that can either help us or hinder success during our Christian journey. They are love and warfare. These polar opposites work to balance our souls as we live out our faith. We are to love (phileo and agape) as Christ did, yet being human, we must wage war against our natural propensity toward ungodly behavior and fleshly satisfaction. We have to fight the enemy (from within and from without) that seeks to manipulate us away from our faith and divine callings.
People of the Way (Christians) live between two realms, the natural and the spiritual. As disciples of Christ Jesus, we become keenly aware this natural existence is temporary and the spiritual is eternal, so our concentration should shift. This altered focus is evidence of our faith and a map for our spiritual journey. We believe, we trust, we have faith in a coming eternal life with our Savior and that is our motivation and ultimate goal. Therefore, what we think, do and ascribe to is in accordance with God's expectations while living in the natural world. Jockeying between these two realities, however, can be a daunting task. We still have to deal with the physical and all its fleshly demands. Scripture teaches us the flesh must be spiritually crucified and that is no exaggeration. With God's help we can subdue our unruly flesh, but we have to be vigilant and do it consistently. That's what walking in the spirit entails. The world around us is saturated in unrighteousness. Most of what we see, hear and navigate through is not of God. Staying in spirit mode requires intentionality. The Holy Spirit is active in Christ's people to help and comfort as we live in this existence. God's Spirit guides us as we move and mature in the faith. The realization of who we are and our natural draw to ungodliness and receiving salvation makes us see things differently, diminishing worldly perceptions and illuminating the spiritual.
Living in the spirit in modern times is as complicated as ever because the world is even more populated becoming this consistently concentrated hotbed of sin and evil influence. In addition, the enemy has muddied the waters considerably with unholy spiritualism. Deceitful so-called spiritual practices have inundated the United States culture, which I find disheartening in a nation initially founded and shaped on certain Christian values. What you find online today that's considered popular spiritual practices are happening in this nation with disturbing regularity. These practices are from all over the world having made their way into the US. Spiritual deception is nothing new. It certainly existed in ancient times, but today's manipulations have a more cunning contemporary character. A character that works well with an ever-growing secular population that's desperately looking for answers. The problem is they are looking for those answers everywhere other than the True and Living God.
The spirit life also includes what is referred to as spiritual warfare. This aspect of the faith is a much-understated part of our Christian experience. Yet, it's a real and crucial part of the spiritual journey. Living in the spirit can be fraught with all sorts of destructive twists and turns because we have an enemy that works diligently at destroying each saint of God personally and mankind as a whole. So, navigating this life in the spirit presents a mine field of physical and mental explosive devices meant to deter, delay or stop us altogether.
Christianity and...
Love
The building blocks of Christian character are not held together by mortar or cement. What binds God's Sanctified Kingdom is love; the Love God has for His human creation, the love we have for God and the love we have for other Christians and the love we have for all mankind. It's the type of love we try to develop and outwardly demonstrate, agape and philia. Philia is brotherly kind of love or close friendship. Agape is an unconditional love, the sacrificial kind. There are other Greek words for love such as, Eros (sensual love) and storge (familial love) but those types are typical in most people whether born-again or not. Christian love, in particular Agape Love, is beyond human emotions and physical reactions. It's a love rooted and existing on a whole other plane, love that springs from the part of our being that is most like God. Agape is how God bestows His love to us. It's a spiritual kind of love defying comprehension from a natural perspective. This level of love is how Yahweh and Christ Jesus loved mankind and how they love us individually as well. Grace and Mercy are rooted in God's love for us. That is why we can be redeemed from sin; love made a way. It's a love steeped in tolerance, patience and generosity; what most of us aspire to and always being aware no matter how hard we attempt to love in that manner we lack the full capacity of the Divine. Yet, it's love that makes us look more like our Blessed Redeemer. God is Love and love is what displays Christ's Kingdom to the world. It is love that we will take with us on into eternity.
CHRISTIANITY AND...
Spiritual Warfare
Spiritual warfare is part of our Christian experience, an uncomfortable part to most people and one complicated with a plurality of views on its significance and level of influence in our lives. It has been my experience that most Christian teaching and preaching glosses over the intricacies of spiritual warfare. This is unfortunate because it's a very real and necessary consideration for all born-again believers trying to walk and grow in faith. It's essential information and training for our spiritual journey. Getting saved is just the beginning of that marvelous journey. We definitely are not to fear the adversary, but the Body of Christ grossly underestimates the adversarial impact. Being born-again does not eliminate the enemy from your life. Even under the covering of Christ wicked entities can deceive, harass and oppress you although they cannot inhabit you. Humans have been constantly manipulated starting in the Garden of Eden to this very day. Manipulated in such a manner that we are often clueless to see know just how pervasive.
The initial salvation experience is the entry through the strait gate (tight entrance) but going down the narrow way (difficult road) continues for the rest of our lives. It is in living out our Christian faith we experience spiritual attacks by the enemy from without and spiritual conflicts from within. Born again Christians should be able to identify and deal with these spiritual forces that can inundate us in this fallen world. It is spiritual wisdom to be aware of the devious methods and blatant chaos caused by our spiritual nemesis. It's also wise to realize we have a means to access the Power of Almighty God to fight. Saints should know how the principalities attack, tempt people and operate on the planet as an often unnoticed but dominant force. The best thing for any opposition is for people not to believe it exists or think it has no degree of power. These spirits are running rampant in the world and mightily within the world's church system so why would we not be ever vigilant and ready to do battle on behalf of God's Kingdom. In dealing with this disconcerting reality, we are scripturally taught to act in warlike fashion. Saints of God must become spiritual warriors.
We Fight
Who or What We Fight
Who or What We Fight
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13 (BSB)
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It is my opinion that the spirit realm's dark forces and the impact it wields on this world and our individual lives is sorely underestimated and frequently understated by modern Christendom. Most of us fail to credit the whys and how come of humanity's unrighteous chaos to a devilish spiritual influence. We downplay our own personal struggles as we try to live in a manner glorifying God. Some believers think their salvation makes them immune to sinful temptations and the enemy's devious influence. Yet, all one has to do is read Scripture to understand the era in that thinking. In Matthew 4 we see the enemy trying to tempt Jesus Christ. The adversary did not succeed, yet it makes a point that if he would try to tempt the anointed and perfect Son of God, he will certainly wield temptation on those of us in the Body of Christ no matter how holy and sanctified we think we are.
look around you at this world and honestly look within yourself and it should become clear we have to battle such active and determined principalities with an agenda to separate us from our God and Savior's Grace and Mercy. Humankind is contaminated with pride, disobedience and carnality. Only through the Divine Power of Christ's Sacrifice and Resurrection can there be victory for our salvation and subsequent spiritual battles.
Hollywood has very much made the spiritual world appear to be some spooky fictitious nonsense. The supernatural has been reduced to entertaining movies and television shows depicting everything from vampires that fall in love, zombies taking over the world and a wise cracking, cigar smoking devil. Is it any wonder it's difficult for believers to put a finger on the real supernatural and spirit world. We've been brainwashed by media's false depictions. But to understand the Truth of the matter one need look no further than the Scriptures in the Holy Bible.
Who or What We Fight
Who or What We Fight
Who or What We Fight
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 (KJV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
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Who or what are we fighting? We are fighting against powers and principalities in the heavenlies and rulers of the darkness of this world. We are fighting against the unseen but not the unknown. Too be more precise, we fight against invisible enemies of the spirit realm, evil manifestations called unclean spirits, demons or devils. These adversarial entities can touch each and every aspect of our lives as well as affect the cultural landscape of the world around us.
The presence of an unseen realm is scriptural. Throughout the Holy Bible the spirit realm is clearly demonstrated as an actual existence connected to what happens in our time-constrained natural world. When studying Scripture, one quickly comes to a startling realization that there is more than what we see around us. From the Bible we begin envisioning the spirit world and understanding how that realm impacts our natural realm. That gives an entirely different and more accurate perspective on our present lives. Comprehending the unseen but very real enemy is essential to living a genuinely productive Christian life whether dealing with conflicts of our own personal walks or navigating through this fallen ungodly environment.
Why We Fight
Who or What We Fight
Why We Fight
Be sober-minded; watch. Your adversary the devil prowls about as a roaring lion seeking whom to devour, 1 Peter 5:8 (BLB)
The thief comes only that he might steal and might kill and might destroy. I came that they may have life and may have it abundantly. John 10:10 (BLB)
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The end goal of all saints is to spend eternity with our Most High Father God and Savior Son. Defeating death (separation from God) and enjoying everlasting life in a glorious environment with none of the misery and heartache of this present world. Unfortunately, there are forces set against us achieving our desired destiny. Forces that work constantly with much success in frustrating our spiritual journeys.
How We Fight
Walk Worthy ~ Persevere
Why We Fight
And having summoned His twelve disciples, He gave to them authority over unclean spirits, so as to cast them out and to heal every disease and every sickness. Matthew 10:1 (BLB)
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“Don’t hide behind the Word of God. Faith is the shield, the Word of God is the sword. The sword isn’t used to defend you, it’s used to attack.” Derek Prince
The major battlefield for our salvation is the mind. The mind is the soul of mankind, and the soul is what the adversary wants to control in all of humanity including disciples of Christ Jesus. It's in our minds the enemy whispers his temptations and ideas to deliberately thwart our Christian character or walk.
Walk Worthy ~ Persevere
Walk Worthy ~ Persevere
Walk Worthy ~ Persevere
You will be hated by everyone because of my name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved. Mark 13:13 (CSB)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7 (CSB)
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A disciple of Christ Jesus is automatically conscripted into the Divine Army because of the born-again spiritual status. Saints become soldiers, opposing the forces of sin and evil. Those in the True Church of Christ Jesus are draftees of the Lord's army in a spiritual conflict, God vs the devil or, in a more secular term, good versus evil. Standing on our faith, embarking on the journey toward eternal life can be a struggle of sorts. Being among the anointed troops of the Lord we must stand immovable even in our own personal struggles. We are participants in God's Kingdom Armed Forces fighting this longstanding cosmic war. The ultimate challenge and desired end in any war is accomplishing the main objective with those fighting surviving.
For the Body of Christ, the struggle is ongoing; the battles continue as long as we live in this fallen natural world. The goal is to endure. Through the highs and lows, the good and the bad we are to spiritually hang on and grow in faith as we navigate through all circumstances. We do not have to try and win the war. Our Redeemer has secured the ultimate victory by His Sacrifice on the tree at Calvary and His resurrection. We need to just fight our personal battles and, by whatever way we are called, continue to advance the Gospel and serve in God's Kingdom. With spiritual weapons we fight and in faith we endure until the end; the end of our natural lives or the end of this world's age when Messiah returns, whichever comes first.
Divine Power Weaponry
Walk Worthy ~ Persevere
Walk Worthy ~ Persevere
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 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; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (KJV)
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Any effective fighting against the enemy; any meaningful spiritual push back from those of us in the Body of Christ comes from the Power of God and not of ourselves. Our Creator and Savior is Omnipotent, all Powerful and we have access to that power through Christ Jesus. It is because of the God in us that we defeat our spiritual foes. The Creator God and Redeeming Son, equips saints with the ability to thwart the powers of sin, darkness and death by Power from on High.