spiritual battle, Spirit of the World (1 Cor.)

Many people desire to understand God more, and want to know what God is actually thinking.  But if someone is not a believer, they have the "spirit of the world" in mind - which is self-centered, selfish, prideful, and is part of Satan's kingdom.

God's kingdom is the complete opposite, therefore, unbelievers will struggle to understand anything of God.

As believers, the Holy Spirit (God, Himself) is in our souls, and will guide us to a better understanding of the mind of God - WHEN we allow the Holy Spirit to work!  As believers, we are still able to quench the Holy Spirit, but why would we want to???...

(1 Corinthians 2:10-16)  For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Fallen angels and the "spirit of the world" would say that leaders are above everyone else.  Therefore when they observe Christians, they think we are absurd.

In God's kingdom, leaders are to be last.  Believers are to be humble.  We are to put others ahead of ourselves and consider them more important...

(1 Corinthians 4:1-21)  Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God... 

(1 Corinthians 4:8-21)  You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you. 9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. 11 To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; 12 and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; 13 when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

14 I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power. 21 What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

The "spirit of the world" would say, "My rights!  I should get my way!  And I will do what I can to get what I want!"

Believers have been given the mind of Christ, and the Spirit of God!  We should be able to discern between right and wrong, and do the right things in order to reconcile with each other.

One day, after receiving glorified bodies at the time of the rapture, believers will return at the end of the Tribulation, with Jesus and all His angels to rid the earth of evil (including Satan and his fallen angels, although Satan will be released at the end of the Millennium for a very short time)...

(1 Corinthians 6:1-11)  Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 4 So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, 6 but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?

7 Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brethren.

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Jesus has the victory already because of His work on the cross.

And after the Tribulation and the Millennium (which is when Jesus will reign on earth for a thousand years), ALL enemies of God will be put into hell forever.  The final enemy to be put away is death.

In heaven - all believers will be united as one with God for an eternity of perfection...

(1 Corinthians 15:20-28)  But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. 28 When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.

From this we see:
- believers have the indwelling Holy Spirit guiding us and we should no longer have the "spirit of the world" in mind (1 Cor.2:12)
- fallen angels think believers are absurd because our leaders consider themselves "last" (1 Cor.4:9)
- believers will return with Jesus and all His angels at the end of the Tribulation to rid the earth of all evil, including Satan and all his fallen angels (1 Cor.6:3)
- all enemies of God, including death and Satan and all his fallen angels, will be put into hell forever at the end of the Millennium (1 Cor.15:24-26)

Personal experience:  our culture very much focuses on "happiness".  Most everyone strives to be happy!  In order to find happiness, the world thinks that it requires more money, or more leisure time, or being famous and popular, or having a better body, or finding their perfect soulmate...  Yet how many people are struggling with depression and anxiety?

The first thing is that our perfect soulmate is or should be Jesus!  As far as beauty goes, we need to concentrate on being beautiful on the inside, which is also all about Jesus!  Our joy is found in the Lord, no matter what our circumstances are.  And serving others, is a great way to take our minds off of ourselves!!!

Today's takeaway:  pretty much every answer to life is "Jesus"!  Such a simple, consistent answer!  Yet, we can so quickly forget!  Because we are still in this world, and the world's way is opposite to everything He stands for...

(1 John 2:15-17)  Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

(Romans 12:2-21)  Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

spiritual battle, Nothing Can Separate Us From God (Romans)

We are born with a sinful nature, deserving of death.  But we have also been born with a conscience, as well as an empty soul which is meant to be filled with God, and it remains unsatisfied until we become believers.

Since God is fair and just, He makes sure that we are able to see and hear Him in some way.  So we have no excuse.  We all are able to make "educated" choices about which side we want to be on.

Often, when a person rejects God, God will allow their hearts to harden.  It just might be that down the road somewhere, they will experience a huge wake-up-call.

Remember, apostle Paul was living in darkness until Jesus "lit up his world" on the road to Damascus.  So Paul is not only being inspired by God to write these words, he also writes from personal experience...

(Romans 1:18-25) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

We are all enemies of God, until we become children of God...

(Romans 5:6-11) For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

When we choose to be on God's side, we have victory over all evil, including Satan.

It is Satan and his demons who try to accuse and condemn believers.  It is Satan and his demons who try to convince us that we are not worthy to be considered children of God.  It is Satan and his demons who try what they can to separate us from God, but we must know that NOTHING will separate us from God!...

(Romans 8:31-39)  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,

“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; 
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Meanwhile, because of their decision of disobedience, the nation of Israel has been given a "spirit of stupor" which darkens their eyes.  It will only be during the Tribulation that they "wake up" and "see the Light"...

(Romans 11:7-16)  What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; 8 just as it is written,

“God gave them a spirit of stupor, 
Eyes to see not and ears to hear not,
Down to this very day.”

9 And David says,

“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
And a stumbling block and a retribution to them.
10 “Let their eyes be darkened to see not,
And bend their backs forever.”

11 I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. 12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! 13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.

Meanwhile, believers are to show love, which is putting on the armor of light.  Our protection from evil is our obedience and love for Jesus...

(Romans 13:8-14)  Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

In our strive to remain obedient, we must guard ourselves and our church/es from evil.  Our hope is knowing that the God of peace will soon crush Satan...

(Romans 16:17-20)  Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 19 For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

From this we see:
- Satan and the demons try to accuse and condemn believers, and try to make them feel unworthy, and try to separate them from God's love (Romans 8:33-35)
- nothing, not even Satan, can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:38-39)
- Israel has been given a spirit of stupor for now which prevents the nation from seeing until the Tribulation (Romans 11:8)
- our protection from evil is the armor of light, which is obedience and love of Jesus (Romans 13:12-14)
- the God of peace will soon crush Satan under our feet (Romans 16:20)

Personal experience:  the many years that I didn't forgive my younger brother for all the darkness that he had brought into my life while growing up, then brought a darkness into my personal grown-up life.

I finally realized that my hardness of heart towards my brother caused me to have unrealistic expectations on my husband and children and the close friends and family around me.

When I asked God to forgive my brother for me, not only did a weight lift off of me, but I immediately was able to truly love and empathize with my brother.  And since that time, we have developed a wonderful brother-sister relationship!

Today's takeaway:  God's love, forgiveness and grace brings light, joy and peace into our lives.  Plain and simple...

(Romans 15:13)  ...may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.