DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SPIRIT WEAPONS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – SPIRIT WEAPONS

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (or fleshly) but mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ….." (II Corinthians 10:3-5).

The Apostle Paul was under attack by some people for his claim to Apostleship. The natural way to respond would be to lash out at his critics. But he did not respond in the flesh – carnally – but in spiritual ways.

We are at war – flesh against spirit. I don't know about you, but I find myself trying to fight battles of the spirit with weapons of the flesh. When I am attacked, my nature wants to respond in the same way I was attacked. How I respond tells me whether I am in the flesh or in the spirit. Too often, I respond from my flesh – the baser part of my being – rather than from my spirit where the Holy Spirit dwells.

Jesus said the spirit weapon is to "love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you…..." (Matthew 5:44). Paul picked up this theme when he said, "Bless those who persecute you and do not curse….Repay no one evil for evil….Do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath….If your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink; For in doing so you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:14, 17, 19-21).

This is not easy because it is not natural. But it is the spirit way. It is the Jesus way.

Love, Dad