Reasoning

War of Ideas

Dr. Mike 2024 , , , ,

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.   Ephesians 6:12

Spiritual warfare is real. This is not a fantasy played out within virtual reality. Instead the battle is happening every day in every way around you and me.

The ability to discern and walk humbly with our God will keep us relatively safe. Though there will be days we may walk away with heavier scars and cuts than preferred. This is the cost of following a King who is considered a threat to the enemy.

The enemy is not necessary people. But they are the pawns of evil forces. It is the ideas, thoughts, and values bombarded at you by ignorant and rebellious children of God. They are the dark side of the family. The ones who for some reason are hurt from some past offense. They are now taking out their anger at God Almighty through their attitude and behavior.

They are following the passion of their heart which is void of God’s love and joy.

Their weapons of destruction include anti-God characteristics. Whatever God Almighty stands for, they oppose. What they practice is the antithesis of God’s Word.

The basis of their warfare begins in the mind. The battle is a mental push to confuse the mind. It is a war of ideas. The more confused they can make you to doubt and question God’s character, the closer they are to defeat you. Their purpose is to separate you from the Father. To remove HIS place and purpose from your life.

Satan, God’s adversary, is the perpetual spirit behind this push. He knows his time is short. His goal on earth is to raise an army of activist to fight against everything good. To cut God’s name, purpose, and instructions from the minds of HIS future family members. Satan and his demonic spirits seek to abort as many of God’s children currently residing in the womb of the Church.

The battle starts in the mind. But ends in the soul. The one who battles through the junk, fighting with our Lord and HIS Spirit in HIS armor (Eph. 6:10-18), will be rewarded with a seat in HIS House (Rev. 3:21). They will be guaranteed a place in the first resurrection. This is the better of the two resurrections.

The battle is between God’s Kingdom and every other form of government. This is one reason why world governments seek to dismantle the family. The nuclear family centered in Christ is the foundation of God’s government on earth today. His Church is built from communities centered around families. Thus governments who allow Christianity to flourish, allows God’s way to flourish. This is the reason why those who practice Marxism or communism are so destructive of God’s way and purpose.

This is why it is also important to be grounded in the foundation of God’s Word. To know the eternal values Almighty God and Lord Jesus exemplify every day. To know HIS purpose and your part in HIS macro plan for humanity. When your person-hood is built on solid rock instead of sifting sand, you will survive the storms of life. In fact, you will become strengthen through them and learn to thrive God’s way. You will reflect HIS character. You will be a witness of what the good life really means.

Yes, the enemy will hate you. But God’s love more than replaces anything or anyone who tries to destroy you with their stupidity. Be smart. The battle is yours to win through Jesus Christ who already has defeated the enemy. They just don’t have the wisdom of knowing when to quit. May God grant them repentance.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Belief Trap

Dr. Mike 2020, Traps , , , , ,

James 2:20

Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

You begin to experience salvation when you start to believe Jesus Christ is who He claims to be is how theologian Karl Barth expounded in his writings.

Belief is more than a wish or superstition. Real belief is built on facts, logic, and experience. Yet some people, after battling and working through the reasoning process, think that is all there is. Why? Didn’t Jesus himself say that if you believe on him you will receive eternal life?

From what I remember my psychology classmates telling me, belief is the centerpiece of action. Belief leads to action. We act upon what we believe. From our central belief system lies our values and worldview. But if we believe and do not act upon those beliefs, then do we truly believe?

James writes in his letter that belief without action is dead. He likens it to the body without a spirit: dead.

Belief is demonstrated through its fruit. An orange tree may have hundreds of green balls (the real color of oranges before the factories paint them for resale to the public) hanging on its branches, but when you take one from the tree and begin to peel it only to find dryness in the inside, don’t you throw it away? It may look like an orange hanging on the tree with other oranges, but is it a healthy orange?

Belief in Jesus Christ is like taking an escalator in a high-rise shopping mall. We start on the first floor and the moving steps take us higher unto other floors with more stores to discover. After we experience the 2nd floor, we take the escalator up to the next floor, and the next floor, and the next floor, where we discover more. Belief in Jesus Christ is, in a poor analogy, the escalator that takes you to places where you can experience real life.

Real life begins with believing Jesus Christ is the Messiah promised to the Jewish and Gentile nation back when Adam and Eve were discharged from the garden. When that fact hits us in the head and heart, our values and worldview begin to change and leads us to action which demonstrate our belief in Jesus Christ as King and Savior. Yet inaction may not tell the whole story on some who believe but are frozen from doing good work. Some may believe but be lazy; a character flaw. Others may believe, but are ensnared by the world’s glitter. And others may believe, but be angry with God and like a 2-year-old still pouting in the corner until lesson learned.  So, we need to be extra careful and not condemn the heart of others. Instead, let’s first pray for our brothers and sisters and let God lead us how best to relate with them. Maybe God will open a door for you to discuss the situation and help restore your sister/brother into a closer relationship with Him. Or bring another solution for their struggle. Either way, if God makes you aware of a problem, He will lead you.

Is that not what turning belief into action all about? Therefore, doesn’t our actions demonstrate our beliefs?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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