Ephesians 6:12 from the Scriptures given to us by the Lord God, says that we, that’s you and I, our struggle in life is not with our flesh and blood existence. It comes from the spiritual battle within us, our dual existence of good and evil, inside and out. The threat to us is eternal death through worldly powers and rulers, principalities, princes of the dark places of this world, and all spiritual wickedness. Most don’t understand this concept other than on a very elemental level, a most child-like understanding of good and evil.
This ongoing “wrestle” presents many problems within this temporary existence. We see these every day.
I have, from time to time, expressed my own personal preference to not be involved in organized religions, mostly due the the host of problems associated with it. Most don’t realize that this wrestling against powers and principalities can be found walking between the pews of every “church” in this confound world. My two main reasons for not participating in ill-taught religious doctrine are, one, I don’t find enjoyment is being in a constant battle with all the evil that now controls every aspect of life here. I don’t need to add to it. And, two, there is but one real teacher, the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit that Christ Jesus left for us when he rose from the dead. If we seek only the Holy Spirit for truth, wisdom, knowledge, love, understanding, He is faithful and just (1 John 1:9). Seek and you will find. Ask and you will be given. Knock and the door will be opened – Matthew 7:7. It’s a wonderful gift, but too often we don’t know how to deal with it.
That battle with powers and principalities gets in our way. Sometimes in our walk with the Holy Spirit, He directs us to receive bits of knowledge and information from others. We should never turn our backs on everyone around us because sometimes the Holy Spirit gives us knowledge through them. However, in our weakness we give in to the princes of darkness, we then can witness those who choose only to find fault with, ridicule, and demean those, in their imperfections, doing the work of the Lord God. This is troubling to say the least and is nothing more than an instrument of the spiritual wickedness in high places. A real stumbling block.
Through all of this spiritual battling, we are rendering ourselves incapable of the truth, love, wisdom, and understanding that is the gift of the Holy Spirit.
I was visiting a website last night where I often go, as I pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide and direct me, to give to me the Words of wisdom he has for me, knowledge and love so that I can grow and learn. While there, I saw the usual, where someone, in their fleshly existence, probably felt compelled, and in some cases believing they were doing the right thing, was criticizing a man’s ministry, mostly because he must not have liked the minister’s personality.
What bothered me as much as anything about this was the person presented himself as being of greater spiritual knowledge and wisdom and, as such, felt empowered to rebuke his “brother” and hoped the one he was rebuking would understand and seek God for help.
I have seldom, in my 60 years of learning from the Holy Spirit, seen any man “rebuke” another man in the spirit of the Lord God. In other words, it always comes out a mess. The result is always a victory for Satan.
Perhaps more of us should shut up, be quiet in the Spirit of God, listen to what the Holy Spirit is teaching us, overlook the fault of our fleshly existence and seek countenance with the spirit of those around us, particularly those whom we are seeking for knowledge.
Imagine the losses from those who won’t read anything Paul wrote because they don’t like him as a person.
As I retired to my room late last night, I began reading from the “Wisdom of Solomon.” The first chapter helped me to understand much of this dynamic and why some people just don’t ever seem to learn and grow in their spiritual wisdom, knowledge, and understanding and present themselves in a similar manner as the person on this other website.
All of these – wisdom, knowledge, and understanding – are gifts from the Lord God but these gifts cannot be given when being invited to enter a dirty house. The Wisdom of Solomon Chapter 1, explains:
{1:1} Love righteousness, ye that be judges of the earth: think of the Lord with a good (heart,) and in simplicity of heart seek him.
{1:2} For he will be found of them that tempt him not; and sheweth himself unto such as do not distrust him.
{1:3} For froward thoughts separate from God: and his power, when it is tried, reproveth the unwise.
{1:4} For into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter; nor dwell in the body that is subject unto sin.
{1:5} For the holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide when unrighteousness cometh in.
{1:6} For wisdom is a loving spirit; and will not acquit a blasphemer of his words: for God is witness of his reins, and a true beholder of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.
{1:7} For the Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: and that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice.
{1:8} Therefore he that speaketh unrighteous things cannot be hid: neither shall vengeance, when it punisheth, pass by him.
{1:9} For inquisition shall be made into the counsels of the ungodly: and the sound of his words shall come unto the Lord for the manifestation of his wicked deeds.
{1:10} For the ear of jealousy heareth all things: and the noise of murmurings is not hid.
{1:11} Therefore beware of murmuring, which is unprofitable; and refrain your tongue from backbiting: for there is no word so secret, that shall go for nought: and the mouth that belieth slayeth the soul.
{1:12} Seek not death in the error of your life: and pull not upon yourselves destruction with the works of your hands.
{1:13} For God made not death: neither hath he pleasure in the destruction of the living.
{1:14} For he created all things, that they might have their being: and the generations of the world were healthful; and there is no poison of destruction in them, nor the kingdom of death upon the earth:
{1:15} (For righteousness is immortal:)
{1:16} But ungodly men with their works and words called it to them: for when they thought to have it their friend, they consumed to nought, and made a covenant with it, because they are worthy to take part with it.
