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Thursday, January
29, 2009
Warring Factions
James 4:1-3 From whence come wars and
fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in
your members? (2) Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and
cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. (3) Ye
ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon
your lusts. (KJV)
Why all the fussing and fighting that we
see in this fallen world all around us? Why all the fussing and fighting
within you, the believer in Christ? Well, mostly because we still hang onto
things or desire things that are not beneficial to our Spiritual life, but
rather only appeal to the flesh and its desires. Our Lord promised His
people that He would supply all their need according to His riches, which
are only found in Christ, a realm where our love and affection should be
more in His direction and less in this fallen realm. It’s the lust of the
lower nature that kills, separates us from the love of God, because we
decided the love of the world was of more importance.
Romans 7:22-25 For I delight in the law
of God after the inward man: (23) But I see another law in my members,
warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the
law of sin which is in my members. (24) O wretched man that I am! who shall
deliver me from the body of this death? (25) I thank God through Jesus
Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but
with the flesh the law of sin. (KJV)
Paul had his Spiritual senses exercised
to discern the difference between what was of the flesh and what was of the
Spirit. That is why he could make the statement that he could see another
law which was in his own member, or body, which was the cause of his own sin
and unbelief. Paul didn’t blame anyone else, or make excuses for his own
shortcomings, but rather examined himself first to find the source and
cause of his unbelief. Could you imagine what this world would be like, or
how about the body of Christ itself, if people were more willing to look
inward to find the source of their turmoil and strife rather than point the
finger at everyone else and play the blame game?
Romans 8:6-8 For to be carnally minded is
death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the
carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God,
neither indeed can be. (8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please
God. (KJV)
Strong’s definition for ‘enmity’:
2189
echthra (ekh'-thrah); feminine of 2190; hostility; by implication, a
reason for opposition: KJV-- enmity, hatred.
You wonder why you don’t have peace in
your life, but rather have strife? Well look no further than your own self
to see where it began, and where it continues to lurk within you. What is
it that you are giving ear to, and what is your attention really focused
on? Without faith it is impossible to please God; so basically if you are
not with Him then that would put you in opposition to Him, would it not?
Then to add insult to injury you try to blame someone or everyone else for
your own lack of hearing and commitment to the Lord, yikes! no wonder the
turmoil.
2 Timothy 2:3-5 Thou therefore endure
hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (4) No man that warreth entangleth
himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath
chosen him to be a soldier. (5) And if a man also strive for masteries, yet
is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. (KJV)
Williams New Testament translation of 2 Timothy 2:3-5
3. Take your share of hardships like a
good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4. No soldier ever allows himself to be
involved in the business affairs of life, so that he may please the officer
who enlisted him. 5. No contestant in the games is crowned, unless he
competes according to the rules.
Did someone tell
you that life was always going to be fair? The Lord’s realm is just and
fair, but this fallen realm is not; so until the Lord returns and sets
things straight, we will have to put up with and endure hardships at times.
1 Timothy 6:9-12 But they that will be
rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful
lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. (10) For the love of
money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have
erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (11)
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (12) Fight the good fight of
faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast
professed a good profession before many witnesses. (KJV)
You want something to fight? How about
fighting the good fight of faith; rising above the turmoil of this fallen
world so that you can be an effective soldier in the heavenly realm. While
the world and its worldly people are fussing and fighting over the things
of this life, lusting for more and more, keep your affection on things
above and you won’t fall for the things below; far below the standard God
would have you to operate in. God bless, and let us seek peace and pursue it,
instead of a cheap imitation of this life that promises so much and
delivers so little, except when it comes to heartache and misery.
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