Why We Lose Our Spiritual Wars |
(Matthew 24:7 KJV) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
(Matthew 24:8 KJV) All these are the beginning of sorrows.
(Matthew 24:10 KJV) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
In this passage, Jesus is describing to his disciples what must take place before the end of the age. Lets test these requirements.
In verse 7, the word nation is the word ethnos.
G1484
ἔθνος
ethnos
eth'-nos
Probably from G1486; a race (as of the same habit), that is, a tribe; specifically a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually by implication pagan): - Gentile, heathen, nation, people.
In other words... ethnic group will rise against ethnic group. This is racism. Has anyone ever heard the phrase 'ethnic cleansing'? This is a fairly modern term that in all its politically correct splendor, is nothing more than mass murder because of racism.
The word 'kingdom' is the word basileia, also where we get the word basilica:
G932
βασιλεία
basileia
bas-il-i'-ah
From G935; properly royalty, that is, (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively): - kingdom, + reign.
These signs are just the beginning. This, of course, is the phrase most-employed by the skeptics. "All this has been happening for years!" But in verse 10, Christ makes an odd statement, "Many shall be offended.."
So what about all the offense that is in the (religious) world today? What about antisemitism? What about religious wars? Jihad?
In World War II., the Nazis wore crosses bearing the motto "we're killing you because you killed Jesus". Some Jews in concentration camps remember seeing Nazis with "Jesus Is Lord" belt buckles. Could the Jews have taken offense to the Christian God?
(Matthew 24:5 KJV) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
What about all that 'have' come? What about the David Koreshs of the world? Have they made a spectacle of Christianity in any way? Perhaps the false messiahs have had a larger effect than we thought.
(Matthew 24:12 KJV) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Why will love 'wax cold'? Because of offense! What is the number one reason that people do not attend church - especially those who 'have' attended church in the past? Offense!
Most offense is PETTY!
(Matthew 24:13 KJV) But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Hey, if you can take it you can make it!
God HATES unforgiveness in His children! Even the Lord's prayer includes clues as to the importance of this to God.
(Matthew 6:12 KJV) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Your ability to be delivered from Satan's attack is often contingent upon your willingness to forgive those who have wronged you!
(2 Timothy 2:23 KJV) But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
(2 Timothy 2:24 KJV) And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
(2 Timothy 2:25 KJV) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
(2 Timothy 2:26 KJV) And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Lets look at this again through a different translation. The message states this accurately:
(2 Timothy 2:23 MSG) Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights.
(2 Timothy 2:24 MSG) God's servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool,
(2 Timothy 2:25 MSG) working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth,
(2 Timothy 2:26 MSG) enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.
Verses 23 and 26 strike the point of this article. We who get offended (vs 23) fall into a trap of Satan! (vs 26).
If we can simply see this 'warfare' for what it is, a mature Christian can and should avoid it!
Lets take a look at another man who was once annointed by God. His name was Saul. God chose him to be king of Israel and had His servant, the prophet Samuel, annoint him as King. However, after steering away from God through disobedience, God decided He would raise up yet another king - one who would honor Him and do His will. This man was David. Samuel was once again commissioned to annoint David, and the annointing of God 'left' Saul. Saul became jealous of David and set out to kill him. This is dangerous on two levels. One, Saul bore resentment and unforgiveness in his heart. Two, he came against the newly 'annointed' man of God.
Harmless enough? Not really.
(Proverbs 17:11 KJV) An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
What is this cruel messenger? In Hebrew, the word is malak:
מלאך
mal'âk
mal-awk'
From an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically of God, that is, an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher): - ambassador, angel, king, messenger.
Basically, a spirit with a mission to torment. Lets look at a parable. In Matthew 18, Jesus spoke of the evil servant who would not forgive a debt. At the end of the story, the Master has something to say about it:
(Matthew 18:33 KJV) Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
(Matthew 18:34 KJV) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
(Matthew 18:35 KJV) So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Once again, an unforgiving spirit leads to a tormented spirit. In Christ's time, when a suspect was taken into custody, the majistrate could hand him over to 'tormentors', or those who would torture him until the required information was gleaned.
Peter warns us of unforgiveness in our relationships.
(1 Peter 3:7 KJV) Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Wow! If we harbor unforgiveness God wont even hear our prayers? The Psalmist knew this:
(Psalms 66:18 KJV) If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.
This known, we can safely make this statement: if God is not hearing our prayers, Satan is NOT obeying our warfare. Prayers of binding? Wont work... When we harbor this evil in our hearts, God does not want our worship (read Saul...), want our gifts (read Saul...), or hear our prayer!
If we are not propery protected by God through prayer, we are in absolutely no condition to war spiritually in any way.
(Acts 19:13 KJV) Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
(Acts 19:14 KJV) And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
(Acts 19:15 KJV) And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
(Acts 19:16 KJV) And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
There are some obvious truths here that we, as Christians, should take to heart. Do we hold grudges? Do we take offense over petty, trivial matters? Jesus is a bearer of burdens. We need to be willing to give Him these things - things that poison us on the inside. It is not recommended... it's required!
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