The War

When you woke up this morning did you realize that you would be in a battle? Just as a general plots out battle scenarios we too should be as wise.

Humans are enthralled in one of two wars daily:

1. They are at war with the flesh that their born again spirit lives within
   17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
2. They at war with God (often without realizing it)
   

There are many passages in the scriptures that make clear the relationship between the Lord and His enemies:
The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. Psalm 5:5

Romans 1:18-32 and also Romans 5

In the 8th century BC there was a prophet named Jonah who (reluctantly) went to the great city of Nineveh to preach the word of the Lord.

Jonah did not preach some elaborate sermon with multiple points and scriptural cross references. He spoke EIGHT words to the people (of course these eight words are and English translation from the Hebrew).....

Jonah 3:4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

Then in verse 5-9 the people who heard the word repented or "turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands".

5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. 6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, 8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”


What does this have to do with war?

Why do we not see entire cities repenting today? Paul sums this up in Romans 1 by giving us a vivid understanding of what happens to a people who hear the word of God and do not repent:

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. Romans 1:28-32

These are the ones who do not even realize the war that they are in. It is a war that will ultimately be lost by their own selfish attempts to be right with God via works and methods instead of clinging to the Sacrificial Lamb of Jesus Christ and His atoning work on the cross.

Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. Revelation 2:16

For those who are of the faith and are at war with the flesh....

but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Romans 7:23

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions[1] are at war within you? James 4:1

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 1 Peter 2:11

Put in the whole armor of God and WAGE WAR! Not against the devil and his demons.... AGAINST YOURSELF!

The devil has no authority over us nor does he have the power to destroy us.... We waste our time fighting an enemy who has pitted us against ourselves.

"Nobody goes to hell because of satan. The only reason someone goes to hell is BECAUSE OF SIN!" Dr. John Piper

Ephesians 6:10-20
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 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. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.


11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

These schemes are my sin.... my greatest enemy is myself.