Previously, I laid out the spiritual battle being waged before our eyes. This is not some fantastical dreamy ideological war. It is in your face real life warfare. Look around you. The whole “misinformation” agenda should be
enough to convince anybody. Since when does open and honest debate present a danger to anybody? “Someone” or rather a certain faction, is intent on being the sole source of what information you are fed. Anyone who disputes or simply questions the “official version” is the enemy. The only trouble is, every so-called “official source” be it from government, an NGO, the media propagandists, or some sanctified “expert”, has been caught red-handed in their own lies again and again and again. Why is this important?
We Are Only Human
Wait a minute… ONLY human? What does that mean really? Human. Humans are unique beings on this planet. Sure some speculate about the intelligence of dolphins and whales and a few other animals but which of them build cities? What animal builds machines? Machines that fly? Machines that race across the planet on surfaces designed for them. What animals produce art? Music? What animals build libraries chock full of ideas and inventions and dreams? Only humans do these things. We are unique but we are not alone.
A spiritual world does exist and some of those spirit beings either visit or abide on this planet. We know little of how they live or what they really do or how they do what they do but we know they exist. They are not human. They are not animals. Some of their doings are revealed in scriptures. One of these spirit beings is identified as “the devil” or “the god of this world”
Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him [Jesus] up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Isn’t it interesting how much we can learn from three verses of scripture. The god of this world, the devil, wanted Jesus to worship him. He offered him “all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them” if Jesus would only worship him. Just as interesting is what Jesus did NOT say. He didn’t scoff and tell the devil he had no right to offer those things. Hmm. Nor did he laugh in the devil’s face, asking, incredulously, “you DARE ask GOD to worship YOU?” My own view here is Jesus said no such thing because the devil wasn’t asking God to worship him, he was asking the SON of God to worship him. If Jesus acceded, it would be game over. On to the third verse where we learn “the god of this world” has blinded the minds of those who do not believe.
The Gospel of Luke records a similar exchange:
Luke 4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Again, Jesus did not dispute the devil’s claims. This spiritual war is not over power and glory. The devil already has all that. What he wants what he cannot have… worship. He wants God’s children to worship him. He wants to be our god but he has a problem. While he can corral us, distract us, draw us away from God Almighty, in order to grant him what he wants, we must willingly worship him.
This brings us back to the original question. Why is it important for the devil and his minions to control all information we receive. He already has control of most of it. He owns the media. He owns most of the government. He owns the big corporations. He is literally brimming with wealth and power. Why worry about those of us who oppose him?
A Battle of Wills
We may be “only human” but we are humans with free wills. Everything he does is an effort to entice us to worship him. Barring that, he desires to keep us from worshiping the One True God and His only begotten Son Jesus. God has truth on His side. The devil can only deal from his pack of lies, though he sprinkles his lies with a dash of truth now and then to keep us guessing. Now he’s on a tear to convince us the truth we seek is “misinformation”. Hello.
Whether you believe this or not, you are a part of this. You cannot help it. You are surrounded from the moment you wake up to the moment you fall asleep, you are inundated with information. There is no escape. The good news is you can choose much of what you receive, but you must choose it. Unless you live in a monastery, and the fact you are reading this kinda suggests you aren’t surrounded by monks, you are going to be subject to different sources of information. Guess who is bent on monopolizing the information you receive?
Yes, there is a resistance. We are not hiding in fear. We are boldly speaking, publishing, and standing on the Truth as we understand it.
2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 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.
Our war is not of the flesh. Our war is a spiritual war but the battleground is a battle of wills. In order to bend our will, the devil must seize our minds. He cannot control them directly. He must do so via subterfuge and deception. In order to do battle we must “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Note the details of “armour of God” listed here.
About our loins is truth.
Righteousness is our breastplate – protecting our hearts.
Our feet? Shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
We are to use the shield of faith (believing) to quench the fiery darts of the wicked.
Our heads are protected with the helmet of salvation.
We carry the sword of the spirit – the word of God.
Not one of those six components protect us from a physical attack! Why? Because our battle is spiritual. While this in no way suggests we Christians should allow ourselves or our loved ones to be “run through” with a foe thrusting a steel sword at us, our focus needs to aim higher. A dead man cannot accept Christ.
What About Those Guys With Guns?
We are also surrounded by violent men. I get that. Jesus was lead to his death by armed soldiers. Paul was imprisoned, as was Peter. Before that John the Baptist was jailed and then beheaded as a party favor for Herodias’ daughter. In fact, throughout the history of the Jews, their prophets were treated woefully and often killed.
Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Today, just today, I read where Joe Biden again threatened anyone who dared “rise up against the government” saying we’d better have F-15s and nuclear weapons or some such nonsense. First, I’d remind his handlers there is no need for citizens to take up arms against our government as WE ARE the government. Second, our trust is rightfully placed, not in arms, but in God Almighty who is able to deliver us.
Psalms 20:6 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright
Psalms 44:5 Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
6 For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
7 But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.
8 In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever.
Know this: time and time again God protected His people supernaturally. Many battles were won without any confrontation at all. Many individual believers, myself included, have had their lives’ spared from certain death, while others perished simply saving the life of another or even seemingly for no reason at all. No one can say beforehand what end they will meet without divine knowledge.
All I can say is one’s mindset will determine how any situation is faced. I refuse to live in fear. I refuse to beg for my life. I will not bow to any other than my God and my Lord Jesus. My life is in God’s hands and no other can take it.
Yes. We are in a spiritual war. Yes. We need to prepare ourselves and enter the fight as soon as we are able. But our weapons are not carnal but mighty through God. Should you choose to enter the battlefield, you need to prepare yourself. Renew your mind to God’s Word. Put on the new man. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.