Category: Spiritual Warfare

Baptism Proclaims Resurrection

On By TimIn 1 Peter 03, Baptism, Spiritual WarfareLeave a comment

For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit, by whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison, who in times past were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

1 Peter 3:18–20 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Peter is writing on the merits of suffering for doing good things. In it, there is the idea to not fear. He says earlier “Do not be afraid of their terror, do not be troubled.” He is paraphrasing something from Isaiah 8.

Jesus likewise also suffered for doing good. And like Jesus, a believer has died to themselves and already been made alive in Him. This is why Peter is saying to not be afraid of their terror. It has no real power.

Peter is going to continue to connect this to the floodwaters of Noah. Jesus goes to have words with spirits in Sheol. The latter idea is not without controversy.

It is my understanding that humanity’s genetics had been corrupted before the flood. Lots of the bodies that perished were of corrupted flesh that was the progeny of certain fallen angels. There is much to explain there and perhaps in future weeks, I may elaborate on that. Suffice it to say, the dead spirits of those progeny were disobedient as well as humans that perished. Their eternity is certain. This is why demons tremble.

What Peter is doing is pointing out that those who went into the water of Noah’s flood… Died. There was no hope for them because of their disobedience. There is no rescue after death.

Peter then uses that idea of the flood and those perishing to connect as anti-type to baptism and the eternal security of the salvation Jesus gives.

Figuratively this is like baptism, which also saves us now. It is not washing off the dirt from the body, but a response to God from a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels and authorities and powers being made subject to Him.

1 Peter 3:21–22 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Jesus passed into the grave but rose again, ascending to His place with God in heaven. All powers and authorities are subject to Him. What a terrifying thought to those spirits that perished. There is no help for them.

Baptism isn’t like the floodwaters. A believer goes into the water not to be made clean. That has already been done. The believer goes into the water to demonstrate there is no claim death can have on them, whether past, present, or future. This is proclaimed as the believer is raised up out of the water. It is a sure demonstration that the watery grave, or any grave for that matter, has no power whatsoever over the believer.

Don’t fear their terror.

Every single time a soul is baptized it is a public announcement that another soul is set aside for resurrection. The grave has no business with that one.

For me, I explain baptism with a similar metaphor. An athlete may sign a contract to play for a team. The moment he agrees, he is part of that team. A public proclamation may be made to celebrate that signing. But it is real when that athlete dons the identity of that team, putting on the uniform and walking on the field of play.

That is baptism for a believer!

He has already been saved by belief and confession. We rightly celebrate such things when they happen. At baptism, the believer dons the uniform, that is he takes on the identity of the team. in this case, it’s the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. For all intents and purposes, when a believer comes out of the water, he is on the field of play!

Hallelujah! It is serious!

Just as death has no claim on Jesus, death has no claim on a believer!

Those that went into the water of Noah’s flood perished. They did not come out of it. It bears repeating. Baptism proclaims Jesus’ victory over death in showing an already saved person is set aside for resurrection and is brought into and then out of the water.

Being Ready for Spiritual Warfare

On By TimIn Armor of God, Children, Daily Walk, Employees, Employers, Encouragement, Ephesians 06, Exhortation, Fruitfulness, Gifts, Husbands, Justification, Relationships, Spiritual Warfare, WivesLeave a comment

Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Ephesians 6:10 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

In my reading, it occurred to me that what we consider to be the epitome of preparation for spiritual warfare as being Paul’s description of the armor we must wear. These are his final thoughts on the subject. In order to understand the necessary function of the armor and to be able to trust it doesn’t work without all of the other preceding things that are the foundation for it. We must roll back a few chapters to understand.

Corporate Life at Church

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, exhort you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you were called. With all humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another in love, be eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:1–3 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Paul says lots about corporate fellowship. It’s the start, to walk in a manner worthy of our calling. We are to do it in patience, meekness, and humility. We are to bear one another in love. Paul is not saying we bear the heathen in love, but one another. And with it, we ought to be eager to keep the unity of the Spirit.

I cannot help to think how easy it is for us to break fellowship for the slightest things. People will leave churches because the church ain’t going their way. Someone will be asked to leave a church because he doesn’t toe the line. We don’t bear well with each other as corporate bodies. I’d dare say that in our churches we are sorely fit to do any sort of spiritual warfare.

There is one body and one Spirit, even as you were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Ephesians 4:4–6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The essentials are in Spirit. We divide in the flesh. We just keep these things in mind.

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also He who ascended far above all the heavens that He might fill all things.)

Ephesians 4:7–10 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

There is more here than I am going to speak about, but I will leave that for you to search on your own. What we have spiritually is from Jesus Himself. He gave the gifts to each of us in the exact measurements we needed to fulfill our purpose in the body.

All of us are needed in fellowship. Our local bodies are ill-equipped if we remove ourselves from fellowship, or even kick someone out. Each of us is essential.

He gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, for the equipping of the saints, for the work of service, and for the building up of the body of Christ, until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, into a complete man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so we may no longer be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men, by craftiness with deceitful scheming.

Ephesians 4:11–14 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

What gifts we each possess are for the equipping of the saints. Often these giftings are used for self-edification and aggrandizement. They are given to us for others, to equip them. It’s the work of Jesus to which we are called. I can assure you that you know someone who has attached one or more of these titles to the beginning of their name. That doesn’t edify others in the least.

We are to help each other become complete. We are to desire to grow. This is a message and critical foundation for spiritual warfare. If each of us is not now rightly in a fellowship of believers who trust us and whom we can trust, we aren’t prepared for any kind of warfare.

But, speaking the truth in love, we may grow up in all things into Him, who is the head, Christ Himself, from whom the whole body is joined together and connected by every joint and ligament, as every part effectively does its work and grows, building itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:15–16 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We need that trust because sometimes there is going to be something we’re not going to want to hear. It’ll be hard to stomach if we don’t trust that the person who speaks it has our best interests before his. It’s necessary. As the whole body must be joined together to effectively work and grow. None of us can do it alone.

Therefore this I say and testify in the Lord, that from now on you walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their minds, having their understanding darkened, excluded from the life of God through the ignorance that is within them, due to the hardness of their hearts. Being calloused they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

Ephesians 4:17–19 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The unsaved operate in self-imposed ignorance. They refuse to believe. They scoff. It hardens them. Just like a callous on the hand, it becomes a place where there is no feeling. It cannot feel the comfort of warm soap and water. It cannot feel the sharp edge of a razor blade. The unbeliever is in the same predicament unable to feel the things that are good, and the things that may be dangerously deadly. The more a callous is rubbed, the larger and harder it grows.

That’s the sensuality that Paul is speaking about. It takes more of the same old thing just to feel it, yet it makes the hardness even harder. That’s the sensuality of sin.

But you did not learn about Christ in this manner, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off the former way of life in the old nature, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that you put on the new nature, which was created according to God in righteousness and true holiness.

Ephesians 4:20–24 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It’s a new way of life we must put on. Jesus teaches us we don’t have to keep doing the same old chase that never satisfies.

Look at the contrast, without Jesus, it’s seeking sensations, what pleases us personally. That’s the essence of lust. That’s why the Bible uses the term. It’s not just sexual. It is a seeking to satisfy our own desires.

We are to live differently, to renew our minds.

Therefore, putting away lying, let every man speak truthfully with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger. Do not give place to the devil. Let him who steals steal no more. Instead, let him labor, working with his hands things which are good, that he may have something to share with him who is in need.

Ephesians 4:25–28 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We are to operate truthfully. It means to stop taking from others. Instead, be prepared and ready to give something.

Let no unwholesome word proceed out of your mouth, but only that which is good for building up, that it may give grace to the listeners. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you are sealed for the day of redemption.

Ephesians 4:29–30 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Watch what we say. Make sure that it benefits others. Our eternity is secure. There is nothing anyone can do to steal that from any of us… Not even our own actions. None of us have to operate in our former ways.

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outbursts, and blasphemies, with all malice, be taken away from you. And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

Ephesians 4:31–32 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Let all the bad stuff be removed. This is telling us that we ought to be willing to give these to God.

Bitterness gets a place when we don’t forgive. Bitterness always gives rise to the enemy. Don’t even give it a place.

Personal Life Everywhere

Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children. Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God.
And do not let sexual immorality, or any impurity, or greed be named among you, as these are not proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse joking, which are not fitting. Instead, give thanks. For this you know, that no sexually immoral or impure person, or one who is greedy, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Ephesians 5:1–5 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We have our example. Imitate God as the children of Him we are. Walk in love Paul says. Sometimes we overlook the idea of love in mind. It’s sacrificial. It gives of itself even unto death.

Don’t practice sexual immorality or other impurities.

Don’t be greedy. That’s a hard one. Each of us wants to be first in line. Few of us want to wait until last.

Watch the language we use. Change the way we talk to be thankful, first to God from Whom good things come, but for others around us.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Ephesians 5:6–7 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Be careful who we listen to and associate with. It’s not that we shouldn’t hang around with them, but we are not to participate in the inane things other unbelievers do.

For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light— for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth—proving what is pleasing to the Lord. And do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; instead, expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things are exposed when they are revealed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

Ephesians 5:8–14 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We all have our previous lives. We all walked in darkness. Now instead of just walking in darkness, we are light. That is light in the Lord. It’s a new identity. Walk in it, proving it.

We ought not to do those things we used to do. Instead, we expose them. Things that are exposed lose their power and control. Secrets are by nature things not out in the light.

See then that you walk carefully, not as fools, but as wise men, making the most of the time because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:15–17 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Time is short. Don’t waste it on things that have no eternal benefit. We live in evil times. It’s been like that since Adam was expelled out of the Eden of God.

Do not be drunk with wine, for that is reckless living. But be filled with the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Don’t substitute the world’s spirits for the Holy Spirit. Be sober-minded.

Speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, being submissive to one another in the fear of God.

Ephesians 5:19–21 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

These are the things to center our minds on, renewing them. It’s a personal endeavor we must always be cognizant of pursuing. It’s a choice we make every moment of every day. It’s difficult to engage in any form of spiritual warfare if we’re not walking in the light we are.

Interactions with our Spouses

Wives, be submissive to your own husbands as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head and Savior of the church, which is His body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

Ephesians 5:22–24 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is not a hierarchy thing or a master-slave relationship. But there is an established order of things. Husbands aren’t the master. Wives aren’t slaves.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, and that He might present to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. In this way men ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord cares for the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

Ephesians 5:25–30 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The admonition is to the husbands. It is necessarily so. The whole idea is to not drift off into some misogynist mindset where a man operates as king of his castle.

No. This is teaching us that the wife ought to be elevated to not just the same treatment as a husband would treat himself, but just a bit higher. The husband is to give himself just as Jesus did. It’s totally selfless.

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh.”

Ephesians 5:31 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is for both parties in a marriage. When two people get married, their family is the two in the marriage (and children.) It’s great to have moms and dads, brothers and sisters. But your spouse is your family first and foremost. It goes without saying that the word most needs emphasis.

If mom interferes with our spouse… Side with the spouse. He or she is family. That is what Paul is saying. This is the proper order.

It doesn’t mean we cannot do things with our parents and siblings, but to insist on having every Thanksgiving or other holiday celebrations with them and dragging our spouse along can lead to problems. Even trying to be fair is difficult. Establish your own family traditions. And do the extended family things once in while.

Leave mom and dad and cleave to our spouse. It is difficult to engage in spiritual warfare if we are married and do not cleave to our spouse. Two are one. We need them.

This is a great mystery, but I am speaking about Christ and the church.

Ephesians 5:32 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

A good marriage becomes a great apologetic.

However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Ephesians 5:33 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

A final admonition for a happy marriage. A husband that loves his bride sacrificially, with a bride who respects him.

Behaving as Children

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise, “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

Ephesians 6:1–3 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is pretty much self-explanatory.

Proper Parenting

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:4–5 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It is the job of the parents to pass on their faith.

Relating to Your Employer

Servants, obey those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of your heart, as to Christ, not serving when eyes are on you, but as pleasing men as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing any man does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is enslaved or free.

Ephesians 6:5–8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

As an employee, we are to work for our manager as one would work for Jesus. After all, He is Who we are working for ultimately.

Our work should be the same even when others aren’t watching. That means no running off into the bathroom to check our phone or goofing off in the back of the storeroom.

By doing that, not only do we receive a paycheck from the employer, our good deeds earn eternal rewards. The sincerity of our hearts may be the thing that makes an unbelieving employer become a believer.

Managers Relating to Employees

And masters, do the same things for them, no longer threatening, knowing that your Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

Ephesians 6:9 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Do the right thing for those who work for us. Pay them fairly. Treat them rightly, just as we expect to be treated by Jesus.

Finally Brethren

Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Ephesians 6:10 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We come to the text which opened the post. It’s long. But it is necessary.

Before we can even endeavor to don the armor of God, we need to shore up every single one of these areas of our lives. If they are not secure and rightly done, there is an opportunity for the enemy.

Don’t just concentrate on the armor, but concentrate on all of the preparation that comes before and is a foundation for it.

It’s Nailed to the Cross

On By TimIn Colossians 02, Daily Walk, Encouragement, Eternal Security, Freedom, Resurrection, Salvation, Sin, Spiritual Warfare, The CrossLeave a comment

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has resurrected together with Him, having forgiven you all sins. He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us and contrary to us, and He took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed authorities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them by the cross.

Colossians 2:13–15 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Literally, it’s you being presently dead. The verb is present tense. As a believer, God made you alive. The tenses of the verbs say something probably not thought of.

Being dead is a continuous thing in this existence. our existence before salvation was pictured as being uncircumcised. That is, what makes the dead is not yet cut away. Uncircumcised flesh is where death reigns and a person dying in it goes to perdition because they are still in their sins. But the good thing is though the death of the flesh is a continuous thing it can be circumcised with the circumcision made with hands.

In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which also you were raised with Him through the faith of the power of God, who has raised Him from the dead.

Colossians 2:11–12 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The body of sins is put away by Jesus. It’s put away in death, His death. You are then made alive because He lives. The being made alive is once, you do not need to be continually made alive. He’s forgiven you all your sins.

There’s another kicker… For those who might wanna tell you that your salvation isn’t necessarily secure in what Jesus has already done and it depends on your endurance, it’s not there.

How much sin is forgiven, having forgiven you all sin?

He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances. Meaning it’s done. That means there is nothing against you from your past, your present, or even your future. It’s done.

He took it out of the way. Rest assured it’s gone.

Whatever the law had against you is to the cross. It’s a simple past action. It’s nailed to the cross. There are no future crosses our future sins need to be nailed to. There is no future death of Jesus needed.

Authorities and powers are disarmed. If satan is bothering you, why do you allow or permit it?

This passage clearly states that demons and devils have no power. The only real power they may have is the stuff you give them. That’s why the Bible tells you you are a slave to whom you present yourself. So don’t give them any power. And if you have, revoke it now in Jesus’ name.

Stop subjecting yourselves to the powerlessness of wondering if your salvation took… Or whether you can lose it. Live unabashedly for Him.

Judge, Executioner and Mediator?

On By TimIn 1 Chronicles 21, Daily Walk, Death, Encouragement, Jesus, Salvation, Spiritual Warfare, WisdomLeave a comment

So the Lord sent a plague throughout Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell. And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he prepared to destroy it, the Lord looked and relented from the calamity. And He said to the angel bringing the destruction, “It is enough. Remove your hand.” The angel of the Lord was then standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

1 Chronicles 21:14–15 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

For David to have made a census of fighting men for Israel, a plague came upon them. It was sent by God.

It wasn’t the only thing sent by God to Israel. There was an angel with a specific task. It was to destroy Jerusalem, the seat of power in Israel. God stayed the hand of that Angel, relenting on destroying Jerusalem.

I think there is a myriad of reasons why God would stay His hand. That would be a task for you to dig out. There is something else of importance for our attention. It is the identity of the Angel.

This was a Theophany. That is the scholarly name given for an Old Testament appearance of God.

David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven with his sword drawn in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. So David and the elders, covered in sackcloth, fell on their faces.

1 Chronicles 21:16 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I think we can clearly see the Identity of this Angel. It is the same person we call Jesus Christ. This verse provides some clear hints. First, the Angel stands as a Mediator between heaven and earth. Second, then Angel has a sword. David and those with them worshipped before this Angel.

We can know that Jesus will indeed judge those who have sinned. It’s pictured right here. Jesus will carry out judgment on God’s people.

Then we see something else unfold.

David said to God, “Was it not I who gave the command to number the people? I am the one who has sinned and surely done evil. But these sheep, what have they done? O Lord my God, I pray, let Your hand be against me and my father’s house, but do not let Your people be plagued.”

1 Chronicles 21:17 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

David steps up. He wants the penalty of his own sin to fall on himself.

There is a principle we ought to remember from this encounter. Our sins don’t only affect us, they have a real and detrimental effect on others. Even to the point of others losing their lives as part of the judgment as part of the corruption sin is.

David repented of his own sin. He sought remission of it as God stated His own hand of imminent judgment.

This is something for us to remember. That sin brings swift death. Yet there is mercy. It’s that patient longsuffering that comes from the mercies of God that stays His hand. I would be wrong to not tell you why.

That stay is for you. It’s for you to seek remission of your sins just as David did for his own. David saw the condemnation looming. He knew the penalty was near-at-hand. It’s this same Jesus Who will judge sin that offers a Way out.

Truly, truly I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death into life.

John 5:24 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

There is that exchange, it can only happen in the presence of Jesus. You believe His Word and the Father that sent Him, and you’re moved from condemnation (judgment) and the death it brings into life.

God is right now staying His hand of judgment. Will you be like David and believe you can have remission of sins?

The alternative is death.

Introduction to the Idea of a Stronghold

On By TimIn Daily Walk, Freedom, Judges 06, Spiritual WarfareLeave a comment

That night the Lord said to him, “Take a bull from your father’s herd and a second bull seven years old. Tear down your father’s Baal altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. Then build an altar to the Lord your God on top of this stronghold in an orderly way. Take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah pole that you will cut down.”

Judges 6:25–26 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It’s important to know that the God we serve is the Most High God. There are no other gods who can equal Him let alone exceed Him.

When God described the Baal altar and the Asherah pole, he used the word stronghold. That is not because the god(s) worshipped there had any real powers to do anything… The stronghold was in the minds of those who worshipped the god(s) using that place.

God does not need the blood of bulls to triumph over the stronghold. He is going to use it as a manifold typing.

For some background, in the ancient pagan ways, Baal was sometimes worshipped as the king of gods. In this instance, he would hold the title of “El.” To the Canaanites, El was not the God of Israel, yet was considered most high. Asherah is the consort of El. Baal is revered as the universal fertility god and is known as a storm god that brings rain. (Think brings fertility to the fields.) Other things to know… Baal is sometimes symbolized by a bull as he allegedly sired a bull. The Asherah pole is a large carved wooden pole that is worshipped as the goddess. She too would be a goddess of fertility, while also being the goddess of sexual lust. The Asherah pole would lend itself to a phallic representation. Sex would be a part of the worship at this place.

With the ideas represented here, the word stronghold is applicable. And this is the first usage of the word in the Bible.

Also, necessary to understand is that Baal would fight Mot. Mot is the God of death. If Baal were victorious a seven-year cycle of fertility would ensue giving good crops and increased livestock.

Maybe you start to see all the symbology here, and how God was going to show Himself victorious over this usurper who is called the king of gods. The fertility symbols would be dashed, an altar built to the Most High, and a bull of seven years-of-age sacrificed on it over the wood of that god’s emblem of vitality and fertility. Anything that god could do was dashed to nothing.

So Gideon took ten men from among his slaves and did as the Lord had told him, but because he was too afraid of the rest of his father’s household and the men of the city to do it by day, he did it at night.

Judges 6:27 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It was no simple thing Gideon was asked to do. There was real danger here.

When the men of the city got up early in the morning, the altar of Baal was torn down, the Asherah pole beside it was cut down, and the second bull had been offered on the new altar that had been built.

Judges 6:28–30 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

They said to each other, “Who has done this?”

When they had inquired and asked, they responded, “Gideon son of Joash has done this.”

Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son so that he may die, for he tore down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”

You see how the altar and pole were a stronghold not just for Gideon’s father, but the rest of the city as well. Even though these things were labeled as Gideon’s father’s. The stronghold held sway in the hearts of all in the city. It served as a refuge for them… Just as the Hebrew word conveys.

Joash then said to all who stood against him, “Would you plead for Baal? Would you save him? Whoever fights for him will be killed by morning. If Baal is a god, let him fight for himself, for someone has torn down his altar.” Therefore on that day he called him Jerub-Baal, saying, “Let Baal fight him, for he tore down the altar of Baal.”

Judges 6:31–32 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

God knew exactly how to break that stronghold by using the very things those people revered to destroy what they worshipped.

It is a good thing to know that when we teach about the meanings of certain symbols or even pagan rituals, is that God triumphs over them all. Just like the symbols of these gods were put under the blood of their god so to say, by the work of our God. It is a picture of the strongholds in our lives; how they are put under the blood of our God by our God. They are gone. They really have no power over a believer.

Christian, there is nothing the enemy has you over on, save whatever you give to him. Sometimes we must smash those strongholds in our lives and others, so we and they can clearly see the truth, just a Joash saw.

It is not work that is easy to do, and not without real risk. But the benefits give glory to God as people are woke from their enthrallment to such vanities.

Jesus is our Example in Submitting to Suffering

On By TimIn 1 Peter 02, Daily Walk, Jesus, Spiritual WarfareLeave a comment

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God a person endures grief, suffering unjustly.

1 Peter 2:18–19 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It is an ugly and brutal world. Back in our previous excisions (verse 13,) Peter encouraged us to submit ourselves to every human authority for the Lord’s sake. It is a timely message for today and for me, personally.

There are some who may read this who resist going to church. There are many reasons. Most of them center around some sort of selfish statements that often begin with I. It’s understandable. I mean, if a local body has errant leadership, errant doctrine, weird fellowship, hypocrites or any combination of these and others, why bother?

Yet Peter told us to submit to every human institution. I think that would extend to even those that we may initially discern as wrong.

Fellowship with others is necessary.

I may not have heard every excuse, but have heard plenty. I’ve even offered a plethora of my own. And still do, at times.

Yet we are called to assemble. That is what a church is, literally… called out ones. (As an aside; I don’t think there is scriptural precedence for leaving a local church.)

Maybe there is a different way to think about gathering together.

Servants, not leaders.

Look at how Peter addresses those he is speaking to in the cited text above. It is as servants. That is a proper way to think of ourselves.

Looking to the previous thought and leaning back into that, we are to honor all people, love believers, revere God, and honor the king. As king in our case, it’s the president. For some reading, this may be easy. For others, it can be challenging. The rest of this is going to really challenge.

None of us can do the things Peter said unless we are servants. We cannot honor all people unless we serve them. Neither can we love our brothers and sisters in Jesus, unless we serve them. Revering God requires service.

It’s an inescapable conclusion.

Employees serve, leaders serve.

The contextual emphasis of this portion of Peter’s epistle is mainly for those who are employed by another. We are encouraged to submit, even to those who spitefully use us.

Those of us who are at the bottom of the traditional org chart know that the junks flows down to the lowest point. Though there are bosses, managers, and leaders that perch above the lowest tier, at some point these are servants, too. Some may be gentle taskmasters, others ruthless lords.

It’s easy to work for a gentle taskmaster. Submitting to an overbearing lord is extremely taxing. Peter tells us this kind of suffering is commendable. It is the place where we really want to be.

For what credit is it if when you are being beaten for your sins you patiently endure? But if when doing good and suffering for it, you patiently endure, this is favorable before God.

1 Peter 2:20 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

There are many who will laud their own endurance. Sometimes we might need to do that. Though mostly the endurance we laid is for the suffering we’ve brought in through our own proclivities. Think about a life-long smoker suffering through cancer or a like malady. What Peter is saying is plain.

It is Jesus Who has shown us our org charts are really upside-down. In this case, the junk… Our junk… Flowed onto Him.

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Jesus flipped that org chart Right-side down, taking all of our rebellion on Himself.

Suffer for doing good.

The favorable thing before God is to suffer for doing good. Jesus did for us.

For to this you were called, because Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.”

1 Peter 2:21–22 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

If we’re Christians… It’s really our calling.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man shall come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will repay every man according to his works. Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Matthew 16:24–28 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I love that. Remember, this was Jesus’ response to Peter after He rebuked him by saying, “Get behind Me, Satan!”

These words Peter knows intimately, having been one of our greatest examples of failing Jesus. He is all one of the best to give to us real hope. It is why he could die upside-down on a cross as a martyr.

We read of the martyrs of old. They lived this out. To follow Jesus requires sober thinking. It requires sacrifice. It isn’t for the faint-hearted. (I know. I was there at one time not too long ago, and still, succumb to that.)

We ought to do exactly the same knowing this is favorable to God.

A personal application.

As I wrote earlier of the local fellowship I attend, I would sometimes think to rather not.

Is everything perfect there?

No. (But just thinking it isn’t might mean I am measuring against my own relative notions.)

Would I change things?

You betcha! (That kind of thinking is also very self-centered. I told you this was going to get challenging.)

But the local fellowship I attend isn’t for me. It’s not mine, nor is it about me, my well-being, or even my comfort. It’s about attending to serve others. You know, honoring people, loving brothers, and fearing God. (That is our calling.)

I serve in a few official capacities. Some would call it being a leader. I don’t want to seem braggadocios. A leader is really a servant of other servants. This is the way God does it. First is last, last is first.

We should shoulder the burden with others, as more hands make the work light. That’s good and easy to do.

The hard thing?

There is a leadership covenant they would like all who serve to affirm and agree to. I have had some concerns with small but significant portions of it. (Mostly surrounding legalese, courts, and perceived personal rights of redress that are waived.)

I have spoken with good friends about my concerns. It is always God that answers… Though.

And I get it.

The previous blog post was telling us how to live as servants. That was to abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul. There is a lifestyle covenant contained within it. That can help bind together brothers and sisters in love.

It also helps us to live honorably amongst outsiders. Especially given the culture’s mores, a small part of the stipulations concern gender and sexuality. Of course, these ideas will be demonized by the culture as evil. On that final day of judgment, those who do such things will give honor to God having to acknowledge the good in what we do.

The covenant knits us together as one. Us I. The sense of those who are parties to it.

It may use legal language. And that’s okay. We are to submit to those human things for God’s sake.

Rest assured, my mind has changed considerably. Enough about me.

Time is short. Let us draw near to Jesus by drawing near to each other.

Let us firmly hold the profession of our faith without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to spur one another to love and to good works. Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but let us exhort one another, especially as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:23–25 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

There’s no time for selfishness, really. How can any of us hope to spur one another to love and good works by being the lone maverick?

It doesn’t work that way. One cannot serve anyone by asserting personal rights and privileges.

Take up that cross.

Suffer for doing the right thing.

Especially as we see the day of God’s wrath quickly approaching.

The Demands of the Adversary

On By TimIn Encouragement, Luke 22, Second Chance, Spiritual WarfareLeave a comment

Then the Lord said, “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to have you to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have repented, strengthen your brothers.”

Luke 22:31–32 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

In just a quick perusal today, I encountered this. Sometimes when thinking of other things, and they are set aside, a quick glance at Scripture will provide some insight. I think it rather poignant, too. That is, given the posts of late centering on Peter’s first epistle.

Anyway… It was a discussion on Job one night. Someone had made a remark that God gave permission to Satan to test Job. I shook my head in a clear way to acknowledge that it wasn’t true. The person making the assertion insisted it was true. Let’s see if it is.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Adversary also came among them. And the Lord said to the Adversary, “From where have you come?”
Then the Adversary answered the Lord, saying, “From roaming on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”
And the Lord said to the Adversary, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and an upright man, who fears God, and avoids evil?”

Job 1:6–8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Sometimes our English translations don’t transmit the entirety of thought. In some translations, there are translators’ notes. These are included to help understand what is being conveyed. In this case, it would be easy to think the Adversary was just casually walking around looking at things. Not only that, but it one might think it was God Who would bring up the idea of testing Job to the Adversary.

That’s not what’s there. The Hebrew phrase translated have you considered literally means have you set your heart to my servant Job.

It’s like the Adversary is demanding some sort of right. Go back to what Jesus said to Peter. Satan is demanding to sift you. The Adversary demands his rights.

Furthermore, Jesus didn’t give permission to Satan. Satan was demanding what was rightfully his. Jesus prayed for Peter to not succumb to the test. That’s simply because we really are no match for the enemy. Jesus knew that. He is our Advocate. He intercedes for us.

Look what He said to Peter next, “And when you have repented, strengthen your brothers.”

We are no match for the enemy. He may have rights, but he also has boundaries and cannot exceed those.

Then the Adversary answered the Lord, saying, “Has Job feared God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out Your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face.”

Job 1:9–11— Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

You might think it weird how the Adversary demands that God bring calamity to Job. It didn’t happen. But what follows is God saying to the Adversary, you have rights to all that is his.

That comes from the fall. Satan wrested dominion of the creation from the one it was given to, Adam. Therefore, all that Job had was part of the fallen world to which the Adversary has rights. Since the cross, those rights are in the process of being revoked permanently.

Jesus told Peter. “And when you have repented.” He was telling Peter of the victory that Jesus would finish shortly. A remedy for Peter falling prey.

Don’t give in to the idea that God has to give permission to the Adversary for him to bother you. He has rights. When we are in sin, that is where he works. But there is a way out of the rights he has.

And when you have repented….

A Living Hope

On By TimIn 1 Peter 01, Daily Walk, Encouragement, Last Days, Resurrection, Salvation, Spiritual WarfareLeave a comment

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that does not fade away, kept in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now, if for a little while, you have had to suffer various trials, in order that the genuineness of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tried by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom, having not seen, you love; and in whom, though you do not see Him now, you believe and you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving as the result of your faith the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:3–9 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It’s the resurrection, really. This is our one hope. But it isn’t a dead hope, it lives. That’s because Jesus Christ lives! If you are truly born again, you are born into a living hope.

This world isn’t our home.

With much of what has happened of late, it makes many hearts heavy, even mine. It seems as if every man is pitted against another, and it even tends to be true for Christians. How sad that.

Brothers and sisters, we have hope in Jesus! We know this world isn’t our home. That’s not an escape fantasy, just the plain truth. Sometimes we pay more attention to what’s plastered in front of us by various media. That tends to make our focus drift to temporary problems. We lose our true objective.

The entire world is careening toward chaos. That isn’t unexpected. All things have been defiled with corruption. Yet what we have reserved for us is pure and undefiled. Why occupy our minds with that?

Some may criticize, saying we Christians are too heavenly-minded to be any earthly good. Yet that isn’t true. What hope can we accomplish with perishing things?

More laws are not the answer. The number of statutes that govern any one of us is mind-boggling now. Adding to them will accomplish little. It certainly cannot change the hearts of men.

Think of it this way. There will be some who might not ever see the hope we have by the way we live. I don’t mean to say we don’t care about things here and now, but let them not occupy our thoughts and weigh us down. Let us point our thoughts to the hope we have. It’s the only hope for a dying world. We witness that daily.

Rejoice in what God has done.

Because you are saved, you are protected by God Himself through believing what He says is true. Though Peter hints our salvation is yet to be revealed, in a future sense, is it ours now?

When the trials come, it is a test of our faith. It is to reveal authenticity. It might be that what each of us suffers demonstrates to those looking at us in the trial, the really real reality of what we believe. It could very well be the impetus that inclines their own heart toward God. More than that, I think the trials are to demonstrate to our own selves our own real genuine faith. They are there to reveal our salvation in the present moments.

We haven’t seen Jesus. But we believe and love Him. We rejoice in Him. To do those things brings joy is unspeakable.

I know as I set out to write this, my heart was heavy with the cares of this world. But this text, and thinking through it right my reality. It brings joy! I have a real Hope!

It’s real joy!

I remember my salvation is real. I have an incorruptible inheritance with Jesus Christ.

Just as Peter said, our salvation will be revealed in latter times. We are continuously receiving it in the present. We are obtaining our salvation as a result of our faith.

Jesus finished the work.

We believe it.

We get the benefit, now.

Is This not the Carpenter?

On By TimIn Daily Walk, Jesus, Mark 06, Spiritual WarfareLeave a comment

He went away from there and came into His own country. And His disciples followed Him. When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get this? What is this wisdom that is given Him, that even miracles are done by His hands? Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.

Mark 6:1–3 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

When Jesus returned to the place of His rearing and taught in the synagogue, people were astonished. These knew Him better than the other places He visited. They knew His upbringing. He was the carpenter.

Because these had a more intimate knowledge of Jesus growing up and working… What they thought He is became a stumbling block. How could a carpenter have so much wisdom teaching in the synagogue and even do miracles?

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house.”

Mark 6:4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Speaking truth is just that. For anyone who does it to strangers, they may be more apt to listen. They may have no preconceptions. But when it is done with those who you grew up with, objections start to rise. Not because the truth is spoken. These know you or think they do be preconceptions.

For those who have preconceptions, what you say is going to be measured by who they think you are. A stranger speaking the truth is going to appear to have great wisdom. If that stranger is labeled conservative, what truth offered is going to be measured through what the label means to the person hearing.

What you say is going to be measured by who or what your audience thinks you are. The words themselves will be filtered through that myopia. The more specific the preconception applied to you, the more easily it will provoke some offense.

People will judge what you say by preconceived ideas.

In the instance above, to those who knew Him, it was a carpenter speaking with great wisdom and doing miracles. To the stranger, the inherent baggage of a carpenter didn’t exist. Jesus’ humble upbringing was more of a stumbling block to those who were around Him growing up.

Today, those who have a preconceived notion of what a Christian is will filter the truth spoken by that Christian through that idea. In fact, most likely the Christian will seem hypocritical, even among other Christians.

It’s not that the hometown folks didn’t honor Jesus. It was their preconceived idea of Who they thought He is… That became the offense. In other words, He didn’t fit in their box.

Don’t let the box another person wants to put you in to be the prison for you. It is actually a prison for them.

He could not do any miracles there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He was amazed because of their unbelief.

Mark 6:5–6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Because they had imprisoned themselves, it became difficult for Jesus to do anything really good in their lives.

There is a deeper theological issue here, too. It has to do with synergy. There will be lots of folks who balk at that term. What is clearly being taught is that the people themselves weren’t receptive to Jesus. It became an impediment to them. He couldn’t help them.

If He could have changed their hearts by His own will and turned a faith-switch on, don’t you think He would have done that to have compassion on them?

Yet He didn’t. Perhaps it is because we have to come to Jesus in child-like faith, setting aside our own preconceptions of what we think is really real, believing what He says. Only then can He do miracles.

Taking Every Thought Captive

On By TimIn 2 Corinthians 10, Daily Walk, Spiritual WarfareLeave a comment

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

2 Corinthians 10:3 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We live in a time of great technology, reason, and medical advances. Our modern lives are overflowing with information and ideas. Yet many of us are caught up with the overload of life that we become isolated, physically and mentally. It can happen to anyone, and given what we see in the media, it is rampant.
In this age of advancement and reason, even we Christians may mildly scoff at what Scripture says. That verse above gives a glimpse of a truth of which we need a constant reminder. We walk in the flesh, but what wars against us is not flesh. Its principalities and powers are in heavenly places.
Many resorts to the technology and the modern tools available to alleviate fear, pain, and suffering. I am not advocating against this at all, but to be aware of the real problem that may linger untreated.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is complete.

2 Corinthians 10:4–6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We war spiritually.
Sometimes the results of our own behavior bring this fear, pain, and suffering to us. It can then manifest in the flesh as a disease of one sort or another. Sometimes this disease may have other spiritual causes.
We can use the tools of the world that are available to us. But if some of the cause of our fear, pain, and suffering is spiritual in nature, these tools may not be enough.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.

When we become isolated, we are in a prone position. We see that demonstrated in the wild, those isolated from the herd become easy prey.
One of our first needs is a like-minded close community. We Christians are sheep. We need a herd for protection and fellowship.
We can easily stray off our own accord. That is why we need this herd of like-minded brothers and sisters around us. We must be careful to not stray or become isolated. This is where we encourage and pray for others and are encouraged and prayed for by them.
There’s strength in numbers.

But mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.

Look, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. And nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

Luke 10:19–20 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I love that we have that authority given to us by Jesus. This is the true power that we have in Him. Nothing can take away our salvation. That is where the real power is, there is no more shame or fear.
Our names are written in heaven. That is the one thing those serpents and scorpions (principalities and powers) don’t have. Every time we declare the name of Jesus Christ, those powers are reminded of their own eternal perdition. That is why the demons Jesus encountered in the Gadarene begged not to be put in the pit (Luke 8:31.)

Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God

Jesus made the shame of the principalities and powers public!

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has resurrected together with Him, having forgiven you all sins. He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us and contrary to us, and He took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed authorities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them by the cross.

Colossians 2:13–15 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

When we live our lives in this way, we boldly proclaim the power of Jesus. Since He alone has removed the guilt and shame of our sin, it no longer has any power over us. Those powers and authorities are really disarmed.
Of course, any of us can always place your own selves back in subjection to them by sin. Remember what Paul said? You are slaves to who you present yourselves to obey (Romans 6:16.)
Don’t place yourselves under their authority. There is no need to do that.

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of His dear Son, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:13–14 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

If you have. Renounce it now, out loud. Confess it to Jesus, and it is removed (1 John 1:9.) The power in the fear of retribution, guilt, and shame is removed immediately upon confessing sin to Jesus (In addition, it even helps to confess it to trusted others, as the shame is removed.)

Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

The battle against isolation is not so much physical. It is a struggle in our minds. Our minds are our spiritual center. It is where we reason things. It is also where the enemy begins the attack. And there, we are bombarded with messages all the time. Some are good. Some are bad.
As Christians, we know the enemy uses a distance weapon, fiery darts (Ephesians 6:16.) Those fiery darts are these messages that come to us from the enemy. If we’re not careful to discern the difference in the messages… That is to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ… We may end up embracing the bad ones that give the enemy an entrance.
Jesus teaches us to judge righteously. We need to do that in our own minds, toward the messages we embrace, too. How do we do that?
Since Jesus is the focus of all of this, and everything that we have that is good is from Him… Let’s test those messages in His name. Consider these messages:

  • Nobody likes me.
  • I’m ugly.
  • I’m a good person.
  • Nobody would miss me if I were gone.
  • I’m not loved at all.
  • I’m loved.

These are just some examples. The messages we receive come in all different varieties. Some of us are sometimes bothered by these. There may be even some who have embraced these and they think this is who they are.
It’s not true!
That shield of faith can quench those fiery darts before they even get to you.
There are some who’ve heard these messages for a long time. They may have even embraced them to the point they think that is who they are.
If that is you… Renounce all of them in Jesus’ name… out loud. Then we can begin to take these messages captive.
As those messages come to you about you, add the words ‘in Jesus’ name’ to the end of them. Those that don’t make sense or are not true are from the enemy and can be readily ignored.
I’m ugly in Jesus’ name. That doesn’t make sense. For messages like that… Throw ’em out! You have that authority.
I’m a good person in Jesus’ name. That is true only in His name. I can embrace that message, and think rightly of myself.
When we think rightly of ourselves, we can learn to easily avoid the traps of the enemy. We can also then help others in our herd as we’ve gained wisdom.
All of this has a promised end for us believers.

And being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is complete.

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more the things that pertain to this life?

1 Corinthians 6:2–3 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Get that! There will come a time when we Christians get to judge the very principalities and powers that bother us now.
When the attacks come. You can know how to identify them… And avoid them. Understand the end destined for the sources of those messages. They’ve been shamed by Jesus at the cross, where the handwriting of ordinances against us has been nailed to the cross.
It’s all in knowing your identity in Jesus.