Spiritual Warfare

Jesus said, "…lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth…" Earthly treasures are things that make us appear successful, comfortable, or proud — clothes, property, money, conveniences, status, and all the modern comforts people feel they must have. Jesus wasn't just warning against materialism — He was warning against the selfish mindset behind it. So when Jesus said, "…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…" we must consider that a selfish mindset is just as wrong in spiritual things as in earthly things. We cannot think of "laying up treasure in heaven" as personal gain or spiritual profit. The real heart of laying up treasure in heaven is tied to the greatest commandments, which are to love God, and to love your neighbor as ourselves. Treasures are not laid up in heaven by "taking care of myself spiritually." Instead, it comes from serving others, sacrificing, giving, helping, and seeking their good — not our own. We are laying up treasures in heaven when we are serving others, as part of the kingdom of God, and for the glory and honor of God, and not for ourselves.

We either trust in the Lord will all our heart, or we lean to our own understanding. The natural tendency is to lean on one's own wisdom. We trust in what we have learned through our experiences in life, both good and bad. We trust in what we have learned from the culture we have lived in. We trust in what our denomination or group that we have identified with. We trust in our feelings about things, but have a hard time really and truly trusting in the Lord with all our heart in everything. If the Bible says "thou shalt not..." and we do it anyway, we are NOT trusting in the Lord. If the Bible says "thou shalt..." and we refuse to do it, we are not trusting in the Lord, we are leaning to our own understanding. Next time you have a dilemma in your life, or a problem, or anything that perplexes you, stop and take a good, long, honest look at yourself and see how much you are leaning on your own understanding to figure it out, and how much you are really trusting in the Lord about it.

There is a great contrast between the natural man, who lives according to fleshly desires and discerns everything by his physical senses, and the spiritual man, who is transformed, and directed by the Spirit of God dwelling in him. The only way for the natural man to be changed into a spiritual man is by being born again—spiritual rebirth through the Word and the Spirit. Only those in whom the Spirit of Christ dwells can truly understand and embrace spiritual realities, overcome the world and the flesh, and live in accordance with God's will. Spiritual discernment is not derived from human reasoning, education, or worldly experience, but from the Holy Spirit's guidance, which enables believers to judge all things according to God's Word, reject the works of the flesh, and embody the fruit of the Spirit. We all need to be honest with ourselves and recognize whether we are truly walking in the Spirit or still living after the flesh.

The Bible teaches clearly that there are only two roads in this life. There is the broad road that leads to death and the narrow road that leads to life. Most travel the broad road because there is lots of company there which makes it feel like it surely must be the right way. Those that are after the flesh travel the broad road and those that are after the Spirit travel the narrow road. Those that are after the flesh are not saved and are headed to hell. Those that are after the Spirit have the assurance of God and the witness of his Spirit that they are going to be with God in eternity. Which road are you on? If you make your choices and decisions without regard to God and you cannot be happy unless you are conforming to this world, then you should be alarmed about the condition of your soul, even if you claim to be saved and on your way to heaven. There is too much at stake to risk on a misunderstanding of the Gospel.

The defining mark of true discipleship is that we love one another as Jesus has loved us. This love is not merely emotional or sentimental but is a deliberate, obedient, and sacrificial new nature based upon Christ's example—especially His love for the unlovable and even for his enemies. Genuine faith produces a changed heart, evidenced by a consistent, selfless love that prevents personal offense, grudges, and prejudices. This love is inseparable from salvation, joy, and obedience to God. The Bible is clear in 1 Corinthians 13 that without such love, even the most devout religious acts are meaningless. We need a return to the 'old-time religion' where love for God and neighbor is inseparable and life-changing.

True contentment is not passive acceptance but an active, Spirit-led disposition of peace, submission, and thankfulness that rejects the insatiable hunger of covetousness. Discontent is manifested by murmuring and complaining and is not only spiritually destructive but offensive to God, as it reflects a lack of trust in His provision and wisdom. Thankfulness is the key to being truly content, because it transforms our perspective to recognize God's daily blessings, even in hardship, and brings inner peace and satisfaction. We must intentionally cultivate gratitude, to view material needs as sufficient, and to find joy in the assurance of God's faithful care.

To observe all the evil in this world and suppose that nothing will ever be done about it is absurd and against the sense of justice every human being is born with. To think that people can do all the unspeakably evil things to others and simply go to sleep and rest in peace for eternity is a fantasy of those who have forsaken God. Hell is not a metaphorical grave or a temporary state, but a place of everlasting punishment where the soul and body are punished forever for their wickedness. Jesus declared that in hell there is unquenchable fire and gnashing of teeth. The widespread disbelief in hell stems from self-righteousness and moral relativism, where people judge themselves by comparison to others rather than by God's perfect standard, leading to the dangerous illusion that good people go to heaven and bad people to hell—when in fact, even morally upright individuals who reject God are worthy of eternal punishment, too. They have done to God what cruel and wicked men have done to their fellow men. Sin is not merely harm to others, but a profound offense against a holy God, and true salvation requires a radical transformation of the heart through faith in Christ, not not simply a good life toward others.

The first commandment is "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." The last commandment is "Thou shalt not covet." The violation of the last commandment leads to the violation of the first. The overwhelming desire for "things" of this world, and knowledge to merely satisfy our curiosity is what leads us to having other "things" that take the place of God in our life. Jesus warned about a snare that would come "on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth" in the last days. This snare would cause them to be overcharged with eating and drinking and cares of this life. That smartphone that you hold in your hand has done just what Jesus warned us about. It has become our god; it has usurped God in our lives in everything. For most people it is the first and only source of information, their counselor about the issues of life, and even spiritual guidance. It has undermined all order and authority, and given us the ability to gaze upon every evil thing that ever existed. In every aspect it has become the god of this generation. It is up to every individual to keep themselves out of this snare that Satan has laid for us all.

We are to be "swift to hear slow to speak, and slow to anger." But the nature of man is to do exactly the opposite, which results in anger. Words provoke anger more than any other thing. "The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." That means that when we allow our anger to control us we NEVER do what is right in the sight of God. If we would focus on being a listener and a learner - swift to listen and slow to speak, we would have a lot less anger to deal with in ourselves and others, and we would live a life much more pleasing to God. Godly people deal with evil with a sound and calm mind, according to law and order - not anger.

You should always suspect the devil's involvement in anything that the whole world makes such a stir over. The work that Charlie Kirk was doing was a good thing and he was standing against evil and trying to reach the brainwashed and devil-possessed on the college campuses, but what we have been witnessing the past two weeks is not true revival and it is not going to lead to true revival. It is going to lead to a great sweep of the traditional churches into the one-world, contemporary, modern paganism that is masquerading as Christianity. The devil is not stupid, but many people are, and he works every angle in his strategy to annihilate all righteousness and bring this world completely under the rule of evil.