Integrity- People of God

Many people will ask, how can God be Sovereign and Preeminent over all, when this world is in disaster and is in such disarray. This is a lack of their understanding of the spiritual principles that operate in both the natural and spiritual world and this causes confusion and disbelief or distrust in God’s word. The spiritual battle that Satan is waging is in the mind of mankind but it is for their thoughts, their heart, beliefs and perspective. The fight is to see whether they will believe in God’s truth or Satan’s lie. 

When we receive the Holy Spirit, He transforms our lives to the spiritual family of God, which is governed by His kingdomprinciples of how to navigate and understand the workings of God’s spiritual laws. Humanity is still governed by their five natural senses, touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste which helps us perceive and understand the natural world that we live in, but now with the Holy Spirit they are able to discern and perceive the things of God which are in the spirit. 

2 Corinthians 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. NKJ

Mankind gave over its inheritance and authority to Satan in the beginning who then became the prince of darkness over this world. Satan has observed mankind from the beginning, knowing their tendencies, propensities and appetites and thereby knowing what enticements and temptations to dangle before them to create a craving or desire that may ensnare them and cause them to fall.  But he is not all knowing nor all powerful and his spiritual authority to rule over mankind was taken away at the cross when Jesus, the Son of Man conquered sin and Satan. Only God is all knowing and sees and foresees all. He knew mankind would fall but He made a provision before the world was created. Just as God knew we would fail,He made provisions to redeem and restore us back into His family and yet we still have a choice in the matter.  

Matthew 28:18-19And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

James 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.   Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

The carnal mind is constantly looking at the things which are seen and assessing them by their five natural senses all of which are grounded in a natural fallen world system. Our thoughts and beliefs are continuously being challenged with dark ideas that judge God as being unloving, unkind or incapable. Left unchecked these things will take some people down a rabbit hole of unbelief and their perspectives toward God are based on what they have seen and experienced but not by His word and truth.  They will allow tragedies, loss or grief to change their perspective, their faith and the way they think about God. 

1 Corinthians 2: 6-8 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

God told us to change the way we think because a person’s perceptions and thoughts will dictate their actions.   In the past we were instructed by a fallen world and our thoughts were rooted in that darkness and we gravitated to the natural senses and appetites. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have access to the deep things of God that we may know how to operate successfully in both the natural world and spirit kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 2:10-12 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.   For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.   Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

The battle is going on and the fight is for our beliefs and thoughts, so that the conqueror may win the heart and perspective of mankind. In order to be victorious in this battle we must first be aware that a war is raging in the spirit realm with principalities and powers that are trying to destroy the souls of humanity. Many people are living their lives totally ignorant of the spiritual wars that are taking place. They are still fighting against people, hating those who are different than them and making their natural affinities their standard rather than the spiritual truth of God’s word. 

Ephesians 6: 12-13 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  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.

God has given us the same weapons of warfare that Christ used, the word of God!  Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness just as he has done to every person. Jesus did not use His position as the Triune God to combat Satan, though He was God in the flesh. Nor did He use His deity to slay him with His Almighty power but Jesus used the same weapons we were given, the word of God led by the Holy Spirit.

Thanks be to God Jesus overcame temptation as a man and not as God, He was led by the same Holy Spirit that we have and He used the same word we have access to. Some people will give up their fight, declaring it was too hard and will criticize Jesus saying He was God and that is the reason He was able to stand, but Jesus laid aside His power as Deity and live His life as a servant to humanity.

Ephesians3: 9-10 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 

God’s word is simple and yet profound, it is truth and light and a mystery to those whose mind is blinded by the enemy to this light but we are told to search out truth.  In His word we will find the spiritual truths and principles in which we are to stand, combat and be victorious over the enemy and yet we must seek it out

Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.