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The battle of the Christian is not a battle between nations, race, creed, gender, between rich or poor. Nor is it a competition involving factors like status, education, talents or health. All of these were factors in the alpha of apostacy of spiritualism during world war 2. And some of these shallower, external factors are even more prevalent and valued, hence worshipped in this day and age. In the omega of apostacy.
Rather it is a SPIRITUAL battle where we fight against such beliefs and all doctrines of demons, while respecting religious liberty and freedom of choice. (Ephesians 6:12) It is also a battle against our sinful nature, the spirit and law of the world and the flesh. Of escaping the chains that bind us to this world, by linking us up with the law and spirit of God, increasingly. In Christ, who by His blood and atonement and sanctification can connect us to God and heaven. If we cooperate with him and obey His teachings and law. We can achieve victory based on our faith and development of character. This is the race set before us mentioned several times by apostle Paul. "let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith," Hebrews 12: 1-2. This means to let God write His heavenly law on our hearts and minds and let go of the spirit and law of this world. Step by step towards the kingdom of God.
This is both a heavenly education process, purification process, training school and developing our relationship with Christ. The higher we love one master, the more we will hate the other (the spirit of this world).
Everyone is going to worship something / someone in the latter end of the latter days. It is the content that really matters. It is not just words and names and expressions, but the content of the name, the content of the expressions, the content of the words. He who loves Him will serve His way, His teachings, His kingdom, not the way of the world and the "kingdom" of this world (spiritually understood).
Should we have any focus on the external and physical? Yes. But not to the point of turning what is of minor importance into what is of greater importance. Do not mix the deep with the shallow and visa versa. That would be to turn light into darkness and darkness into light. This is what also characterizes fundamentalism.
Finally, the nuances and our main emphasis with reference to the different layers of God's words and teachings are important, especially when the nuances prove to make a significant difference. Yes, so important that it can turn the whole gospel upside down when we examine it more closely. Then we may end up preaching the message of the Antichrist, and not the true gospel of Jesus.
"for man looks on the OUTSIDE, but the Lord looks on the HEART." -Samuel 16: 7
If you are filled with the spirit of man, which is the same as the spirit of the beast, the spirit of the world, then you will have a very strong emphasis on the external, the apparent, not the internal and everlasting. Meaning to walk by sight and not by faith. But notice here that it is not about receiving the limited, counterfeit versions presented from those inclined toward socialism, of love, happiness and wisdom that is of the world, but a higher form that comes from above, from God.
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.." 2. Corinthians 4:16
There will be two groups at the latter end of days. Are we sure that we are not in the same group as the New Age and spiritualism, as the world, which will follow the beast and its spirit and teachings? Not to the right and inclined towards a nazi view of things, nor to the left and inclined toward a socialist view if things? But that we follow the very straight and narrow path, which is the centered, balanced way and the way of crucifying our old, immature man filled with the old, immature law, covenant and order/kingdom, under the banner of the prince of this world, Satan. By receiving the new, mature, everlasting covenant, law and order/kingdom, under the banner of Christ. By his might and power.
Are we not to reveal the inroads of spiritualism, which are the teachings of Satan and the gospel of the Antichrist who seep into the Christian churches, and sets up his tent within the church of God? Who appear to sit in the temple of God and think he has become god, because so many worship him without being aware of it? Not only that, but the spiritualism in the form of human psychology attempt to judge the innermost chamber: the mind and heart: the spiritual: the character. The Bible teaches that only God and His spirit can truly read the spiritual: the heart. Or is it such a clever deception that we do not see it because we are still so obsessed with the worldly, the obvious, the external and the literal? Because if there is anything that characterizes this world in these last days, it is just that. The external and the outer and shallower.
“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 5: 1-5: "so that you may have something to say to those who boast of what they are in the OUTSIDE and not in the HEART." 2. Corinthians 5:12
It shows how God distinguishes between the importance of the inner versus the outer, where the main focus should be.
"I pray that according to the riches of his glory, by his Spirit, he may give you to be strengthened with power in the INNER MAN that Christ must dwell by faith in your HEARTS, that you, rooted and grounded in love.." Ephesians 3: 16-17
The Pharisees challenged him on where and what this kingdom was, where Jesus himself says: No one will be able to say: " Look here it is, or: There it is. For the kingdom of God is within you.» Luke 17:21.
«So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.» 2. Cor 4:18
It is about how we read and understand the Law and the prophets. From outer, superficial, literal, shadows, to deeper, more spiritual and complete. Which indicates how far we have come in the process sanctification, from immaturity to maturity in the high school of Christ. See also Hebrews 7-10.
For God, the inner values are most important. That we may purify our hearts, our character from the law and spirit of death and this world, to the law and spirit that comes from God. God's law and character are built on divine love as an overriding principle, from which all other divine character traits flow. See, for example, James 2: 1 and 9 as a good example of such a character trait, more specifically, impartiality with regard to external facets. . “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. « - Luke 10: 25.28
Then comes the story of the Good Samaritan. Note the question: "And who is my neighbor?". Here again, it is also about impartiality. That we should also have love for those who are outside the faith, and wish that they too will be saved. We have been called to go out as missionaries and preach the message of salvation to everyone, regardless of external factors, through faith in Jesus Christ and His kingdom. His law and teachings, His character, His spirit. Faith is also a desire to obey and be faithful to the Lord we claim to serve. But if people do not want to hear, then we must at the same time respect their choices. Those who do not want to walk the same path, in the footsteps of Christ, the way of the cross, and receive the true gospel and the three angels messages, have every right to choose so, although we must warn of the consequences of rejecting light. We can not walk with those who choose not to walk in the path we are called to walk. It is also not possible in the long run. It is torment for those involved, as they will soon no longer have anything in common to talk about, almost no common values or passions. They will not be able to understand each other. Therefore, this separation will take place as a natural consequence of having different faiths and being under two completely different covenants and laws, and orders. The kingdom of this world versus the kingdom of God. So the church and the individual Christian, who advance, go from an old, immature law and covenant to a new, more complete version: The law of God (of Divine love) written on our hearts by grace, which is undeserved power from the holy spirit, through FAITH (In Christ, His atonement, His Law, His way, His gospel).
Hebrews 8:10.
Christ said “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” Matthew 5:17.
He did not come to abolish (nullify), but to fulfill (uphold/ establish. To make it fuller, more complete). Like a seed (old law and covenant) to a full grown flower (new, mature law and covenant ).
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