Chapter Five | Points To Ponder

Chapter Five

RELUCTANT WARRIOR

Lord, there come

When I think I have given all,

Yet, I constantly find
Parts I have kept behind.
They bind me,
They drag me down.
Yet how to let go,
I have not found.
Thank you Lord

That You keep me each day.
And despite myself,
You choose to stay;
To give me Your light,
To teach me Your way,
To walk with me all the way

You fight to be born; then you fight to survive; you fight to survive where life (government) put you; then you fight to survive
where you put yourself; become a Christian and learn that you need to learn to fight as a good soldier of Christ. Seems to me
I figured it right when I was in grade two and stole the book on Greek mythology. Life was war. Even the gods wared. What if you don't care for fighting or military life?

Take [with me] your share of the hardships and suffering [which you are called to endure] as a good (first class) soldier of
Christ Jesus. No soldier when in service gets entangled in the enterprises of [civilian] life; his aim is to satisfy and please
the one who enlisted him. And if any one enters competitive games, he is not crowned unless he competes lawfully, fairly,
according to the rules laid down. [It is] the hard working farmer (who labours to produce) who must be the first partaker of
the fruits. Think over these things I am saying understand them and grasp their application for the Lord will grant you full
insight and understanding in everything. (2 Timothy 2: 3-7) Amp.

I have discovered that in life, my personal opinion often means nothing when standing up to the facts. The fact is I did ask
Jesus to be Lord of my life, to cleanse me because I was so dirty from sin, to teach me how to think right.

IF YOU
LEARN TO THINK RIGHT
SO YOU CAN DO RIGHT
THEN YOU CAN LIVE RIGHT
SO YOU CAN BE RIGHT

The battlefield is the mind. For people like me, it is the only place where they live. I think emotions; I can be kind when I can think of kind things. When I am in turmoil, I have no nice thing because my mind has no nice thoughts. It is not my choice when my head goes crazy with pictures.

A phrase, an action someone does with their body, and boom! My head is full of nasty things. Does that mean I have to learn to live with it or shelter myself away from people? No, I made a commitment when I asked Jesus to be Lord of my life. The fact that I did not understand all that the commitment would involve does not make the commitment of no value. So, what am I to do with my mind?

Do not be conformed to this world, this age, fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs. But be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of our mind,by its new ideals and its new attitude, so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect {in His sight for you]. (Romans 12: 2) Amp.

Jesus is the Lord of my life. He has given me the Holy Spirit. I never had much of a father on earth, but that doesn't matter. I can talk to the Father of them all.

Why would I want to hang on to thoughts and opinions that will cause problems with this connection? The only one with life in it!

It is before his own Master that he stands or falls. And he shall stand and be upheld, for the Master, the Lord, is mighty to
support him and make him stand. One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike
[sacred]. Let every one be fully convinced (satisfied) in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the
Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of
the Lord and gives thanks to God.

None of us lives to himself (but to the Lord), and none of us dies to himself (but to the Lord, for) if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or we die, we belong to the Lord. For Christ died and lived again for this very purpose, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. Why do you criticize and pass judgement on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgement seat of God. For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God that is, acknowledge Him to His honor and to His praise. And so each shall give an account of himself give an answer in reference to judgement to God. (Romans 14: 4-12) Amp.

I do not know about you, but the lives I caused to be taken, saw taken or contributed to the cause of them being taken, well,
judgment on them alone would earn me hell. That does not include lying, thievery, immorality. The list could go on. No good thing in me. Yet God thought His creation was too valuable to wipe away and start again.

For God so greatly loved and prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trust, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish come to destruction, be lost but have eternal (everlasting) life. For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge, to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on the world; but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. (John 3: 16,17) Amp.

I was a burden to my parents, no love; society was embarrassed by me and so rejected me, no love; the government did not know what to do with me and so labelled me with a case number to shuffle me around no love; men wished to keep me for their pleasure, not love.

A lifetime and many husbands later, there is still no love.

I have children; I am forced to learn of love.

Believe me, when I stopped having abortions, I knew that I would learn to do or be whatever it took. I would not be like my parents. I would learn no matter what it took, period. And it is actually simple. I believe and learn to live so that the belief shows. I learned my job, that's all. The only safety I have ever had in my life comes from the arms of Jesus. He willingly stretched out His hands for me! Think of it for you! Willingly, He paid the price of my sin so that I might know love.

Incredible!

You were bought for a price, purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him inyour body. (2 Corinthians 6: 20) Amp.

Remember, we had other masters? O Lord our God, other masters besides You have ruled over us, but we will acknowledge and mention You name only. They [the former tyrant masters) are dead, they shall not live and reappear; they are powerless ghosts, they shall not rise and come back. Therefore You have visited and made an end of them, and caused
every memorial of them [every trace of their supremacy] to perish. (Isaiah 26: 13,14) Amp.

It takes a while to get used to the new Master. Seeing as how we were owned by the old one since birth, we will find that all our ways do not fit in with the new Master. His ways are totally different. We are not bought to be used and abused but to be
healed, loved and made whole. It is contrary to everything a survivor knows. Especially the trust. Having never met a human
I could trust, it has been very hard to learn to trust God. Yet, the battle is worth the prize!

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on
You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You and hopes confidently in You. So trust in the Lord, commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting rock, the Rock of ages.

(Isaiah 26: 3,4)Amp.

God's army is not like any human army.

Man's army is to insist that you be of a certain height, age, and education. They want the best of the best who will follow orders without thought or hesitation. There is a set time for boot camp and those who do not make it are kicked out. Advancement is not easy, especially the higher up you go. One walks a tightrope trying to be politically correct to be noticed for advancement. A very dog-eat-dog society.

Not so in God's army. It is a "come as you are" affair. The wounded, the discards of the world, are welcomed. There is no set
time for boot camp, and each individual is given a personal trainer. The weaponry is of an advanced form. There are no
drill sergeants. None who wish to stay are kicked out. Some will only learn the basics, while others will learn more advanced teaching. Yet, they will all be equally healed, taught and loved. There is much love in God's army, there is none in man's army.

In the King James version, it says, "Thou preventest not the blessings to come." (Psalms 21: 3)

Qadam?kaw?dam; a prim. root;
to project (one self), i.e. preceed; hence to anticipate, hasten, meet (usually for help) For You send blessings of good things to meet him; You set a crown of pure gold on his head.

Amplified version. He goes before us to anticipate our needs! Think on that! We are blessed because we are personally taught. We are personally taught because we have a divine relationship with our Heavenly Father through the atonement blood of His Son by His Holy Spirit.

Start with the fact that everyone is born knowing nothing. When we come to Christ, we are new creatures and must be taught everything. All are new and all start with basics.

He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation and Your condescension and gentleness have made me great. You have enlarged my steps under me, so that my feet have not slipped. I have pursued my enemies, and destroyed them, and did not turn back until they were consumed. I consumed them, and thrust them through , so that they did not arise; they fell at my feet. For You girded me with strength for the battle; those who rose up against me You subdued under me. You have made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me. The looked, but there was none to save; even to the Lord, but He did not answer them. Then I beat them small as the dust of the earth, I crushed them as the mire of the street, and scattered them abroad. (2 Samuel 22: 35-43) Amp.

As soldiers, we go through boot camp like any other soldier in an army. There is a need to know commanding officers, order of things, fitness to be attained, classes of learning, weaponry to know, and tactics to understand. There is no set time because, unlike the world army, we are to live what we learn as we learn it. One can learn the form, words, and ways of something to mimic and get away with it in the world. Not in God's army. Our Father is looking to be personal with each of His children. Jesus earned the right for me to stand before Him. His Holy Spirit fills my spiritual capacity to teach, guide, correct, and love me. How can I remain lost?

Therefore My people go into captivity [to their enemies] without knowing it and because the have no knowledge of God. And their honourable men, their glory, are famished, and their common people are parched with thirst. Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent and shrewd in their own sight. (Isaiah 5: 13,20,21) Amp.

Who is among you who [reverently] fears the Lord, who obeys the voice of His servant, yet who walks in darkness and deep trouble and has no shining splendour [in his heart]? Let him rely on, trust and be confident in the name of the Lord, and let him lean upon and be supported by His God. Behold, all you [enemies of your own selves] who attempt to kindle your own fire [and work out your own plan of salvation], who surround and gird yourselves with momentary sparks, darts and firebrands that you set aflame! Walk by the light of your self made fire, and in the sparks that you have kindled [for yourself, if you will]! But this shall you have from My hand: you shall lie down in grief and torment. (Isaiah 50: 10,11) Amp.

And the Lord said , For as much as this people draw near Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts and minds far from Me, and their fear and reverence for Me are a commandment of men that is learned by repetition [without any thought to their meaning]. Woe to those who seek to hide deep from the Lord their counsel, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, Who sees us? Who knows us? Oh, you perversity! You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be considered of no more account than the clay? Shall the thing that is made say of its maker, He did not make me or the thing that is formed say of him who formed it, He has no understanding? (Isaiah 29: 13,15,16) Amp.

When we are born, we are trained, either for good or bad. Those nurtured as in a well kept garden grow for good, those left to grow as weeds easily tend to bad. Human nature is a lot like water; it tends to go the easier route, which may not be the
best route. Yet, however, you are brought up, whatever your story, when we ask Jesus to be Lord of our lives, we become a
tended garden. Not only are we soldiers, but we learn how to be farmers, too.

In times past, before any country had a standing army, the average Joe would be available to fight from harvest to planting time. It was not uncommon for a good soldier to also be a farmer. Such people were ambassadors; they even learned (some of them) to fish and farm. True, the population was smaller, but the point was that all these various jobs were expected to be accomplished by one person. It was not an uncommon thought.

How well one did a job was noted, and average Joe could become a leader. As Christians, we are given multiple tasks to learn. How well we learn has a lot to do with not minding living in our skin or being around people. Our attitude will tell all. If we believe that these jobs are not for us, then read your Bible. These jobs are for everyone as life flows around them. Everyone creates their little world. It is who is allowed in their house and how much. It is the type of people they frequently are around and the job they choose to do.

People have a favourite eating house, entertainment place, and the list goes on. How we approach the things of life around us and our response to everyday life problems will tell our attitude.

Are you lazy or energetic? If you smoke cigarettes, do you only go around fellow smokers? Do you enjoy education and training, or do you see it as a chore, something you have to do? What do you do for fun? How do you spend your money? What do you consider is a "vacation." All these things speak of our attitudes.

How much will your individual attitudes, ways of being that do not line up with God's standard, lead you by the nose? What
things will cause you not to walk with God?

This is a place where ones individual opinion, thought or story, has nothing to do with the facts. In the world army, one is
pushed quickly to learn this point. In North America, Christians have a hard time with this. They live in countries of "rights,
individual freedoms." Yet, this is contrary to the life in Christ. Many do not understand having a "Master."

For if you live according to [the dictates of ] the flesh you will surely die. But if through the power of the (Holy) Spirit you
are habitually putting to death, making extinct, deadening, the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall (really and genuinely) live forever. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption the Spirit producing sonship in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba![That is,] Father! the Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God. And if we are [His] children, the we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ sharing His inheritance with Him; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.
(Romans 8: 13, 17) Amp.

His own iniquities shall ensnare the wicked, and he shall be held with the cords of his sin. He will die for lack of discipline
and instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he will go astray and be lost. There are certain things we need to learn, but much more we need to let go of.

Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life shall be many. I have taught you in the way of skillful and
godly Wisdom [which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God]; I have led you in paths of uprightness. When you walk, your steps shall not be hampered your path will be clear and open; and when you run you shall not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. (Proverbs 4: 10,13) Amp.

We can cause our own folly, problems, soap opera drama life. How so? Our old master trained us wrong. What and who are mine enemies and how do I fight them? It is wrong thinking, being led by wrong emotions and wrong habits. These are the individuals enemies. It is my wrong attitudes, wrong ways of being that create chaos in my life.

In my case it is so obvious that I do not know a myriad of subjects. Having not been around people or society much till I
am ten, there is just bunches of stuff that are every day to "others" and I have no clue. Once I understood that I did not
know, I proceeded to learn to know. Pick a subject. Manners, proper behaviour, speaking better, taking care of oneself. Do
understand, lack of knowledge does not mean dumb. People often make that mistake and treat me as stupid. Occasionally I say something to them that puts a nice look of shock on their face. On the whole I try to behave but some do irritate.

And you [He made alive], when you were dead [slain] by [your] trespasses and sins in which at one time you walked habitually.
You were following the course and fashion of this world were under the sway of the tendency of this present age following the
prince of the power of the air. (You were obedient to him and under his control,) the [demon] spirit that still constantly
works in the sons of disobedience, the careless, the rebellious and the unbelieving who go against the purposes of God. Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh our behaviour governed by our corrupt and sensual nature; obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings. We were, by nature children of [God's] wrath, and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind.

But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were [so] far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have been brought near. For He is [Himself] our peace our bond of unity and harmony. He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one (body), and has broken down (destroyed, abolished)the hostile dividing wall between us, by abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances which He annulled; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man, one new quality of humanity of the two so making peace. In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings (Gospel) of your salvation, and have believed in and relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long promised Holy Spirit. That [Spirit} is the guarantee of our inheritance, the first fruit, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage, in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring [complete] possession of it, to the praise of His glory.
(Ephesians 2: 1,3;13,15;1:13,14) Amp.

For it is through Him that we both [whether far of or near] now have an introduction (access) by one (Holy) Spirit to the Father
so that we are able to approach Him. Therefore you are no longer outsiders, exiles, migrants and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens; but you now share citizenship with the saints, God's own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself; and you belong to God's [own] household. Your are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone. In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously; and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated and sacred to the presence of the Lord. In Him and in fellowship with one another you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit. (Ephesians 2: 18, 22) Amp.

Now, it may seem like a lot of words but chew on them, let them walk around your head and settle in your heart. These are your commanding officers: your general and commander of the army. It is not my words that bring life and understanding, it is God's word that does!

When it says "far or near," one of the meanings is whether you are a baby in boot camp or a mature Christian walking close to
God, you have His Holy Spirit dwelling in you. Remember, the character from 2 Peter 1: 3-11 that we are to cultivate? Well it
is a growing process that is like Jacobs ladder. Look.

CHRISTIAN LOVE
BROTHERLY LOVE
GODLINESS (PIETY)
STEADFASTNESS(PATIENCE, ENDURANCE)
SELF-CONTROL
KNOWLEDGE
VIRTUE(EXCELLENCE, RESOLUTION, CHRISTIAN ENERGY)
FAITH
DIVINE PROMISES
DILIGENCE

I supply the diligence and add that to the divine promises. I take my faith and stand on the divine promise. His Holy Spirit
adds to my diligence and faith to help me gain virtue (Jesus's virtue in me) which allows me to gain self control over my mind
and body which develops being steady, endurable, patient, then I can develop godliness which allows to love my fellow believer and therefore attain Christian love. As a soldier of Christ I am expected to know my marching orders. They are:

And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why do you look sad and dejected? If you do well, will you not be accepted?

And if you do not do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you , and you must master it. (Genesis 4: 6,7) Amp.

To learn to do well, to recognize sin when we do not. It is my job to master the desires of sin that crouch at my doorstep,
begging to be let in and entertained. If I do not fight them, deal with them then I loose mastery of my self. I give up self
control in that area of life. I can put whatever veneer on the outside I want, but the sin that I let in will always lurk
beneath, ready to be exposed to the world. How much I apply myself to the job (diligence), and how focused I stay will
determine how well I climb the ladder. Think of it this way.

The character set out before us is like growing a tree. Faith starts the roots growing, then adding your diligence to the
divine promises you grow more faith which grows more roots. Virtue feeds your faith as it grows in you developing more roots
of knowledge. As your knowledge grows, your faith grows and so do your virtues which all make your root foundation strong, then you can sprout up. As your knowledge grows it starts the development of a trunk for the limbs and leaves. You knowledge develops self-control which is self restraint. From the self-control your trunk thickens as steadfastness sets in, which is patience and endurance. The trunk thickens and a limb of godliness begins to grow, and as godliness grows another limb grows. This new limb is brotherly affection and as the new limbs grow in strength, it then sends out another limb. This is
Christian love. Notice, you can not love your fellow believer until you develop godliness (piety).

It is on this tree that the fruit will grow. The fruit of the Holy Spirit. You can not have the fruit if you have not tree for
it to grow on. But the fruit of the (Holy) Spirit, [the work which His presence within accomplishes is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness; (meekness, humility) gentleness, self control (self restraint, continence; sexual self-restraint). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]
(Galations 5: 22,23) Amp.

Soldiers are known for being base, aggressive, automatic. At least those of the world. Leave time is "wine, woman, and song."

Not so in God's army. We are to be pure, peaceful, praising God for His goodness in our life. That does not mean Christians are wimps. Many Christians since Jesus have fought in wars. Especially the first and second World Wars. If Christians had not joined, we would be dictated to by the likes of Hitler. Standing against the darkness is more spiritual warfare than physical warfare. Yet it is warfare that is different that worldly warfare.

God loves the sinner but hates sin. Through the blood of Christ we are cleansed. It is our job to learn what our job is. Like
everyone you wake up in the morning. A soldier gets up and gets dressed. So should Christian soldiers.

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord, be empowered through your union with Him; draw your strength from Him that strength which His [boundless] might provide. Put on God's whole armour, the armour of a heavy armed soldier, which God supplies,that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood, contending only with physical opponents but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. Therefore put on God's complete armour, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

It is a conscious thought to put on your armour, but first put on your tunic. Likewise you that are younger and of lesser rank be subject to the elders, the ministers and spiritual guides of the church, giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel. Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility, as a garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from
you, with freedom from pride and arrogance, toward one another. (1 Peter 5: 5a) Amp.

Stand therefore, hold your ground, having tightened the belt of truth around your loins, and having put on the breastplate of
integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God; And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm footed stability, the promptness and the readiness produce by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. Lift up over all the (covering) shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword the Spirit wields, which is the word of God. Pray at all times, on every occasion, in ever season, in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty.

To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people). Look carefully then how you walk. Live purposefully and worthy and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise, sensible, intelligent people; Making the very most of the time-`buying up each opportunity- because the days are evil. Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is. (Eph. 6: 10-18; 5: 15-17) Amp.

If it sounds complicated; it is not. We are to clothe ourselves with Christ.

But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh, put to stop to
thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature, to [gratify its] desires (lusts). (Rom.13: 14) Amp.

For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ, into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the
Messiah, have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ. (Gal 3: 27)Amp.

Lo, I am going to come like a thief! Blessed, happy, to be envied,is he who stays awake (alert) and who guards his clothes
so that he may not be naked and [have the shame of being] seen exposed! (Revelations 16: 15)

You wake up in the morning, and you thank the Lord for the clothes, having washed them clean in the blood of Jesus the night
before. You put your armour on these clothes. The battle is in the mind, so you should wear the helmet of salvation. Your breastplate is being honest and moral. You tie God's reality and truth around you to strengthen your walk. His Word and His promises for every life situation are your shield and sword. Life may say this, but God's Word says differently. Stand on the promises. He is faithful and true to His Word.

Greener than green, dumber than dumb, is how I describe many years of my life. The song by Freddie Fender, "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights," described much of my life also. Considering how I was, it is incredible that I survived to fifty-five. Yet, I am not amazed. I have always run on sheer cussedness, stubbornness.

God has taken that, softened it and given it back as stability, steadfastness, perseverance, and patience. I will always have to
deal with the warps caused by life, but by the time I die, the holes will be smaller, and all will be clean of festering sores. In the beginning, you could drive a semi-truck through, but now you can only drive a Volkswagen through, and it continues.

I only have today. I am a very before-my-face person. The present reality is all I see. Out of sight, out of mind applies
to me. I do not mean to be rude to anyone, but I only think of what is before me today. So, it is today that I endeavour to live
my best. My best today may not be as functional tomorrow. Does not matter. By His Spirit and His Word, I am not alone, so on the days that I do not do well, I know in Jesus I have a sane mind, even if I do not seem to. If all I do is hang onto Him,
keep my world small, and put my feet where they should go, then I am all right for today. I do what He puts across my path, and I am looking to learn how to do each job and task with His ways and thoughts.

I desire to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant," when I see my Father in heaven, get to meet Jesus and thank the Holy
Spirit.

I have met a variety of Christians. Some understand spiritual warfare and do fine giving God the glory. Others, Satan does not
have to bother because they see him in every wrong thing, behind every bush and on every doorknob. They give Satan the glory by attributing everything to him. Then there are the Christians who do not want to know of demons and warfare because they might have nightmares. After all, Jesus defeated them.

God is a God of balance. Stay out of the extremes of doctrine. Build on this foundation; Jesus is the Son of God; He was born of a virgin birth by the Holy Spirit; He died for all sin, yours and mine, everyone; He arose victorious from death into life and is a living being. These things are foundations. A warrior knows he is not always fighting his whole life. There are times for other things than fighting, but no matter the job,

DO YOUR BEST AND LET GOD DO THE REST!!!!!!

There is still one weapon, the greatest, that I have not spoken of. It is generally left to the last when it should be used
first. It is prayer.

PRAY FIRST; TIZZY LATER!!!!

Do not fret or have any anxiety or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything by prayer
and petition [definite requests] with thanksgiving continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding, shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honourable and seemly, whatever is just, and whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things. Fix your minds on them. (Philippians 4: 6-8) Amp.

Now do understand. This is the bare basics. Many excellent authors teach and speak on warfare. If you are interested, you will study the things of God in depth. By God's grace and His Spirit, you will learn to discern that which is of Him, that which is of Satan, and that which is of man. Then you will walk well in life.

Consider these things as a soldier.

Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped or encounter trials of any sort, or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.

But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed (with no defects), lacking in nothing. If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the living God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.

Only it must be in faith that he asks, with no wavering, no hesitating, and no doubting. For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea, that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, [For being as he is] a man of two minds-hesitating, dubious, irresolute- [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything (he thinks, feels, decides).

Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his elevation [as a Christian, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God];(James 1: 2-8)Amp.

Now here is some tactical lessons.

Blessed, happy, to be envied is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.

The promise comes with salvation, but it is as you apply yourself to acquiring the promise that you receive the crown. Do you know yourself? Pay attention and remember your marching orders.(we will review)

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you, and you must master it. (Gen.4: 7) Amp.

With that in mind, look at the following verse. There are only three places things come from: God, Satan, or man. Each has its own way, do you know yours?

Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God: for God is incapable of being tempted by [what is] evil and He Himself tempts no one.

a: but every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed by his own evil desire (lust, passions).

b: then the evil desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully matured brings forth death. (James 1: 13-15) Amp.

You need to know what your heart, mind, and emotions are doing. You need to know how you operate, what your bend is, and what you tend to. What is your "modus operandus." For short, what is your M.O.?

Do not be misled, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning[as in an eclipse].

And it was of His own [free] will that He gave us birth (as sons) by [His] Word of Truth so that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures, [a sample] of what He created to be consecrated to Himself. (James 1: 16-18) Amp.

Have you comprehended what these words are saying? God chose to create us, He chose to give His Son for us, He chose to give us His Spirit. What else is there to give?

Allow yourself to understand, and your heart, mind, and soul will be filled with the knowledge of being loved. You and I are important to God. We are His children, and we should strive to live in a manner that befits a good soldier of Christ.

Here is incredible weaponry. Some may be harder to learn to handle than others but through 2 Pet. character and the fruit of the Spirit growing, you can.

Understand [this], my beloved brethren.

1) Let every man be quick to hear, (a ready listener,)
2) slow to speak,
3) slow to take offence and
4) get angry. For the man's anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires].

A) So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness and
B) in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit, receive and
C) welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls.

HOW
But obey the message; be doers of the Word, and not merely listeners to it,

WHY
betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].

HOW
For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully
at his [own] natural face in a mirror, for he thoughtfully observes himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he
was like.

So then we must

But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it. and PERSEVERES in looking into it,

a) being not a heedless listener who forgets, but
b) an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing, in his life of obedience.

Now PAY ATTENTION!!! VERY SERIOUS MATTER!!!!

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, piously observant of the external duties of his faith, AND DOES NOT BRIDLE HIS TONGUE but deludes his own heart, this person's religious service is worthless (futile, barren).

How to avoid this:

External religious worship (religion as it is expressed in outward acts) that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this:

1) help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and
2) to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the
world.