INNER CONFLICT

" I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me" (Romans 7:21).

Devotion 1 of 5

INTRODUCTION

Our relationship to God through Jesus Christ is a spiritual one. It is not realized in the flesh, and does not consist of merely external procedures. In fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy, God has written His law upon the hearts of the regenerate (Jer. 31:33; Heb. 8:10). Those who have been reconciled to God serve the law of God with their mind (Rom. 7:25). Their thoughts are centered upon things "pertaining to life and godliness," and their affection is set "on things above" (2 Pet. 1:3; Col. 3:2). In confirmation of their acceptance, the Holy Spirit has been sent into their hearts (Gal. 4:6). He brings intimacy between the Father and His children, denoted by the expression "Abba, Father." These things take place within the individual.

SATAN SEEKS TO DISRUPT

Because of this condition, Satan seeks to cause disruption within. Working through the Adamic, or natural part of us, he instigates distracting thoughts and imaginations. These are called "fiery darts," or "flaming arrows," in Scripture (Eph. 6:17). They are called "fiery" because they excite the fleshly nature, inflaming it and causing spiritual infection. They are called "darts" because they are often piercing and painful. They are an intrusion into the minds of the saved. These are "imaginations" and "thoughts" that are to be cast down by believers. They are not an expression of the primary person, but are a Satanic attempt to drag us from the holy place. Misinterpreted, they will lead to captivity and spiritual bondage. Duly checked, their presence will confirm ones sonship.

YOU HAVE WEAPONRY

We have been provided spiritual weaponry to combat this situation. These weapons are not philosophical in nature, but effective. It is written that they are "mighty through God" and, properly used, will cast down bastions of thought that stand between the believer and God. The nature of this weaponry is uniquely adapted to the warfare. Do you remember how it is described? "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Cor 10:3-5).

Our battle is one of the mind! The "strongholds" which we demolish are bastions of thought that have captured men--wrong ideas, improper views, disruptive thoughts, and vain philosophies. In your own personal life, your new birth has inducted a fierce conflict of thoughts. Satan is aggressive to defile your mind--your thinking processes. He hurls thoughts at you in the form of lusts, pride, and other imaginations. There is no way to emphasize the jeopardy of being ignorant of this warfare.

-- TOMORROW: A PROPER INTERPRETATION --