Spiritual warfare

Since we put our post “Calvinisms” online, we have apparently suffered a lot of efforts to crash or otherwise act violently against our site. Of course, violence is the last refuge of the incompetent, but the incompetent carrying out the equivalent of online road rage can and do still hurt others. However, Christians should not fear him who can hurt the physical body, but instead fear Him who can cast both body and soul into hell.
Matthew 10:28 – And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
In fact, all mankind, no matter what side they’re on, should fear Him who has the authority to cast them into everlasting torment in hell. The tragedy is that most will not fear God until it is too late!

It is clear that anyone who is in a genuine Christian ministry (in obedience to sovereign God) will suffer opposition and attacks. In fact, the Bible makes it very clear that the more a person desires to serve Jesus Christ, the more they will be opposed by the world for doing so.
2 Timothy 3:12 – Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Christians are definitely called to suffer. We are called to follow the suffering example of Christ.
1 Peter 2:21 – For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
On this basis it’s impossible to justify a Christian life where we are able demand to have every blessing of health and wealth laid on by God merely because we want to enjoy life. Too many who call themselves Christians expect, no, even demand of God that He give to them what they ask of Him!

Why did Jesus say that any who did not take up his cross and follow after Him was not worthy of Him?
Matthew 10:38 – And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
And any who did not take up his cross and follow Jesus could not be His disciple?
Luke 14:27 – And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Quite bluntly this means that if you are not prepared to be called to suffer for Christ, then you are not a true disciple of Christ; you are literally not worth being a disciple! That is, you are not a genuine Christian! If you want to enjoy the world then you cannot be a genuine Christian. The best you can be is a “wannabee” Christian, a de-facto Christian, a P-plater Christian. You cannot be the real deal if you cannot accept suffering!

Taking up your cross was to forsake the world. To take up your cross you have to make a serious decision to lose the world.
Matthew 16:24-26 – ²⁴Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ²⁵For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. ²⁶For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
If you take up your cross, you will lose your life for the sake of Christ, yet if you choose to lose your life for the sake of Christ, you will find real life in Christ. The life you get is not the life that the world gives, in much the same way that the peace Christ gives is not the peace that the world gives.
John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Christians have an enemy in satan and his demons whose main desire is to oppose anything that is of God. They hated God from the time of their rebellion, and oppose anyone who opposes them in God’s name. In particular, satan has made genuine Christians a special target of his anger, and tries to do his best to prevent Christians from properly carrying out their ministries for God. This opposition is generally from all those in the world who have chosen to serve satan rather than God. Such people are still in bondage to satan by their own choice to oppose the people of God.

If a Christian is not suffering opposition for ministry work, then he must seriously consider if his ministry is actually a calling from God. If suffering marks the true Christian, then a lack of suffering may mark the lesser or even non-genuine Christian. Suffering therefore is likely to be an indication that your ministry is important enough for satan to oppose in any significant way.

But genuine Christians have some powerful weapons at their disposal. All things that independently come into their lives (excluding things that they have chosen or influenced themselves) will work together for good.
Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.
This good is as seen from God’s perspective, an overall view that even permits suffering to occur for the sake of God’s plan for mankind.

We endure all things so that others may be saved to the uttermost.
2 Timothy 2:10 – Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
We suffer all things so that the gospel will not be hindered.
1 Corinthians 2:12b – Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

Not only do all things work together for good for genuine Christians, but they are more than conquerors over the opposition because of Christ who loves them. No matter how much Christians are persecuted, God’s promise is still that they will win the battle, which means that their enemies (led by satan and his demons) are more than losers. No matter what it looks like on the surface, Christians can only lose if they choose to lose!
Romans 8:36-37 – ³⁶As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. ³⁷Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

For this reason, Christians are to give God thanks for all things. This does not mean only those things that we think are good, but all things without exception. If God has permitted it into our lives to work together for good, then we must thank and praise Him for everything that permits this good to be worked through us.
Ephesians 5:20 – Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

What all this means is that all who oppose genuine Christians in ministry for God are taking on more than they can chew. No matter what it appears like, the reality is that behind the scenes God will still be working His plan out for His glory and those who oppose are taking on sovereign God Himself. This may not seem serious to some, at least, not for the moment, but when you stand before God in judgment one day, you will answer for it all. In fact, everything that everyone has done, whether good or bad, will be judged one day, Christians and non-Christians alike.
2 Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.

Those who have trusted in their own understanding and have refused to acknowledge God’s right to their lives will be judged on their works and found in debt. Those who have trusted in God’s promises for forgiveness and eternal life will be counted righteous by their faith.
Romans 4:4-5 – ⁴Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. ⁵But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
This is the choice for all mankind. You will be the servant of whomever you choose to obey, either God or the world (mammon, satan etc). Your eternal future depends upon the choice you make.

Those who oppose God’s children will wish they had been stopped before they did so.
Matthew 18:6-7 – ⁶But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea. ⁷Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Harsh words indeed, but if the Bible is right, if Jesus is speaking the truth here, then one day those who think it good to serve satan by opposing God’s people with violence of any sort will wish they had been drowned before they could have done such atrocity. Christians do indeed have powerful weapons with which to oppose those who persecute them in any way.

If you wish to see the plain truth about calvinism as a cult, please follow this link – “Calvinisms”. My challenge is to test all things, think them through for yourself. Do not disbelieve anything I say simply because some expert says I’m wrong. Everyone will stand before God one day and He won’t forgive you if you have believed something wrong on the advice of another whom you trusted. Don’t accept it because I have said it, either. Do your own research and test what I’ve said. Be responsible for your own beliefs.

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