“If you are to
lift it up in victory against this dangerous enemy you must first give yourself
completely to the leading of the Spirit in God's Word.
Since it is much
more dangerous to part with God's truth than with our lives, heretics or
seducers are more to be feared than persecutors. It is far worse to have our
souls damned by God than to have our bodies killed by man. If the martyrs had
dreaded death more than heresy they could never have walked willingly into
persecutors' flames.
The sword of the
Spirit in another person's hand will not defend you. If you are to lift it up
in victory against this dangerous enemy you must first give yourself completely
to the leading of the Spirit in God's Word. The outward expression of Scripture
is only the shell, and the meaning is the pearl, which you must search for
until you find it. "Rev.
2:7 (AMP) He who is
able to hear, let him listen to and
give heed to what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). To him who
overcomes (is victorious), I will grant to eat [of the fruit] of the tree of
life, which is in the paradise of God. God spoke an imperative
ear, not a suggestion-- we must listen to what the Spirit says in the Word as
we hear or read it, for the one who has an ear for the Spirit will not have an
ear for the seducer.
To help you seek
and find meaning in the Word, look through these windows that follow.
The only way you
will ever know the mind of God in His Word is for the Spirit to reveal it to
you. But the holy God will not take a filthy hand and lead you into
understanding: "Dan.
12:10 (AMP) Many shall
purify themselves and make themselves white and be tried, smelted, and refined, but the wicked shall do
wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but the teachers and those who are wise shall understand.
The angel who took Lot's daughters into the house struck the Sodomites with
blindness so that they would grope for the door but not find it-- and so are
those who come to Scripture with unclean hearts. The wicked have the Word of
God but only the holy have "the mind of Christ 1Cor. 2:16 (AMP) For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and
purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and
instruct Him and give Him knowledge?
But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.
Paul persuades
Christians with these words: "Rom.
12:2 (AMP) 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 your 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].”
Quoted material from,
”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by
Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617
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