BEING THE TEMPLE OF GOD
-Winning Spiritual & Physical battles
Your body is the temple of the living God, and the Spirit of God dwells in it (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 2 Corinthians 6:16). In our bodies, we have physical and spiritual battles daily and issue basis. Does the given theme lead to understanding the words: Battles - Battlefield – Weapons, Enemies, and training to overcome?
TRAINING
1 Timothy 4:8: For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come (AMPC). As the saying goes, “Exercise is good for your body, but religion helps you in every way. It promises life now and forever.” These words are worthwhile and should not be forgotten (CEV).
According to Ephesians 6:12, ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Success never handed out, you must take it, but you don’t take it by force. You enjoy success by becoming a successful person internally. When you can succeed inside, you will start to think like a successful person outside through the results will show on the outside.
Tell yourself this: Failure is not the opposite of success. It's exactly part of success. You are not a failure and you need to quit telling yourself that you could have avoided failing because no successful person ever avoids the pain in hopes of the gains. "If you want to succeed, double your failure rate. (Tom Watson, CEO of IBM). Discover how to bounce back from failures and rewrite your script of life into manifesting greater desires. You can start changing the cause and start seeing the effect in you.
Mistakes are the best lessons, but the experience is the best teacher. Almost every successful person begins with two beliefs: The future can be better than the present. I have the power to make it so (David Brooks).
ENEMY
They are the Invisible Foes, forces who are working against the Kingdom of God. The enemy is named in the Bible by multiple names according to his nature and character.
Satan is our enemy. He turns men from light into darkness (Acts 26:18, Luke 23:31). He is the prince of the world (John 14:30, 12:31, 16:11). He is the god of this age blinds the minds (2 Corinthians 4:4). He is a lawless (2 Thessalonians 2:8,9) and an evil one (Matthew 13:19, 38). He is an accuser (Zechariah 3:1).
He is a Devil (1 Peter 5:8) like a roaring lion to devour - 1 Peter 5:8, he is sinning from the beginning - 1 John 3:8, he is a murderer from the beginning - John 8:44, his native language is a lie - John 8:44, He is the Father of lies, and a liar - John 8:44, He holds the death -Hebrews 2:14.
We also wrestle with men who do not have regards for God, and his values (Psalm 86:14). We wrestle against the false prophets, false teachers, and cunning workers (2 Corinthians 11:12-14).
BATTLE
According to Romans 7:23, the battle is our inward battle. The battle is over the matters related to our DAILY CARES. Though it looks very funny, that is the reality. The war is for cloth, food, shelter, name, fame, authority and power.
According to Matthew 6:25, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Matthew 6:31-32, ‘So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?, For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
We battle for food, a name, for authority and power, for a legacy to establish something like a memorial pillar. We want to live a throne to our children and grandchildren known as the birthright.
Jesus revealed these battles in the book of Revelation to his disciple John and the blessings to the one who overcomes them. These are classified and addressed to the seven churches of his day. The battle continues from Genesis to revelation.
There is a call to overcome Addiction, dissatisfaction? Are you addicted to something? Are you dissatisfied with the job, status and facilities? These are the battles of our body and the promises of God for over-comers.
KINDS OF BATTLEFIELD
1. Battle for Food/feeding:
The first battle lost over food by Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:16-17, 3:6). Jesus had overcome that temptation of eating (Luke 4:3-4), and he promised to give the fruit of the tree of life to the overcomers of this battle (Revelation 2:7). Lust is the simple word we can use for this battle (1 Peter 2:11- the lusts of the body fights against the soul, James 4:1 -the lusts of the body leads to fighting among us).
Man is trying to feed his lustful eyes, ears, minds, and emotions and never satisfied. It’s a lifelong battle for every human flesh. Eyes and ear never satisfied (Ecclesiastes 1:8, 4:8, 5:10 eyes never satisfied with money and riches), Appetite is not satisfied (Ecclesiastes 6:7, Isaiah 29:8).
Do you know a hungry stomach, an empty pocket, and a broken heart can teach the best lessons of life?
"What if you let go of every bit of control and every urge that you have, right down to the most infinitesimal urge to control anything, anywhere, including anything that may be happening with you at this moment? If you were able to give up control absolutely, totally, and completely, then you would be a spiritually free being." (Adyashanti)
2. Battle for name and fame:
Men battle to establish a name on the earth over one another. Jesus never took it for granted but humbled. So, the Lord has exalted and established his name above all names (Philippians 2:9-11, Acts 4:12) - Jesus has promised to give a new name to the overcomers. That means those who want to give up their ideas to establish their name on the earth will have this blessing of a new name given by Jesus. (Revelation 2:17).
Your struggles so far have not been in vain, as they have given you the wisdom of divine understanding. Do not seek approval from a lower level of rank, as you will only become disenchanted by the futility in trying to conform to a place you have outgrown. Perceive what is within your elevated frequency of awareness, and you will continue to rise to new heights of wisdom and understanding.
3. Battle for Authorities:
Men are fighting for authority, power over one another. In this battle, the main enemy is Satan. We forgot the common enemy Satan and Devil. Jesus has promised to the victors that he will give authority over nations (Revelation 2:26).
Do you know that miracles can happen only when you get rid of the concept of impossibilities? Do you need to allow yourself to experience the magic of knowing? Whatever you do, don't get stuck on the one thing that ruins your day. Life is too short to waste on negativity. Real-life miracles happen when you're at the "right place" at the "right time" right?
Anger is evil, so you dump it. Fear is awful, so you face it. Memories are sweet and cherish them. "The major value in life is not what you get. The major value in life is what you become."(Jim Rohn).
4. Battle for Luxurious:
Men are fighting to look smart and to have attractive attire. They spend a lot on the best clothes and robes to look smart and to have a luxurious life. The victors will be given robes of righteousness and the garments of beauty (Revelation 3:5). All that luxurious and splendid has passed away (Revelation 18:14).
Gratitude is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it grows, and the more power you have to use it on your behalf. Ungrateful means losing everything. To be grateful is to find blessings in everything. It is the most powerful attitude to adopt, for there are blessings in everything (Alan Cohen).
Gratitude improves your - Overall health as you start to appreciate your body. It helps to look at life challenges. It helps to have overall happiness. Energy Level help you to jump out of bed feeling grateful first thing in the morning. We believe in cause and effect, not luck.
5. Battle for leaving a legacy
Men wanted to leave a legacy of their own. Some wanted to leave behind books, ensamples to the future generation. The real legacy is the legacy of Jesus. The legacy of love and forgiveness found in Christ. Those who overcome their motives and overcome. The victors will have a memorial pillar established by God (Revelation 3:12).
Have you played with a magnifying glass before under the hot sun? When the sunlight passes through the magnifying glass and shines onto a piece of leaf, it just starts burning off. I want you to focus on what you want. I want you to remember this: "What you focus on expands...", This means that where you place your focus, you will start to see the things manifest into your life.
It's so important to identify beliefs. Once you identify your negative thought and bring it into the light, you will see it doesn't belong to you. That it came from your parents; - It came from your family; - It came from your society; - It came from your friends. And you bought into it. But it isn't yours. Holding on to something that isn't yours is called theft. Don't be a belief thief! Let go of what isn't yours.” (Bashar)
6. Battle for thrones:
Men are Striving to sit on the thrones. They are thrones of arrogancy, cruelty, injustice, and unrighteousness. Those who humble themselves will be enthroned by God (Revelation 3:21).
See, the brain can't distinguish between an imagined event and a real one. That means IF you can "imagine" a specific miracle in your life…like doubling your income. Then your brain carries on as if it’s real. But only if you can trigger the right source of "energy" in a specific part of your brain. Every next level of your life will demand a different version of yourself. Are you ready to uplevel your life?
7. Battle for Inheritance:
Leave the Inheritance of goodness (Revelation 21:7).
As we grow up, we tend to internalize a lot of unnecessary limitations that create fears, doubts, and insecurities. “For the person who has learned to let go and let be, nothing can ever get in the way again.” (Meister Eckhart). Accept your past without regrets. Handle your present with confidence. Face your future without fear.
WEAPONS
It is not an easy task to overcome our physical battles. So, God has provided the Spiritual weapons with that we need to resist the devil - James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:9.
1. Name of Yahweh - not sword, spear and javelin – (1 Samuel 17:45, Psalm 44:5).
2. Blood of the Lamb & Word of the Testimony- (Revelation 12:11). Divine power - 2 Corinthians 10:4.
3. Armour of the light – (Romans 13:12).
4. The full armour of God - Ephesians 6:11,13.
Belt of Truth (Ephesians 6:14).
The breastplate of Righteousness with Faith and love (Ephesians 6:14, Isaiah 59:17, so-called the Weapons of righteousness - 2 Corinthians 6:7,
faith leads to victory- 1 John 5:4).
Shoes of Gospel of Peace (Ephesians 6:15),
Shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16),
Sword of the Spirit is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews 4:12 active, sharper, penetrative).
The hope of salvation as a helmet (Ephesians 6:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:8).
Jesus Christ is our Commanding officer (2 Timothy 2:4), He has authority over enemies (Luke 10:19).
Therefore, we are conquerors through him (Romans 8:37), his grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9), and the Spirit of God helps us to pray in our weaknesses (Romans 8:26).
