You don’t have to look very far on any of your social media platforms to realize that our society consists of people groups who can’t stand one another. There is piercing and hurtful speech spilling out with the intent to tear others down. Back and forth stinging comments are being expressed with an aim to wound others while feeling gratification that they “stood their ground” on the issue. So, the fighting continues. Sadly, the bitterness and hurt that people are carrying in their heart is being exposed on a public forum. God sees things differently. Yes, we are in a fight, just not with one another!
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”. Ephesians 6:12
We are all influenced, either by light or by darkness. Depending on what is influencing you now will decide how you respond to others. If you are influenced by light you will see the person in front of you as one created in the image of God just like you are, even though you may be in total disagreement with their viewpoint. If you are influenced by darkness, you will see the person in front of you as evil and feel a need to destroy them either physically or at least verbally along with their “evil” ideology. Remember, our battle is not against a person but against the spirit that is influencing the person. Trying to tear down a person only feeds fuel to the fire of disunity and distrust. If we can tear down the dark influence over someone, their lofty opinion changes!
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God … -2 Corinthians 10:3-5
So God has given us spiritual weapons for this fight that are divinely powerful. Whether it be through a prophetic word, a word of knowledge, a word of wisdom, or a word of prayer, His Spirit will direct us with His loving words that reach past the mind and land directly into the heart of the hearers. Remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s prompting.
“… so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11
Here are some very important instructions from the word of God to keep in mind in all our relationships
… to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior Titus 3:2-6
Let’s fight the good fight of faith, standing on the word of God, speaking the truth of God in love and leaving the outcome in His hands. In everything Stand for Truth!