Tamej shangaro chho jindagi

Marun shun kahun? Uklatat charu maan

Ek tapkun bhog, ek chaptee bandagi.

(c) Max Babi

Transcreated in English

You yourself plough the field

you yourself adorn a life

What can I say about myself? Inside a boiling cauldron

One drop of carnality, one pinch of worship.

(c) Max Babi

We use the word ‘spiritual’ to distinguish those things that are not earthly but pertain to divine matters. For us, these terms are special terms used exclusively in connection with God. To be spiritual minded is not an ability that can be acquired by human beings on their own. Rather the ability is only imparted by God through the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him (simply because they are beyond the capacity of the earthly mind); nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual (having the help of the Holy Spirit) judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one”, 1 Cor 2: 14, 15.

Such a mental attitude as referred to in the quotation cited above cannot be attained unless God grants it. To begin with, the person must have been born of water and the Spirit. The other two qualifications are (a) being a healthy member of an anointed church (b) being one who walks seriously in the path of sanctification observing all the discipline found therein. Thereafter, knowledge improves as his experience in the path of sanctification progresses.

The antithesis of spirituality is mere intellectual capacity, prestige consciousness, and a lack of the poverty of spirit referred to in Mt 5:3. God is indeed only too willing to grant it to all those who are genuinely eager to receive it with a real hunger and thirst, because it is a part of the righteousness referred to in Mt 5:6.

The purpose of this study, about the three perilous forces, is not to engage in something intellectual but spiritual, and for every spiritual favour, we need the power of the Holy Spirit. Every progress in our spiritual life is by His grace only. But it is also equally important to understanding that we should never take such favours from God for granted. We need at this time His special favour for our further growth, and so we must implore God humbly for such a favour. May God grant us to grow spiritually, with more spiritual knowledge and clarity. May He also enable us to correct ourselves whenever necessary. We need this growth not only for our own healthy progress, but also in order to be effective witnesses in a spiritually sinking world.

The next preparation is to equip ourselves to deal effectively against the following three perilous forces faced especially whenever we are involved in any serious, spiritual endeavour.

• The environment around us
• One’s own carnal mind
• Satan and his agents

The environment around us
Spiritual people face many obstacles from the environment around them, whether it is an electricity failure, an unexpected visitor, a transport problem, an unusual problem to do with the servant maid, or some other emergency. It is by the grace of God that a believer never finds these problems totally overwhelming.

If the environmental hazards are solved, let us not think that it is automatic but rather let us acknowledge that the problem was solved by divine intervention even if we had failed to pray. God understands our anxiety and our deep desire for whatever spiritual endeavour we are engaged in. As an example, I can speak of one member who could not get leave to attend this church retreat, but found himself able to attend, by God’s providence working through mysterious circumstances. In my own case, a school function across the road from us with the blaring loudspeakers came to an abrupt end just before the noise could affect our retreat.

Strangely such problems are experienced by living churches, whereas the activities organized by dead churches often seem to go on with ease. The lesson we learn from these things at this point is, that in spite of adverse circumstances, believers must be able to circumvent them, if not change them when we plead for God’s help.

So far we dealt with the environment as a distraction. We should not forget that it could be an attraction as well a distraction. That is why the warning, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him”, 1 Jn 2: 15. That could be a serious peril though its sting may not be so apparent to many. If God’s love is not in a person he cannot be a Christian.

Every non-Christian is knowingly or unknowingly in rebellion against the God of the Bible because he is enslaved by the satanically-controlled world system. The love of the Father cannot be in such people. This is not a reference to the physical, material world as such, but the invisible spiritual system of evil dominated by Satan and all that it offers in opposition to God, His word, and His people. “Adulterers and Adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God”, James 4: 4.

One’s own carnal mind
Even after our spiritual re-generation, our carnal mind is not closed for good, but it is being crucified. It is a day-to-day task of a believer who takes up his cross daily.

This situation is like an object in unstable equilibrium. That is the struggle pictured in Rom 7: 23. That is also why we are reminded: “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit”, Rom 8: 9. Having stated this reminder, a conditional clause is added as, “…. if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you”. Between vs. 8 and 11 this conditional “if” is repeated four times reminding us about the unequal-equilibrium state in every spiritual person.

In 1 Cor 3: 1, there is a disappointment expressed, because of believers giving in and stumbling because of the unstable equilibrium (And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.); so also in Heb 5: 12. Let us always bear in mind that “a carnal mind is enmity against God, (the reason being that) it is not subject to the law of God….”, Rom 8: 7. We are strictly commanded to “walk in the Spirit”, Gal 5: 16. It is a condition to escape falling into the traps set by the flesh to sin against God and so the command “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh”, vs. 16.

In order to control our carnal mind which is not yet dead we ought to strictly fulfill the condition highlighted above. It is going to be uncomfortable to many, though not for all, reminiscent of the key words “many” and “few”.

Spiritual life is functioning in a war front. In this warfare the carnal mind plays the worst havoc compared with the first and the third ones. It won’t be an exaggeration if it is stated that a large percentage of people in hell would concede that this hazard had been the main cause for their dreadful fate. If that be so, we could very well imagine how important it should be to deal with it and to plan systematically for an effective answer to this peril.

Satan and his agents
Satan and his agents harbour bitter hatred towards spiritual persons. It is not clearly explained in the word of God as to how exactly they harm spiritual people. But we have the following warning:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Eph 6: 10-11)

All we know from these two verses is that the devil is a formidable foe to deal with. Comparing scripture with scripture we learn that the devil has two categories of agencies, one comprising the inner circle with his own deputies, the False Prophet and the Antichrist, and the other comprising ‘principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this age and the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places’ (Eph 6: 12) as his agents. The latter include demonic spirits also.

Like flies and mosquitoes, these evil forces work on human beings to cause spiritual disease. They are in charge of most of the churches and Theological institutes, serving under the guidance of Satan their boss.

Because of Christ’s victory over these forces by His atoning sacrifice and resurrection from the dead (Eph 1: 18 – 21; Col 1: 13), Christ can shield His true believers against these forces. Those who do not believe are firmly under the control of these evil agents. Even in the case of unbelievers, God keeps these evil forces from totally destroying them (Eph 2: 2). But He may give them up sooner or later. We need the protection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in order to avail His protecting shield, we should be His true disciples.

Prayer for God’s help
Towards managing all these three perils, praying is very important. Prayer cannot be used like an Aladdin’s lamp. For effective prayer, the person’s consistent relationship with God is important. That is one of the reasons why I endeavour to din into the ears of every member the need to improve our relationship with God during normal times as different from trying times.

Secondly, prayer is meant for the disciples of the Lord. Ironically, in Christendom, the word ‘prayer’ is so casually used, especially in dead churches. When we were nominal Christians in dead churches we also engaged in such meaningless activities. In our context today, we are talking of prayer in the sense it is used in the Bible. Thirdly, with prayer, it is the bounden duty of the praying person to do everything humanly possible for the person for whom he prays.

Along with prayer we shall do well to ensure the following three things:
(1) that we are spiritual persons, (2) that the matter for which we pray is spiritual in nature and not as the miracle workers we hear so much in these days do and (3) that we examine ourselves and makes sure that we abide in Him, and His words abide in us. If that be so, … ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. (Jn 15: 7).

Beastly, aggressive behavior, sex and lust for power, godlessness, tremendous pride, destructive, false accuser, liar, selfish, falsely religious, distorts the Word of God.

Click here to see (example) videos of general jezebel traits, and an example of her and her Ahab husband..

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Click here to see the Jezebel spirit and the single woman.
Click here to see how to deal with the Jezebel spirit in the workplace.

Click here to see how to identify and remove the Jezebel spirit.

Click here to see examine the root causes of Jezebel infection.

Click here to read a man's view on Jezebel.

I'm talking about the List that we create about which sins are okay and which sins are not. Almost all of us have a List. Even non-religious sorts. What's funny about our individual List is that it usually allows the sins in which we are currently engaged but disallows the sins that other people are doing.

Small lies are okay. Swearing is okay if you do it on accident. Lingering over the Victoria Secret catalog is okay unless your wife catches you doing it. Then it's very not okay. Telling gossip is okay. Having someone gossip about you is not okay. Speeding is okay, but cutting me off is not okay.

Every church I've ever attended has a List.  It's not posted anywhere, but it's communicated.  In one church my family attended, our Sunday School class had a heated argument about whether or not it was okay to wear shorts to church.  One side contended that we aren't under the Law, and the other side countered that shorts could cause the older members of the church to stumble in their walk.  Good stuff.  Better than WWE, because these guys weren't pulling their punches.  I think we could have split over the issue of manpris.

The List repels people from our churches.  They come to visit and realize that they are the only ones in the whole place who have a tattoo or a piercing or multi-colored hair or a second marriage or children out of wedlock or a smoking addiction, and they never want to come back again.  Or sometimes the pastor gives a sermon about "those" homosexuals or "those" liberals or "those" women who have had an abortion and reveals his bias and what will be inferred as the bias of the church.  What if "those" people are in the audience?  Or even, what if their friends or family are in the audience?  Are they going to feel like this church is a place where they can come for grace and healing?

Here's the thing.  Sin is sin is sin is sin is sin.  From the momentary loss of temper to child molestation.  (Notice I'm revealing my own bias.)  All of it separates us from a holy God.  Our List deceives us into thinking that we're okay where we are at.....that we don't have that much work to do.  It gives us a smug satisfaction that at least we're better than the guy nextdoor.  Our List is self-serving and leads to complacency in our walk, while at the same time making us unapproachable to those who are struggling.

It's not that some sin isn't worse that other sin.  (Child molestation IS worse than a temper flare-up.)  It's that categorizing it doesn't lead us or anyone else closer to God.  Let Him assign the point values.  Our arbitrary rating system doesn't come from Him anyway.   

What would serve us and God better would be if we recognized that sin is the one thing that we all have in common.  When we meet the person who's addicted to crystal meth, we should be able to identify, because we've been tricked by the Enemy, as well.  We've believed his lies and bought what he's selling.  Maybe we're not addicted to drugs, but we are addicted to our comfortable life or our pride or our money.  Ironically, the drug addict may be better off, because he at least knows what's separating him from God.  We might be oblivious.

But if we've got a hidden List, it's impossible for us to connect with the addict and serve him with our whole heart.  While we may not say that we think we are better than he is, we'll communicate it through the things we say, the things we don't say, how we say what we say, how we listen, how we make eye contact, what we are willing to do for him and where we draw the line...  If we really want to help him, if we want to allow him his dignity, we've got to stop focusing on whose sin is worse and whose sin is better. 

Can we agree to throw out the List?  Can we stop trying to prioritize sin and recognize that this game is just another diversionary tactic from the Enemy?  If he can get us inspecting and judging, he keeps us from loving our neighbor.  Forget whatever sin our neighbor has done.  He's our neighbor!  We are called to love him no matter what.  And besides, "there but for the grace of God..."

If you're with me on this, mentally crumple up your List of prioritized sins and toss it into the fireplace.  It won't stay gone, unfortunately.  I know from experience that the List is a powerful paradigm, and it influences so much of how I think and what I do.  I crumple it and throw it out only to later find it where I left it.  But be persistent.  Get to really know people who struggle with "those" sins, and you'll find that your list gets shorter.  Look for what you have in common with them, and you'll see that we're not so different after all. 

A person begins with dissatisfaction. Not content with the world he seeks satisfaction of desires by prayers to God; his mind is purified; he longs to know God more than to satisfy his carnal desires. Then God's Grace begins to manifest. God takes the form of a Guru and appears to the devotee; teaches him the Truth; purifies the mind by his teachings and contact; the mind gains strength, is able to turn inward; with meditation it is purified yet further, and eventually remains still without the least ripple. That stillness is the Self. The Guru is both exterior and interior. From the exterior he gives a push to the mind to turn inward; from the interior he pulls the mind towards the Self and helps the mind to achieve quietness. That is Grace.Hence there is no difference between God, Guru and Self.

Ramana Maharishi 

Image: Thanks for the image. 

Are you willing to take up the challenge to spend one hour daily in the presence of the Lord to nourish your inner man?

One hour daily for prayer!  It may surprise some.  But how much time do you spend every day to maintain your physical body for washing up, dressing up and for eating and drinking?  Can you imagine cutting down on your time there?  If you are not careful, soon you will find that your body will fail you.  Then how can you imagine that your inner man can carry on without proper nourishment every day?

If you do not want to do it, you are opting to be a babe in Christ.  The Bible calls such 'Carnal Christians' (I Cor.3:1-2). 

If you spend regular time every day in God’s presence with His Word for prayer, the Lord will not only strengthen you (Is.40:31) but you will also be able to hear His voice (Jer.23:18). Then you can order your life according to God’s will and you will also know the will of God about a given situation. When you know the will of God about a given subject, you can pray boldly about it (2 Sam. 7:27).  Then you can be absolutely sure that your prayers will be answered (I Jn.5:14).

Do you know the following statements to be true?

God is almighty.  He can do anything He wants to do (Gen.l8:14; Jer.32:27: Lk.l:37). 

God is love (IJn. 4:8,16). He sent His son to die for us (Jn.3:16; ICor.15:3).

Jesus Christ is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world (I Jn.2:2).

Though God is not willing that any should perish (I Tim.2:4; 2 Pt.3:9),

only they that call upon the Lord will be saved (Rom.10:13).

And prayers done in the will of God can never go unanswered (I Jn.5:14).

Then why should you let your friends and relatives in the clutches of sin and Satan?

They are still there because you don’t intercede for them.

But before you begin to pray for their salvation, make sure that you obey the Scriptures (Pro.28:9) and that you have a consistent bruit bearing life for the Lord (Jn. 15:l6).  Make sure that you pray in faith (Mt.21:21), and in fervency (Js.5:16). You should also persevere till answer comes (Lk.18:1,7). 

When you pray for the conversion of people, allow more time as God does not force any one to do any thing.  They should on their own will must turn to God for mercy and grace.  God will even force people on occasion depending on the fervency of the intercessor (Cf. Gen.19:l5,l6,29). 

Answer is bound to come.  Delay is due to your lack of fervency and Satanic obstruction (Mt.12:29; Dan.l0:2,3,12,13).   But if you continue to resist the devil, he will flee (Js.4:7).