Post by John on May 30, 2019 10:11:32 GMT -5
We are in a real warfare. It may not always be evident, because there are no sounds of gunfire, bombs being dropped and there are no people shooting physical bullets our way, but we are in a war just the same, and the outcome has eternal consequences. We face real enemy soldiers, and there are real casualties. As such, we can't just go into battle with no plan in place. We have to be strategic, because our enemy is not stupid. Let me show you an example of being strategic involving the Apostle Paul. He was taken prisoner and brought before the council. Notice what happened in Acts 23:1-10
And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
Can you imagine this happening to you in a court of law? You are just beginning to speak, and someone smites you on the mouth, and it wasn't for an offensive comment! Paul reacted much like I probably would have.
Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commmandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
Who was in the right here? The Apostle Paul was. Everything he said was true.
And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
I believe Paul when he said he didn't know the man was the high priest, but he was still clearly in the right regarding his objection to being smitten contrary to the law. Still, what could he do? The man was the high priest, and if he didn't answer softly, there is no telling what would happen next. Paul had to think fast, and then something occurred to him regarding the people that were present. It was a divided company of Sadducees and Pharisees. These two groups did not believe the same. Their doctrines were different, as the Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead, and the Sadducees did not. What does Paul do? He divides the group over that disagreement.
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called into question. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees; part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirt or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.
Paul escaped because he used wisdom. He understood the great division that existed between these two camps. It was so strong, that they forgot about their disagreement with him, and turned against each other. While Paul spoke the truth, it wasn't the entire story. There was much more to opposition to him than his belief in the resurrection of the dead, but that was the issue he needed to divide his adversaries.
We need to be smart in how we go up against the enemy. I am not speaking just of people. Our real enemy is demonic spirits, but these spirits use real people, and it is normally people that fight against us in the natural. They strategize against us. I have won battles with them and lost battles with them. They are not stupid, and they do not just enter into a fight with no plan. We need to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves if we want to defeat our enemies, and this is about far more than bragging rights because we won a doctrinal debate. People's souls are weighing in the balance. These false teachers love to devour the sheep, or destroy people that have not become Christians yet, but are considering it. Observe the enemy. Consider their strengths and weaknesses. Try to look ahead at what kind of moves they are likely to make, and even possible moves they could make, and be ready for anything. Look at the example of Paul and how he got out of a real mess.
And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
Can you imagine this happening to you in a court of law? You are just beginning to speak, and someone smites you on the mouth, and it wasn't for an offensive comment! Paul reacted much like I probably would have.
Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commmandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
Who was in the right here? The Apostle Paul was. Everything he said was true.
And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
I believe Paul when he said he didn't know the man was the high priest, but he was still clearly in the right regarding his objection to being smitten contrary to the law. Still, what could he do? The man was the high priest, and if he didn't answer softly, there is no telling what would happen next. Paul had to think fast, and then something occurred to him regarding the people that were present. It was a divided company of Sadducees and Pharisees. These two groups did not believe the same. Their doctrines were different, as the Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead, and the Sadducees did not. What does Paul do? He divides the group over that disagreement.
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called into question. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees; part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirt or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.
Paul escaped because he used wisdom. He understood the great division that existed between these two camps. It was so strong, that they forgot about their disagreement with him, and turned against each other. While Paul spoke the truth, it wasn't the entire story. There was much more to opposition to him than his belief in the resurrection of the dead, but that was the issue he needed to divide his adversaries.
We need to be smart in how we go up against the enemy. I am not speaking just of people. Our real enemy is demonic spirits, but these spirits use real people, and it is normally people that fight against us in the natural. They strategize against us. I have won battles with them and lost battles with them. They are not stupid, and they do not just enter into a fight with no plan. We need to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves if we want to defeat our enemies, and this is about far more than bragging rights because we won a doctrinal debate. People's souls are weighing in the balance. These false teachers love to devour the sheep, or destroy people that have not become Christians yet, but are considering it. Observe the enemy. Consider their strengths and weaknesses. Try to look ahead at what kind of moves they are likely to make, and even possible moves they could make, and be ready for anything. Look at the example of Paul and how he got out of a real mess.