>III. HOW DO WE FIGHT AGAINST THESE SPIRITUAL
FORCES?
>>A. We are said to "wrestle" against them and that it is He who
works in us to will to and actually wrestle against them, so we
know that using and relying on the Truth & His Word will
"free" you, even from the snares of the enemy 2 Timothy 2:
25,26   Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free.
"having YOUR LOINS GIRDED ABOUT WITH TRUTH". . . . .
Have you ever worn a pair of pants/slacks that were too big, and
your belt/suspenders broke?  You don't dare let your attention
stray long from the goal off keeping them up and on.  Mooning and
underwear exhibitions usually do not endear one to one's boss, employer
or the saints at church.  Whether the word "loins" is understood as the waist,
the hips, if you are wearing a robe or a skirt
and you are preparing to ride a bike, fight for your life, or engage in activity
that would be impeded by loose and hanging garments, then you definitely want
t0 make secure/fast your loins [garments/hips] in preparation for the activity.
Since we are a spiritual people, spiritually clothed with the "fine linen" of
Christ's
righteousness [Rev. 19:8; 1Cor.1:30,31], and spiritually seated in the spiritual
realm with Christ (Eph.1), His Truth is the appropriate means by which to
secure such garments when we prepare for spiritual activity (prayer, spiritual
warfare).
If by "loins" one refers to one's reproductive organs, then the moral securing
and clothing of the Word --------
1 Thess.4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification [being set apart
from sin for God, purchased by God for His will] , for you to abstain
from fornication [genital/breast intimate contact outside of, or without,
Godly marriage],  4 each one of you to know how to possess his vessel
in sanctification and honor 5 (not in the passion of lust [passionate
desire for that which is forbidden by God] , even as the nations who do
not know God),
-------------applies in its entirety.  We know that a husband's
mistreatment of his wife
results in the hindering of his prayers.  It is clearly evident that one's moral
life, especially the morals governing one's sex life, needs to be covered and
secured with the Truth about marital faithfulness (and the sins of sex outside of a
Godly marriage, including fornication, adultery, lewdness, lasciviousness and
licentiousness), and the honor of keeping one's marital covenants,
in order for one's prayers to, and relationship with, God to be effective---filled
with the Spirit and walking in the Spirit of Truth.

THE TRUTH?  FINE, BUT WHAT IS THE TRUTH?
Joh 1:17 For the law came through Moses, [but] grace and truth came
through Jesus Christ.
Joh 3:21 But he who practices truth comes to the Light so that his deeds
may be made known, that they have been worked in God.
Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no
one comes to the Father but by Me.
Joh 14:17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it
does not see Him nor know Him. But you know Him, for He dwells
with you and shall be in you
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through Your truth. Your Word is truth.
2Co 6:7 in [the] word of truth, in [the] power of God, through the
weapons of righteousness on the right [hand] and on the left,
Eph 4:15 But that you, speaking the truth in love, may in all things
grow up to Him who is the Head, [even] Christ;
Eph 5:9 (for the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness
and truth),
2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you,
brothers beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning
chosen you to salvation through sanctification of [the] Spirit and belief
of [the] truth, . . . .
3Jo 1:4 I have no greater joy than these things, to hear that my children
walk in the truth

SO THAT'S TRUTH! WONDERFUL!  BUT WHAT IS NOT TRUTH?
Heb 6:18* so that by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible
[for] God to lie
[Strong's 5574 pseudomai
1) to lie, to speak deliberate falsehoods
2) to deceive one by a lie, to lie to.
Arndt&Gingrich Greek English Lexicon: lie, tell a falsehood.
Thayer's Greek English Lexcon: to lie; to speak deliberate falsehoods; to
play false]
we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay
hold upon the hope set before [us],
********************ATTENTION!  TAKE HEED! LET HIM WHO
HAS EARS HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE
CHRUCHES!***************
Do you realize what you just read?  Shake loose from your American
culture!  Listen as a spiritual citizen of God's Holy City!  Beloved
brethren, it is "impossible for God to speak a deliberate falsehood!"  A
DELIBERATE FALSEHOOD means a decision to purposefully
speak/write THAT WHICH IS NOT TRUE.
FICTIONS, WHITE LIES, and  PRETENDINGS ARE the products of a
decision to purposefully speak/write THAT WHICH IS NOT TRUE.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO SPEAK THAT WHICH IS NOT TRUE,
FICTIONs, WHITE LIES AND/OR PRETENDINGS.  If it is impossible
for God to speak that which is not true (fictions, white lies, and/or
pretendings), then who speaks them?  We know that Satan is the
father of lies, so we know that he speaks ficitons, white lies and
pretendings, but our own mind, heart and flesh can also speak such.

Ro 1:25 For they changed the truth of God into a lie
[Strong's 5579 pseudos
1) a lie
2) conscious and intentional falsehood
3) in a broad sense, whatever is not what it seems to be.
Arndt&Gingrich Greek English Lexicon: lie, falsehood.
Thayer's Greek English Lexcon: a lie; a conscious and intentional
falsehood; whatever is not what it professes to be.] , . . .
****The truth of God is what it seems to be, and is NOT a conscious
and intentional falsehood [fiction, white lie, pretending].
If we are people of Truth, of God, what on earth are we, God's spiritual
people doing enjoying or supporting conscious and intentional
falsehoods [fictions, white lies, pretendings] in our lives and in the
lives of our loved ones???????

Ro 9:1 I tell [the] truth in Christ, I do not lie
[Strong's 5574 pseudomai
1) to lie, to speak deliberate falsehoods
2) to deceive one by a lie, to lie to.
Arndt&Gingrich Greek English Lexicon: lie, tell a falsehood.
Thayer's Greek English Lexcon: to lie; to speak deliberate falsehoods; to
play false], . . . .
***If the apostle Paul made it his practice and walk to no speak
deliberate falsehoods (fictions, white lies), by what authority would we
make it our practice to a speak delberate falsehoods?

1Co 13:6 Unselfish and compassionate cherishing does not rejoice in
unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth, . . .
Eph 4:25 Therefore putting away lying
[Strong's 5579 pseudos
1) a lie
2) conscious and intentional falsehood
3) in a broad sense, whatever is not what it seems to be] , . . .
, let each man speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of
one another.
***We are here instructed to put out of our lives conscious and
intentional falsehoods, whatever is consciously and intentionally not
what it seems to be, a lie.

Eph 5:9 (for the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness
and truth), . . . . . . .
2Ti 4:4 And they will turn away [their] ears from the truth and will be
turned to myths.
1Jo 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in
darkness, we lie
[Strong's 5574 pseudomai
1) to lie, to speak deliberate falsehoods
2) to deceive one by a lie, to lie to.
Arndt&Gingrich Greek English Lexicon: lie, tell a falsehood.
Thayer's Greek English Lexcon: to lie; to speak deliberate falsehoods; to
play false]
and do not practice the truth.

1Jo 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive
[Strong's4105 planao
1)cause to stray, lead astray, lead aside from the right way
  1a) go astray, wander, roam about
2) metaph.
  2a)  lead away from the truth,  lead into error,  deceive
  2b) are led into error
  2c) are led aside from the path of virtue, to go astray, sin
  2d)  sever or fall away from the truth
      2d1) of heretics
  2e) are led away into error and sin]
ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
***If we so deceive ourselves, cause ourselves to stray from His Truth,
then He, the Truth, is not in us, and find ourselves among the
religious lost, or at least snared by the enemies of our souls.

1Jo 2:4 He who says, I have known Him, and does not keep His
commandments, is a liar
[Strong's 5583 pseustes
1) a liar
2) one who breaks faith
3) a false and faithless man
, and the truth is not in him.
***If we so deceive ourselves, cause ourselves to stray from His Truth,
then He, the Truth, is not in us, and find ourselves among the
religious lost, or at least snared by the enemies of our souls.

1Jo 2:21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth,
but because you know it, and know that no lie
[Strong's 5579 pseudos
1) a lie
2) conscious and intentional falsehood
3) in a broad sense, whatever is not what it seems to be.
Arndt&Gingrich Greek English Lexicon: lie, falsehood.
Thayer's Greek English Lexcon: a lie; a conscious and intentional
falsehood; whatever is not what it professes to be.]
is of the truth.
***I didn't say it, He did.  No conscious and intentional falsehood
(fiction, white lie, pretending) is from Him, the Truth.
That leaves our minds, our hearts, our flesh and the enemies of our
souls.  All conscious and intentional falsehoods (fictions, white lies,
pretendings) are from the darkness, even if it has a Disney label, or the
family cable endorsement.

1Jo 2:27 But the anointing which you received from Him abides in you,
and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches
you concerning all things, and is true and no lie
[Strong's 5579 pseudos
1) a lie
2) conscious and intentional falsehood
3) in a broad sense, whatever is not what it seems to be.
Arndt&Gingrich Greek English Lexicon: lie, falsehood.
Thayer's Greek English Lexcon: a lie; a conscious and intentional
falsehood; whatever is not what it professes to be.]
, and as He has taught you, abide in Him.

Joh 8:44 You are of the Devil as father, and the lusts of your father you
will do. He was a murderer from [the] beginning, and did not abide in
the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he
speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Ac 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart [for] you
to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back [part] of the price of the land?
Ro 9:1 I tell [the] truth in Christ, I do not lie, my conscience also bearing
me witness in [the] Holy Spirit, . . .
2Co 11:31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed
forever, knows that I do not lie.

Col 3:9 Do not lie
[Strong's 5574 pseudomai
1) to lie, to speak deliberate falsehoods
2) to deceive one by a lie, to lie to]
to one another, having put off the old man with his deeds
Re 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile
[Strong's 1388 dolos {dol'-os}
1) craft, deceit, guile
College level dictionaries: deceit=misrepresentation of the truth, a
device that deceives, falseness;
deceive=mislead by falsehood.
Arndt&Gingrich Greek English Lexicon: lie, falsehood.
Thayer's Greek English Lexcon: a lie; a conscious and intentional
falsehood; whatever is not what it professes to be.]
, for they were without blemish before the throne of God.
***Those found before the throne of God are those
do not misrepresent the truth (white lies), do not speak falseness
(fictions).  Do you fit that description?

Rev.21:8 But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and
murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all
liars
[Strong's 5571 pseudes {psyoo-dace'}
1) lying, deceitful, false]
, will have their part in the Lake burning with fire and brimstone,
which is the second death.
***I didn't say it, He did.  All those who are partaking in lying and
deceitfulness (white lies), and falsehoods (fictions, pretendings) will
have their part in the burning lake and the second death.  Examine
your life and your habits.

Re 21:27 And there shall in no way enter into it anything that defiles,
or any making an abomination or a lie
[Strong's 5579 pseudos
1) a lie
2) conscious and intentional falsehood
3) in a broad sense, whatever is not what it seems to be.
Arndt&Gingrich Greek English Lexicon: lie, falsehood.
Thayer's Greek English Lexcon: a lie; a conscious and intentional
falsehood; whatever is not what it professes to be.]
; but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
***I didn't say it, He did.  Those who are practicing/making  conscious
and intentional falsehoods (fictions, white lies, pretendings) will not
enter into God's Holy City.

Re 22:15 But outside [are] the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the
fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who
loves and makes a lie.
[Strong's 5579 pseudos
1) a lie
2) conscious and intentional falsehood
3) in a broad sense, whatever is not what it seems to be.
Arndt&Gingrich Greek English Lexicon: lie, falsehood.
Thayer's Greek English Lexcon: a lie; a conscious and intentional
falsehood; whatever is not what it professes to be.]
***Those who are love/like/enjoy conscious and intentional
falsehoods (fictions, white lies, pretendings), and those who are
practicing/making/producing/manufacturing conscious and
intentional falsehood (fictions, white lies, pretendings) will be outside
of the New Jerusalem, with sorcerers, fornicators, murderers and
idolators.  That is not the place that you want yourself or your loved
ones to be.

THE APPLICATION?
       "Their Redeemer would not waste the children [that He brought
into our care].  If only they had the sovereign quality of truth,
somehow the way would open.  So we tried to bring them up to be
truthful and faithful, ready for any sort of hard work, not slackers.  And
though, when we could not answer the frequent, 'And what are you
going to do with them?' with a clear-cut plan, and must have appeared
unpractical and foolish, we were not cast down.  'Thou knowest, Lord;
Thou hast not shown us yet, but Thou knowest,' we used to say to
Him, and found it comforting.  'Only teach us how to train them in
honesty and thoroughness, in detachment from the spirit of the world
and in a pure indifference to all its tinsel allurements.  Give us some to
help us who will understand about the gold and silver and precious
stones.  Let us not be disappointed of our hope.'  And He answered
with a word of strong consolation; for He Himself knew what he
would do." [Gold Cord, p. 93, Amy Carmichael,  Christian Literature
Crusade.]
       "Looking back, I think of our apparent ingratitude to the friends
who were so good as to try to help us [by sending us teacher applicants],
as quite the most painful part of the matter: we seemed to be so
deplorably fastidious that we could only wonder they went on being
friends with us, as indeed they did.  But it was as though something in
the place acted as touchstone and declared what was, as apart from
what seemed to be in these whom we would so gladly have used,
because we needed them so much.  In each case truth was the rock
upon which they foundered. If our children were to grow up truthful
they must be taught by those who had a regard for truth; and not just a
casual regard, [rather] a DELICATE regard.  On this point we were
admant." [Gold Cord, p.66]
       "That light, like the head-lights of a car, threw a steady beam far
down the road, and showed what lay ahead with an unescapable
distinctness.  Hardness lay ahead.  The child in the family, whether
Hindu or Christian, has natural shelters provided.  No love of ours [for
the children in our care] could make up for these.  So we were forced to
be more than ordinarily careful about the foundations of character.
And we wanted those foundations to be laid in truth.  One day, about
that time, a guest who afterwards became a beloved fellow-worker,
gathered the children together and told them a fairy story, and then we
discovered (I had hardly realised it before [that time]) that I had
instinctively left those tales, and had begun with the far more magical
true fairy stories that were strewn about everywhere [in our walk with
Jesus] just waiting to be told.
   "And we saw no reason to change.  It was good, when the amazed
child asked, "M� th�n �?" (Is it true indeed?), to be able to answer
"M� th�n!" (True indeed), and those true fairy tales were so wonderful
and so beautiful that I do not think our little lovables lost anything of
the silvery glamour that should make the first years of childhood like
moonlit water to look back upon, or the golden sparkle either, that is
sunlight on that same water." [Gold Cord, p. 67]

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the overcoming Word of the testimony of
your Saints!

APPLICATION:  If we, as the people of God (the Truth), are
commanded to speak only the Truth, and are commanded to think on
that which is Truth (Ph.4:8), what on earth are we, God's spritual
people who are seated with Him in the Spiritual realm, doing
SPEAKING FALSEHOODS, WHITE LIES, PRETENDINGS
            READING FALSEH0ODS, WHITE LIES, PRETENDINGS
            WATCHING FALSEHOODS, WHITE LIES,
PRETENDINGS?????
BUT that is exactly what we are doing, reading and watching on TV
etc.with all its fictions, falsehoods, and pretendings.
Do you find yourself delighting in, enjoying, sharing with others----
falsehoods, white lies, pretending and fictions???
Romans 1: 28 And even as they did not think fit to have God in [their]
knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do the things
not right, 29  . . . . . deceit, evil habits,  . . .30  . . . inventors of evil things
[falsehoods, fictions, white lies, pretendings],  . . . 32 who, knowing the
righteous order of God, that those practicing such things are worthy of
death, not only do them, but have pleasure in those practicing [them].
When we have pleasure (enjoy) in the TV shows, movies, videos,
songs that are falsehoods, fictions, white lies and/or pretendings, we
are having pleasure in those who practice falsehoods, fictions, white
lies and pretendings and find ourselves in the enemy camp, supporting
the enemies of our souls and our loved ones.  No wonder we have
little or no power with God in the spiritual warfare we are trying to
win!

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