When we were born again, we were instantly moved into a new life that we'd never had before. Everything instantly changed. But, because we had no idea how to function in this new kingdom, we continued on in the only way we knew how. If you could imagine being moved into a new country where you couldn't speak or understand the language. You would have no idea how to get along, drive, work, or shop. You would either have to try getting along in the only way you knew, or learn how to speak and make life bearable.
When we were born again, we had the Bible as our guideline and the Holy Spirit as our Teacher. We had to learn a new language and learn how to hear in an entirely different way. Because God is a Spirit, we needed to learn to listen and function in the new level of the spirit. Since our spirits had been shut off from God through Adam's transgression, we had no idea what the Father's voice even sounded like.
Satan couldn't keep you from becoming born again, so his only way of controlling the new believer was to try keeping up from learning how to live in this new life. He tries keeping us from learning the language and ways of the Spirit. As long as he can keep us functioning in the flesh, we will be unsuccessful in our spiritual walk.
Paul speaks about spiritual warfare in several of his writings like Ephesians 6:11-12 (Amplified) which says, "Put on God's whole armor (the armor of a heavy armed soldier which God supplies) that you may be able successfully to stand up against (all) the strategies and the deceits of the devil." Verse 12 goes on, "For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood (contending only with physical opponents) but against the depotisms, against the powers, against (the master spirits who are) the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere."
Before we were born again, we walked in this world ruled by satan. This worldly way of living was familiar to us, but the spirits themselves weren't. Most of us had no idea that our lives were being manipulated by evil forces. We had no idea how to deal with spirit things at all. Many of us were involved in such satanic things as horoscope readings and had no idea about the consequences of involvement.
Now then, we are thrown into a battle with forces we don't recognize or see. We can no longer defend ourselves with conventional weapons or with muscle power. We don't know how to live in this new life. Mostly, we've chosen to act like it doesn't exist. Even when we do acknowledge the truth of a spiritual enemy, we act like he is powerless to do anything to us if we're saved. We are not to be fearful of this enemy, but we are to be able to stand against "all the strategies and deceits" of the devil.
When we realize that things are wrong in this world, we try handling them with the knowledge of the world in which we are familiar. When the nation is in trouble (and it is), we march with signs and protest and work for fair elections. We return to being a democrat or republican, but we don't see it as a satanic attack and as one of his strategies. The armor of God and the weapons of our warfare are mostly dormant in our lives.
We've been moved into a place with God in the new birth that supersedes this natural world and its authority, but we don't know how to function in it. 2Corinthians 10:3-4 (Amplified) says, "For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons." Verse 4 says, "For the weapons of our warfare are not physical (weapons of flesh and blood) but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds."
Learning to live in this new life must be a spiritual understanding of supernatural things.
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