Spiritual battles are fought on the turf of the human mind. It is not about identifying territorial demons or binding demons or rebuking demons. So are we battling the forces of darkness? Yes, because our ultimate battle is “not against flesh and blood” (Eph. 6:12), but no, because we are not called in Scripture to go toe-to-toe engaging in hand-to-hand combat with demonic forces. The war is over the control of human minds. Our aim is to liberate people from demonic strongholds. We are to free the prisoners of war. Our call is to convert not demons, but people. The arena therefore is not mystical, but intellectual. Therefore, according to 2 Corinthians 10:5, we “destroy [intellectual things] raised up against the knowledge of God.” How? We do it with the Word of God. We combat the error that has already been sown in people’s minds with truth. We, verse 5, “are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” This shows that the primary problem is that people have a wrong understanding of Christ.
Randy Smith

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The Words of the Lord

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#1 · May 28, 2006, 4:55 pm

Posted by: forthright <forthright@...>

Forthright Magazine
http://www.forthright.net
Straight to the Cross

COLUMN: From Friend to Friend

The Words of the Lord
by Phil Sanders

"The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver
tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven
times" (Psalm 12:6).

You can count on the Word of God; it is pure. Like
silver refined in a furnace seven times, the word
of God tests true. Silver melts at 1,861 degrees
Fahrenheit. Those who worked the silver would heat
it up more than once to get all the dross out.
Silver refined seven times was virtually free of
any imperfection. Until about 500 B.C., silver was
the most valuable metal in the Near East. Thus, in
most of the Old Testament it is given a priority
over gold. The words of God are like the very
finest silver. They were the most valuable thing
David could own.

How valuable are the promises of God to you? Do
you take seriously his promise of forgiveness? The
promise of heaven?

How binding are the laws of God upon you? Do you
take seriously his commandments to live the holy
life and to obey the truth?

How you value God will manifest itself in how well
you believe and conform to his Word. James spoke
of the fellow who deluded himself by listening to
God's word and walking away from its teachings.
James said, "the one who looks into the perfect
law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no
hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be
blessed in his doing" (James 1:25).

God's Word is tested. Is your heart tested and
proven true? When God looks down at your heart,
does he see it as "refined seven times"? Solomon
said in Proverbs 17:3, "The refining pot is for
silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD
tests hearts."

A doer who acts upon the word of God will find his
heart and soul refined like silver. James 1:12
says, "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast
under trial, for when he has stood the test he
will receive the crown of life, which God has
promised to those who love him." The tried and
proven word is trying and proving you. Will you
meet the test?

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