Battle Strategy
to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against your soul 1 Peter 2:11 NASB
Wage war – Strategy seems to be a big deal these days. There is military strategy in the war with terrorism. There is political strategy in the upcoming election. There is a strategy for reaching the world with the gospel. If you read business books, it appears as if we all need strategic plans. What we might not realize is that our very word “strategy” has a Greek background that Peter employs in his letter.
The Greek verb is strateuontai. It comes from strategos, a word that means, “to lead an army.” Here it is in the middle voice. We know that the middle voice (which does not exist in English) means that the action described in the verb has special importance for the actor. In other words, this war is very personal. It is a battle that rages over you! If you win, you will live in the kingdom of heaven. If you lose, you will become a prisoner in the kingdom of death itself. This is the most serious and most terrible fight of your life. But it is also the most invisible, the subtlest and the most insidious. Unless you are vigilant, you won’t even know it has happened until it is too late.
We often see war in terms of the massive armed conflicts of human history. Tanks, machine guns, missiles and bombs dominate our visions. This is the war of the media, out in the open where everyone knows that we are in conflict and every turn is dangerous. Most spiritual battlefields are not like this at all. The war we wage is much more like covert operations. It is far more dangerous simply because we never know who the enemy really is. Things look perfectly normal until your eyes are opened. Then you suddenly see that the enemy has already infiltrated your defenses. He is in your camp, using your own past actions against you. All along, he has been slowly removing your protection, leaving you vulnerable to power, greed, lust, envy, theft and lying. You don’t need a strong offense. You need damage control.
And the best damage control is one simple action: STOP! Peter says that the first thing to do when waging this war is to stop (abstain) from any contact with the enemy’s present strongholds. Just let them go. Stop going to the old places. Stop seeing the old faces. Stop repeating the old patterns that put you in harm’s way. You can do it – through the power of the one true God.
In this war, the first thing to do is to draw the battle line. Shout out to the enemy, “This is where I fight. You will come no further. God is here with me.”
Topical Index: strategy, strategos, strateuontai, stop, war, 1 Peter 2:11
Too often WE continue pulling the trigger and shooting OURSELVES in the foot! The enemy may subtly hand me the gun, but I pull the trigger. Make no mistake, it has a hairline action, extreme caution is required. Guess that’s why I walk with a limp (figuratively speaking). Thankful for the mercy and grace of my Father for carrying me through it all!!
My personal life lesson: too often I’m burned from over exposure (and not just from the desert sun). Solution: Minimize the exposure to the enemy and those contexts that serve to distract. It is a wise approach to life management. After years of practicing I’m still learning that stopping and staying away is a more effective option, than covering up, masking, and pretending.
Amein!
the first thing that comes to mind after reading this post is Bob Newhart’s counseling advice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow0lr63y4Mw&feature=related
I do agree that stopping behavior is essential when it comes to damage control, but the process of being able to live free of the enemy’s stronghold may not be easy. Peter tells us to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war on our soul. He is describing a moment by moment process which requires great effort, diligence and grace.
I guess what I react to after reading the post today is how you describe stopping as being a simple act. It is a simple concept, but getting there may not be so simple.
Brett,
I will not presume to speak fr or interpret Skip’s post. He can do that after he returns from Africa. Here is a comment from my experience.
I agree that living free from the enemy’s stronghold is not easy. However, while my situation, conflict, or the thing I’m wrestling with in my heart may at times be complex and complicated; trusting the LORD has simple elements to it. I have come to understand that a part of the enemy’s deception is leading me to believe my situation is more difficult than can be dealt with by simply committing my ways to the LORD and walking progressively, daily towards Him. The journey is quite challenging and I’ve had so many setbacks, but I’m encouraged that the expressed of the Creator brings order out of my chaos.
There may be a significant difference between what is confusing and what is chaotic. God brought order out of chaos in Genesis 1 and He intentional led Israel into chaos in Exodus 13 in order to show His glory and reveal Israel’s heart. That He authored. However, He is not the author of confusion. So what is the difference?
One difference I woud suggest is the presence versus absence of presupposition. In Genesis the writer presupposes the existence of the Sovereign Creator and so the chaos provides the context for the work of the LORD. Confusion on the other hand has yet to settle the issue of God’s Sovereignty. Perhaps my biggest struggle is not the thing I’m wrestling with. Maybe it’s my presuppositions. Do I trust the Beloved, and does my trust translate into a behavior that reflects total surrender to Him? As long as I am trying to identify my source I will remain lost, aimless, and confused. In all the chaos that Job experienced during his life he was able to stay centered with this one presupposition, “In this flesh I will see God…” Amen.
Brett Butcher and etc all, i read your post, as I am 78 years old, and have not watched tv for at least 40 years, very focused on doing ministery and walking the narrow path–i have a great life with my husband of 59 years, and lots of children grands, greats, ministry, etc. i was rather annoyed when i saw What YOU wrote about USING Bob Newhart’s counseling advice. i started to just igore it and focus on Roderick’s writing which i greatly approve of. — Well, my husband had to go out and help our young military gal with a new born and two little ones get a new battery in her car. we were ready to go out and eat early for his 83 b,d, and Valentines day. since i was dressed i could not get messed up and came back to the computer, and thought oh well, i will just check out Bob Newhart’s web. i clicked on it, and watched. i had been determined to ignore him, but i am telling you i was laughing so hard that i could not catch my breath. ——— God does work in strange ways! FYI====
ENJOY THE WEEKEND.
Yes, that video of Bob Newhart giving advice to just “stop it” is hysterical! It’s a classic belly laugh!
Getting there may not be so simple-Right, Brett. If the person is convicted of a certain situation, or whatever, he has to decide if he wants to do the right thing. If he does, then to stay away, refrain, abstain, do whatever he wants to triumph over that which might enslave, distract, mislead him, being aware of the adversary’s wilful devices.
This does require great effort , diligence and grace, as you phrased it so well, and that is also FAITH in action.
I have tough times trying to warn some folks to stay away from old company, old habitual ways
that does not strenghthen their spiritual life, but I am given the cold treatment, that it is a control.
Getting there may not be so simple-Right, Brett. If the person is convicted of a certain situation, or whatever, he has to decide if he wants to do the right thing. If he does, then to stay away, refrain, abstain, do whatever he wants to triumph over that which might enslave, distract, mislead him, being aware of the adversary’s wilful devices.
This does require great effort , diligence and grace, as you phrased it so well, and that is also FAITH in action.
I have tough times trying to warn some folks to stay away from old company, old habitual ways
that does not strenghthen their spiritual life, but I am given the cold treatment, that it is a
not sure why this won’t go to the right ‘reply’. Apologies.
The Bob Newhart’s Utube is hilarious, thank you, Brett.
Shalom!
“Something’s Gotta Change” Josh Wilson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DewDmDm3YqM&feature=related 136,989 views
“more dangerous simply because we never know who the enemy really is”
Hmmm
That’s why we must always return to the “deep meaning” in the movie Heat (1995)
In which Robert De Niro refers to the proper form of behavior as “the discipline”
Of course the irony is that Mr De Niro plays Neil McCauley, a professional thief
On the other hand, Al Pacino plays Lt. Vincent Hanna
The cop who provides the content of “the discipline”
When he reveal his one redeeming quality to his unhappy wife:
“I say what I mean and I do what I say”
And Lt. Vincent Hanna is always at least trying to do “the right thing”