09-04-2007, 12:58 PM
Good day my brothers and sisters ...
The text for today is from Eph. 6:12 ...
''We have a wrestling, not against blood and flesh, but.....against the wicked heavenly spirit forces in the heavenly places.''
Watchtower comments ...
''Our chief enemy is Satan the Devil. His aim is to destroy our faith in Jehovah. He will not overlook any type of persuasion that might sway us from our decision to serve God. (I Pet. 5:8) What will protect us from being deceived by the outward appearance of Satan's system? Walking by faith, not by sight! Trust and confidence in Jehovah's promises will safeguard us from experiencing ''shipwreck concerning our faith.'' (I Tim.1:19) By all means, then, let us be determined to continue walking by faith, fully confident in Jehovah's blessing. And may we keep on praying that we may escape all the things destined to occur in the near future. (Luke 21:36) In all of this, we have a superb Exemplar. ''Christ suffered for you,'' states the Bible, ''leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely.'' I Pet. 2:21 2/9/15/05 19,20
My thoughts ...
When I read this verse this afternoon I couldn't help but think of another person who 'wrestled' with a 'spirit person' ... and the result after a night of 'wrestling' ...
The of course was NOT a 'wicked' one ... but rather an angel sent by Jehovah to bestow a BLESSING not a curse ...
This angel who 'grappled' or 'wrestled' with with 97 year old Jacob must have used a HUGE amount of self-control and restraint ... for we can see that just by his TOUCHING Jacob he was able to put out of the socket of his thigh his joint ...
Gen. 32: 24-32 ...
24 Finally Jacob was left by himself. Then a man began to grapple with him until the dawn ascended. 25 When he got to see that he had not prevailed over him, then he touched the socket of his thigh joint; and the socket of Jacob’s thigh joint got out of place during his grappling with him. 26 After that he said: “Let me go, for the dawn has ascended.†To this he said: “I am not going to let you go until you first bless me.†27 So he said to him: “What is your name?†to which he said: “Jacob.†28 Then he said: “Your name will no longer be called Jacob but Israel, for you have contended with God and with men so that you at last prevailed.†29 In turn Jacob inquired and said: “Tell me, please, your name.†However, he said: “Why is it that you inquire for my name?†With that he blessed him there. 30 Hence Jacob called the name of the place Pe·ni′el, because, to quote him, “I have seen God face to face and yet my soul was delivered.â€
31 And the sun began to flash upon him as soon as he passed by Pe·nu′el, but he was limping upon his thigh. 32 That is why the sons of Israel are not accustomed to eat the sinew of the thigh nerve, which is on the socket of the thigh joint, down to this day, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s thigh joint by the sinew of the thigh nerve.
Now why do I bring up this account ... :huh: :scratchhead:
Not sure yet ... :P still thinking ... :funnyface::whistle:;)
Ah yes ...
The wrestling though that we have against 'the WICKED spirit forces in heavenly places' ... would NOT show such self-control or restraint with us ... and to show the POWER and STRENGTH they have is why I brought up the account of Jacob ...
Yes, if it were not for our heavenly Father protecting us through his holy spirit ... and those angels that are 'camping all around us' ... I think that there would not be anyone alive perhaps who was showing that they were on JEHOVAH'S side and not that of his enemy SATAN the Devil ... :shocked:
Yes, Jehovah IS our STRENGTH and our ROCK ... and to him we should RUN for protection and guidance ...
He tells us in his Word HOW we can protect ourselves from these spirit creatures ... and if he tells us 'how' ... then surely that means that we DO need protection ...
Even Christ Jesus made it a point of the Lord's Prayer did he not when he said Matt. 6:13 ...
13 And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the wicked one.’
This 'wicked one' not only includes those who would lead us off to a course of life that would be out of harmony with what we know Jehovah would want ... but it also includes the Devil as well ... and I would hazard to add his invisible minions with him as well ...
Be of good courage though ... and do not be 'overly' afraid of these 'wicked ones' ... for remember what 1Pet. 5:8,9 says ...
8 Keep YOUR senses, be watchful. YOUR adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour [someone]. 9 But take YOUR stand against him, solid in the faith, knowing that the same things in the way of sufferings are being accomplished in the entire association of YOUR brothers in the world.
If we 'keep our heads' ... if we 'do not panic' ... then we CAN overcome the wiles and traps and fights that will be put before us ... IF WE HAVE FAITH and RELIANCE on our God!!
Jehovah has shown us the Way!
Christ has shown us the Way!!
All we need to do is recognize the path and walk on it the best we can ... and we WILL have heavenly protection as we do ...!!:cheer:
Yes, let us get in 'spiritual shape' ... build up our 'spiritual muscles' for the warfare that is right ... and the 'training manual' is right at our fingertips and our 'trainers' are always with us instilling us with courage, strength, stamina, weapons, gear and so on so as to come off a winner when the last round ends ...!!
Just some quick thoughts ... hopefully others will share a thought or two as well as I don't like to seem to be having all the say ... :blush:
sooooooooooo any other comments my dear family ... I'm sure others would love to hear from someone else other than just me ...:P:funnyface:
Luv to all ... your sis BR :sheepy: :bouncyhearts:
The text for today is from Eph. 6:12 ...
''We have a wrestling, not against blood and flesh, but.....against the wicked heavenly spirit forces in the heavenly places.''
Watchtower comments ...
''Our chief enemy is Satan the Devil. His aim is to destroy our faith in Jehovah. He will not overlook any type of persuasion that might sway us from our decision to serve God. (I Pet. 5:8) What will protect us from being deceived by the outward appearance of Satan's system? Walking by faith, not by sight! Trust and confidence in Jehovah's promises will safeguard us from experiencing ''shipwreck concerning our faith.'' (I Tim.1:19) By all means, then, let us be determined to continue walking by faith, fully confident in Jehovah's blessing. And may we keep on praying that we may escape all the things destined to occur in the near future. (Luke 21:36) In all of this, we have a superb Exemplar. ''Christ suffered for you,'' states the Bible, ''leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely.'' I Pet. 2:21 2/9/15/05 19,20
My thoughts ...
When I read this verse this afternoon I couldn't help but think of another person who 'wrestled' with a 'spirit person' ... and the result after a night of 'wrestling' ...
The of course was NOT a 'wicked' one ... but rather an angel sent by Jehovah to bestow a BLESSING not a curse ...
This angel who 'grappled' or 'wrestled' with with 97 year old Jacob must have used a HUGE amount of self-control and restraint ... for we can see that just by his TOUCHING Jacob he was able to put out of the socket of his thigh his joint ...
Gen. 32: 24-32 ...
24 Finally Jacob was left by himself. Then a man began to grapple with him until the dawn ascended. 25 When he got to see that he had not prevailed over him, then he touched the socket of his thigh joint; and the socket of Jacob’s thigh joint got out of place during his grappling with him. 26 After that he said: “Let me go, for the dawn has ascended.†To this he said: “I am not going to let you go until you first bless me.†27 So he said to him: “What is your name?†to which he said: “Jacob.†28 Then he said: “Your name will no longer be called Jacob but Israel, for you have contended with God and with men so that you at last prevailed.†29 In turn Jacob inquired and said: “Tell me, please, your name.†However, he said: “Why is it that you inquire for my name?†With that he blessed him there. 30 Hence Jacob called the name of the place Pe·ni′el, because, to quote him, “I have seen God face to face and yet my soul was delivered.â€
31 And the sun began to flash upon him as soon as he passed by Pe·nu′el, but he was limping upon his thigh. 32 That is why the sons of Israel are not accustomed to eat the sinew of the thigh nerve, which is on the socket of the thigh joint, down to this day, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s thigh joint by the sinew of the thigh nerve.
Now why do I bring up this account ... :huh: :scratchhead:
Not sure yet ... :P still thinking ... :funnyface::whistle:;)
Ah yes ...
The wrestling though that we have against 'the WICKED spirit forces in heavenly places' ... would NOT show such self-control or restraint with us ... and to show the POWER and STRENGTH they have is why I brought up the account of Jacob ...
Yes, if it were not for our heavenly Father protecting us through his holy spirit ... and those angels that are 'camping all around us' ... I think that there would not be anyone alive perhaps who was showing that they were on JEHOVAH'S side and not that of his enemy SATAN the Devil ... :shocked:
Yes, Jehovah IS our STRENGTH and our ROCK ... and to him we should RUN for protection and guidance ...
He tells us in his Word HOW we can protect ourselves from these spirit creatures ... and if he tells us 'how' ... then surely that means that we DO need protection ...
Even Christ Jesus made it a point of the Lord's Prayer did he not when he said Matt. 6:13 ...
13 And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the wicked one.’
This 'wicked one' not only includes those who would lead us off to a course of life that would be out of harmony with what we know Jehovah would want ... but it also includes the Devil as well ... and I would hazard to add his invisible minions with him as well ...
Be of good courage though ... and do not be 'overly' afraid of these 'wicked ones' ... for remember what 1Pet. 5:8,9 says ...
8 Keep YOUR senses, be watchful. YOUR adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour [someone]. 9 But take YOUR stand against him, solid in the faith, knowing that the same things in the way of sufferings are being accomplished in the entire association of YOUR brothers in the world.
If we 'keep our heads' ... if we 'do not panic' ... then we CAN overcome the wiles and traps and fights that will be put before us ... IF WE HAVE FAITH and RELIANCE on our God!!
Jehovah has shown us the Way!
Christ has shown us the Way!!
All we need to do is recognize the path and walk on it the best we can ... and we WILL have heavenly protection as we do ...!!:cheer:
Yes, let us get in 'spiritual shape' ... build up our 'spiritual muscles' for the warfare that is right ... and the 'training manual' is right at our fingertips and our 'trainers' are always with us instilling us with courage, strength, stamina, weapons, gear and so on so as to come off a winner when the last round ends ...!!
Just some quick thoughts ... hopefully others will share a thought or two as well as I don't like to seem to be having all the say ... :blush:
sooooooooooo any other comments my dear family ... I'm sure others would love to hear from someone else other than just me ...:P:funnyface:
Luv to all ... your sis BR :sheepy: :bouncyhearts: