What does true victory look like?
2 Corinthians 10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: 2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
In the last few years many Christians have discovered this. Previously they were simply spectators in church, but now they are sharing and speaking and discovering that this is warfare. They get dragged into ugly debates, but the lesson is that we don't war after the flesh. We are pulling down imaginations, we are pulling down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. One thing that many were surprised at is that the attacks do not come from agnostics, or from unbelievers. A little may come from Atheists and Satanists. But for the most part the attacks come from those who portray themselves as believers. On this forum there is a person who goes by "True_Believer". But when you dig down as to what he means by this, he posted a link about cults that said the one common thing of all cults is that they see themselves as "True_Believers". His avatar is some superhero comic book character. The name and the avatar are a mockery of believers. We should not be surprised, even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light.
7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. 8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: 9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
We need to repent of all our pride and arrogance. There is so much animosity and pride and arrogance being flung around on the internet. It has stunned me how readily people are to accuse others of being a false prophet. If you accuse someone of being a false prophet then one thing is certain, one of you is a false prophet. Either the person you accused or yourself. However, even if you are correct, are you really? Jesus said that we are to judge not lest we be judged. It is one thing to judge what someone shares as being false and it is a much more different thing to judge the person as being false. Is there a compelling reason why you think it is your calling to accuse this person? Why not simply stop listening to their channel?
10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. 12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
If you fear God you would not dare to compare yourself with others. Suppose one person is more righteous than another. So what, if Jesus Christ is not their righteousness it won't matter. Maybe they go to two different levels of hell, but other than that, so what. Also, imagine the risk, you are there thinking you are more righteous than this other person only to learn at the rapture that Jesus is that person's righteousness and the Lord takes him while leaving you behind. One sure way to be certain that you will be left behind is to compare your self with others and to measure yourself by comparing yourself to others.
13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. 14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: 15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, 16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.
This doesn't mean we have a bunch of false humility. We speak the truth. If you are serving the Lord that may be the truth. If you are working in evangelism or some other ministry that may be the truth. We need to share our testimonies to help encourage and strengthen others. But don't boast, and definitely don't exaggerate.
17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
Sometimes you have to glory, so glory in the Lord. I saw that movie "Hacksaw Ridge". The man was given the medal of honor. So you have to glory, but he said repeatedly all glory goes to the Lord.
For example, in that movie they make the entire company run for 20 miles in the night because he was a conscientous objector. But that was the Lord's sovereignty because he winds up having to run 20 miles in the night when he is rescuing 75 injured men from that ridge. They want to court martial him but this allows his father who was suffering from PTSD to help him, which in turn help them to reconcile with one another.
Because they had to run at night because of this guy several in his company beat him at night. We don't know who they are but we do find out later that several from his company died on Hacksaw ridge and almost all of them suffered severe injuries. As you have done it will be done to you, we don't need to seek revenge, God will settle all accounts.
Several people who had very terrible opinion of him all changed their minds, their imaginations were torn down, and they confessed they were wrong. That is what true victory looks like.
THE Rapture WATCH?