2Co 10:3 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;
Who was Paul writing to here?
In Exodus 26, instructions were given for the construction of the tabernacle. In verse 31 it talks about the veil that would separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. This separated everyone with the exception of the high priest from the presence of God.
In Matthew 27 and 2 of the other gospels, it gives an account of how the veil of the temple was torn from the top to the bottom at the death of Christ.
This signifies that now, through Christ, we can go in to the Holy presence of God.
AW Tozer in his book “The Pursuit of God” he writes:
“The greatest fact of the tabernacle was that Jehovah was there; a presence waiting within the veil. Similarly the Presence of God is the Central fact of Christianity.
At the heart of the Christian message is God waiting for His redeemed children to push into conscious awareness of His presence”
However, there is another obstacle, a veil that prevents us from entering in to the place in God that Christ has provided.
What is this Veil? This thing that keeps us on the outer fringes of His presence.
Our Flesh or simply “Self”. Or as Tozer puts it “The veil of our fallen nature living on”
In our walk with God the word “me” or “my” comes up way too often in our conversations and thoughts.
“What is the will of God for MY life”?
“Bless me Lord”
We should, as Paul said to the Ephesians, be focused on the Mystery of HIS will and as Psalms 103 says, “Bless the Lord O my soul” Not “Bless my soul oh my Lord”
If this is you PLEASE CRY OUT TO GOD!
We are so living outside the Peace of God.
In the midst of Job’s excruciating trial he made this statement “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him. (Job 13:15)”
In Philippians 4 when the Apostle Paul testified that he had learned to be content in whatever state he was in, it was after he had counted everything he was as lost that he may win Christ.
In Romans 12 where he says I beseech or implore you to present your bodies a living sacrifice as THE way to prove His will
We must purpose our thoughts and conversations to change our focus.
After all, the way that Satan deceived EVE was to change her focus to her own.
Even some of our worship songs are “ME” focused.
Let’s lift Him up.
There is nothing wrong with celebrating His blessings after all they speak of His mighty works, but this is not our purpose or destiny.
We must remember that He is God even if my flesh is never blessed again.
One of my favorite sayings is by Smith Wigglesworth, “I am not moved by what I see or feel. I am only moved by WHAT THUS SAITH THE LORD.
Satan will try to get us to focus on self which is not hard to do since our flesh nature, due to original sin, is all about us. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT!
This is why Paul wrote in Romans chapter 8
“Therefore is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirt of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending His son in likeness of sinful flesh condemned sin in the flesh
Our preconceived ideas and notions on how the Glory of God should present itself gives us a mental picture of what a move of God should look like when God has never and will never be constrained within our religious ideology.
Even when we think we are being progressive and free from the bondage of religion we only wind up being religious about NOT being religious.
We must ALWAYS remember that we have this treasure in earthen vessels and this flesh will always define the spiritual and come up short.
Again Tozar says in his book “In pursuit of God” this, “Self is the opaque veil that hides the Face of God from us. It can only be removed in spiritual experience, never by mere instruction.”
When we truly come in to contact with the Glory of God, all is exposed. The Holy Spirit will begin to show us the areas of our flesh that are standing in the way of fully coming in to His presence.
And it may not be a pleasant experience.
We will begin to wonder, “What is going on?”
Some of these things are listed in Galatians 5;19
Adultery, fornication (Porneia), uncleanness or impurity, lasciviousness (Filthy), Idolatry (image worship), witchcraft (pharmakeia), Hatred (hostily), variance (contentious), Emulations (Jealousy), Wrath (indignation), Strife, Seditions (divisions), heresies, Envying, murders, drunkenness (Methe), revellings (letting loose), and such like. If you are involved with this stuff YOU WILL NEVER ENTER IN. As born again believers you have power over all these things through Christ.
WHEN THIS FLESH REELS IT”S UGLY HEAD I AM NOT GOING TO FIGHT. I AM GOING TO SURRENDER IT TO THE POWER OF CHRIST AT THE THRONE OF GOD.
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Ga 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Here is my favorite passage about coming in contact with the manifested presence of God.
Isa 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.