As Christians, although we walk in the flesh, our waging of war is not done according to the flesh, for our weapons of warfare are not carnal in nature, 2 Corinthians 10:3-4. We battle malignantly evil spiritual forces that seek to ensnare our minds into doing the will of Satan while persuading us that we are doing what God wants, 2 Timothy 2:26. One of the most influential means by which war is waged upon humans is through the world system, for it is set up to pacify the sin nature through the desires of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of biological life, just as a baby is appeased by his mother rocking him in her arms, 1 John 2:16; 5:19. The wars of this world are a direct result of seeking to fulfill the desires of the flesh, James 4:1. Since we are engulfed in a spiritual battle, we are not to entangle ourselves with the affairs of this world, 2 Timothy 2:3.
Although we are at war, we do not need to fear. God has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness, 2 Peter 1:3. We are not ignorant of Satan’s methods and have been provided with armor that handles any attack he brings our way, Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 2:11. As part of our salvation, we also have light armor for everyday use so that we are always ready to give a defense for the hope that we have as we shine as luminaries to this crooked and perverse generation through living out who we are in Christ while casting off the works of darkness, Romans 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:8. We are not part of the world system, for our citizenship is in the heavens, John 17:15-16; Philippians 3:20. Even though we live in the world, we are not to govern our lives according to its desires, for we are strangers and pilgrims in this land, 1 Corinthians 7:31.
Therefore, our focus should always be set upon the things related to God. What job we have, where we live, what we purchase, who we associate with, and all other things related to the world need to be governed by who we are in Christ. First and foremost is the fellowshipping with the saints, Hebrews 10:26. Then we are to be content with what we have, for godliness with contentment is of great gain, 1 Timothy 6:6. There is nothing wrong with being wealthy; however, the fondness of money is a root of all wrong things, 1 Timothy 6:10. Therefore, we should not be seeking money over the care and fellowship of other saints. When the desires from our sin nature rise up within us and strongly seek to be fulfilled, we are to respond by using the truth, for through it, we will always have victory over our sinful desires (the truth is doctrine for having victory over the sin nature, Romans 6:3-13). When we are discouraged, disappointed, or find ourselves desiring what others have, we are to put on the armor from God to protect ourselves from all the fiery darts of the malignantly evil one. When the world system seeks to impose its desires upon us through the lust of the flesh and eyes and the pride of biological life, we are to recognize the fact that we are not of the world. Although we use it, we do not abuse it, for it is designed to distract us from seeing things as they truly are and living out the life we have in Christ.
Therefore, since we are at war, let us abstain from fleshly desires that are waging war against our emotions so that our conduct in this world is proper, 1 Peter 2:11, for we are the children of the light, and sons of the day, Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5.
