They say that the first casualty of war is the truth. Where it comes to warfare in the Spirit, are we involving ourselves as part of the solution, or part of the problem? Do we know ourselves? Do we know the nature of the warfare? Join me in this episode as the battle lines are clearly delineated.
Can we talk about it or discuss it without getting ugly toward one another? I seriously am interested in what you shared.
You speak of a lower walk and a higher walk. Right out of the gate that seems …self serving. Like claiming the higher walk…BUT in your explanation the lower walk is “still yet carnal” (conformed unto this world?) where Paul seems to support this in telling them time and time again that he couldn’t speak to them of spiritual thing, but had to still speak to them as carnal(earthly). …as babes, children, a child. But the “higher walk” if you mean unto a mature man. A full grown man(transformed by the renewing of the mind)…speaks of spiritual things, His mind (the Mind of Christ) on heavenly things. Then I see what you mean by differing walks.
Some wording you used. Carnal minded toward what is “convenient”. 2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even
denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
This verse has been on my mind lately…which aligned with what you said about “denying the power”. Denying the Lord who bought them.
To me 2 Corinthians 13:3-9 is an example of what you shared about:
When they are exposed to the truth —they defend themselves where the person speaking “is the liar”, that is seen in the below passage (Imo). Self righteous and deceived. What takes place in the exchange below to me is what I think is “the higher walk” and “lower walk” but in the passage they are being urged or called to “come up higher”.
‘
Since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me,
which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.(our spiritual weapons are not carnal
but Mighty for pulling down strong holds, and vain imaginations that exalts itself above the knowledge of Christ.) [4] For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but
we shall live (resurrected power) with him by the power of God toward you. [5] Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates? [6]
But I trust that you shall know that we are not reprobates. [7] Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but
that you should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. [8] For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. [9]
For we are glad, when we are weak, and you are strong: and this also we wish,
even your perfection.
Again, I see what you shared of “the inner man” in Paul…is able to discern the outer man(their carnality), discerning “I know what that is. That is self righteousness. Self justification.” It is seen. So much that when we read it now it should be seen …their carnality. And how when exposed to the truth …they call Paul “the liar”. But even worse…they don’t hate Paul but call Christ “the liar” speaking in Paul. You said “but to the eyes of an immature person” …”it LOOKS LIKE (deceived)the one correcting is self-righteous. (To them …with immature eyes they see Paul correcting(Christ speaking) as the one self righteous and not them who have yet to be vessels where Christ speaks. Instead they speak a lie. (Deceived by that lie). They don’t see it is them who is immature…they see Paul who is exposing the truth as the immature.)
You mentioned using catch phrases: Higher walk—lower walk. How it doesn’t say it about simple —immature …but there is a lot about needing to be spoken to as still yet carnal. As a babe. A child. Urging …til “Christ be formed in you” that within “though our outward man perishes, the inward
is being strengthened daily” to maturity.
You mentioned the “lower walk” is in our own strength. I see this again in “denying Him who bought them.” 2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even
denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
“Still sin”
“Without power”
“Sin nature in tact.”
The higher walk …crucified with Christ. Power to walk as Christ walked. To overcome sin as He overcome sin. Back to Paul urging them in Corinthians 13 to do not wrong, to do what is right…even though they do not yet see they who follow Christ are not as those who fail…agree Paul is not preaching “works” but preaching the Lord’s Victory in defeating sin…”when their obedience is fulfilled” that doesn’t “avoid” “diminish” or “limit” walking in the inner strength “It is no longer I but Christ”—-back to Corinthians 13: 3-9 they want “proof Christ speaks in Paul”
To me in that passage Paul is “connected to the Victory” “the experience” “winning battles” in “not how they got saved but as overcomers” by the word of their testimony.
To me there is a stark contrast …the spiritual weapons and battle seen in the Corinthians passage. Paul says he will go to take the lower seat so that they can come up higher …out of their carnal mindedness unto “perfection”
…yet they are doing as you pointed out when exposed to the truth that they are immature, still yet dead in their sin and carnal …they turn around and say Christ speaking in Paul is “the liar”
