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Open in new tab The Battle For The Soul of Man: Passivity, The Will of Man And The Will of God
Law of Sin and death
Passivity, The Will of Man And The Will of God
Faith For Everyday Christian Living
Credulity Interfering With Faith In Sanctification
Passivity & Credulity As Ready Vehicles For Oppression
Credulity Interfering With Faith In Sanctification
Passivity, The Will of Man And The Will of God
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it, [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’ The whole Law and the [writings of the] Prophets depend on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40 Amp.)
After the fall man becomes flesh. The flesh envelops the whole being and overpowers him. Man was originally a living soul; now, having fallen, he becomes flesh. His soul had been meant to submit to the spirit’s control; now it is subject to the dominion of the flesh. Sin finds its seat in man’s body.
The main cause of a believer’s susceptibility to the power of darkness APART FROM SIN, is through the caving in or, a cessation of the active exercise of the (regenerated spirit backed) will in control over, intellect, emotions and body. It is, practically, a counterfeit of “surrender to God.” The believer who “surrenders” his “members“ or faculties ‘to God’, and ceases to use them himself, thereby falls into “passivity” which enables powers of darkness to deceive, and possess any part of his/her being which has become passive.
Simply put, passivity is the opposite condition to activity; It must not be confused with quietness, or the meek and quiet spirit, which, in the sight of God, is of great price. Quietness of spirit, of heart, of mind, of manner, voice and expression, may be co-existent with the most effective activity in the will of God. In a believer’s Christian walk it means:
Loss of self control: Loss of full control by the believer him/her self of all of the departments of his/her personal being
Loss of freewill: in the sense of the person him/her self exercising his/her will as the guiding principle of personal control, in harmony with the will of God.
All the danger of “passivity” in the ‘surrendered’ believer, lies in the advantage taken of the passive condition by the powers of darkness. Apart from these evil forces, and their workings through the passive person, “passivity” is merely inactivity, or idleness. In normal inactivity, that is, when the evil spirits have not taken hold, the inactive person is always holding himself ready for activity; whereas in “passivity” which has given place to the powers of darkness, the passive person is unable to act by his own volition.
The will of the man united to the will of God; and thus having the energizing power of God working with his volition; is to rule his “own spirit”
Like a city that is broken down and without walls [leaving it unprotected] Is a man who has no self-control over his spirit [and sets himself up for trouble]. (Proverbs 25:28)
for the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets [the prophecy is under the speaker’s control, and he can stop speaking]. (1 Corinthians 14:32)
The will of the man united to the will of God–and thus having the energizing power of God working with his volition–is also to rule his thoughts or mind (inclusive of all the soul-powers)
Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. (Colossians 3:2)
The will of the man united to the will of God–and thus having the energizing power of God working with his volition–is also to rule his body
But [like a boxer] I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached [the gospel] to others, I myself will not somehow be disqualified [as unfit for service]. (1 Corinthians 9:27)