Consider Paul’s own testimony. He said, “I delight in the law of the Lord but I see another law working in my members. There is another battle being waged in my spirit to imprison me.” Romans 7:22-23.
I am reminded of the decades old conflict in Syria, which still exists today. Bashar al-Assad has ruled the country for many years as a dictator would. Syria’s civil war has seen thousands of deaths by many means, not the least of which is poisonous gas. Over 7 million people have been displaced, the majority of them running away with their young families seeking refuge in other countries throughout the region.
Russia has entered the fray in this war-torn country by staging a proxy war with the United States. In recent years, Syria has become the battleground for these two superpowers to display their strength. While proxy wars are nothing new, they do reflect real tragedies and sometimes results.
There is a spiritual proxy war that exists in the world today. Paul told the church at Rome that a war was raging in his members: The battle in his own spirit was the battle of Heaven and Hell. While Jesus died for us and cares for us, Satan has no such affinity. The enemy will use our thoughts to bring our spirits into bondage. He will bind us and hinder our relationship with the Lord. However, he’s really in pursuit of the Lord’s authority. Remember, Lucifer is after the Throne. Our lives and minds are just the battlefield where this war is played out.
Paul will confess that he delights in the Law of the Lord. There is no controversy that Paul was spiritual, prayerful, and consecrated to the things of God. He was an Apostolic Statesmen and The Ambassador of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was the world’s premier disciple maker. Nevertheless, he saw this proxy war and admitted to another “law” working in his members (mind/thoughts).
Romans 7:23 “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”
There is a battle ensuing that cannot be ignored. Regardless of our desire to follow the Lord, something else is at work, even now. The proxy war of Light and Darkness is being waged among mankind. For this cause, we must take up the Whole Armor of God and give the Holy Spirit sanctuary in our minds.
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole