The Great Conflict

And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. Luke 22:39-42

Here we see the beginning of the great conflict of the ages, and it begins with Jesus combatting his own humanity, to bring his spirit and soul into obedience to the Father's will. It didn't come easy, and he knew very well, what was at stake. Though he was God eternal, when he entered the world as a human, He was thoroughly human in it. He had all our faculties, and used them as we may use ours. In his humanity he had emotions as we do, and had to bring them into subjection, and bring his spirit under subjection to obedience, by overriding and conquering his emotions.
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This battle was waged for our benefit, and for our example. The depths of this conflict we can never know in this life, but we can glean some wisdom and bring some points out to use for our walk in this life and our journey with Christ in this world. So, let's take a deeper look at some aspects of Jesus in Gethsemane. There were victories won there, even before the cross.

OVERCOMING POWER OF OBEDIENCE

Jesus gained victory in many aspects in this battle prayer:
1. A temptation to leave the work unfinished.

2. Scripture implies that the Lord feared that His strength would not be sufficient.

3. There is no doubt Satan assailed him with taunts and mocking's that he would not be able to achieve the redemption of His people. Some say this is why there were great drops of blood on his brow; he was beginning to feel the crush of the weight of sin of the world upon him, which he had never known before.

4. Deep, intense mental suffering. The tremendous inner struggle:
a. On the one hand He was seized by fear and horror of His passion and death.
b. On the other hand He was burning with zeal for the honor of God and redemption of men.
c. How great will be the anguish of the sinner at the sight of everlasting death and the endless pains of hell.

When he reached the place in his soul of resignation-the results were evident:
a. His mind was suddenly rendered calm.
b. God strengthened Him through an angel.
c. God heard Him in granting Him now, not simply strength, but a real victory over Satan.
When Jesus rose from the ground from this prayer in this state, he had secured his inner man, strengthened his soul to endure the reviling's of men. He was now equipped with the inner strength to gain the atonement on the cross. 

Personally, I believe in heaven his saints will be given a movie to watch of this great conflict throughout eternity-that we will view the mighty battle waged in that garden, and what it cost Jesus, to gain our redemption. 

Now, let's take a deeper look at how this reflects us and our walk as believer's here in this world.

The Battle of Man's Will

Man's will is the essence of what he is. Choices are made that determine his daily life and eternal destiny. The Creator gave man a free volition and never moves to force, coerce or control. 
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The will is that which stands between good and evil, that part of man when joined to God's will brings a union that brings a harmony between creature and Creator and released the power of God in full salvation. A man can say no to God and God will respect his choice.

"...Not my will, but thine be done. (Luke 22:42)

​Major Points of The Conflict

​1. The Potential of the Will. Our emotions express how we feel, our mind tells us what we think, our will communicates what we want. Man's will is his real self-the choices he makes reveal the character of the man.
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2. Spiritual Life. One must choose the will of God or his own pleasure. The spiritual life is more than emotions and intellect-God aims at the salvation of our souls and our wills.
a. The natural man emanates a natural, animal, fleshy will; who must have their own way, and will manipulate, and scheme to get what he desires.
b. God gave man the freedom of choice, and the capacity to make his own decisions. Good and evil are a constant battleground for man-throughout our life. 
c. We ultimately live out the consequences of our choices.

3. Spiritual Union with God. results when man's will is joined with God's.
a. Out of this union comes obedience. The principle lived by will be "Make no provision for the flesh." (Matt. 10:38)
b. Disobedience means to follow one's own will.
Obedience that oringinates from love-comes when we cease from our own works. What God calls-He enables.

4. Union of the heart of Man-with God's heart. This brings harmony between God and man.
a. When there is harmony between God and the man-it will be evident in the man's inter-actions with people. There may be differences, and areas of disagreement-this is to be expected in life. But, even if they disagree-there will be a desire to "live in peace", as much as possible. 
b. There will be an abiding peace evident-and solid stability in the man's daily walk, and living.

5. Rebellion. "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being King." 1Sam :15:23
a. Pride and deception are roots of rebellion. "Lucifer was lifted up and consequently rebelled against God." Isa. 14:13-14
b. Resentment, bitterness, hatred, unforgiveness, develop in unrepentant pride.
c. Humanism has caused much of the rebellion is the last several generations-the result is a society unwilling to submit to authority in schools, governments, and the church.
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++ Note: Paul and the disciples dealt with much persecution and contending with those who opposed their preaching in their day, and they also had much contention and disputes with ubelieving Jews, that caused splits and persecution-just as it happens today. It takes a lot of discernment, prayer, and guidence from God-to know the difference between contending for the faith-and contentions that come from inward rebellion.

THE WARFARE OF THE WILL

​Whatever a man sets itself on is what the man walks after. Man's head is able to walk after the flesh as well as the Spirit.
1. The Spirit produces life and peace. The flesh produces death.
2. All the leadings of God are transmitted through the Spirit.
3. The leadings afford us an opportunity to make a choice-either to go after what the flesh wants, or what the Holy Spirit is guiding and leading us into.
4. A disturbed mind is harmful to spiritual life. Isa. 26:3, Phil. 4:6-8
5. The mind is not to be ruled by emotions. IITim. 1:7
6. The head needs to be kept in a humble state. Acts 20:19
7. The Word of God is to be put into the mind-bringing light and renewal. Heb. 8:10
Spiritual life and the renewing of the mind are connected. You are responsible to renew your mind. Scripture tells us...."you be renewed in the spirit of your mind. (Eph. 4:23). This is a command. The renewing comes as you let God's truth permeate every part of your thinking. We are to "Break up our fallow ground" (Hos. 10:12)

DESTRUCTIVE BONDAGES

​God told the Israelites to destroy every living thing in the land of Canaan including children. This severe judgement indicates the severity of the curse brought on the land through the Occult. The people were worshippers of idols and full of their magical arts. Death was the only way to remove the influence and pressure of the Occult the people had put themselves in bondage to. The Occultist roots had extended to the third and fourth generations. God did not want his people contaminated. Death was the only answer. 
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Under the New Covenant, the death of Christ is able to break the curse of the Occult, so that the captive can live and be free. The alliance must be broken, the root must be cut. God wants people free. The curse is removed by the victory of the Cross.

However, this nation-America, is now in the exact same condition and the evidence is blatantly obvious. There has been over a hundred years, going into the fourth generation-of atheistic, communistic, Occult and Satanic activity in this country, and now Satan is publicly worshipped on all forms of media, and in the public schools, universities, and there's statues of the Baphomet-in the public squares of many cities here in this country. We are facing the same judgment that came to Canaan, and are seeing the beginnings of it now. This country is no longer a Christian nation-it is pagan, and satanic.

The bible relays many other bondages that destroys people's lives, that the devil uses to drag people to hell with him-the list is long; drunkenness, lust, sexual perversions, adultery, fornication. lying, stealing, pride, violence and brutality. If people read the bible, and heeded it, think of what this world could be like. The conditions of our governments, and the wars that are waged are evidence of godless societies, which are prevalent now. 

Conclusion: An alliance with another god is not easily broken. Active faith in Christ, and direct renunciation of the Occult, and all it's activities-objects, books, etc. is necessary for complete severance. Many need to be cut loose from ancestors who made unholy alliances with witchcraft, the Occult, and idolatry. The blood of Jesus breaks the curse of the Occult. By faith, repentance, and renunciation-the believer confesses with his mouth his faith in Christ, breaks every demonic alliance of the past, and goes on to destroy any objects connected with the Occult, and any books on that teach these demonic practices. Then ask the Holy Spirit for help and assistance to let the word of God heal your mind, body and soul, and pray for the infilling of the Holy Spirit, to receive the power to live the Christian life, and abide in Christ.

MAINTAINING DELIVERANCE

1. Repentance. This is an ongoing pattern for the believer. Repentance is not a one-time thing that we do when we are first saved. Man is responsible for his choices, when we sin (and we will, even after our salvation) we are to immediately confess it, and again ask for forgiveness, and the cleansing of Jesus blood over our lives. The Christian life is maintained by an attitude of repentance.
2. Give no place to the flesh. Satan enters a person, whether they are saved or not-when we give him a place to enter again. "Neither give place to the devil". Eph. 4:27 The devil does not respect a Christian who opens the door to him. The demon may be cast out, but the ground that gave place to it cannot be cast out. Unless the ground is dealt with, no permanent relief can be obtained. Prov. 21:22
3. Accept responsibility for receiving truth. Man is responsible for what he is. Only as he accepts responsibility, is there deliverance. What is ours in doctrine, is NOT ours automatically in experience.
4. Stand daily in the Word of God. Take your place in Christ, resist the enemy, and learn how to use the word of God as your weapon against the onslaught of attacks from Satan. No one can do this for you, you must pick up your bible-and learn how to wield it with authority agains the principalities and powers of darkness. 
5. Learn how to resist the devil. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Resist him on the ground of the blood of Jesus. (Rev. 12:11) Confess your victory and deliverance through Jesus' blood.
6. Walk in fellowship with the Lord. Submit yourself to God. Fellowship develops and grows between you and God as you continue to walk in obedience. His presence becomes stronger, his guidance becomes clearer, and the bond between you becomes unable to be broken by the devil, or the wicked.

If we look at the obedience of Jesus throughout his ministry and the victories he won beginning at Gethsemane, and his finished work on the cross, and rising the third day. We are given a complete pattern we can gain a lifetime of wisdom and guidance to follow. As he says-if we abide in Him, the doors of heaven are open to us. This is victory the angels wonder at, and saints in heaven proclaim His glory-forever.
​Lorna Couillard

Jesus showed by example, that whatever we face in this life, if we abide in Him, we can face it, and overcome it. We serve a risen Lord, the tomb is empty.