Internal Civil War: 1 Peter 2:11

I'm convinced that in battling sin the most difficult combat takes place within us. We can live within some sort of compound that creates a bubble from the world, and we can set up accountability after accountability, which in some way hinders Satan, but we can never get away from our flesh. Our flesh is with us 24/7…relentless. Peter begins this challenge by first addressing the believers of that day with a key word… “Beloved.” It is an endearing term, but filled with meaning. It is a term that describes those who are objects of God’s love and therefore will obey Him. “Beloved, I urge and encourage you.” Those who do not have the father do not love Him and are not loved by Him either (1 John 2:15), and therefore will not be willing to obey.

Peter then gives two more descriptions of the believer. They are marked as aliens and strangers. This was a reminder to them that “they are in this world, but not of this world.” While in this world, they will also be marked as weird, strange, backward, and any other term that goes along with being different…set apart to God. Peter understood this and tells them that even though you are viewed this way, abstain/withhold from our fleshly desires. With the help of the Holy Spirit and a conscious decision, we have the ability to withhold from fleshly lusts. Though we are believers, it doesn’t mean we aren’t rid of the flesh that is attached to us. As believers we now have another longing and this is toward God…being holy (1:17) and glorifying Him (2:9). Therefore we have a conflict within us, and we do battle against it.

Here is where we find the internal, civil war. Our fallen condition is prone to sin, and it wages battle against us every single day. It is a relentless, malicious aggression to cause us to fall and disobey God. “Wage battle” means to hold a long-term military campaign against. In other words, “buckle up.” Don’t give up; fight it! What better way to win the battles then to have the instrument that can help you win every time. Kind of like having Excalibur in your hands. As long as you have this sword, you will never lose. We have the Two Edged Sword. But if you don’t use it, then what good does it do you? Every morning you get up make a conscious onslaught against this enemy that lies within. Take an offensive and win the battle by getting into His word daily. Only this way can we defeat our fleshly lusts. By the way fleshly lusts don’t just refer to sexual immorality. It is more than that. Read Galatians 5:19-21 and find a list what these fleshly lusts are.