Category: Be Aware of Spiritual Warfare

⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. ~ Luke 2:7

I remember watching a TV show that had a Christmas episode. It was your normal Christmas special until they handed each other Christmas presents on Christmas morning but refused to say Merry Christmas. No. Instead, they said “Happy Holidays” to each other. I was baffled.

They’re celebrating Christmas on Christmas morning but say Happy Holidays to each other so that they can be politically correct and not offend anyone. It doesn’t even make sense. Even if they said Happy Holidays to the audience after the episode was finished, as I’ve seen other shows do, no. They had to make sure they didn’t mention ‘Merry Christmas’ because it’s politically incorrect.

Religion is under attack, especially Christianity. Why? Because Christ changes you. They know that Christmas is the celebration and remembrance of the birth of Christ, so they have to change the name as to not draw any positive attention to Him. They have to completely remove the true love of Christ from society in order to remove the Light and spread the darkness.

This Christmas, stand up for your religious freedoms promised to us by our founding fathers. They risked, and many gave it all up in order to ensure a better future for the generations to come. Religious freedom is currently at risk. Therefore, this Christmas pray for our nation, pray for our leaders, pray for those who write and pass laws in this nation, so that we might reach the throne room of God with our prayers and He might move on our behalf.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Keep Christ In Christmas.

¹⁹ And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. ~ John 3:19

I remember being a kid enjoying the reading of the true Christmas Story at Epcot. Not only did they read the true Christmas Story found in Luke 2, but they also sang Christmas carols like Silent Night, O Holy Night, Angels We Have Heard On High, etc. One of the last years we enjoyed this event, I overheard a lady standing nearby complaining about the reading of Christmas Story. She explained that she enjoyed the songs but not the reading of the Christmas Story out of the Bible.

Being me, I had to fight every ounce of my being not to ask her what the difference was because her complaint made no sense. Think about it, all of those Christmas carols are saying the same exact thing that’s in the Christmas Story she was complaining about them reading. The other thing was, why go if you’re just gonna complain about the very purpose of the event? That’s crazy. But that’s the way the world is.

It wants you to accept and support everything they love to indulge in, but they want to silence Christianity. There isn’t another religion that is hated the way that Christianity is. They don’t even have a reason for the hatred. They’re okay with the mentioning of God, even the mentioning of Jesus; just don’t live for Him or read His Word. Why? Because those two things bring change. The Word of God sparks a fire within the hearts of those who hear it. It’s living, active, and can change the life of anyone who allows it to.

This Christmas, let the Word of God change you so that you may be a Light in this world as you live for Christ. Don’t let others silence the Truth with the false perspective of tolerance. Those shouting tolerance are always the most intolerant.

Dear LORD, please use me. Help me to be a Light for You. Please write Your Word on my heart that I might not sin against You, but instead that I might share Your Word and love with all I meet. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the LORD and in the strength of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ~ Ephesians 6:10-18

There is indeed a war going on right now, all around us, for the souls of man. The enemy has deceived us into believing that he either doesn’t exist and even if he did exist, it’s nowhere near us. In fact, it’s far, far away.

That’s how Christians think about demonization, oppression, and spiritual warfare. They think that it is a thing of the past. As a matter of fact, it’s only in the Gospels, and all of that ended with signs and wonders and miracles when the last apostle died.

When the truth is the enemy is very near. He is up close and personal; he is in your face close. But praise the LORD; we have a friend in the LORD Jesus, a friend who sticketh closer than a brother. Whose power has not diminished. Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Therefore, don’t believe the lies of the enemy that there is no more power in the name of Jesus. Believe the Truth of God that where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is freedom, and whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

⁵ Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, ⁶ but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. ⁷ Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! ~ Matthew 18:6-7

Jesus said, if you cause one of these little ones who believe in Him to sin, woe be on you. As a matter of fact, it would be way better for you to have a millstone tied around your neck and then thrown into the depths of the sea and left to drown. Jesus isn’t just speaking empty words; this is a serious warning. Why was this warning so strong? Because children are innocent. Turning them away from God at a young age can be like taking away their hope of salvation. They’re like sponges; the way you raise them up is the way they will continue in when they are old. Not only are they precious, they are also the future.

Look at the world we live in today. Teachers, movies, TV shows, music, and social media are all geared toward grooming our children. Raising them up to be God-haters, sexually confused, confused about their identity, apathetic to morality, anti-faith, walking in darkness continually, never once even thinking to look for the Light. The world is after our children.

Therefore, it’s up to each parent to pay attention to what their children are watching, listening to, consuming, and pumping into their brains. Our children are under attack because, in a single generation, the entire world can be changed. Therefore, don’t let just anybody speak into and influence your child’s life. You speak into your child’s life. You influence your child. Teach your child right from wrong, and lead by example. Teach your child about God, His ways, His desires, His righteousness, and His love, making sure you always first lead by example in all things. Then, make sure you pray over your children and for your children daily. Don’t give the Devil an opportunity to influence your children and lead them away from God.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be The Influence.

¹⁴ Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? ¹⁵ What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ¹⁷ Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, ¹⁸ and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” ~ 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

As you are well aware, Halloween is nigh upon us, and people are genuinely wondering what to do on Halloween if they can’t celebrate it. We teach that Christians Can’t Celebrate Halloween; why? Because Halloween is darkness. Witches and warlocks cast spells that night. Halloween is NOT a Christian holiday.

Therefore, we should refrain from participating in it in any fashion. We cannot legitimize evil just by saying, or claiming it is something else. A whitewashed sepulcher is only a whitewashed grave. So, I gave three things that can be done to combat the evil: Fasting; Prayer; Group Bible Study/Worship.

We have to combat that the darkness with light. If we don’t the darkness will contain to reign supreme and the world will continue to get darker and darker. Therefore, separate yourself from the darkness and let the Light of the LORD shine through you.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Combat.

¹¹ I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. ¹² The signs of an apostle were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders and miracles. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:11-12^CSB

Paul was writing to the Corinthian Church, warning them about the deceitful teachings of the “super-apostles” that had weaseled their way into the Church and disguised themselves as servants of Christ when they were, in fact, simply servants of Satan. Now, here’s what I find interesting, these servants of Satan are called “super-apostles”, but look at how Paul addresses that. He tells the people, “The signs of an apostle were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders and miracles.” Paul did signs and wonders, but he also performed the signs of an apostle with great endurance. So many, not every single one, but many today call themselves apostles but cannot perform a single sign or wonder. They have people referring to them as only apostle so and so, without performing a single miracle. No one goes to them and returns healed. Matter-a-fact much of these teachings that they bring forth aren’t sound doctrine. So why do they call themselves apostles?

I believe Satan has successfully infiltrated the Church through confusion and lack of understanding, coupling all these things with pride. Now, I want to be clear, I’m not saying each and every person who calls themselves apostle is evil, demonic, Satanic, possessed, or anything like, but I believe they are beguiled because they don’t walk in power. They have no signs, wonders, or miracles that they can perform. And so often, their doctrine doesn’t line up with Scripture.

Now, I believe that there are still apostles and prophets just like I believe there are still teachers and preachers, but I believe we lost the understanding of what those offices truly are and what they truly mean. To me, it seems as if each person calling themselves apostle so and so are doing so only out of pride. I have never read Paul referring to himself as Apostle Paul. Did Paul start his letter explaining who he was and what his position was in the Church? Absolutely, but he didn’t use it as a title per se. How can I be sure? When Peter mentions Paul, he refers to him as Brother Paul. When Paul mentions Peter, he refers to him as Cephas. They didn’t turn this office into a title for themselves and others to refer to them by. Paul started out his letters with his position so that his readers understood with what authority he said those things; that was it.

I personally believe we’ve lost so much knowledge and understanding that the early Church had. We’re more divided, confused, and weaker than any other generation of the Church. This isn’t by accident but by design. The Devil isn’t a toothless, defeated foe. The Devil is a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. He’s planning and scheming. And what has he done? Removed sound teaching and doctrine by introducing false humility and pride into the Church. False humility says, “There are no more apostles, prophets, miracles, signs, wonders, power, etc. because all we need and should want is a relationship with Jesus.” Pride says, “I am an apostle or prophet because I am influential, I have a following, people respect me and my opinion, my teachings go viral, therefore, I am an apostle.” Then, to top it all off, he introduced distractions that keep us from actually reading our Bible, studying it, and understanding it. If I can keep my enemy from reading, studying, and understanding, then I have conquered them before the battle has even begun. How can we overcome our enemy if we don’t know anything about our own salvation?

Salvation isn’t just about getting eternal life. It’s about building the body of Christ. How can we do that if we don’t know, understand, or care what part of the body we are? It can’t work. We have to throw off false humility, pride, distractions, slothfulness, and apathy and instead cling diligently to the Word of God, searching it daily, seeking Truth and understanding, emptying our cup so that God may fill it up, all in pursuit of only His Truth and Righteousness. Imagine if the Church just followed in the footsteps of the early Church… imagine the souls that would be saved… we need to get back to the basics and throw off prideful titles and false humility so that we might build on a strong, firm foundation.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Empty To Fill.

³⁹ When Moses reported these words to all the Israelites, the people were overcome with grief. ⁴⁰ They got up early the next morning and went up the ridge of the hill country, saying, “Let’s go to the place the Lord promised, for we were wrong.” ⁴¹ But Moses responded, “Why are you going against the Lord’s command? It won’t succeed. ⁴² Don’t go, because the Lord is not among you and you will be defeated by your enemies. ⁴³ The Amalekites and Canaanites are right in front of you, and you will fall by the sword. The Lord won’t be with you, since you have turned from following him.” ⁴⁴ But they dared to go up the ridge of the hill country, even though the ark of the Lord’s covenant and Moses did not leave the camp. ⁴⁵ Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that part of the hill country came down, attacked them, and routed them as far as Hormah. ~ Numbers 14:39-45^CSB

The people of Israel were told to invade the land of Canaan and take it over because it was their inheritance as promised to their father Abraham. The LORD promised to go with them and even go before them, but the people refused to enter. Why? Because they sent in spies from each tribe and when those twelve spies returned, 10 of them gave a bad report of the land and incited the people to not enter the land.

What was their report? There were Nephilim in the land. Giants as tall as cedar trees that wreaked havoc on the people of the land. They were filled with fear at the sight of them, and when they returned, they filled the camp with fear as well. So, the people refused to enter. Only two of the twelve spies tried to remind the people that the LORD had promised to be with them and go before them. They tried to remind the people of God’s promise, but their words fell on deaf ears. The people would not listen.

So, what does God do? He rejects the people since they rejected Him with their unbelief and refusal to go into the land. When they’re told that God has now rejected them, they try to force His hand by refusing to stay in the camp and instead going to war. They probably think that the LORD will show up; He’ll have to. But God doesn’t show up, and they are destroyed at battle and have to flee.

So many of us are told to go forward go forward. Time after time, we reject God until He finally tells us “fine,” and He doesn’t move us forward. By the time we’re finally ready to move forward, it’s too late, and God has moved on to a willing heart. So, we try to force His hand by moving forward without Him. And what happens? We fail. The difference between us and the people of Israel is that we blame God for our failure when He told us to stay and not go.

When you miss the opportunity, you must remain where God has left you and seek Him until He returns. You don’t try to move on without Him; you always stay where He left you, lest you be overcome on your own.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Stay and Move In Obedience.

¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ~ Ephesians 6:11-13

We are facing a war for independence right now. A spiritual war of independence, but a war, nonetheless. Every one of us are all flawed with what theologians call, “original sin.” This was the purpose of Jesus coming to earth and being born of a virgin, so that He could die for the sins of the world.

Jesus died to wash us clean of that original sin, and He offers eternal life to whomsoever will. He is offering liberty right now. Your rights as a citizen may be taken from you. Your freedom can be eliminated. Your property can be confiscated. But do you know what they can never take from you? Your freedom in Christ. Jesus died on the cross over 2,000 years ago because we were all sinners and needed saving, and His shed blood was the only way for us to receive salvation.

So, Jesus had to die that we might live. Therefore, cling to your salvation. Cling to what they can never take from you. Jesus promised that if we seek first the Kingdom of God all other things will be given to us. Therefore, seek the LORD first and His righteousness, and He will take care of all your needs.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Pay Attention To The War.

⁶ Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads. ~ Joshua 7:6

When the men went up to fight AI, they were deceived into thinking they had it covered, not realizing they had a breach in their armor. AI represents Adultery and Idolatry. The other important point to make is this. When Joshua sent the men up to fight, it never said he also sent the Ark of the Covenant.

What’s so important about the Ark? It represented the person, the presence, and the promises of God. It pointed to the fact that as the people of Israel set out to cross the Jordan, to invade, and possess the land, they must do so not in their own strength, but in God’s strength, for it was God Himself who was going before them as their source of victory. But in the case of AI, they wanted to fight that battle in their own strength. I tell you, it’s a losing battle.

So, what was the battle tactic that defeated AI? The first thing Joshua did was to seek the LORD. Therefore, that is the first thing we must do. When we run up against AI, we must immediately flee, then find a place of prayer and rebuke the enemy in the Name of Jesus.

They submitted themselves to God. If indeed you have fallen at AI, there is forgiveness in Jesus, yes, even at AI. The tearing of the clothes was associated with mourning, grief, and loss. It is a sign of true repentance. The only thing is, now it is no longer rending our garments, but rather, we rend our hearts, not our garments (Joel 2:13).

Therefore, let us put on the full armor of God so that in the day of adversity, we will be able to stand. Why? Because AI isn’t a battle, we can ever win on our own. It’s a battle that we can only overcome through the LORD Jesus Christ.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Only Battle With Christ.

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. ~ Ephesians 3:14-19

I want us to fully understand what Paul is writing here because it is very important. Paul said, for this reason, I kneel before the Father. But for what reason? The reason is, the Ephesians were becoming a little discouraged because of Paul’s suffering for the Gospel. And if Paul, a mighty man of God, would go through such suffering, is it not worth it? So, it is for that reason, so that the Ephesians would not be discouraged about serving God because of Paul’s sufferings basically for them.

He wrote, “I want you to understand this.” Understand what? Understand the love that God has for us. Because if you can understand that love, and understand the width, the height, the depth of Jesus’ love that surpasses all knowledge, then you will be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

If you don’t understand the love of God, then you will think that God is always out to get you. He is up there just waiting in the wings of heaven waiting for you to mess up, and splat, He has you. But that is not how the love of God works.

God actually looks for someone doing what is right so that He can bless them. And those who are doing wrong? Well, He looks for an intercessor who will pray and intercede for the people who are doing wrong so that He will not have to carry out His swift and terrible judgment on them.

God never interferes with what is going on on earth, unless we ask Him to. He said the Heavens are His, but He has given earth to mankind. It’s our job to take care of the earth and those who dwell on it, and when we cannot get the job done, we call on Jesus.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Call On Jesus.

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