Category: Be Aware of Spiritual Warfare

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Guard Your Heart

1 From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” 4 Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? 5 Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” 6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.” ~ Genesis 20:1-7

Abimelech wasn’t a Jew. He wasn’t a Hebrew. He wasn’t one of God’s chosen people, yet God kept him from sinning. God doesn’t show partiality. He doesn’t give a chance to one and take a chance away from another. God gives each and every one of us the chance to do what is right. And when our heart is pure, and desires aren’t bent on evil, God honors that and nudges us in the direction of holiness so that we don’t corrupt ourselves.

If our desires are for evil, then evil will follow us. If our desires are for good, then good will follow us. The desires of our heart are what lead us to our final destination, for every action we commit comes from our the desires of our heart. So, guard your heart that God might find you seeking Him and not the world. So, that when trials and tribulations come your way, your heart might not be easily swayed towards vengeance or any other kind of evil.

God promised that He would write His word on our hearts that we might not sin against Him. The only way we can do that is if we actually know what His word says. We have to spend time in His word. We have to spend time in His presence, seeking wisdom and understanding.

Don’t be fooled by the lie that you don’t need the Bible to know who God is because if the Bible wasn’t written, you wouldn’t know of Him at all. The only reason we know God is because of our Bible. So, spend time in His word and learn who He is. Memorize passages for times of trial and tribulation. Prepare your heart for war.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Guard Your Heart.

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Consecrate Them

15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Let me not look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. 20 And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt. ~ Genesis 21:15-21

Hagar and Ishmael were just thrown out of the house of Abraham. They were trekking through the wilderness when they couldn’t go anymore. So, Hagar set her son down and went far enough where she didn’t have to watch him die, but God heard the cries of the boy. Though Hagar was older and no doubt wiser, God didn’t hear her cries. He heard the cries of the boy.

God honored the boy and was with the boy because of his father, Abraham. It could be because Abraham circumcised him under God’s covenant. It could just be because God promised Abraham he would be a great nation. What we know for sure is that God was with Ishmael because of Abraham.

How many of us today can say that God shows mercy to our children because we are a friend of God? Or that God hears the cries of our children because we are so close to God? We have to build a relationship so strong with the LORD that when our children are out of our sight and in physical or spiritual danger, their cries can be heard from God. That even if they don’t know they are in danger, the Holy Spirit cries out to the Father on their behalf.

We have to raise our children with the love and the fear of God, that they understand what it means to dwell in His presence and seek His face. So they understand right from wrong. So that God may dwell with them even when they are grown. Now is the time to teach them how to pray, worship, and fast. We have to teach the ways of righteousness them before the world can corrupt them and then wonder where it all went wrong. Make a stand to consecrate your children in the LORD, that even when they are old, they will still abide in His love.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Consecrate Them.

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Prepare Your Household

1 God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. 3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” ~ Genesis 35:1-3

When Jacob was preparing to go before the LORD, he didn’t just have himself spiritually prepared. He made sure his entire household was spiritually prepared. He told them to get rid of their pagan gods and purify themselves because Jacob understood that even if everybody may not be there because they were under his roof, they were under him. So, he had to make sure that they weren’t bringing a curse on Jacob or his household.

Today, we are fooled by the lie that our actions only affect us, but that’s not true. One man’s actions brought a curse on all of Israel. One man’s actions caused his entire family to be swallowed up into the earth. Our actions affect those around us, and other people’s actions affect us. When we invite someone into our home, we have to be careful that they aren’t bringing anything that could but a chasm between God and us.

We have to separate our household and our spiritual lives from the world and its darkness. We have to make sure we have nothing in our lives that can give the Devil legal right in our lives or keep our prayers from being heard by God.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Prepare Your Household.

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Refresh Your Memory

1 God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. 3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” ~ Genesis 35:1-3

Jacob knew who God was. God had called him. God was with Jacob the full twenty years he was with Laban. Jacob even physically wrestled with God. Yet, God reminded Jacob of who He is and what He had done for him.

Even though we know who God is, we still need a reminder. We need a refresher, lest we forget His goodness and mercy. Lest we forget all that He has done for us. Lest we face an enemy that seems too great for God to handle.

We all need reminding of who God is, not just for us, but for spirits around us that try to separate us from Him. When God went before Moses, He didn’t just silently go before him. God shouted His own name and all He had done for Moses and the people of Israel. When we refresh our minds and the atmosphere of who God is, there is a shift in the air. Fear turns to courage. Grief turns to joy. Weakness turns to strength. And faith abounds richly.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Refresh Your Memory.

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Keep an Eye on the Future

17 Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?” 18 So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!” 19 But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant.” ~ Genesis 17:17-19

The LORD told Abraham that Sarah would give birth to a son, but Abraham laughed to himself in disbelief. Immediately after, God tells Abraham the name of his son, Isaac. Isaac apparently means ‘He laughs.’ And if we think about it, Isaac didn’t really seem to do much… sure, he’s one of the forefathers of the faith, but he didn’t do all that Abraham did or even what Jacob did. Isaac almost feels like a blur… I wonder if Abraham hadn’t have laughed but believed wholeheartedly, Isaac would have received a different name with a more purposeful role as a forefather of the faith.

The sins of the father may not rest on the children, meaning that the child will not die on behalf of the father’s sins, but the father’s sins will, without doubt, affect the children. This is why we have so many generational curses because what we do today affects those who live tomorrow.

Let’s take a quick look at Isaac again. He made the same exact mistakes of his father, Abraham, in regards to lying about his wife. He didn’t learn from his father’s mistakes. Isaac loved Esau most, and he didn’t see that the call was for Jacob. Even in his old age, Isaac was easily tricked by his wife and son, Jacob. A lot of what he did, or what he is remembered for, seems to be laughable, but even in all of that, you can still the mighty hand of God upon him.

God was with him when he had a problem with Abimelech and his people. God was with him when he married Rebekah and when he needed comforting after his mother’s death. God was without a doubt with Isaac, and this is because of Abraham’s relationship with God. Abraham’s relationship with God was so close and true that God continued that relationship with Isaac.

What we do and how we react to our circumstances will impact and affect our children, even if we don’t think it will. So, make a conscious effort to always have the future in mind as we live in the present.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Keep an Eye on the Future.

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Prophesy to the Breath

9 Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. ~ Ezekiel 37:9-10

Ezekiel had already prophesied to the dry bones. There was already flesh and tendons on the bones. There was an army. It looked good to the natural eye. They were once dry bones; now they’re an army. But they had no breath. They had the appearance of life, but they were dead.

A lot of times, this is when we stop praying. This is the time when things start to look good again, when things are going right, and we stop when we have the appearance of the army, not realizing that the army is useless without breath. We stop praying when things begin to change, and all seems to be going good. We don’t take it to the next level. We don’t take that next step and prophesy to the breath. Because we have the body, but what good is a body without breath?

When things begin to go good, don’t stop praying. That’s the time to press in even deeper because if we can continue praying in the good, then we can see the favor of God truly pour out on us and all that we prophesy and pray over. We declare the good things that God has promised us even when things are going our way so that when trials and tribulations come, we have a mighty army filled with breath to fight against the enemy, not just a dead army that looks the part but has no breath.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Prophesy to the Breath.

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Eat of Its Fruit

59 So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the cities of their enemies.” ~ Genesis 24:59-60NIV

Notice how even though they aren’t serving God Almighty, they still understand the weight of words, and they bless Rebekah? We who have the very Spirit of God dwelling in us, the very same power that raised Jesus from the dead living in us, don’t bless our children, siblings, family, and friends the way we should. Instead, we use saying like ‘That’ll kill you’ or ‘They’ll learn when they feel.’ Our words seem to have turned negative from positive.

Maybe it’s just because I grew up in a Caribbean household (that has the influence of Pessimistic England), but it seems our world has become more and more negative. We believe we’ll fail before we succeed. There’s more depression and suicide throughout all the world than in previous years. There’s more bullying and angry children. Where are the blessings and the hope? We have God dwelling with us. Something that the ancient world never experienced, so why don’t we take advantage of it? Why don’t we speak life over our families and friends? Why don’t we speak life over our jobs and our ventures? Why don’t we speak life period?

I challenge you every day to speak at least one positive thing over your family and friends, then pay attention to see how things begin to change. For life and death is in the power of the tongue, and those that love it shall eat of its fruits.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Eat of Its Fruit.

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Pray For Saul

7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. ~ Romans 16:7

In his final greetings in his letter to the Romans, Paul mentions Andronicus and Junia, his family, and fellow prisoners. He asked the church there to greet them on his behalf. Then he mentions that not only are they well known to the apostles, but they were in Christ before him.

Meaning that they were Christians and serving the LORD Jesus before he was. So, I thought about it for a moment. Why were they so well known? I believe they were some of the ones who were praying for Saul of Tarsus.

When he was going around terrorizing the saints, putting them in prison, when he was having Christians flogged and killed, Andronicus and Junia and their family were probably on their knees praying on Saul’s behalf.

I wonder, what if they didn’t pray for him? What if they wrote him off as a lost cause? Remember God uses the prayers of the Saints to achieve His good and perfect will. Don’t ever stop praying for a lost soul, no matter how terrible they may seem. They may very well be the ones that God has called to do a great work. And guess what? You will partake in their reward because you were associated with them, even if it was praying for their salvation.

Nobody is ever a lost cause. Pray for your loved ones, pray for the saints, pray for those who persecute you, for great will be your reward.

Father, help us to look past the offenses and the abuse and see the soul in need of redemption. Help us not to lose heart or grow weary in prayer, but to continue steadfast in prayer for the lost and the hurting in Jesus’ name, amen.

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Blow The Trumpet

14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, And the stars shall withdraw their shining. 16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, And utter His voice from Jerusalem; And the heavens and the earth shall shake: But the Lord will be the hope of His people, And the strength of the children of Israel. ~ Joel 3:14–16

Watchman, sound the alarm. Watchman, blow the trumpet and warn the people. For the day of the LORD is near, even at the door. For many, it will be a day of darkness and fear. A day of terror and dread. A day of distress and misery. No ungodly will escape. No amount of money will buy a pardon. No amount of silver or gold will purchase amnesty for those who have sinned against our God.

For those who have needlessly and willingly shed innocent blood, those who show no mercy, no mercy will be shown to them. For the innocent blood cries out to God for justice. There is a dreadful day of reckoning awaiting those who imprison the innocent and set the guilty free. For those who call evil good and good evil. For those who curse the name of our God and the name of His Son. Against such will His anger flare, and against such will His indignation be poured out.

That day is near. The time has come. The valley of decision is upon you. Decide this day whom you will serve. Decide this day which you will choose, life or death. This is your last opportunity to choose life and live. For our God has promised hope to His people. A day of salvation, peace, and restoration. A bright day. A day of rejoicing and reunion with loved ones who have gone on before us.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Blow The Trumpet.

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Prepare Yourself For Winter

20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. ~ Matthew 24:20–21

A time of night is decreed for us. It’s coming soon with a vengeance. Jesus isn’t talking to the world here. He’s talking to His followers. He said a time of night is coming that He described as “The Great Tribulation.” A time of persecution, death, and unrest for all the people of God. Not just a select part of the world.

God said that we are the watchmen on the wall. Us Christians. We are to announce what time of the day or what time of the night it is. We should discern the times and advise what to do. The thing to do now is to draw close to our God, pay attention, and pray. Make sure our loved ones, and ourselves, are ready to meet their God. Make sure our loved ones, and ourselves, are prepared for any tribulation to come. We have to make sure that no matter what comes our way, we won’t denounce the name of Christ. We have to prepare to make a stand regardless of what may be at stake. We have to choose to stand for Christ.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Prepare Yourself For Winter.

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