Category: Be Aware of Spiritual Warfare

¹⁷ And Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers. ¹⁸ Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them.” ¹⁹ Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. ²⁰ And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry. ²¹ And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. ²² And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers. ²³ As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him. ~ 1 Samuel 17:17-23

I recently had a conversation with my cousin, who describes himself as a Hebrew Israelite, and his wife, who is a self-proclaimed Muslim. They both deny the Godhood and the deity of Jesus. They both tried to argue from different standpoints why salvation and Jesus don’t make any sense. My cousin argued from the standpoint that a God who flooded the earth wouldn’t allow man to nail Him to a cross and kill Him. She argued that if Jesus was God and died for our sins, then there would be no more sin in the world, and all people would be perfect.

So, I did as my father taught me and gave an answer for each and every question they had using Scripture and not just my own opinions. After I gave my answers, I was told by my cousin’s wife that it didn’t make any sense, and no one died for anybody. So, I simply asked her what the Quran says about Mohammed. Does it not say that he didn’t know what Allah would do with him or them? Does it not say that Mohammed died and was buried? She was reluctant to answer my questions, but she agreed and answered. I then asked about Jesus. I asked if the Quran does not testify that He went into Heaven alive. To which she then had to concede and say it does. I then posed one last question, “If Jesus was taken into heaven alive and Mohammed died and was buried, why would I follow the dead man instead of the man taken into Heaven alive?”

She wasn’t a fan of this question, so my cousin attempted to come to her defense, stating that Mohammed knew things he shouldn’t’ve known, and therefore, you have to at least wonder. She then chimed in, saying that that was proof from God. I then pointed out that that isn’t actually evidence of anything, as there are writings from ancient Asia that describe brain surgery that modern scientists don’t understand how they knew these things. Just because someone is given knowledge doesn’t mean that they received that knowledge from God. She then proceeded to tell me that I need to let people believe what they want to believe and stop trying to convert people.

I didn’t go to my aunt’s house looking for a conversation with my cousin and his wife. In fact, I didn’t even know they were there. I went there to try to find something to fix my phone with, but instead of finding anything to fix my phone, I found myself in a debate with my cousin, his wife, and the lady who cooks for their family. It doesn’t matter where you are or what your plans are, sometimes, the Devil will try to shake up your faith, and if you haven’t prepared you’re faith will be shaken.

David didn’t go to fight Goliath; David went to bring food to his brothers. But he had prepared in private, so when it came time to face the giant, he was ready. Our lives involve battles upon battles upon battles. Some will be simple and easy; others will be three giants against one of you. And if you’ve prepared in private, you’ll be able to defend yourself against each giant that comes your way. Not only will you be able to defend yourself against their attacks, you will be able to attack back and shake the giants who attacked you.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Shake The Giants.

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²⁹ The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice. ³⁰ And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. ³¹ Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord God.” ~ Ezekiel 22:29-31

God made a long list of wrongs and called out the iniquities that both the people and the priests were guilty of. But He doesn’t want to bring a swift and terrible punishment on them as He would be justified in doing.

He doesn’t do it because He does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. Neither does He find delight in punishing the guilty. God would rather bless than curse. Give than take. Help than hinder. Forgive than punish because His love is a steadfast love. Therefore, God looked for someone, anyone who would stand in the gap and intercede for those wayward people, but He could find none.

Today is no different. God is still looking for intercessors. He’s still looking for someone to stand in the gap and pray for the lost that they might be found. The love of God will move, but only if we will call it into action.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Call It Into Action.

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³ Then the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?” He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”

⁵ Then the sons of the prophets who were in Jericho came up to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?” He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.” ~ 2 Kings 2:3, 5 ^CSB

It was time for Elijah to be taken up. It wasn’t private knowledge; others knew of this, and they came to Elisha to tell him Elijah was being taken away that day. They were the sons of the prophets of Bethel and Jericho. Two different times. Two different locations. Two different sets of people came to discourage Elisha, but he stood firm.

They came to him and asked if he knew his master was being taken away from him that day. The man who called Elisha and taught him everything he knew was being taken away, and these two sets of men came to let Elisha know.

Now, their prophecy could’ve discouraged him, but he didn’t allow their words to penetrate his heart or his mind. He silenced them.

Sometimes, people will come up to you to tell you how hard something is going to be or weigh in on how they believe your life will turn out. They may even have your best interest at heart, even though their words are discouraging. Sometimes, people in your life unknowingly allow the devil to use them in order to discourage you, and they don’t even realize it. They may think they’re doing what’s best for you when, in reality, they are defeating you before you can even truly get started.

Just as these sons of the prophets may have thought they were doing good by warning Elisha, so may other people feel the same way when they tell you discouraging things. But just as Elisha silenced them, you have to silence others. Not physically, but spiritually. You give the words they spoke to you and on you to the Lord. You don’t allow their discouraging words to penetrate your heart or mind. Instead, you cover yourself with the armor of God so that you might be protected from the attacks of the enemy. So that you can fill your mind with Truth and not lies. With hope and not fear.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Silence Them.

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¹ The time had come for the Lord to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal, ² and Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord is sending me on to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

⁶ Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord is sending me to the Jordan.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.

⁹ When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken from you.” So Elisha answered, “Please, let me inherit two shares of your spirit.” ¹⁰ Elijah replied, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me being taken from you, you will have it. If not, you won’t.” ¹¹ As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire with horses of fire suddenly appeared and separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up into heaven in the whirlwind. ¹² As Elisha watched, he kept crying out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”  When he could see him no longer, he took hold of his own clothes, tore them in two, ¹³ picked up the mantle that had fallen off Elijah, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. ~ 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6, 9-13^CSB

Elijah had completed his work for that time, and now it was time for him to leave. The LORD was calling him to cross the Jordan so that he could be taken up in a whirlwind, so he told his apprentice, Elisha, to stay where he was. He didn’t tell him once, but twice. Twice Elijah told Elisha to stay, while he went on alone, but twice Elisha refused to depart from him.

Elisha could have easily taken that as Elijah not wanting him around, getting offended, and staying where he was instead of trucking on. If he had allowed his flesh to become offended, he would have missed out on his blessing and his inheritance.

Elisha didn’t care what was said to him. He didn’t care if it was something he could be offended about, and people would understand. He didn’t care if he was wanted there or not. Elisha knew that Elijah was a blessed and highly favored man of God. He was his mentor, and he was soon going to be taken away by God. So, he refused to leave him and clung tightly to his presence. He stuck so closely to Elijah that two chariots of fire had to separate them in order to take only Elijah to heaven.

This is called dedication and perseverance. He didn’t care how far they had to walk, how long it would take, or even where they were going. Elisha knew that his time with Elijah was running out, and he didn’t want to miss anything.

Aerosmith wrote a love song called “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing,” and in it they say this:

Don’t wanna close my eyes
I don’t wanna fall asleep
‘Cause I’d miss you, babe
And I don’t wanna miss a thing
‘Cause even when I dream of you (Even when I dream)
The sweetest dream would never do
I’d still miss you, babe
And I don’t wanna miss a thing

Now, they, of course, were writing a love song about a woman, but just imagine feeling that way about Jesus. The desire to be with Him as much as possible. The desire to spend time with Him, learn from Him, and interact with Him is with more than sleep. That’s how Elisha felt about Elijah, not a romantic desire, but a disciple desire. He knew that Elijah had more to teach and show him, and he didn’t wanna miss a thing.

That was just a man; we today have the opportunity to have an even closer relationship with the living God, and we pass it up for temporary, unsatisfying things of this world. Imagine if we clung to Jesus the way that Elisha clung to Elijah or with the same kind of passion Aerosmith wrote about. There would be nothing stopping us because nothing can separate us from the love of God. A chariot of fire came and separated Elisha and Elijah, but nothing can come and separate us from God. He dwells in us and with us.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Don’t Miss A Thing.

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¹⁴ After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.” ~ Nehemiah 4:14

The Jews had just returned to Jerusalem to find the walls broken down and the Temple destroyed. When their enemies heard that God had visited the Jews, they were angry. They did not want anything good for them. They threatened them and tried to intimidate them, anything to get the work to stop.

We have an enemy that has those same feelings toward us. He hates us and does not want anything good for us. He does not want us to work for God. He will do anything to get us to stop working for God.

Nehemiah encouraged the people to ignore the threats and to not fear them because God is for them. Then he charged them with this: fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.

That is what we must do: fight for our family members in prayer, crying out to God day and night for their salvation. God will hear, and He will answer and save your family.

Dear Heavenly Father, please remember my lost loved ones. Please speak to their hearts and bring conviction on them. Save them, LORD, in Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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¹⁶ Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. ~ James 5:16

Confess your faults one to another. In other words, live in peace with each other so that your prayers are not blocked. The accuser of the brethren is always on the lookout for those at war with each other. When he finds one, he uses it to have your prayers blocked. But with confession comes deliverance, and with deliverance comes freedom, freedom to have your prayers heard and answered. Some people don’t receive their healing because they have held someone up for something that that person probably has long ago forgotten.

Once you have cleared the air, so to speak, you can now focus your attention on prayer, effectual fervent prayers. Now, this word effectual carries the sense of activity or energy. It is not some Kumbaya, in the sweet by-and-by type prayer. But an active, emotional, heartfelt prayer reaching out to God knowing that He will hear and when He hears, He will answer. Because what you cannot change through your own strength WILL change through effectual fervent prayer.

Father God, help me to be consistent, determined, and fully persuaded about the things of God. Standing on Your promises, praying always, and never giving up before I receive an answer from You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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¹ About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. ² He killed James the brother of John with the sword, ³ and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. ⁴ And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. ⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. ~ Acts 12:1-5

Herod laid violent hands on some of the Christians, including John’s brother James, whom he killed with the sword, as well as Peter, whom he imprisoned, guarded by four squads of soldiers. He planned to kill Peter after the Passover, just like he had killed James, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

Herod’s plan was to kill Peter because he saw that killing James pleased the Jews, but earnest prayer was made for him. Desperate intercession went up to God for Peter. Herod and the Jews had one plan, but the Church had a different plan, a plan that involved Jesus.

“Free Peter. Save Peter’s life, O’ LORD our God,” they desperately pleaded in earnest prayer.

This word earnest is the Greek word ektenōs. It means:

• Eager, Continuous prayer

In other words, they were desperate.

I’m not talking a little five-minute, “If it is Your will, dear LORD…” type of prayer. This was an all-night, all-day crying out to God for His mercy on Peter type prayer.

The Christians praying for Peter was desperate for a move of God. They had just made the mistake of not praying for James in desperation and James had paid the ultimate price. He was executed by Herod. Peter fared much better. Why? Because of the prayer of desperation.

If you want God to move, then you need to pray desperate prayers. You need to be on your hands and knees seeking God. You need to reach that place where you’re willing to wrestle all night until you get your answer. You have to be willing to knock all night til the door is opened to you. You have to be willing to become desperate if you want to see God move miraculously in your life.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Pray Desperate Prayers.

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¹ And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. ³ And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ~ Acts 2:1-4^KJV

When the day of Pentecost had fully come. Please understand that the Jews were celebrating the Feast of Pentecost for centuries. This was not their first rodeo, as they say. That’s why Dr. Luke tells us when it had fully come. In other words, the fulfillment of the feast had finally come. God had given His Holy Spirit to His beloved Church. Now, the 120 believers gathered in the Upper Room were filled with the Holy Spirit, with power, with boldness, with confidence, with love. And they began to preach the message of the Good News. Souls were saved, lives were changed, and bodies were healed.

But the believers came together in one accord and waited upon Jesus as He had instructed them before His ascension. Great signs and wonders and miracles were wrought forth by the hands of the Apostles and the early believers.

Somehow, we, nowadays believers, have lost the power to perform signs, wonders, miracles, and great acts of healing. Maybe we need to get back to waiting upon the LORD, and to prayer, and to the study of God’s word.

So, this Pentecost Sunday, let us make a determination to wait, worship, and dedicate ourselves to prayer. Let us seek the LORD our God and turn the world upside down for Jesus once again.

Heavenly Father, please fill us with the promise of Your Holy Spirit, and with power and with love. In Jesus powerful name, amen.

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