Category: Be Aware of Spiritual Warfare

¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. ~ 2 Timothy 2:15^CSB

When I was younger, a movie entitled “Think Like A Man” came out. The plot, from what I remember, was a group of women who bought a book by Steve Harvey explaining the way a man thinks and how to get the most out of a relationship with a man. There were about maybe five different men with different personalities and faults, but the book explained how to deal with and get the most out of the relationship with each one. This group of women was so desperate that they bought the book, read it every night, highlighted it, and put it into practice daily with faith and hope of results. And you know what happened? They saw results. This is how the Church should be.

Today, the Church barely knows what’s in the Bible, let alone lives it. If you go online, the majority of people hate the Church. They hate any form of Christianity. We’re seen as lowlives, scum, cheats, the worst of the worst. When someone questions our faith, the majority of us can’t defend why we believe what we believe. The majority of us have never read the Bible all the way through before. The majority of us don’t have any kind of prayer life. The Church has a bad reputation in the world, so what are we going to do about it? How can we fix it?

We take a page from that group of women who wanted to see a change and we start with ourselves. We study the Scriptures daily to show ourselves approved. We spend time in prayer and worship putting our flesh into submission. We put into action what Jesus commanded and we start living for Christ instead of for ourselves.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Show Yourself Approved.

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¹ And He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. ² He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. ³ And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ ⁴ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ” ⁶ And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. ⁷ And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them? ⁸ I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” ~ Luke 18:1-8

Jesus told this parable in order to teach them the importance of persistent prayer. In the parable, the judge was not interested in giving the widow justice against her adversary. Every day she came with the same complaint: “Give me justice against my adversary.” And every day, it was the same thing: “You have no case.”

She came the very next day saying, “Give me justice,” and again, it was the same answer, “There is nothing here.” But the woman did not give up; she kept coming day after day after day. Soon, all the members of the court, even those who just came to watch the court proceeding, recognized her and knew her name. I can imagine people gathering early in the morning before court even started to place their bet. “I have ten dollars here that say Ms. Rosie ain’t coming today.” And others would jump on that, “I have twenty that say she will.” And sure enough, Ms. Rosie would show up to court to the amusement of those who bet on her. “Give me justice,” she would call out to the unjust judge.

The judge was getting weary with her coming and said to himself, “I better give her justice, or she will wear me out with her coming.” And he did give her justice.

Jesus said that if that unjust judge who neither feared God nor had respect for man would do what is right, how much more would our Heavenly Father do right by us?

It is our Father’s good will that we enjoy peace, joy, and justice. It is our Father’s good pleasure to give us good things, but we must stay persistent in prayer. We can’t come one day and not the next. We must bombard heaven with our coming. Give Him who promised no rest until we receive what we ask for. Believe me, God wants to give us good things.

What if Daniel had given up after two weeks? I suppose we would not have Daniel chapter ten to be encouraged with.

Next time a problem bombards you, you bombard heaven, and God will see that you get justice.

Heavenly Father, I ask You to help me not to give up so easily but to be persistent in my prayers. Hear me when I call on Your great Name. Thank You that You not only hear us but that You answer us as well. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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¹³ Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed from blatant rebellion. ¹⁴ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. ~ Psalms 19:13-14^CSB

Oftentimes, when we willfully sin, shame begins to take root in our lives. It tells us lies that we should stop praying, stop seeking God, and stop reading our Bible because we’ve just disgusted God too much with our actions. Many of us believe those lies. I’m no exception. When I give into a temptation that I know I should and can overcome, but I give in anyway, the lies of shame really get to me. I feel like I have to fix myself before I can dare come before God again. This lie only separates us further from God because we can’t fix ourselves.

God doesn’t want us to do it alone; He just wants us to be willing to fight for righteousness. Look at how David prayed. He prayed that God would keep him from blatant intentional sins and that God wouldn’t let them rule him. He went on to pray for his mouth and his heart. What we meditate on is what will soon be our words and our actions. This is the reason shame tells us not to pray, seek God, or read our Bibles. If we meditate on the Word of God and spend time in prayer and worship seeking the face of God, those temptations that we gave into in the past will no longer be the temptations we succumb to in the future.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Continue Praying.

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²¹ Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. ²² Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. ~ Exodus 12:21-22

Moses told the elders of Israel to go and select the Passover lamb and then to slaughter it. They were to take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the basin where they had caught some of the blood of the sacrifice and then paint it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of their homes. Then he says,

None of you shall go out the door of his house until the morning.

Why was that?

Because the blood represented the blood of Jesus, even though He had not been crucified as yet, God had a plan to redeem us through the righteous and spotless blood of His Son. The blood represented protection from God’s wrath and from God’s judgment as long as they stayed under it by not going outside.

What they did with the blood of the sacrificial lamb on Passover is the same thing we must do today with Jesus’ blood since He is our Passover Lamb. We must apply it to our lives, the door of our hearts, our eyes, the windows to our souls. How do we do that? By accepting Jesus as LORD and Savior of our lives. Once we have accepted Jesus as LORD and Savior, then we remain in Him, and He in us.

That is what the statement ‘no one is to go outside until the morning’ represented. If they came out from under the blood by going outside, then they would suffer death just like the Egyptians or anyone else who did not have the blood on their doors because they came out from under the protection of the blood.

It is the same with us. If we are going to make it through the night, the night being this time that we are living in, and the morning being the Second Coming of Jesus, then we must stay under the blood by keeping the commandments that Jesus gave us to keep. We must love the LORD our God. We must love each other. We must live like we are living in the days of Unleavened Bread when no leaven, which is sin, was to be found anywhere in their borders. We must remove sin from our own lives and live a life worthy of being called Christians, not in and out of sin, which is represented by going out the door before morning.

Heavenly Father, teach us to number our days and to keep Your commandments so that we might find ourselves in Your good and perfect will. May we stay under the blood and inside of Your love and protection until You come back for us. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.

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¹⁵ The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the guard: ¹⁶ “Go, and say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will fulfill my words against this city for harm and not for good, and they shall be accomplished before you on that day. ¹⁷ But I will deliver you on that day, declares the Lord, and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. ¹⁸ For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord.’” ~ Jeremiah 39:15-18

We are currently in a spiritual war. A war between good and evil. The target of each side is for each and every person’s soul. You are the target of both God and Satan. The LORD God desires to protect and keep you from evil, whereas the Devil desires to corrupt and destroy you with evil.

These are our two options. These are our two choices. Freedom and everlasting life in Christ Jesus or slavery and eternal punishment in the Devil. Each and every choice we make here on this earth decides where and how we will spend eternity.

The enemy will try to overcome you with lies and temptations. In the moment, it will feel worth it, but as soon as it’s over, you feel full of regret. The lies of the enemy are to keep you bound away from God for all eternity, just as he will be bound away from God for all eternity.

We’re not just put on this earth to live our lives however we want. It’s to find God and seek a closer relationship with Him. It’s to be with God and He with us. Don’t let anyone fool you. There is a war going on for our souls and it’s up to us to fight each battle with the full armor of God and the Holy Spirit.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Fight Your Battle.

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²³ Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. ²⁴ And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, ²⁵ correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. ~ 2 Timothy 2:23-26

I’ve seen many people claim to be Christians while mocking, ridiculing, and demeaning anyone who doesn’t agree with them. Sometimes, the argument isn’t even over something that is life and death but trivial matters, such as Satan, Lucifer, and Leviathan; the Nephilim and their origin; Abaddon and his identity; things that don’t impact your salvation. Yet they’re filled with anger and pure rage when you don’t agree with them and have Scripture for reasons why.

Of all the fruit of the Spirit, love is the most important. Of all the commands in Scripture, love is the most important. Without hope, we can’t have faith, and without faith, no one can please God, yet love is still greater than these. Yet the Church struggles with love. We either live like the world and refuse to correct, or we love like the world and spew hatred. Rarely do we see Christians love people like Jesus did.

Jesus corrected without insult and hate; He didn’t just watch the world continue in darkness without showing them the Light. He didn’t make sure they knew how perfect He was; He made sure they knew how much God loved them by sharing the opportunity to change and better themselves.

Love is patient and kind; it doesn’t boast or delight in evil but rejoices in Truth. Love never fails. When we can define love accurately, that’s when we can begin to truly love as Jesus loves.

Therefore, we don’t react as the world reacts to arguments. We defend our case with gentleness and kindness, using Scripture rather than our own opinions. When we do this, we give people the opportunity to see the Light of God and turn from their false beliefs.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Gentle.

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²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, ²² for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. ~ Proverbs 25:21-22

Have you ever been hurt by someone, and all you want is revenge? All you want is to get even and make them hurt the way they hurt you? This is our flesh coming out in us, not our spirit man. Our flesh wants revenge, but our spirit man is in tune with God, so it wants to give it to God, for He said, “Vengeance is mine.” Our flesh wants to take everything into our own hands because it’s our flesh that’s been hurt. The reality is we must crucify our flesh and build up our spirit man.

We do this so that our actions will be more in tune with God’s desires. Vengeance is God’s because He isn’t wicked and cruel like we are; He is just and righteous. He is loving and merciful. So what’s our job then? We are to love our enemy and pray for those who persecute us.

In doing so, we not only crucify our own flesh, but we heal burning coals on there’s. Why is that good? Because we are refined, tested, and purified with fire.

Burning coals is a type of fire. A burning coal cleansed Isaiah’s lips and atoned for his sin (Isaiah 6:5-7). When we heap burning coals on someone by showing them love instead of hatred, then we are spiritually destroying their flesh as well as our own. For Paul said don’t be overcome by evil, but instead overcome evil with good (Romans 12:19-21).

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Heap Burning Coals.

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¹⁰ His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber. ¹¹ The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. But they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all.~ Isaiah 56:10-11

Throughout the Old Testament, God reproves His watchmen, the ones He has placed upon the wall, to watch and sound the alarm at any and all approaching danger. The idea comes from the ancient world when a wall surrounding a city protected its inhabitants from bands of marauders, invading armies, and any such perceived danger.

Towers were built into the wall, and watchmen patrolled the top of the wall and were also stationed inside the towers to see far distances so that they could give a warning far enough in advance so that the people and the resting, or sleeping, army could prepare to defend their city.

Today, God is still trying to get the attention of His watchmen. There is still a Biblical mandate for watchmen to be stationed upon the walls to watch and sound the alarm of any and all approaching danger.

We, Christians, are called to be watchmen. Watchmen for our community, families, friends. We aren’t to just stand by and watch evil rule our world; we’re to sound the alarm. We’re to pray and fast about the current world we’re living in, building a spiritual wall around our homes, families, businesses, etc.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Build Your Spiritual Wall.

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²⁶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ~ Genesis 1:26^KJV

From the very beginning, God’s intention was to create a world where His most prized possession (man) would have dominion or be in control. The earth is the LORD’s and everything in it, but He has given the authority or the rulership of earth to man. Now that man possesses this vested interest in the affairs of earth, God expects him to take dominion over all the jurisdiction that He has given him and to bring all of creation under the subjection of Almighty God. It is, therefore, our job to ensure that all of God’s creation obeys His rules and regulations and to bow at His throne.

But man gave it all up in the fall, and it fell into the hands of Satan, which he made very clear to Jesus when he told Him that all the kingdoms of the earth were given to him and he could give them to whomever he chose. But the good news is that Jesus bought it all back for us on the cross and gave it back to us again. Jesus came with the sole purpose of dying for mankind and giving them back life and life more abundantly.

During this time of the year, Easter time, we remember the suffering that Jesus went through. We remember the cross that He died upon. We remember His death and resurrection. We remember all of the great promises He has made to us; like when He promised us, “Ask whatever you want in my name, and I will do it.” So, what are you waiting for? Call those things that are not as if they are; you are in authority upon the earth. Stop acting like a second-class citizen. You are a child of God, blessed and highly favored.

Throw your hands up and praise God now for your God-given authority. Then fall on your knees and change your circumstances through prayer.

Father, I come in agreement with every prayer that is of You and ask that You would not only hear but that You would answer as well. That You would change the circumstances for the better for this brother or sister. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. ~ Psalms 119:105

What the Psalmist is saying is that God’s word is like a flashlight that is used in the darkest of nights to shine on an obscure path that is shrouded in shadows and gloom and is hard to see. But the light from the flashlight shines on the path and illuminates the way for his feet to safely tread on the way that he is traveling.

Have you ever had days that seem darkened by trouble or the past? Is your mind crowded with things that steal your peace? Maybe it is a project at work that you are responsible for, and it is not working out the way you need it to. The deadline is quickly approaching, and the boss is breathing down your neck for results. The pressure is on, and the time is short; your path looks dark. Maybe it is a monetary problem. Your bills are stacking up, and the bill collector is calling, and you got passed over for the promotion at work. The path looks dark ahead.

Or maybe there is a conflict at work or in your family. Words are said, accusations have flown, making things seem more difficult and more concealed than they really are. Remember that God’s Word is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path. Pick up His word and have a read. Read an encouraging devotional that will remind you of the Power and the grace of Almighty God. Nothing flusters Him. Nothing fazes Him. He is as consistent as His Word that will light up your path. So, do as the song writer said and have a little talk with Jesus and tell Him all about your troubles. He will hear your faintest cry, and He will answer by and by because you mean that much to Him. He loves you and cares about you. He died for you and took the chastisement that brought you peace. So, go to Him; He is waiting.

Father, Your promises give me hope in times of trouble, and your faithfulness keeps me when I’m weak. Who, then, is like You, oh LORD my God? Strong in battle and faithful in love. There is none that I can compare You to, none that is Your equal. Be with me and my family today; guide and lead us, I pray. Be with all those who read this prayer today, and harken unto their needs. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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