The battle rages
There is a battle going on. This battle is not something that you can see with your human eyes, but it is very real.
The moment you chose to follow Christ, the battle began. Jesus said in the book of John, "if the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also." 15:18-20 You will have opposition. This opposition may come through family members, friends or co-workers. As we go through opposition, "consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance." James 1:2
satan will do anything he can to rob you of your joy and keep you from producing fruit. He will attack when we are tired or weak-he is a schemer-he comes with different tactics at different times. He wants to catch us off guard. satan will take the truth of God and twist it, making sin look appealing. he knows scripture, but he will distort it. satan tempted Jesus after He had fasted forty days and forty nights. He said to Jesus, "if You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. Jesus answered him, "it is written, man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God." Matthew 4:3-4 Jesus showed us how to to overcome attacks, and that is with the word of God. We must be grounded in the Word and let it penetrate our hearts. We have the Holy Spirit living in us giving us the power to resist satan and his demonic attacks. "Greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4 We must always be ready and prepared by putting on the full armor of God. This armor, which is the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith and your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace protects us from head to toe. The struggle we face is not against flesh and blood (which is another person), but the struggle is against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12 satan will try to question God's goodness.
He brings confusion and division among people, he will try to keep you down and he will appeal to
our independence and lusts of the flesh.When you experience dark moments that strike out of the blue for no apparent reason, this should sound an alarm. However, satan is a defeated foe! "Now judgment is upon the world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out." John 12:31 Jesus destroyed the works of the devil. We are victors in Christ. "O death, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15: 55-57
Spiritual opposition is often one of the things that lets you know that God is up to something good in your life or the life of your church or ministry. Spiritual opposition means that we are worthy of the attention of the kingdom of darkness. Sometimes God's greatest blessings are preceded by the most fierce conflict.
The moment you chose to follow Christ, the battle began. Jesus said in the book of John, "if the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also." 15:18-20 You will have opposition. This opposition may come through family members, friends or co-workers. As we go through opposition, "consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance." James 1:2
satan will do anything he can to rob you of your joy and keep you from producing fruit. He will attack when we are tired or weak-he is a schemer-he comes with different tactics at different times. He wants to catch us off guard. satan will take the truth of God and twist it, making sin look appealing. he knows scripture, but he will distort it. satan tempted Jesus after He had fasted forty days and forty nights. He said to Jesus, "if You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. Jesus answered him, "it is written, man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God." Matthew 4:3-4 Jesus showed us how to to overcome attacks, and that is with the word of God. We must be grounded in the Word and let it penetrate our hearts. We have the Holy Spirit living in us giving us the power to resist satan and his demonic attacks. "Greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4 We must always be ready and prepared by putting on the full armor of God. This armor, which is the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith and your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace protects us from head to toe. The struggle we face is not against flesh and blood (which is another person), but the struggle is against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12 satan will try to question God's goodness.
He brings confusion and division among people, he will try to keep you down and he will appeal to
our independence and lusts of the flesh.When you experience dark moments that strike out of the blue for no apparent reason, this should sound an alarm. However, satan is a defeated foe! "Now judgment is upon the world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out." John 12:31 Jesus destroyed the works of the devil. We are victors in Christ. "O death, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15: 55-57
Spiritual opposition is often one of the things that lets you know that God is up to something good in your life or the life of your church or ministry. Spiritual opposition means that we are worthy of the attention of the kingdom of darkness. Sometimes God's greatest blessings are preceded by the most fierce conflict.
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