Spiritual Warfare;The Battle is Real
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of Gd, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand (Ephesians 6:10-13)."
The moment you become a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, the battle begins. You see, there was not a battle before because you were under the influence of the evil one, giving in to fleshly lusts and cravings. You were in the grip of the enemy. The day you become saved, you were filled with the Holy Spirit. He began to transform you, changing your desires and changing your thoughts, making you like Christ. satan does not like this and will stop at nothing to try and destroy you-your testimony, your joy, your peace, your family, your finances and your health. He will do anything to try and take your eyes off Christ. Why? Because you are a threat to the kingdom of darkness. You are a light that shines bright in this dark world.
There are different ways in which satan attacks. He may use others to discourage you. He may attack your thought life. He may attack your health or he may attack your finances.
Please note however, that not everything bad that happens to you is an attack from the enemy. We live in a fallen world. Not only that, but we will sometimes make choices that aren't pleasing to the Lord and because of this we will suffer the consequences of those choices. Some examples of fiery darts satan will use are times when an evil thought comes out of nowhere, feelings of condemnation, or he will use others (even in your own family) to try to discourage you, insult you or persecute you. He will try to divide your marriage, your family or your relationships. He may also attack your finances or try and cause you to feel that God does not love you or cause you to doubt the word of God. He does all of this because his primary goal is for you to take your eyes off Jesus. If this happens, satan knows he has won. If you take your eyes off Jesus, you will begin to fear, you will lose your joy and you will make decisions that are contrary to the word of God and your light will grow dim.
You must also understand that although you are saved, there will continually be a battle within to please the Spirit or please your flesh. Paul, one of the greatest apostles, shared these same struggles. "So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin (Romans 7:21-25)." Notice Paul's focus, as he confessed the struggle he had, he knew and believed that only through Christ Jesus, could he be set free. Jesus is the only one who gives us the power to overcome-to overcome evil, temptation, sin and satan. Because Jesus overcome, we overcome. It is only by His blood and His power. When Jesus went to the cross, He bore all of our sin and shame and nailed it to the cross once and for all. His blood conquered sin and the grave! Praise God! "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:13-15)."
My friend, remember your position in Christ! Don't let anything or anyone move you. As you face opposition, as you face trials and tribulations, you must choose to walk in the Spirit and you must choose to put on the armor of God daily. Be prepared so that when the enemy attacks, you will see it for what it is and will be able to stand. Rejoice in all of it because you are a threat to the kingdom of darkness! "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, who through faith are being shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:3-9)."
Press on my friend, and know that your labor for the Lord is never in vain! Jesus will keep you and continue to grow you in Him until the day He comes. Keep your eyes fixed on Him and let Him be your strength.
The moment you become a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, the battle begins. You see, there was not a battle before because you were under the influence of the evil one, giving in to fleshly lusts and cravings. You were in the grip of the enemy. The day you become saved, you were filled with the Holy Spirit. He began to transform you, changing your desires and changing your thoughts, making you like Christ. satan does not like this and will stop at nothing to try and destroy you-your testimony, your joy, your peace, your family, your finances and your health. He will do anything to try and take your eyes off Christ. Why? Because you are a threat to the kingdom of darkness. You are a light that shines bright in this dark world.
There are different ways in which satan attacks. He may use others to discourage you. He may attack your thought life. He may attack your health or he may attack your finances.
Please note however, that not everything bad that happens to you is an attack from the enemy. We live in a fallen world. Not only that, but we will sometimes make choices that aren't pleasing to the Lord and because of this we will suffer the consequences of those choices. Some examples of fiery darts satan will use are times when an evil thought comes out of nowhere, feelings of condemnation, or he will use others (even in your own family) to try to discourage you, insult you or persecute you. He will try to divide your marriage, your family or your relationships. He may also attack your finances or try and cause you to feel that God does not love you or cause you to doubt the word of God. He does all of this because his primary goal is for you to take your eyes off Jesus. If this happens, satan knows he has won. If you take your eyes off Jesus, you will begin to fear, you will lose your joy and you will make decisions that are contrary to the word of God and your light will grow dim.
You must also understand that although you are saved, there will continually be a battle within to please the Spirit or please your flesh. Paul, one of the greatest apostles, shared these same struggles. "So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin (Romans 7:21-25)." Notice Paul's focus, as he confessed the struggle he had, he knew and believed that only through Christ Jesus, could he be set free. Jesus is the only one who gives us the power to overcome-to overcome evil, temptation, sin and satan. Because Jesus overcome, we overcome. It is only by His blood and His power. When Jesus went to the cross, He bore all of our sin and shame and nailed it to the cross once and for all. His blood conquered sin and the grave! Praise God! "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:13-15)."
My friend, remember your position in Christ! Don't let anything or anyone move you. As you face opposition, as you face trials and tribulations, you must choose to walk in the Spirit and you must choose to put on the armor of God daily. Be prepared so that when the enemy attacks, you will see it for what it is and will be able to stand. Rejoice in all of it because you are a threat to the kingdom of darkness! "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, who through faith are being shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:3-9)."
Press on my friend, and know that your labor for the Lord is never in vain! Jesus will keep you and continue to grow you in Him until the day He comes. Keep your eyes fixed on Him and let Him be your strength.
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