Welcome again to the Extra Credit Discipline of Spiritual Warfare. Karen Christie is sharing thoughts from a Kay Arthur study called “Lord is it warfare? Teach me to stand”, that a Women’s Bible Study recently concluded. Today we continue to talk about “The Battle”:
You’re in a battle that you had nothing to do with starting. It was started in the heavenly realms when Satan rebelled and it got transferred to earth. The whole world lies in the hands of Satan, and men join Satan in his rebellion against God.
Praise God believers are born into the family of God and we’re fighting on the other side. Here are some key points:
- Satan’s agenda is to try to make us ineffective and hold us hostage.. Prisoners Of War. 1Peter 5v8 says..Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
- Satan will attack your individual life. He doesn’t care who you are, what your status may be, Satan wants to overthrow you. He holds us POW in drugs, depression, discouragement.
- Satan seeks to destroy our families.. He started with the first family Adam and Eve. Satan tempted Eve, Eve tempted Adam and the family came under the authority of hell. In Genesis 6, the Sons of God had relationships with the Daughters of men producing a rebellious generation. So why is family so important to Satan? Because the battle will be waged by our seed, by our offspring. Satan wants to destroy the family not only because he wants you, but because he wants the next generation.
- Satan attacks the Church by promoting disunity, division, discrimination, racism. He wants to split the family of God up because Satan knows God doesn’t work in a context of disunity.
The source of our spiritual battles finds root in our minds. Paul admonishes to take or bring every thought into captivity. In order to get relief we need to learn to think differently. Satan makes himself so at home with the vice grip of our thinking that we conclude there’s no way we can get rid of our various problems. This stronghold or fortress is a mindset that holds you hostage.
Today let’s become aware of our thoughts, and take them captive by replacing them with God’s truth.. his word.
March 11, 2014 at 10:29 am
Ephesians 4:15-16 (NIV)
15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
16
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)
29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
March 11, 2014 at 5:53 pm
Christians who scoff at the reality of warfare, and those who pay undue attention to demons, give the devil easy opportunities to convince them that God is not all He says He is.
In the daily business of living, lives affected by rebellion against God usually have small beginnings.
(Author and Bible teacher, Kay Arthur tells about TM, a repentant believer in Jesus Christ): As TM looks back on how his life developed, he offers for the benefit of parents and
children, this most sobering wake up call. Though in prison for the rest of his life, TM remembers how his mother saved him from the consequences of his first breaking of the Law at age 15. Although TM was one of fifteen children, she always came to his rescue and got him out of trouble. As a teenager, he always got away with whatever he did. He never paid the consequences. “I came to feel that someone would always get me out. I believe that to be one of the reasons I ended up in prison for life.” (Note the use of ‘always’ and ‘never’).
Study of warfare applies to those who know and follow Jesus Christ yet continue to feel that something is wrong with them, their faith, or with God.
Are you being plagued by feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy? Do you habitually have doubts about God’s love and goodness toward you? Are you compelled to do or believe something you know is not of God? Let such questions cause you to take up Paul’s instruction to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. (Ephesians 6:10).
When the devil parades your guilt and failures, or tells you no one cares for you or wants you, take satan to Calvary. Remind him that God so loved you He gave His only begotten Son to die in your place. The devil has to flee, thus leaving you with faith that has power to equip you to serve the Lord Jesus. Be occupied with Jesus, His Word, and prayer. Keep telling your children of the grace of God that can be theirs through Jesus Christ as they see you living out your Christianity before them. Pray diligently for them, knowing you are doing all that you could do in faith. The Christian’s fearless praise to Jesus’ triumph over evil
invites the Holy Spirit to take full control of the circumstances you are facing.
The rest is up to God. Jesus our Lord is The Deliverer, not us.