UNDERSTANDING THE REALITY OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE

2/10/2022

As I have grown in Maturity and Faith, I find there are some topics that just never seem to make it to the pulpit on Sunday morning. Topics involving evil or satanic activity or information are often avoided. Perhaps they are too dark, or just don’t seem uplifting or seemingly take the focus off of Jesus and the Gospel. Perhaps it is also true that for the average person, thinking about satan or hell is just too real or maybe not believed at all ! In the age of Love and Grace that so often promotes a “Comfort Gospel”, many just don’t want to face the idea of SATAN BEING REAL ! The truth is that if we TRULY BELIEVE GOD”S WORD IS COMPLETE AND WITHOUT ERROR, then we know satan is real, and we know what he has done, and what he wants to accomplish in our world. There are many scriptures that spell things out very clearly, and they show us exactly who satan is, and all of his characteristics.

AND THE GREAT DRAGON WAS THROWN DOWN, THAT ANCIENT SERPENT WHO IS CALLED THE DEVIL AND SATAN, THE DECIEVER OF THE WHOLE WORLD-HE WAS THROWN DOWN TO EARTH, AND HIS ANGELS WERE THROWN DOWN WITH HIM. Revelation 12:9

AND HE SAID TO THEM, “I SAW SATAN FALL LIKE LIGHTNING FROM HEAVEN”. Luke 10:18

HOW YOU ARE FALLEN FROM HEAVEN, O DAY STAR, SON OF DAWN ! HOW YOU ARE CUT DOWN TO THE GROUND, YOU WHO LAID THE NATIONS LOW. Isaiah 14:12

At some point in time, Scripture makes it perfectly clear that satan was a revered angel in Heaven that was special in the eyes of God The Father. It also tells us about the desires of satan to place himself above God, setting his false throne “above the stars of God”, “making myself like the most high”. Satan thought he could be equal to God in power and authority. Equal to God in wisdom and worship. Is it plausible that once he had been thrown out of heaven that there could be no better attempt to get even with God than to destroy God’s Creation ? Scripture tells us that in The Garden Of Eden, the “Serpent” deceived Eve and then Adam into eating the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Satan would use the very falsehood and weakness he had surrendered to, to attempt to destroy mankind’s relationship with God. Make no mistake. Satan is still on the same course, only today, we are in his crosshairs.

BUT I AM AFRAID THAT AS THE SERPENT DECEIVED EVE BY HIS CUNNING, YOUR THOUGHTS WILL BE LED ASTRAY FROM A SINCERE AND PURE DEVOTION TO CHRIST. 2 Corinthians 11:3

BE SOBER MINDED; BE WATCHFUL. YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL PROWLS AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION, SEEKING SOMEONE TO DEVOUR. 1 Peter 5:8

YOU ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL, AND YOUR WILL IS TO DO YOUR FATHER’S DESIRES. HE WAS A MURDERER FROM THE BEGINNING, AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TRUTH, BECAUSE THERE IS NOT TRUTH IN HIM. WHEN HE LIES, HE SPEAKS OUT OF HIS OWN CHARACTER, FOR HE IS A LIAR AND THE FATHER OF LIES. John 8:44

There is a strong tendency in many Christians I know to kind of scoff at the Devil and underestimate his power in our world and life. Satan is real, and he does desire to destroy Truth and Light. His best weapons against us as followers of Jesus is to make us Complacent. He loves to sow seeds into our life of discontent, doubt, fear, and shame. He tries so hard to convince us that we are failures. We are weak sinners who are never going to be good enough to be in relationship with God. THOSE ARE LIES ! Jesus has given us the GIFT OF SALVATION ! WE ARE WORTHY TO BE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD BECAUSE OF HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION ! Once we have invited Jesus into our heart and life, we are HIS. In Jesus we have received the Holy Spirit, and that EMPOWERS US IN THE NAME, BLOOD, AND AUTHORITY OF CHRIST ! What that authority opens up for us is TRUTH, WISDOM, DISCERNMENT, AND KNOWLEDGE. Jesus modeled for us what it takes to be ready for Spiritual Warfare. It requires us to truly “Put on The Full Armor Of God”. Our armor is multifaceted, involving Salvation, Truth, The Gospel, Righteousness, Faith, and The Sword of God’s Word. If we try to go up against Satan and his minions without that, we will be beaten to a pulp. Spiritual Warfare is not about lukewarm belief and effort. IT IS ABOUT A BATTLE WITH AN ENEMY HELLBENT ON OUR DESTRUCTION.

FOR WE DO NOT WRESTLE AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST THE RULERS, AGAINST THE AUTHORITIES, AGAINST THE COSMIC POWERS OVER THIS PRESENT DARKNESS, AGAINST SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EViL IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES. Ephesians 6:1

THE THIEF COMES ONLY TO STEAL, KILL AND DESTROY. I CAME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY. John 10:10

WE NEED TO BELONG TO CHRIST AND FIND OUR IDENTITY IN HIM !

TO OPEN THEIR EYES, SO THAT THEY MAY TURN AWAY FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT AND FROM THE POWER OF SATAN TO GOD, THAT THEY MAY RECEIVE FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND A PLACE AMONG THOSE WHO ARE SANCTIFIED BY FAITH IN ME. Acts 28:16

PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL. Ephesians 6:11

Perhaps you are wondering why I decided to write on this topic today. I think very often we don’t place a lot of focus or concern on this topic because it really doesn’t seem like a danger. I’m ok just cruising along in my life. THAT THINKING IS A DECEPTION AND A LIE. As I am writing this, all we need to do is take a good long look at our world, and where we are heading. Every effort is being made to take us away from God’s principles and instructions and lead us astray into complacency ! I am sitting in Scottsdale Arizona, a place of warmth, beauty, and joy….and I am in a PRAYER INTERCESSION BATTLE AGAINST SATAN. Are you ready ? The largest group of satanists in the United States are holding a convention and program to capture Scottsdale. They are doing satanic rituals, laying a spider web of curses, and calling on satan and the powers of evil to overwhelm and take this city. Think I am kidding, or perhaps a bit crazy ? I’m Not. The churches who actively seek Jesus alerted us to what is going on, and they will be gathering at the satanists hotel and meeting sites to ACTIVELY STAND AGAINST SATAN AND HIS FOLLOWERS. I am joining in Prayer Against This Evil. This is a real battle. This requires knowledge and effort. WE ARE CITIZENS OF GOD”S KINGDOM, AND SATAN WILL NOT HAVE THIS GROUND ! Please join me in prayer against this evil.

Satanic Temple Conference/ Scottsdale Arizona/ Satcon/ February 11-13/ Saguaro Hotel. LOOK IT UP !

DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND, THAT BY TESTING YOU MAY DISCERN WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD, WHAT IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT. Romans 12:2

Final Thought. Satan is active and intentional. He desires to rule, and he will stop at nothing to destroy mankind and battle God. Our task as Christians is to STAND AND ENGAGE SATAN IN BATTLE WITH JESUS IN US AND BESIDE US. Get prepared. Christ has promised us victory in the end. He is Coming….be ready.

ARMOR UP/JAA

THEREFORE YOU ALSO MUST BE READY, FOR THE SON OF MAN IS COMING AT AN HOUR YOU DO NOT EXPECT. Matthew 24:42