SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS REAL
‘to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.” Ephesians 3:10-12 NKJV
About a year ago I remember waiting patiently in the line at the bank, when my turn came I approached the teller, he said, “How’s your day treating you?” I immediately recognized how significant that question was and how key it was as to how I would answer. I answered, “My day is treating me exactly how I ordered it to this morning in prayer.” I continued, “I don’t allow the day to treat or offer me what it desires but I align my day according to God’s divine order first thing every morning by speaking what I will see and experience in that day.” I know that was a lot, and probably blew the bank tellers mind (or he just thought I was crazy), but the enemy loves to send us opportunities to speak contrary to faith. When we are not prepared or equipped with God’s Word for answers we will answer like any other person that does not know Jesus, waiting to complete a transaction, and are simply allowing the day to dictate their destiny. Our destiny is set, it is written, and we must war for it… DAILY.
Every day is a blessing. Every day we must enforce the victory we already have. Each day we must put principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual host of wickedness in heavenly places... in their place. The word of God shares in Matthew 6:34(b), …sufficient for each day is its own trouble. Therefore, if we just get comfortable with the blessing of the day and choose not to war (and I’d say early before the busy-ness of the day begins - before we leave our homes) we will welcome whatever the day offers. When we do this, we’ll find ourselves warring mid-day, frustrated, distracted, upset with others, and in the night season un-equipped with feelings of defeat along with the deception that we are powerless. SO NOT TRUE!
There is an adversary (who is real) called the devil who presents death - instead of life, cursing - instead of blessing to those whom he may. His time is short on this earth and his strategies to get the born-again believer out of faith are at a rapid high. We are admonished in 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV), “to be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” This means that there are some he won’t even bother. I’m pretty sure it’s those who put him and his cohorts in their place early each day and give him no room throughout their day or night season. Basically, it’s those who are not ignorant of his device’s. Those who have chosen not to just sit around and wait for trouble, but those who will use their God-given dominion, authority, and power of words to enforce what Jesus has already done on our behalf (I John 3:8).
It’s time to war in the spirit of Elijah and Jehu!
He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:17 NKJV
The anointing (God’s) upon Elijah changed an entire nation even during darkness. We must understand that when we war (specifically in the spirit) we intercede not only for our lives, but also for the destiny of others. Elijah was used to war and prepare the way, just like John the Baptist, for the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ – the soon coming King. His ‘obedience’ was key to fulfilling his destiny and paving the way for others to fulfill theirs. God’s fire comes with His anointing and Elijah warred out of the fire of God. We are anointed and when we war we release the fire of God to demolish anything burning or stirring up that’s not like God or Heaven. Jehu destroyed Jezebel and Ahab – rebellious spirits that try to overthrow and destroy prophets and remove their kingship. These spirits linger with the assignment of destroying true prophets sent by God to establish the kingdom wherever they have been positioned – home, workplace, business, and/or a ministry.
We are victors in battle.
It is ignorant for us to ever think we do not need to war (my apologies if that’s straight forward but it’s the truth), all we need to do is evaluate the evidence of not warring for the victory. Some evidence of not warring consist of… symptoms that continue to come physically; the lack of financial resources that show up; the increasing of people that don’t understand you; the accidents that are sudden; the temptations to draw back; the disrespect of children; the deceit at the workplace; immoral thoughts that just come without immediate rebuke, just to name a few. Satan is the god of this world, but greater is He that is in us than he that is in this world. We have the Holy Spirit living in us. We are citizens of Heaven and temporary residents here on this earth. Don’t forget that, the best is yet to come… for real. We are already winners, conquerors, and overcomers but we are encouraged to fight the good fight of faith which means we still need to fight. God’s Word is our weapon and the Holy Spirit reminds us that we are victors in this battle.
When we war daily, it changes how we respond to people and situations. Our responses will be fueled by wisdom and not fueled by ‘the moment’ or ‘a feeling’, these types of responses can be regretful. When we war and order our day it changes how we are affected by test of faith that may come. Warring will not eliminate test(s) of faith. Warring will prepare us to handle the test in faith while remaining in God’s peace. It is very possible for us to experience peace every day and for peace to be still around us. We create that space. We create what we allow to be in our space. Peace or frustration? I choose peace. What about you? This place of perpetual peace is called dwelling in that secret place (Psalm 91:1) even amid a chaotic world. Once again, we are victors in this battle. Christ has the victory which means we have the victory. We are one with Him. His victories are ours and have been conquered for us that our Father in Heaven receive the glory here on this earth.
Pray in the spirit when you don’t know what to pray/say or how to war using God’s Word.
“Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27 NKJV
We must settle our emotions and open our spiritual eyes ‘wider’, giving no room nor a place for the devil. This fight must be taken more seriously. If we are warring and we have sin in our lives, hate in our hearts, and evil thoughts of others in our minds our warring will not produce the peace and victory expected. The root of the nature just mentioned is unbelief. Unbelief is sin. We must ask God to forgive us of any unbelief and get back to warring effectively (Mark 11:22-25). Yes, we are equipped to do so.
So, remember, our war is not with people only – because the devil will use people - it’s also, with evil spirits, and fiery darts sent, and deployed to TRY and draw us from the faith we have received. The mind and the thoughts that come to the mind are the greatest platform for the enemy’s playground. If we do not tear down and deal with thoughts that speak death (not life), the door to the enemy will remain open and His evil spirits will be assigned to wreak havoc in our lives, marriages, family, business, relationships, and/or ministry. It’s up to us to REBUKE ‘feelings’ of heaviness, oppression, and or depression and deal with our minds. We are admonished not to allow our hearts to be troubled (John 14:1) as well ...this is instruction from God. He IS NOT telling us He will do it, it’s up to us. We ‘choose’ to keep our minds girded/guarded with the Truth and war as victors in this battle. WE WIN AGAIN!
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which, you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:10-18 NKJV
HOW TO TAKE AUTHORITY OVER YOUR THOUGHTS. SPIRITUAL WARFARE. -PRAYER LIFE TUTORIAL (YOUTUBE) ... BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE TACTICS 101 (WHILE IN FIJI). -PRAYER LIFE TUTORIAL (YOUTUBE)
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