PERSONAL PROLOGUE:
I started this blog post by the unction of the Holy Spirit. I had it in my mind which way I was going to take it, and what I wanted to say... but then as I was completing it, I was not happy with it at all. It felt as if everything was jumbled and not fitting together. I waited a couple days, and then the Lord redirected me and my words. It should not have been such an epiphany that it was not to be me "giving information" as I saw fit, but what the Lord would have me say. Sometimes I get so excited at being used, that I forget although I may have experience and information, it is always for God's will to be done. It's what He would have me say, not my own thoughts. I do not say all this lightly, because I am no one; no one but a willing servant who loves God. As John said in John 1:23, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness". So, writing this was an incredible revelation, yet once again, how on our own we are but vessels, and we need to be prayerful and obedient to when God moves and speaks. (Especially on subject matters as dire as Spiritual Warfare).
With that being said, I went back to a very extensive and long-time-coming post, and nixed almost everything I had written, to impose what the Lord our God would want people to know.
It's said knowledge is power. God says, without knowledge His people will perish. This blog is to help grasp both.
THE POWER STRUGGLE.
It seems that every negative situation under the sun has been rising for years, and in such unprecedented ways: violence, disease, natural disasters, crime, immorality, poverty, addiction, mental illness... More than ever there's hatred, anger, anxiety, abuse, desperation, apathy, fear, confusion, selfishness... And that's just to list a few things. With all these heavy and dark events, distress adds on to- and amplifies- those same issues. It's a viscous cycle we can't get out of, seemingly a battle we can't win; like I mentioned in another blog: it's akin to a spinning top, which spins faster and faster, soon to only go out of control and topple over. And then it stops completely. Game over. We need to be assured of whose we are before that happens. One can claim faith, but we need to not just know what we have faith in, but applying that faith to make mountains move!
There's a simple answer: We are in the depths of a spiritual war. It is darkness vs. light; evil vs. good; satan vs. God. There is a fight for dominion- dominion of our souls. Yes, we're part of this battle and we are feeling it. We are in the midst of it every day. As the time for this war slowly comes to an end (and if you've read your Bible, you know who wins) the enemy of our soul knows his time is short. Therefore, he is amping up his army to take all he can down, and the Lord is moving strongly over HIs, as well. There are continual battles raging through our world- so why wouldn't we see more darkness move over the land?
Whether one chooses to believe it or not doesn't matter; It's still fact and will continue to take place no matter what our beliefs are. Then there are those who do believe it...The choice to believe it is one thing, the decision to fight it is another.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God... - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
It's a bizarre notion for many to consider, much less concept to grasp, but the Spiritual War is real. The Word of God is very clear in regard to that. And prophecy contends it will get much worse before it gets better. I know it's a very difficult reality to endure but denying it and ignoring it will do a great disservice that could cost lives. The Lord did not want us to be ignorant of this war, nor turn away from it; this is why He gave us numerous Scriptures about this warfare and how to protect and defend ourselves, including the armor of God (see THE ARMOR below)
And as in all wars- there are two sides of power who are fighting, and there are the soldiers who battle.
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I need to start by stating something to set the foundation of this post...
We have a Creator. He is the Great I AM. The Almighty God. Yahweh. Jehovah. The King of Kings. He's the God of Adam, of Abraham, of Jacob and of Moses. He's the same God who walked with Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Lord our God is One. Our Sovereign, Holy Creator manifest Himself in the flesh as Jesus Christ to help us get through this life and to obtain paradise in the next. He died on the cross to destroy the works of the devil here on earth. Those works? To take us down; to take us away from our Father and home in Heaven.
We were born of dust, from Adam, the first man our Father created. Generations upon generations have gone by, but the Word of God remains the same yesterday, today and will forever more. When our drop in the well life here in this earthly realm is done, we'll all transform to eternal souls... it's just a matter of where we will spend that eternity.
The angel lucifer brought in the glory to God in Heaven. But according to the Scriptures, he rebelled against God and caused a mutiny, a war in Heaven. The Word says a third of the angels were cast out of Heaven with lucifer. It clearly states they were cast INTO the earth. And we read throughout Scripture that people can be possessed by demons and influenced by lucifer. Jesus warns how the enemy wants to sift us like wheat and roars around like a lion, waiting to devour us. WHY? Because the devil cannot harm God... so he does the next best thing: harms those God loves. And just as anyone who has ever seen a loved one suffer- imagine how God feels when we are afflicted. Enter in the soldiers of this war by default.
THE SOLDIERS.
In God's Holy Word, it tells us God spoke everything into creation... but when He created man, He spoke to Himself, and made man in His own image. And He gave man "dominion over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth" (Genessis 1). Could this be why the Lord cursed the serpent to crawl on its belly and eat the dust of the ground all the days of his life- so that man could have power over him? > Because until then, lucifer (the devil) was a spiritual being, an unclean spirit, that was cast into the earth...
And perhaps also what is being alluded to in Luke 10 when Jesus tells us we have power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt us.
We are told in the Scriptures what we go through is not our fight, but God's. However, we are the target of the devil's angst. And why wouldn't we be? We're an easy target. Our flesh renders us weak and prideful and ignorant. This is why the Lord wants to equip us with the tools we need to defeat our enemy.
ANGLES AND DEMONS.
Also in God's Holy Word, countless times we hear of celestial beings- angels (good and evil) many of which interact with mankind. And yes, this includes dark celestial beings- not just the angelic ones of light. Fallen angels (demons) serve as forces of temptation and corruption, influencing mankind to lead us away from truth and God. Jude 1:6 tells us the fallen angels who chose to follow Satan instead of God and Matthew 25:41 establishes the existence of a demonic army aligned with the devil.
We have read of the Lord's Holy angels coming to speak to man, such as Gabriel (meaning "Warrior of God") or when Abraham had 3 angels visit him (Genesis 18). There are others whose names we were not given. And Michael, who Scripture calls an "archangel" (meaning "chief of angels"). Revelation 12 described how Michael led God's army of angels in the war against lucifer and his rebellion. Those rebellious spirits were cast into the earth have been called "unclean spirits", "familiar spirits" and "demons".
It's a horrifying thought that demons are among us. I know plenty of people (including Christians) who choose not to acknowledge that and focus on the good things of God. And we absolutely are to focus on whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is noble and admirable... but we must not leave out that we are also told to think on "whatever is true" and "whatever is right" (Philippians 4). We cannot be blind to what we need to fight.
2 Timothy 3:5 warns us not to have a form of godliness yet deny the power of it. Do we dare to ignore the influence of the devil as well? "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices." (2 Corinthians 2:11)
THE FIGHT.
Many people don't like to believe in Hell, much less believe in demons...and understandably so. It's an unnerving reality for sure. But they are very real. And they interact with mankind daily (Job 1:7, 1 Peter 5:8). This is what is going on... and we are allowing it by burying our heads in the sand. However, if we envelope ourselves in the Word of God and usher in His Holy Spirit on a daily basis, we would have the confidence from the truth: through the Name and blood of Jesus Christ, we can loose God's angels and bind demonic spirits (Matthew 16:19).
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. - Jesus (John 14:12-14)
Jesus and his disciples cast out demons. Much of the apostles' ministry was casting out evil spirits that afflicted people with such things as palsy, fever, illness, madness, possession... But I do want people to understand that belief alone will not give one power (just read Acts 19 and what happened to the sons of Sceva). One must have the authority, and we receive that through the Holy Spirit.
In John 14L12, the word "believeth" is used. Not "believes". That "eth" makes the word a verb, an action word. When you truly believe (Deuteronomy 4:29), you will do the will of God and obey His words, which in turn will allow you to receive the Holy Spirit.
Ignoring their existence renders one vulnerable to crafty attacks.
satan and his forces are an ever-present reality. Jesus taught that demons actively oppress people (Luke 13:16, Acts10:38), actively seeks to gain influence over leaders and institutions (John 8:44), and actively seeks to undermine and corrupt the Gospel of Jesus (Luke 8:12). He also taught that satan understands his massive influence in the world as his “kingdom” (Luke 11:18).
When Jesus commissioned his disciples, he sent them into a world of unbelievers “to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18).
A July 29, 2023, a poll done by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 69% of people across the nation think angels are real. There are various reports of how many people believe in demons, but all stats state that belief is significantly less.
And in those numbers, knowledge of what angels and demons truly are and entail (according to Scripture) is greatly lacking. We can thank Hollywood in part for that. People have gotten a taste of man's interpretation of evil, which is often downplayed, glamorized and even mocked. This makes us numb and indifferent to the reality of these true dark forces. If you don't believe the enemy is coming, you won't prepare. And you will fall when he shows up at your gate. When you feel you are in total control of your life, you have a false sense of stability and power- yet another grave mistake.
A profound new age movement in the 1990's created a false narrative of what angels are and do, so there is much to be relearned. Biblically speaking, there are strict words (guidelines) in regard to where and how we step over the line of the supernatural. Our carelessness can cause spiritual oppression and demonic affliction. Whether knowingly or unknowing, we can easily allow demons access to invade our lives -and even family's lives- simply by our actions.
Let's be honest- we as human beings often create our opinions and beliefs to fit our own situation and thoughts. Through the years the concept of FACT has been subjective, leaving much room for ignorance and vulnerability. That's not meant to be an insult. We are all human, and all have faults, weaknesses, vulnerabilities and misgivings. Once we start to accept that and embrace it, we can begin to become wise and strong in who we are- Whose we are. The goal is to be the person God created us to be! The truth really does set you free. Once you have it, it's a liberating moment that will free one's mind and spirit.
With the fact that there's One God, we need to know the simple certainty there are two realms that form one reality.
There is the shrouded realm of the supernatural and then there's the tangible realm of the natural.
There is the spirit, the soul, and the body. And the physical world we live in takes a toll on the spirit, and vice-versa- both affecting the soul.
Our bodies are the vessels for our soul in this carnal realm, but our spirit drives our choices. When we have an influence that is not of God, those choices are not good. The Book of Romans talks about the tug-of-war our flesh has with our spirit- so we need all the help we can get! To allow God's Holy Spirit to drive us is key. But not everyone does, and this is where we enter in the darkness that has been taking over our world.
Don't wonder why mental illness has skyrocketed. That is a direct consequence of what's taking place in this world: the spiritual battle between forces; yes, good and evil. God and satan.
KNOW YOUR ENEMY.
I cannot stress enough HOW IMPORTANT it is for us to know what the Bible says.
Knowing what God's Word says is pertinent to our life. And it is that very Word in which I will use as my groundwork for this post and as a compass in navigating this untoward world.
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." - Hosea 4:6
There are numerous references to the spiritual war (such as Ephesians 6)*. It's impossible to believe in God and His Word and not believe in spiritual warfare.
*(In an interesting side note: I was quite shocked when I Googled "Bible war in Heaven" and found the set main answer read this: The War in Heaven was a mythical conflict between two groups of angels in traditional Christian cosmology, attested in the Book of Revelation alongside proposed parallels in the Hebrew Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls."
>"Mythical"? "Christian cosmology"? With false definitions like that, generations of people will certainly be misled from truth!
The enemy of our soul has two goals:
Encourage you to sin and create a deeper and deeper wedge between you and your Creator, your Savior.
Get you to deny God and His Word
His motive: Take from God.
His tactics (and there are a handful, with many variations of each of them):
Cause you to feel isolated, angry, sad, confused, lonely, lost
Cause you pain (physical, emotional and mental)
These will wear you down and push you to isolate yourself. Now you are weak and vulnerable. This is where he comes in for the kill...
He tirelessly and craftily works with:
Fear
Loneliness
Mental illness
Addiction
Pain
Relationships
Greed
Pride
THE TACTICS.
The adversary wars against us daily. He knows the drill. He's been studying man from the beginning of time. He may not know our thoughts, but he certainly knows us by our actions, and he'll use whatever tactic works.
There are rules of engagement in every war. In this one, we get a glimpse of it in the Book of Job.
God set the stage after lucifer and his minions were cast out of Heaven. Throughout Scripture we do see he answers to God, but also does have some free reign on our earth. He's referred to as the "prince of the power of the air" in Ephesians 2:2 and the "ruler of this world" in John 12:31. These titles and many more signify satan’s capabilities. Simply put: our actions often allow him access to us.
This is not to say that he rules the world completely; God is still sovereign. But it does mean that God, in His infinite wisdom, has allowed Satan to operate in this world within the boundaries God has set for him.
Many are caught "in the snare of the devil" (2 Timothy 2:26), lie in the "power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19), and are in bondage to Satan (Ephesians 2:2).
If we give him enough rope, he will hang us with it. The less we have of God, the more we leave room for the enemy of our soul. That's why keeping the Lord as the center of your life is important. Our flesh sins, our sins leave a window open for the adversary.
The warnings in the Bible are real because satan is real. Demons are real. Much of Jesus' ministry was dealing with the demonic. Revelation 12:7-12 tells us when satan rebelled and was cast out of Heaven, satan "was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." They were cast out INTO the earth. Not Hell. satan and the fallen angels are here on this earth. Jesus said it was a third of the heavenly plane. These are the spirits that work to torment God by tormenting us. They do this because they are evil. And their mail goal is to hurt God. How can any being hurt an Omnipotent (all powerful) God? By hurting those He loves and trying to take them away from Him. They do this by leading us away from truth- in whatever way will be effective. If we are led away from knowing about, believing in, loving, honoring, and obeying God, we cannot have a connection or relationship with Him, and will not spend eternity with Him in Heaven. The Scriptures are very clear.
This world's distractions have proven to be very effective in leading us astray.
THE BATTLEGROUND.
The battleground is your mind.
I'll say it again: THE BATTLEGROUND IS YOUR MIND.
Fear opposes faith.
Evil opposes God.
So when you are a child of God, expect to be in opposition to the devil. If one chooses not to, or even is not due to ignorance- that is an open battlefield for the enemy.
The Book of Romans talks extensively about the struggle between flesh and spirit. Habitual sin is something most struggle with. That is why we need the Holy Spirit living in us, because when we are weak, then we are strong. When you trust in the Word of God and depend on His strength, His Spirit strengthens our whole person—soul, mind and body.
Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit [the Spirit of the living God], saith the LORD of hosts -Zechariah 4:6
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Do not allow the enemy to get a foothold in your life. His choice of attack is always the mind. He may try different ways (fear, pain, sadness, anger, distraction) but all stir up our mind and this can unfold sin. Knowing our weaknesses and accepting who we are in this carnal form is important. When we accept our mortality and God's Sovereignty, we can submit to His righteousness, holiness, and commandments.
Lack of knowledge is also an effective method the adversary utilizes.
Many Christians steer away from the topic of Spiritual Warfare, and I do understand, as it is a very dangerous line to walk... but again- knowledge is power. People of God are to be able to stand against evil, and to cast out demons, and pray against unclean spirits. When we have the understanding of the enemy, and confidence in the Holy Spirit, we render the Lord's power, help others and glorify God.
When you have the knowledge, the truth of the Holy Word, you have a powerful tool. Through that Word (which is each of us, our responsibility to read and know) we can grow in faith. As we grow in that faith, we can put that faith into action (by way of obedience to the Word). This in turn gives us power and authority through the Holy Spirit. A great misconception is that belief is faith, or that faith is power. It's not until you put gas in a car and drive it that it will go. No matter how great the motor of a car is, or how excellent the tires are- unless you have all the right components, put gasoline in it and drive- it isn't going far.
Imagine what you can do with the Holy Spirit! Scriptures give us countless examples. The devil knows this. That is why he attacks when he does- his attempts to thwart your work in the Lord.
So, it is IMPERATIVE we know what the Word of God says. Read it daily, Study it out. Take a Bible study. Hear the Word preached at church. Pray on the Word for the Lord to reveal things to you. THAT is the belt of truth...
THE ARMOR.
This is why God profoundly instructs us in EPHESIANS 6:10-18:
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 God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
TRUTH through the WORD OF GOD.
RIGHTEOUSNESS (through obedience to that Word)
ACTIVELY LIVING the commandments and statutes of God and Gospel.
Having and LIVING FAITH
BAPTISM through water and Spirit (The Holy Spirit of God > Salvation)
PRAYER.
These things will shield you from the enemy's attacks. They will help you fight them. They will help you avoid them.
If we don't hold that Spirit of God within us, 2 Corinthians 2 explains we can fall ignorant of satan's methods and attacks and will take advantage of us.
And if any Scriptures are clear regarding what power we have and who wins this war, know these two:
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. - Jesus (Luke 10:19)
And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. - Revelation 20:7-12 (ESV)
My friends, may the Lord bless you and keep you. May you allow His Light and Spirit to be the guide and guard you draw from to overcome. He is our mighty Jehovah Nissi!
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