Spiritual Warfare:
Scripture tells us : Ephesians 6:12-18
For we do not wrestle / fight against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand in the evil day and having done all to stand 14 stand therefore having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, 16 above all taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD! 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit. Being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
Lets break it down a little: For we do not fight against flesh and blood: Have you ever heard the old saying the devil made me do it? Well he can’t make you do any thing! Though he can’t make you do any thing he sure can send his principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, spiritual hosts of wickedness to suggest that you do some thing. To this he has had over 2000 years to study us.
This scripture describes how.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15
and no wonder, for satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 therefore its no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
Let me tell you a few of my experiences. I got up one morning and was peeing a lot of blood. God had healed me a couple of years earlier of a really bad intestinal problem that I still don’t know what it was because I never went to a doctor but as I was sliding to the floor one day nearly blacking out I said “I can’t do this any more”. The next day it didn’t happen and hasn’t since now maybe 5 years ago. So ok the peeing blood problem; It was close to Christmas so I knew I may not get in but called my doctor told her the issue and asked for antibiotics. In the mean time as I was getting in the shower I said, “God You healed me of the other thing You can heal this too.” I got to my office and was just outside the door when I heard “healing begun” I the felt God’s power running through my lower abdomen. With in an hour the bleeding was gone and I was healed! Can you say WOW! Quick on the heals of the healing was satan. I heard “you really need to take the antibiotics because your family won’t understand.” Sadly this is a true statement because my family doesn’t believe in God. This is only half the truth though! I am Christ’s witness! I would love to say I didn’t fall for it but I did. Later though I did tell my husband about it and what had happened. You see in scripture satan used parts of scripture to tempt Jesus to do some thing against God the Father. He will show us only what is good about his evil and do his best to trap us before we know what we have fallen into. This is why we really need to know God’s word and pray.
John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your flesh / father you want to do. he was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resource, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Simple examples: I smoked for years until God showed me the demons that came attached to that drug. But the devil still sends temptation. When I am stressed or at my weakest I will get a picture and a word. The picture is just relaxing with a cigaret and the thought is usually “it would be so nice to relax with a cigaret.” Never does he say cigarets sink, cost a lot of money and steals your health. Ever have those kinds of thoughts? That one more drink will be fine, that extra piece of cake won’t matter, it’s just this once.
The devil doesn’t come with a pitch fork and tell us how awful we are. He tries to get us to where we think no one loves us. They are just trying to ruin our fun, they are not cool , they don’t understand, they are making to much of it, I am in control. He tries to isolate us from those who can help us as well.
How can we fight against things that come at us in such a way as not to alarm us?
Ephesians 10:3-4
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 strong holds.
Ephesians 10:5
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.
Lord in Jesus name I ask that you help us all to recognize Your voice so we may keep to Your paths of righteousness.
God be with us.
