Spiritual Warfare, Part 4

Chuckle:  Church bulletin on a national Fasting and Prayer Conference: "The cost for attending the Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals."

Quote: "Christ himself is my righteousness. I look at him as a gift to me, in himself; so that in him I have all things." --Martin Luther

WINNING THE SPIRITUAL WAR

"We are human, but we don't wage war with human plans and methods. We use God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil's strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NLT).

Last time, we looked at the powerful spiritual weapons God has given us to defeat the forces of Satan each day we live. Additional weapons available to us are prayer, faith, hope, and love. These are also powerful and effective. God wants us to live victoriously in him every day.

We can demolish satanic arguments and philosophies that mislead us into lives of sin and indifference toward God. "With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God" (2 Corinthians 4:5 NLT). These weapons can break down the human arguments against God and walls Satan builds to keep people from God. We can demolish every pretension against the knowledge of God.

We can take captive the negative, impure, and ungodly thoughts the world places in our minds. "With these weapons we conquer their (the world's) rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:6 NLT). Both God and the world want to place thoughts in our minds. The ones we allow to fill our minds depends upon our desire to be holy and responsive to God's will.

We can deal with the temptation to disobey God; however, If we have disobeyed God, we can ask His forgiveness and cleansing. When the Holy Spirit makes us aware and convicts us of our sins, we should deal with those sins immediately and not allow them to become strongholds. Again, I refer you to I John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." You and I can have victory over the devil and the world each day when we trust Jesus completely and use the spiritual weapons he has provided us.

Not only does God give us offensive spiritual weapons, but also protective armor. I want to leave you with the words of the apostle Paul: "A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil . . . . Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Put on your salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere" (Ephesians 6:10, 13-18 NLT).

Love, Jerry & Dotse