THE WILES OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE
EPHESIANS 6:10-13
WE ARE INVOLVED IN A SERIES DEALING WITH SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND HOW IT EFFECTS US HERE IN CAMPBELLTION. ALL CHRISTIANS ARE INVOLVED IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE OF VARIOUS FORMS. WE WERE ALL AT ONE TIME ENSLAVED TO THE DARKNESS OF SIN. WE HAD NO POWER OVER IT, AND IN FACT THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WE WERE ATTRACTED TO IT IN JOHN 3:19-21.
WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT DREW US TO CHRIST, AND WE ACCEPTED HIM AS LORD AND SAVIOR, WE BEGAN WHAT WILL BE A LIFELONG STRUGGLE AGAINST SATAN. HIS PURPOSE IS TO DESTROY OUR WITNESS FOR THE LORD, AND THUS DESTROY THE REPUTATION OG GOD TO THOSE AROUND US.
SADLY, THERE ARE MANY CHRISTIANS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF SATANIC WARFARE, WHO DON’T EVEN KNOW THAT THERE IS WARFARE GOING ON. SADDER STILL, IS THE FACT THAT MANY CHRISTIANS WHO CLAIM TO BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE, USE ANY EXCUSE POSSIBLE TO DENY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ATTACK. WE WILL DENY IT AS “COINCIDENCE” OR “CHANCE”, RATHER THAN CALL IT WHAT IT IS.
ROBERT DEFFINBAUGH STATES:
“MANY OF HIS (SATAN’S) VICTIMS, DO NOT EVEN KNOW THERE IS A WAR GOING ON. THEY MAKE EASY PREY. CHRISTIANS SHOULD KNOW THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A GREAT SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE, ALTHOUGH MANY SEEM NOT TO BELIEVE IT. AND EVEN MORE DISTRESSING IS THE FACT THAT MANY WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES “IN THE WAR” DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF SATAN’S SCHEMES, OF THE WEAPONS WHICH HE EMPLOYS, OR OF THE WEAPONS WHICH GOD PROVIDED FOR OUR DEFENSE.”
WE HAVE TAKEN TIME TO TRY TO IDENTIFY SOME OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF SATAN, AND HIS ARMY OF FALLEN ANGELS. WHAT I WANT TO LOOK AT TODAY IN FINISHING THIS SECTION IS HOW SATAN CAN ATTACK US, BOTH AS INDIVIDUALS, AND AS A CONGREGATION.
EPHESIANS 6:13: 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
WHAT I WANT TO LOOK AT NOW IS WHAT PAUL CALLS “THE DAY OF EVIL.” THE GREEK WORDING HERE INDICATES THAT THIS IS NOT SOME FORM OF EXCHATOLOGICAL DAY, BUT RATHER AN IMMEDIATE, BUT UNKNOWN DAY WHEN WE WILL FACE AN ATTACK OF SOME FORM OF EVIL.
THE TEXT PLAINLY IMPLIES THAT ALL OUR LIFE WE WILL BE IN DANGER OF SUDDEN ASSULTS. IT DOES CONTEMPLATE VICTORY IN THE EVIL DAY, BUT IT ALSO CONTEMPLATES THAT AFTER WE HAVE WITHSTOOD, WE HAVE STILL TO STAND AND BE READY FOR ANOTHER ATTACK TOMORROW. HOWEVER MANY CONFLICTS HE MAY HAVE WAGED, HE IS STILL EVER-READY FOR FRESH ASSULTS, AND THE DAY OF EVIL IS NEVER LEFT BEHIND SO LONG AS DAYS STILL LAST.
AS ONE WRITER SO ELEQUENTLY POINTED OUT THOUGH:
“BUT THOUGH ALL OUR PATHS LEAD US THROUGH ENEMIES, WE HAVE JESUS, WHO HAS CONQUERED THEM ALL WITH US, AND OUR HEARTS SHOULD NOT FAIL SO LONG AS WE CAN HEAR HIS BRAVE VOICE ENCOURAGING US: “IN THIS WORLD YOU HAVE TRIBULATION, BUT BE OF GOOD CHEER, FOR I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.””
REMEMBER THE STRENGTH THAT WE HAVE AT OUR DISPOSAL WHEN THE DAYS OF EVIL COMES.
1 JOHN 4:4: YOU, DEAR CHILDREN, ARE FROM GOD AND HAVE OVERCOME THEM, BECAUSE THE ONE WHO IS IN YOU IS GREATER THAN THE ONE WHO IS IN THE WORLD.
JAMES 4:7: 7 SUBMIT YOURSELVES, THEN, TO GOD. RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU..
CONSIDER SOME OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS SATAN HAS WAGED SPIRITUAL WARFARE IN THE BIBLE.
CONSIDER DAVID IS 1 CHRONICLES 21:1. HE ORDERED A CENSUS OF ALL HIS MILITARY MEN TO BE TAKEN TO KNOW HOW MUCH OF AN ARMY HE HAD. THIS CENSUS WAS AGAINST THE WILL OF GOD. DAVID REALIZED THAT HE HAD SINNED AGAINST GOD, AND PRAYED IN REPENTANCE TO HIM.
GOD OFFERED HIM THREE OPTIONS OF CONSEQUENCE.
1. THREE YEARS OF FAMINE IN THE LAND
2. THREE MONTHS OF FLEEING FROM YOUR ENEMIES
3. THREE DAYS OF PLAGUE IN YOUR LAND.
THE OPTION DAVID CHOSE WAS THREE DAYS OF PLAGUE IN HIS LAND. AS A RESULT OF THIS CONSEQUENCE SEVENTY THOUSAND PEOPLE DIED.
WHERE WAS THE SIN IN THIS CENSUS. THE SIN OF THE SENSUS IS THAT DAVID OVERULED GOD IN HIS ORDER AND THEN FELT HE COULD DEFEAT HIS ENEMIES IN HIS OWN POWER. IT WAS IN THE POWER OF GOD THAT HE DEFEATED GOLIATH. HE HAD FALLEN PREY TO THE SIN OF PRIDE.
NOW CONSIDER 2 KINGS 6 AND ELISHA THE PROPHET. ISRAEL WAS AT WAR WITH THE ARAMEANS, AND ELISHA KEPT INFORMING THE KING OF ISRAEL THE MOVES OF THE ARAMEANS.
THE KING OF ARAM SENDS A FORCE THAT IS TO CAPTURE ELISHA, AND SOON THEY FIND DOTHAN SURROUNDED BY THE FORCES OF ARAM.
NOTE THE RESPONSE OF ELISHA.
2 KINGS 6:16-20:
“DON’T BE AFRAID,” THE PROPHET ANSWERED. “THOSE WHO ARE WITH US ARE MORE THAN THOSE WHO ARE WITH THEM.” 17 AND ELISHA PRAYED, “OPEN HIS EYES, LORD, SO THAT HE MAY SEE.” THEN THE LORD OPENED THE SERVANT’S EYES, AND HE LOOKED AND SAW THE HILLS FULL OF HORSES AND CHARIOTS OF FIRE ALL AROUND ELISHA. 18 AS THE ENEMY CAME DOWN TOWARD HIM, ELISHA PRAYED TO THE LORD, “STRIKE THIS ARMY WITH BLINDNESS.” SO HE STRUCK THEM WITH BLINDNESS, AS ELISHA HAD ASKED. 19 ELISHA TOLD THEM, “THIS IS NOT THE ROAD AND THIS IS NOT THE CITY. FOLLOW ME, AND I WILL LEAD YOU TO THE MAN YOU ARE LOOKING FOR.” AND HE LED THEM TO SAMARIA.
CAN YOU JUST IMAGINE THE EYES OF THIS FEARFUL SERVANT WHEN HE SEES THE ARMY OF ANGELS AT ELISHA’S DISPOSAL, AN ARMY HE DIDN’T EVEN HAVE TO USE. IN ONE EXAMPLE DAVID TRIED TO FACE THE SPIRITUAL WARFARE ALONE AND FACED THE CONSEQUENCES OF GOD AS A RESULT. IN THE SECOND ELISHA STAYED TRUE TO HIS FAITH AND WAS REWARDED WITH SAFETY.
JESUS FACED SPIRITUAL WARFARE IN THE GOSPELS. THERE WAS DIRECT ATTACK AS HE FACED SATAN’S TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS. ANOTHER PRIME EXAMPLE OF WARFARE WAS THE DEMON-POSSESSED MEN AT THE GADARENES.
THE BOOK OF ACTS TELLS US OF THE BEGINNINGS OF THE CHURCH AND THE SPIRITUAL WARFARE IT FACED. THE DEATH OF ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA WERE ATTRIBUTED BY PETER TO SPIRITUAL WARFARE.
BUT THE SURPRISING PLACE OF SATANIC ATTACK ACTUALLY HAPPENS IN CHAPTER ONE.
JUST BEFORE JESUS’S ASCENSION HE GIVES THIS COMMAND TO HIS APOSTLES.
ACTS 1:4-5:
ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE HE WAS EATING WITH THEM, HE GAVE THEM THIS COMMAND: “DO NOT LEAVE JERUSALEM, BUT WAIT FOR THE GIFT MY FATHER PROMISED, WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK ABOUT. 5 FOR JOHN BAPTIZED WITH WATER, BUT IN A FEW DAYS YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.”
THIS COMMAND IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR IT TELLS THEM THAT THEY ARE TO WAIT IN JERUSALEM UNTIL THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, BEFORE THEY ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN MINISTRY. THERE ARE NO OTHER STIPULATIONS TO THIS COMMAND.
PETER THEN INSTRUCTS THE DISCIPLES PRESENT THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE JUDAS. TWO NAMES ARE BROUGHT FORWARD, JOSEPH AND MATTHIAS. MATTHIAS WAS THEN CHOSEN BY LOT.
NOW ON THE SURFACE YOU WOULDN’T THINK THIS TO BE AN EXAMPLE OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE. CERTAINLY BOTH MEN WERE CHRISTIAN OR THEY WOULDN’T BE WITH THE APOSTLES.
THE FACT REMAINS THAT THEY WERE NOT TO MAKE THIS CHOICE. THE CHOICE OF MATTHIAS WAS MADE BY MAN, NOT GOD. THERE IS NO LEADING BY CHRIST DURING THE FORTY DAYS TO PICK A REPLACEMENT FOR JUDAS. THERE WAS NO HURRY TO COMPLETE THIS CHOICE NOW. A REPLACEMENT WOULD BE CHOSEN, BUT NOT THIS WAY AND CERTAINLY WITH MORE MESSIANIC AUTHORITY THAN THIS, FOR GOD’S CHOICE WAS PAUL ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS.
EVERYTHING WAS RIGHT HERE EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT HADN’T OCCURRED AT THIS POINT. THIS MEANT THAT THEIR CHOICE WAS NOT SPIRIT LED, BUT FORCED BY PETER. SATAN IN A VERY BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME WAS ABLE TO GET THE APOSTLES TO ACT IN THEIR OWN POWER AND NOT TO WAIT ON GOD.
PAUL GOES ON IN 1 TIMOTHY TO EQUATE GOSSIP AND BEING A BUSYBODY AS EXAMPLES OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND TO AVOID BOTH.
1 TIMOTHY 5:13-15:
BESIDES, THEY GET INTO THE HABIT OF BEING IDLE AND GOING ABOUT FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE. AND NOT ONLY DO THEY BECOME IDLERS, BUT ALSO BUSYBODIES WHO TALK NONSENSE, SAYING THINGS THEY OUGHT NOT TO. 14 SO I COUNSEL YOUNGER WIDOWS TO MARRY, TO HAVE CHILDREN, TO MANAGE THEIR HOMES AND TO GIVE THE ENEMY NO OPPORTUNITY FOR SLANDER. 15 SOME HAVE IN FACT ALREADY TURNED AWAY TO FOLLOW SATAN.
WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED THAT PAUL SHOULD TEACH LIKE THIS. JAMES SPEAKS QUITE FORCEFULLY AGAINST THE POWER OF THE TONGUE IN CHAPTER THREE. MORE QUARRELLS AND STRIFE HAS BEEN STARTED IN THE CHURCH AS A RESULT OF SATAN USING THE TONGUES OF WELL MEANING PEOPLE THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE.
THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN REVELATION SEES THE LORD FREQUENTLY MENTIONING SATAN AS THE SOURCE OF TEMPTATION AND TRIALS IN THE CHURCH. THE REMAINDER OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION DESCRIBES THE COMING FINAL CONFLICT WITH SATAN AND HIS ULTIMATE DEMISE.
HOW THEN DOES SATAN ATTACK TODAY? HOW DOES IT APPLY TO US IN CAMPBELLTON?
ALL SATANIC ATTACKS WILL TAKE ONE OF TWO FORMS:
1) DIRECT: DIRECT ATTACKS ARE ATTACKS WHERE SATAN IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE BATTLE. DEMON POSSESSION OR SORCERY WOULD BE EXAMPLES OF THIS FORM OF WARFARE.
2) INDIRECT: INDIRECT ATTACKS ARE JUST AS DEVESTATING, BUT ARE ATTACKS WHERE SATAN USES CIRCUMSTANCES AND PEOPLE TO CHALLENGE US. SATAN WILL OFTEN BATTLE WITH US IN THE FIELD OF ETHICS.
DIRECT ATTACKS BY SATAN ARE STILL VERY PRESENT IN OUR WORLD TODAY. SATAN THE MASTER DECEIVER WANTS US TO THINK THAT THIS IS ALL HOKUM, SO GO AHEAD AND READ THAT HOROSCOPE IN THE SHOPPING LINE AT THE CHECKOUT.
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH WATCHING “MY MOTHER’S A MEDIUM” OR “LONG ISLAND MEDIUM”. IT’S COMFORTING TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO A LOVED ONE WHO HAS “CROSSED OVER.”
THESE FORMS OF DIRECT SATANIC ATTACK IN OUR LIVES, OPENS A DOOR THAT IS AS DANGEROUS AS IT IS SCARY. YOU MAY TRY TO RATIONALIZE WATCHING PROGRAMS LIKE THIS BY SAYING, “IT’S JUST ENTERTAINMENT, OR THE READINGS ARE SO BROAD THAT ANYONE COULD COME UP WITH THEM.”
THE PROBLEM IS THIS. THERE ARE ONLY TWO SOURCES FOR MEDIUMS, AND THOSE INVOLVED IN WITCHCRAFT, AS WELL AS SATANISM, TO GET THEIR POWERS. OBVIOUSLY THEIR POWERS DO NOT COME FROM GOD, SO THE ONLY OTHER SOURCE OF POWER HAS TO BE SATAN.
SATAN IS ONLY INTERESTED IN DESTROYING THE KINGDOM OF GOD WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TO TELL A GREIVING PERSON SOMETHING THEY DESPERATELY WANT TO HEAR, AND ENTICE THEM INTO THE POWERS OF MYSTICISM.
LET ME ILLUSTRATE USING THE COMPUTER.
CONSIDER FOR A MOMENT THOSE PEOPLE WHO CREATE COMPUTER VIRUSES TO ATTACK YOUR PERSONAL COMPUTER. IN MOST CASES THEY ARE SENT THROUGH A VERY INNOCENT E-MAIL.
WHEN A COMPUTER GETS INFECTED WITH A VIRUS, THE PERSON WHO CREATED THE VIRUS SEEKS TO INFECT AS MANY COMPUTERS AS HE OR SHE CAN. IT ATTACHS ITSELF TO WHAT IS CALLED AN ADDRESS LIST, WHICH IS ALL THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE CONTACT BY E-MAIL WITH. IT AUTOMATICALLY SENDS OUT AN E-MAIL TO EACH PERSON ON THAT LIST. THE E-MAIL IS A PHONY AND CONTAINS THE VIRUS.
THE PERSON WHO RECEIVES THE E-MAIL SEES THAT THEY RECEIVED AN E-MAIL FROM A FRIEND, BUT IT IS REALLY THE VIRUS, AND SO THEY OPEN THE E-MAIL TO SEE WHAT THE PERSON SAID. AS SOON AS THEY OPEN THE E-MAIL THE VIRUS INFECTS THAT PERSON’S COMPUTER, AND THEIR ADDRESS LIST.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COMPUTERS ARE INFECTED EACH YEAR WITH VIRUSES SPREAD THIS WAY. THE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE VERY MINOR, BUT IN MANY CASES CAN ELIMINATE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE ON YOUR COMPUTER.
SATAN WORKS IN MUCH THE SAME WAY.
YOU MAY NOT TOLERATE A OUIJI BOARD IN YOUR HOUSE. YOU MAY SAY THEY GIVE YOU THE CREEPY FEELING, AND SAY THAT THEY ARE EVIL. YOU WOULD BE RIGHT IN DOING SO.
WHAT ABOUT THOSE LITTLE BUDDA STATUES THAT ARE SOLD AT STORES, OR CHILDREN’S COLLECTOR CARDS LIKE POKEMON AND SOME OTHERS. THESE ARE ALL BASED ON IDOLS AND PAGAN GODS.
IT WAS BELIEVED POSSIBLE IN CENTURIES PAST THAT EVIL SPIRITS COULD RESIDE IN PAGAN GODS.
WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT HE IS NOT BEYOND USING INNOCENT METHODS TO INVADE YOUR HOUSE WITH EVIL SPIRITS, OFTEN WITHOUT US BEING AWARE OF IT HAPPENING UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE MUST CONSTANTLY BE ON OUR GUARD AND BE PREPARED.
SATANIC WORSHIP IS BECOMING MORE ACCEPTED BY SOCIETY EACH YEAR. OUR ATLANTIC BAPTIST CONVENTION IS SUGGESTING THE CONGREAGATIONS OF CHURCHES THAT HAVE CLOSED, TO TEAR DOWN THEIR BUILDINGS, AS MANY CLOSED CHURCHES HAVE BEEN USED FOR SATANIC ACTIVITY. PENTAGRAMS HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THE BUILDINGS, AND THERE IS APPARENTLY MORE SATANIC POWER, WHEN IT IS ACCESSED IN A FORMER PLACE OF WORSHIP.
THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ABANDONED BUILDINGS WITHIN THE CAMPBELLTON AREA THAT HAVE ON INSPECTION BEEN FOUND TO CONTAIN PENTAGRAMS AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF SATANIC WORSHIP.
DIRECT SATANIC ACTIVITY CAN ALSO BE FOUND IN OUR HEALTH SYSTEM. A GROUP THAT FALLS UNDER THE CARE OF THE INTER-FAITH CHAPLAIN ARE THOSE INVOLVED IN WITCHCRAFT. NOW THE CHAPLAIN DOES NOT HAVE TO GET DIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH THE PEOPLE, BUT HE DOES HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR “SPIRITUAL” NEEDS ARE MET BY MAKING THE PROPER CONNECTIONS.
INCREASED USE OF MYSTICAL CRYSTALS, TOROT CARD READINGS ARE ADVERTISED ON OCCASION IN THE LOCAL PAPERS, ARE ALL EVIDENCES OF DIRECT SATANIC ACTIVITY WITHIN OUR CITY’S BOUNDARIES.
ANOTHER FORM OF DIRECT SATANIC WARFARE IS THROUGH DEMON POSSESSION. THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK OF A NUMBER OF CASES BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY HERE.
I HAVE HAD MINISTERS IN HIGH POSITIONS WITHIN THE CONVENTION, MEN WHOM I RESPECT AND HAVE NO REASON TO QUESTION, SPEAK OF GOING INTO HOUSES THAT THEY KNEW WERE POSSESSED BY SATAN, ACTUALLY PRACTICING EXORCISM ON THE HOUSE. IT HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER AREAS, WHY NOT HERE AS WELL. WE HAVE TO BE READY.
SATAN ALSO USES INDIRECT ATTACKS TO ATTACK GOD’S PEOPLE. INDIRECT ATTACKS ARE ORCHASTRATED BY SATAN USING WORLDLY INFLUENCES AND RESOURCES. WE ARE NOT IMMUNE TO THEIR INFLUENCE IN CAMPBELLTON.
A CHIEF TARGET SATAN IS AIMING AT IS THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY. IT IS IN THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY WHERE CHRISTIAN IDEALS ARE TAUGHT AND LIVED. HE SEEKS TO DESTROY THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY.
THE FIRST INDIRECT ATTACK IS A GENERAL LOSS OF RESPECT BY PEOPLE FOR THE THINGS OF GOD. MORE AND MORE THINGS ARE BEING SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH GOD AND CHURCH. THE GOAL IS THIS. SATAN WANTS TO HAVE OUR LIVES SO BUSY THAT THERE IS NO TIME FOR CHURCH OR THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND FELLOWSHIP THAT COMES FROM CHURCH.
I WAS READING IN THE PAPER YESTERDAY ABOUT THE OPENING OF THE NEW PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL HERE IN CAMPBELLTON. IT LOOKS REALLY IMPRESSIVE WITH ALL THE WAYS IN WHICH IT CAN HELP PEOPLE. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO MENTION OF SPIRITUAL CARE IN THE ARTICLE. I KNOW THERE IS “SPIRITUAL CARE” THERE, BUT I ALSO KNOW IT IS NOT A HIGH PRIORITY.
SECOND, VIOLENCE IN VIDEO GAMES IS ALSO INCREASING IN THE WORLD AROUND US. GAMES SUCH AS THESE LESSEN THE RESPECT FOR HUMANITY, ESPECIALLY FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT PLAY THEM. THERE IS A DEFINITE CARRYOVER FROM THE GAME INTO THE REAL WORLD.
THIRD, THERE ARE FIVE LETTERS THAT YOU WILL NOT HEAR MORE ABOUT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. LGBTQ IS SOMETHING THAT SATAN WANTS TO INFECT PEOPLE WITH. BUT DO SO IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING IS HAPPENING.
L = LESBIAN
G = GAY
B = BISEXUAL
T = TRANSEXUAL
Q = QUEER
THESE TERMS ARE BECOMING MORE PREVELENT AND ACCEPTED IN SOCIETY TODAY. THEY ARE ON TELEVISION, IN OUR WORK PLACE, AND IN OUR SCHOOLS.
BRUCE JENNER IS APPLAUDED ON TELEVISION AS BEING A PERSON OF COURAGE TO FOLLOW HIS DREAM AND HAVING A SEX CHANGE. HOURS OF TELEVISION COVERAGE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THIS, TRYING TO PUT IT’S BEST FOOT FORWARD, BUT STILL THE WORDS OF HIS WIFE ECHO LOUDLY, “I’M THE ONE YOU’VE LIED TO THE LONGEST.”
LGBTQ COMMERCIALS ARE MORE COMMONPLACE ON TELEVISION NOW. THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN ALL OF CANADA ARE INTRODUCING LGBTQ MATERIALS IN THEIR LIBRARIES, DOWN AS FAR AS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL.
LAST, THE MOST DIFFICULT FORM OF INDIRECT SPIRITUAL WARFARE TO DEAL WITH, IS THE LACK OF BELIEF AND COMMITMENT TO CHRIST FROM THOSE WHO CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIAN.
THERE IS LESS BELIEF TODAY IN THE INERRANCY OF THE WORD OF GOD. MORE PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE DIVINITY OR RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. MANY CHRISTIANS TODAY WHO CLAIM TO BE BORN-AGAIN, DO NOT BELIEVE IN EITHER HEAVEN OR HELL.
MANY “SO-CALLED” CHRISTIANS DO NOT ATTEND ANY CHURCH ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. THE RESULT IS NOT BEING GROUNDED IN THE WORD OF GOD. THIS MEANS THAT WHEN SATAN ATTACKS THEY NOT ONLY HAVE NOTHING TO STAND WITH, THEY DON’T REALIZE THEY ARE UNDER ATTACK IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I DON’T WANT YOU TO LEAVE HERE TODAY FEELING OVERWEALMED BY THE WARFARE THAT SATAN USES. IT IS FORMIDABLE BUT NOT INVINCIBLE.
WE CAN STILL HAVE THE VICTORY IN OUR SPIRITUAL WARFARE. PAUL TEACHES US THAT WE ARE MORE THAN VICTORS IN ROMANS CHAPTER 8.
ROMANS 8:
18 I CONSIDER THAT OUR PRESENT SUFFERINGS ARE NOT WORTH COMPARING WITH THE GLORY THAT WILL BE REVEALED IN US. 28 AND WE KNOW THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD WORKS FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM, WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. 31 WHAT, THEN, SHALL WE SAY IN RESPONSE TO THESE THINGS? IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? 32 HE WHO DID NOT SPARE HIS OWN SON, BUT GAVE HIM UP FOR US ALL—HOW WILL HE NOT ALSO, ALONG WITH HIM, GRACIOUSLY GIVE US ALL THINGS? 33 WHO WILL BRING ANY CHARGE AGAINST THOSE WHOM GOD HAS CHOSEN? IT IS GOD WHO JUSTIFIES. 34 WHO THEN IS THE ONE WHO CONDEMNS? NO ONE. CHRIST JESUS WHO DIED—MORE THAN THAT, WHO WAS RAISED TO LIFE—IS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD AND IS ALSO INTERCEDING FOR US. 35 WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST? SHALL TROUBLE OR HARDSHIP OR PERSECUTION OR FAMINE OR NAKEDNESS OR DANGER OR SWORD? 36 AS IT IS WRITTEN: “FOR YOUR SAKE WE FACE DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE ARE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” G 37 NO, IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM WHO LOVED US. 38 FOR I AM CONVINCED THAT NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE, NEITHER ANGELS NOR DEMONS, NEITHER THE PRESENT NOR THE FUTURE, NOR ANY POWERS, 39 NEITHER HEIGHT NOR DEPTH, NOR ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATION, WILL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.
THE BATTLE IS LONG AND OUR CLEVER ENEMY WILL ATTACK WHEN WE LEAST EXPECT IT. LET US TAKE HEART IN THAT WE SERVE A RISEN SAVIOR WHO HAS ALREADY DEFEATED OUR FOE.
