“Foot on the Devil’s Neck”
Scripture reading
Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Ephes. 6:10-13
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 2 Cor. 10:3-5
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:6-11
Message:
A continuous battle rages against us for control of our soul.
Spiritual growth depends on continual CPR.
I. Continually cultivate our relationship with Christ.
II. Persistently pursue meaningful community with the body of Christ.
III. Resolutely restore righteousness and resist all evil of the world the flesh and the devil.
Unless we learn and continually practice the principles of warfare on all three of the fronts from which attacks approach, we will continually suffer defeat.
A. Renew and purify Your heart
The basic instruction regarding our heart is and repent and confess
B. Refuse conformity with the World
The basic instruction concerning the world is to refuse conformity to it and focus on Christ.
C. Renounce the flesh
The basic instruction regarding the flesh is to renounce it and walk by the power of the spirit.
D. Resist the Devil
The basic instruction regarding the devil is resist.
In any war, there are soldiers, there are words, there are weapons and territory to win.
War requires training, support, weapons, energy, strategy, a cause.
But behind it all are rulers and powers.
This morning I want to touch on the Biblical truths regarding spiritual warfare with Satan.
We face a war between the kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of God.
It is real.
The Bible teaches it.
Anyone who will openly read the Bible will soon discover that the principles of spiritual warfare (closely associated and even parallel physical warfare) flow all through the Scriptures.
Jesus taught it and waged it.
Every Christian must fight it!
I intend to provide only a brief overview of the principles regarding this war.
I have taught these principles in detail on previous occasions.
This morning, I remind you again of some of those principles.
I don’t know what teaching you have had before regarding Satan and his army of fallen angels called demons but the Scripture is clear that there is a war that is waged against every believer.
You cannot ignore the clear Scriptures read at the beginning of the service anymore than you can ignore the clear Scripture that instructs us regarding our relationship to the world and the flesh.
Neglect of any of those instructions is to our own peril.
This morning I offer five main exhortations regarding spiritual warfare.
I. Be Aware of the enemy
A. Existence (assumed by Scripture as angelic beings created by God)
Just as the existence of angels is assumed by Scripture and verified by the teaching of Christ, so the existence of Satan and his demons is assumed by Scripture and verified by Christ.
B. Fallen Character (Rebelled against God)
The Bible indicates that there were some angels who did not keep their “first estate” and were cast down along with their leader Satan.
It seems that the desire for recognition equal to God’s (pride) was the chief sin of Satan and the basis of all rebellion since. (Ezek 28)
Angels maintain the same basic nature as stated for all angels except they are now confirmed in their corruption and judgment.
It appears that when the angels fell they were deprived of an ability to appear in a physical form.
My thought is that the inability to express their character through some sort of vehicle drives them to seek some sort of vehicle through which they can operate and express their fallen nature.
C. Designations (Referred to by various names and terms)
Names of Demons
Evil spirits, demons, wicked spirits, unholy spirits, angel of light, fallen angels, serpents scorpions, locust.
Names of Satan
Anointed Cherub, Prince of this world, prince of the power of the air, god of this age, prince of demons, devil (slanderer), old Serpent (crafty), Great Dragon (destructive), Destroyer, the Evil One, Tempter, Accuser, Deceiver, Spirit that energizes the sons of disobedience.
Satan appears in Scripture as the designated ruler or prince of demons. Other fallen angels specifically named appear according to function or position i.e. Legion, Prince of Persia, Deafness etc.
D. Work (carry out a specific agenda)
In Relation to God
Oppose God’s person
Oppose God’s purpose
In relation to the Nations of the World
Deceive the nations
Influence Governments to evil
In relation to mankind
• Promote “the lie”
• Prevent the truth
• Pluck the truth from the heart
• Blind the mind
• Bind the life
• Pervert the truth
• Propagate false doctrine, teaching, systems of thought
• Promote destructive lifestyles
• Perpetuate human misery
• Persecute the church
I sat down one day and listed various descriptions of Satanic and demonic activity related to people in the Scripture and came up with the following list. This is by no means exhaustive but enlightening.
Demonic Manifestations and Activity related to mankind.
• Cause people to lie
• Communicate by using the voice or thoughts of others.
• Produce any number of physical ailments and infirmities.
• Cause dementia, insanity
• Manifest supernatural strength
• Enable fortune telling abilities
• Produce counterfeit worship experiences
• Cause deafness
• Cause dumbness
• Cause uncontrollable anxiety, phobias
• Produce suicidal thoughts and tendencies
• Promote self-mutilation
• Deceive and blind the mind and fight against the truth
• Rob the mind of truth once received
• Incite false prophecies.
• Appear as angels of light
• Tempt to any number of sinful thoughts and behaviors and attitudes
• Implant evil thoughts
• Inflict condemnation
• Incite sexual immorality and uncontrollable sexual urges
• Blind the mind from seeing God’s truth.
• Incite to violence
• Scream through the vocal chords of host
• Promote physical abuse
• Invade animals
• Propagate wickedness
• Cause visualizations and visions
• Incite betrayal.
• Produce convulsions
• Cause foaming at the mouth
• Cause one to grind and gnash their teeth.
• Cause one to be paralyzed and stiffen out
• Incite anger and hatred and unforgiveness
• Energize the flesh beyond the natural inclinations.
• Lead the heart astray from the simplicity of devotion to Christ.
E. Judgment
The enemies defeat was settled at the cross of Christ
Col. 2:15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
Rev. 12:11 "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death.
John 16:11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
Romans 16:19-20 For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil. And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
The doom of the enemy is already settled
Matthew 25:41 "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;
Rev. 20:10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Remember, the enemy appears intimidating but he is NOT by any means invincible!
II. Be Alert to the enemy
We are instructed to be continually aware and alert to attack.
1 Peter 5:6-11 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety (caused perhaps by the enemy) upon Him, because He cares (this is the basis of our hope -- God is present, He is powerful, and he deeply cares) for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
A. Be alert to the Levels of Attack
There are various levels of activity attributable to Satan and his demons.
Note: when the Bible refers to our fight against the devil is includes both Satan and any of his cadre sorry soldiers.
I find at least three levels of demonic influence in the Scriptures.
Indirect Influence
At this level there is orchestration of situations, people and things to try to distract, dissuade, direct attention, harass.
When Satan couldn’t get at Jesus through direct temptation, he used Peter to try to influence Jesus.
Intensity of influence at each level varies from slight to severe.
We resist this level of influence by raising the shield of faith in the goodness of God, a knowledge of the truth and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Direct Harassment
At this level demonic forces bring direct assault on the mind, the emotions, the body, to cause us to lose faith, doubt and give in.
1 Peter describes this kind of attack against believers all around the world.
Jesus suffered this kind of attack in the wilderness.
Peter suffered this kind of attack -- Satan desired to “sift him like wheat”.
Intensity of this level also runs from slight to severe.
We manage and resist level two influence by alertness, personal and family prayer and direct resistance by faith in the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.
We can do little to avoid level one and two influence.
We can do much when it occurs, but absolute prevention is unavoidable.
Failure to be alert and aware of level one or two influence leads to level three influence.
God commands us to be alert to the enemies attempts to devour us and continually wear His protective armor that we may be able to resist in the evil day of attack.
If we don’t watch, the enemy wins by gaining a foothold in our life.
Infiltration, attachment, invasion, demonization
At this level, the enemy gains some sort of attachment, foothold or stronghold or place of influence in the individuals life.
From this vantage point he seeks to gain deeper strongholds and bring the individual into deeper and deeper bondage to do the will of the enemy.
This progression of demonic influence may be likened life in a protected room.
From the outside we hear shouts and threats against us or promises of something wonderful. (level one and two influence)
These attacks are unsettling but not life threatening or damaging as long as we remain in our protective environment. We may even call 911. The police arrive and for now, the threat is eliminated.
However, if we panic and believe their threats and doubt our protective walls and open the door, we now have a VERY intimidating situation.
Instead of shouts and urgings from outside our protective barriers we have a gun pointed at our head demanding we comply.
The level or intensity of this last level of influence may express itself anywhere from slight to severe.
Just as the world system intensifies our struggle with he flesh, a demonic foothold also intensifies our struggle with the flesh.
In fact, demons energize the flesh.
Ephesians talks about the prince of the power of the air who energizes the sons of disobedience.
Symptoms of this level of influence are extremely varied.
The word translated “demon-possession” in most Bibles is OK if we understand “possession” as “control” or influence rather than “ownership”.
Fred Dickason offers a definition of the biblical term often translated demon-possession.
“The usage in all these contexts indicates that daimonizomenos means “demon-caused passivity,” or control by one or more demons with various results in the life of the person, including the physical, and the psychological.”
The term implies only that a demon has achieved some level of control in the life of a person which may or may not be immediately obvious to them or others.
Demonization does not necessarily indicate the true nature of the afflicted individual.
Scripture records demonization in children, a recognized godly lady, a general member of the synagogue, as well as tormented individuals.
The bottom line issue revolves around the manifestations and apparent struggle that follows a Biblical pattern of what demons seek to do against people.
We must not get sidetracked by arguments as to the exact geographic location.
Earlier in Ephesians we were urged not to give a “place” to the devil.
The issue centers around the fact that there is some kind of bondage and control.
The Biblical examples do not make a point of identifying whether or not those afflicted were believers or not.
I think it does lean in that direction but feel that the reason it is not specifically made an issue is that when it comes to the issue of demonization, the means of invasion are universal.
In other words, it does not make a difference.
If we violate the principle and step outside the God-ordained protective barriers or open the door, we will allow stronger bondage.
Whenever we fail to deal with the garbage in our life, it will attract the rats.
Spiritual warfare involves dealing with garbage as well as the rats attracted by the garbage.
Demons will operate anywhere they are granted permission.
Spiritual laws apply the same as the physical laws.
If I chose to violate spiritual laws, if I ignorantly fail to appropriate the provided resources necessary to resist the enemy, the devil or any of his evil army may gain a foothold.
Praise God, for the Christian, there is a remedy from those consequences through Christ exists.
There is real freedom.
The principle of bondage and deliverance is illustrated and graphically pictured all through the Bible.
God allows demonic influence to motivate and encourage a return to obedience to Him and a turning form the practices that bring bondage.
• Entrance into the promised land.
• Period of the judges.
• Israel and captivity.
• New Testament examples of the blasphemers and the man engaging in sex with his step mother.
B. Be Alert to natural walls of protection
• Protection Biblical Morality
• Protection of a Strong, godly family line
• Protection of the Church family
• Protection of the Government
C. Be alert to ways of gaining entrance to our life
1. God opens the door
2. Our ancestors open the door
3. We open the door through our own willful violation of Biblical principles Witchcraft participation whether by games or serious involvement, sin of all kinds,
4. We open the door because of deception & passivity
5. We open the door by failing to tested “spiritual” or religious experiences
6. The door is opened by a friend or group Gal 6 "Bad company corrupts good morals"
7. The door is kicked open through some traumatic experience Molestation, fear, trauma.
D. Be Alert to the arenas of attack
These beings have personality. When they operate out of some kind of stronghold, you may expect their personality to manifest through an individual. By Biblical implication I believe that since demons do not have a body and thus have limited means by which to manifest their evil nature and personality and therefore seek some kind of vehicle through which to manifest.
Operate in and through the thoughts
Operate in and through the emotions
Operate in and through the will
Operate in and through the body
E. Be Alert to typical symptoms of bondage
• Areas in my life where I have lost the ability to choose.
• Areas of plaguing compulsion
• Plaguing thoughts of evil that cause me repulsion
• Uncontrollable feelings of anger and bitterness
• Overpowering fear that keeps me from doing what I know I ought.
• Unexplainable physical symptoms which have no apparent cause.
• Strange manifestations or feelings of another presence
• Uncontrollable emotions that have no apparent cause.
• Continual condemning, evil voices
These symptoms, connected with a number of broken down walls and permission granting and family line patterns as described above may warrant a closer look at the possibility of level three demonic influence.
Ask God to confirm the truth.
Examine the avenues of gaining influence
Actively enter the battle today by affirming your heritage in Christ and denying any demonic trespasser seeking to continue family line bondage.
III. Be Armored
Before we engage the enemy, it is essential to be well protected with the armor of God.
To enter battle unprotected results in defeat and further bondage.
There are three points I wish to emphasize regarding the armor of God.
First, the armor is not some magic formula engaged just by repeating the words.
The effectiveness of the various pieces of armor depend upon the understanding of the truths behind the imagery.
Second, this is God’s armor, not ours.
Some teach that these issues related to what we do. I think they are truths related to what He has done and will do for us.
Third, we must not press too hard a direct correlation of each piece of armor to a spiritual dimension. The armor is for protection from error.
A. Truth girded loins
The truth of God as recorded in the Bible is both defensive and offensive.
It binds all the rest of the armor together.
It does little good just to merely say you put on this armor if you are not actively involved in studying and learning the truth.
This piece of armor guards against the continual lies of the enemy.
We are commanded to tear down the fortresses of the enemy by bringing every thought captive raised up against the truth of Christ.
The belt of truth readies us for battle and keeps things in order.
God’s truth hidden in the heart prevents lies from coming out of the mouth.
B. Righteousness protected heart
One of the major attacks of the enemy comes through condemnation.
We must be fully protected with the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
We must not rely on our own righteousness for protection against spiritual attack.
C. Peace prepared feet
Another scheme of the enemy is to keep us in conflict with God, ourselves, others.
Shoes -- traction and surefootedness in battle enable one to stand firm.
Our struggle in relationships causes us to be uncertain and unsteady in battle.
The Gospel is the good news of peace made possible through the work of Christ.
Christ preached peace, gave us His peace, made peace, He is our peace.
Peace with God
Romans 5:1-13 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
Peace of God
Philip. 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Peace with others
Ephes. 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
Romans 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
D. Faith shielded body
Specific protection against the fiery darts of the wicked one.
He hurls darts of fear.
He hurls darts of despondency.
He hurls darts of loneliness.
Whatever he can use to affect your trust in God’s goodness, he will hurl at you. Faith in the person and purposes of God is the only defense.
E. Salvation protected head
Your thinking must be firmly founded in the powerful facts of your salvation. What happened the moment you trusted Christ? If these things are fuzzy, the enemy will continually keep your off guard. Paul voiced his concern about the Corinthians that Satan would deceive them concerning salvation’s simplicity. Devotion to Christ. Christ in you the hope of glory.
Start with a commitment to grow in you knowledge of the Bible. It is vital. It food for life and growth. It is the only means of protection against the deceptions and lies of the enemy. Unless you are well protected, you will suffer continual defeat in the face of the enemy.
IV. Be Armed
A. The Sword of the Spirit -- The Word of God
The Word of God defends and defeats. Jesus employed the Word for his own life. Jesus employed the Word of God against the enemy.
B. Persistent Intercession
Ephes. 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
V. Be Active
The following tactics assume you are well protected with the full armor of God.
A. Stand in faith (Eph 6)
Sample prayer of faith
Father, I do not understand what is happening right now but I affirm my faith in your goodness and your greatness. I refuse every purpose of the enemy to erode my faith and embrace every purpose of yours to encourage my faith. I purpose to rejoice in tribulation, knowing that the testing of my faith produces endurance which results in maturity. I entrust myself to a You as my faithful Creator and offer myself as Your servant to others.
Sample morning Prayer for Protection
Heavenly Father, Having understood and applied the truth of Your protective armor, and resting in the authority and power and of Jesus Christ, I stand firm today against every work of Satan or any of his evil workers. I embrace Your purposes for my life but refuse and actively resist every purpose of the evil one to trip me, trap me, discourage me, defeat me, hinder me, deceive me, tempt me or any of my family in any way. By Your divine power I pull down every fortress and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of Christ in me or in any of my family. I purpose to resist, by faith, the schemes of the enemy and resist him with the Word of God as You empower me. By the power and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, I refuse every curse or hindrance issued against me or my family. I ask for your protection for me and my family through this day.
Sample evening prayer of cleansing
Heavenly Father, I thank you for Your love. I confess that I have given opportunity for the evil one to operate through me today (name areas of sin). I confess those things to you and now revoke any permission granted knowingly or unknowingly to the enemy to work though me. I once again offer the members of my body and soul to You as instruments/weapons of righteousness. I continue to refuse Satan's purposes in me and my family in the areas of (name areas of struggle noticed during the day). I claim the victory and triumph of Christ in those areas and pray for the defeat of Satan’s schemes and the confusion of all his workers. I rest in Your protection of my thoughts and dreams through the night for myself and the members of my family.
B. Humbly submit to God’s Authority in your life
Declare your loyalty. God resists the proud but gives strength, grace, power, to the humble. To fraternize with the enemy makes you an adversary to God. One must renounce any attempt to experience life by submitting to the tools of the enemy or involvement with every Satanic and counterfeit religion. Pride defiantly considers our agenda more important than God’s eternal purpose. Pride considers our needs more important than God’s will. The first move toward freedom is to acknowledge our pride and willful defiance and once again submit to God’s eternal purpose and acknowledge His authority over my life. We must affirmation our desire to embrace God’s truth and affirm our citizenship in His kingdom.
C. Resist
Sample Resistance
Matthew 16:23 "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
Assuming you rely on the strength and insight of the Holy Spirit, address the Word of God directly to the heart of the attack.
Sample Resistance to the temptation to lie
It is written, “I shall not bear false witness”, “laying aside falsehood, I am to speak truth with my neighbor, for we are members of one another.” I obey God and resist you Satan by the power of the Holy Spirit and the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Be gone!”
Because the enemy gains this level of influence mostly because of some violation of God’s law and broken down walls of resistance, stronger resistance may be necessary. There is no divinely revealed formula of resistance. Again, our defense is the all powerful Word of God understood and accurately applied through the energizing ministry of the Holy Spirit.
There is one particular passage that contains several important elements.
Sample statement of resistance
By the faith given me by my Heavenly Father, I firmly resist every demon seeking to continue any level of control in my life. I reclaim all territory surrendered to you by my sin or any sins of my family. You have no right to operate in my life and I resist you by the authority granted to me by the Lord Jesus Christ and on the basis of His blood sacrifice which brought you defeat. By the power of the blessed Holy Spirit I command every demon to leave now and go where the Lord Jesus tells you to go!
D. Continually draw near to God
Having resisted the interference and influence of the enemy we must actively draw near to God in deeper relationship with Him. In this drawing near we seek to repair any breaches in our walls.
We seek His healing of our soul.
We submit His continual renewal of our mind and resulting transformation.
E. Humbly submit to God’s cleansing in my life
Pride leads to sins of all kinds. These violations of God’s ways must be confessed and renounced.
James 4:8-9 Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom.
Ancestral confession and renunciation
There are several examples in Scripture of a prayer acknowledging and confessing the sins of the forefathers as the prelude to freedom and revival.
Personal confession and renunciation
Any and all sin that the Holy Spirit bring to mind must be confessed.
This includes sins committed against God and people.
This includes any sins of omission (failure to do what we ought).
This includes violations of God’s truth involving thoughts, attitudes, words, deeds.
Confession involves seeing our life as God sees it. We must agree with Him regarding the gravity of our rebellion against Him and our mistreatment of people.
Remember:
1 John 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
F. Practice continual resistance
This is not a one time thing! We must continually be alert to possible areas of bondage and level three influence. We need not be paranoid about it put be practical about it. If we are suffering bondage, check it out. God is faithful to continually conform us to the image of His son and in order to do that He must stir up strongholds that must be eradicated.
G. Call for help resisting stronger Strongholds
If you sense a severe bondage... If there is not significant change after working through the areas above... Then there is a further step also found in the book of James.
James 5:14-16 Is anyone among you sick (without strength) Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
H. Intercede and fight on behalf of others
Since prayer is a primary weapon in this battle, we should constantly be praying for one another.
If we see someone in bondage, we pray for their freedom.
Conclusion
John indicates that one the strength of the word in ones life and the ability to resist the enemy are traits of increased maturity in the Christian.
I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 1 John 2:14
John also wrote in Revelation the source of victory over the enemy.
"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death. Rev. 12:11
How about us?
There is an all out assault for control of your soul.
The sinful flesh continually tries to influence the soul to live according to its selfish ways.
The world system has been designed to continually enflame and fortify the longings of the flesh.
The devil’s evil soldiers continually look for opportunities to attach to the flesh and exercise control over the flesh and the soul.
We must not become conformed to this world.
We must not identify with the sinful flesh and consider our new selves dead to the influence of the old self.
We must actively resist the attempts of the evil one to drink us down and control us.
Remember!
Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm
Remember!
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. 2 Cor. 10:3-6
Remember!
For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil. And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Romans 16:19-20
Let us don His armor and take up His weapons and enter the battle with new awareness and new vigor.
Christ WILL build His church through the church and the gates of hell will not prevail!
