Ready For ‘Battle’? [v235]
SEPTEMBER 2018
The “Iron Man” is going to go beyond fictional comic books soon, saving the day in real life. The U.S. Army is soon going to release an advanced military ‘suit’ that people have likened to Tony Stark’s high-tech ‘ARMOR’.
“TALOS” (Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit), is a battery-powered robotic exoskeleton designed to protect the lives of soldiers on the front lines, especially those who lead the army in a mission.
The TALOS is a liquid armor that can solidify when it’s hit by a bullet, which compared to Stark’s “Iron Man” suit, is more technologically advanced. However, it won’t have flying capabilities or a built-in JARVIS any time soon, although it does have in-helmet technologies that improves visibility and provides better communication with the rest of the troop. In addition, just like Stark’s suit, TALOS is fitted with built-in sensors that monitor the wearer’s health, checking conditions from heart rate to body temperature.
The developers are still fine-tuning it to further improve its protection capabilities, and cut down its strain on the wearer. The head U.S. Special Operations Command, General Joseph Votel, hopes to have it ready for the U.S. Army before this decade ends, to give each soldier “the advantage when he is most vulnerable.”
Just like an Army soldier in the field of battle needs ‘physical’ protection, all of us also need ‘spiritual’ protection in our personal lives—the Bible refers to it as “The Armor of God,” and it is used against the Devil’s (Satan) ‘attacks’. Not that guy in a red ‘suit’, a pitchfork, cloven hooves, and pointy horns coming out of his head, but the ‘highest’, most brilliant being that God had ever created.
Originally called “Lucifer,” (the “lightbearer”/“angel of light”), he was the most anointed cherub, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty (Ezekiel 28:12). No creature had been so fully prepared to reflect the glory of God than him. He must have been very ‘close’ to God—so close, in fact, that ambition entered his ‘heart’ and he determined not to be God’s beloved prince, but to place himself on an equal footing with God Himself!
This was the moment that the ‘universe’—which had been all good and all harmonious to God’s will—was ‘split’, and a portion of it set itself in opposition to God. The Devil defied God and attempted to set up his own authority.
Lucifer’s heart was captivated by pride. He decided it was no longer good enough to be an angel created by God, and wanted to “be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:14). He desired God’s ‘place’ in Heaven—His position, His power, His perfection, and His privilege. When Lucifer (“Daystar”) became Satan (“Adversary”), due to the sin in his heart, he abandoned his own ‘premier’ position in the ‘government’ of God and was banished from Heaven (Ezekiel 28:16). His proud heart was the reason for his fall—and is primarily the reason we ‘fall’, too!
How could this unholy affection arise in an angelic being? Well, the answer lies in the fact that—just like you and me—Lucifer was created with the freedom to choose (God shows ‘true’ love by not ‘forcing’ anyone to love Him).
Each of us has the choice: the opportunity to say yes to God…or not. In Lucifer’s own heart, he pridefully determined that he would elevate and glorify himself—and that was the first sin ever committed in the universe—the sin of pride (So don’t be surprised that Satan won’t try to tempt you to be prideful, too!).
God then cast Satan out of Heaven onto the earth, and made him the ‘prince’ of this world. Although Satan has been given temporary freedom to oppose God (1 John 5:19), Jesus came to earth to ultimately destroy his efforts (1 John 3:8). In the interim, God gives us promises and power by which we can possibly win every spiritual battle with Satan (1 Corinthians 10:13).
But, one thing you’ve got to give to Satan is that he never gives up! As a mighty prince, with hosts of angels at his command, he has set up his ‘kingdom’ here on earth. His power and position here are the very reasons that the Scriptures came to be written. Had Satan not defied God and attempted to rival His power and authority, the story of Adam in the Garden would have been very different. Had Satan not set himself in opposition to God, there would have been no need to give mankind the Ten Commandments, nor the need for God to send His Son to the Cross to be the ‘propitiation’ for all of our sins.
From the glories of heaven where he was created, Satan has fallen, and his ultimate destination for all eternity will be a ‘pit’ of fire. But, until then, he now plies his wretched assault on God’s Kingdom by ‘hurting’ what God loves—His ‘children’ (believers). The Bible refers to this as “SPIRITUAL WARFARE.”
Just as the U.S. Army does, before they fight a war, they find out as much as they can about their enemy. Similarly, Christians need to take Satan seriously. However, most don’t know enough about him to take him seriously. In fact, Satan’s cleverest strategy is to make the Christian believe that he is not a real threat or that he doesn’t even exist. Satan is the Christian’s “enemy.”
In Sun Tzu’s book “The Art of War,” he made a very profound statement about the enemy: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory again you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” In the same way, Christians need to get to know Satan to enable them to have victory over his ‘attacks’.
The thing is, there are two extremes we should avoid. If you hold the position that you don’t want to know anything about the subject, then you give Satan an advantage through your ignorance of him. On the other hand, if you think that Satan is ‘in’ everything (i.e. “Flip Wilson,” or the “Church Lady”), then you will not have the ‘balanced’ viewpoint Scripture presents. So, definitely get to know Satan and consider him your “enemy,” but don’t be ‘preoccupied’ with him and his demons.
The following teachings from the Bible might give you a better idea of who Satan really is:
Satan is the antithesis of every godly attribute. Satan is evil; God is holy. Satan is the embodiment of hatred; God is love. Satan damns his people; God redeems His children. Satan uses temptation in an attempt to destroy your faith; God uses trials to prove the genuineness of your faith and to increase your joy and spiritual endurance (James 1:3). Satan wants to enslave you to sin for all eternity (2 Timothy 2:26); God grants freedom from the bondage of sin. Satan “does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie. He speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies” (John 8:44); Jesus reveals grace and truth (John 1:17). Satan takes life from us; Jesus gives us life. Satan loves the fleshly fruit of “immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and other things like these” (Galatians 5:19-21); Jesus produces spiritual fruit in our lives: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). Satan enslaves the lost (2 Timothy 2:26); Jesus sets believers free (John 8:31-32). Satan accuses them (Revelation 12:10); Jesus defends believers (1 John 2:1). Satan is an “accuser.” Jesus is your “Advocate.” That just scratches the surface on Satan’s character, but should give you an idea that you are in his ‘sights’.
Now, based on the above list of ‘characteristics’ Satan and his demons have, you would think that they would need any help in making our lives ‘tough’, but God sometimes ‘helps’ (permits) Satan to afflict Christians (Job; Jesus; Apostle Paul; Apostle Peter for starters). We will not always know the reason, but we do know what God sovereignly controls every situation to accomplish His purposes, causing all such adversity to work for the believers’ good (Romans 8:28).
In the Old Testament of the Bible, the Book of Job is a classic illustration of how God sometimes permits Satan to afflict His children.
Disaster came to the “righteous” Job: Fire fell from heaven and killed all of Job’s sheep; Raiders captured all of his camels; All of Job’s children were killed; and he was afflicted with boils from head to toe. Yet Job did not respond in the way Satan had hoped. Rather Job ‘worshiped’: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away Blessed is the name of the Lord. Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God” [ Job 1:21-22 ].
Christian theologian, J.I. Packer commented that, “This is the ultimate reason, for our standpoint, why God fills our lives with troubles in perplexities of one sort or another—it is to ensure that we shall learn to hold him fast…so that we may learn to lean on Him. Therefore he takes steps to drive us out of our self-confidence to trust in Himself.”
After all of Satan’s attacks were over, Job came away with an increased awareness of God’s greatness and his own sinfulness (Job 40:4-5). He also learned the necessity of submitting to God’s sovereign purposes no matter what the cost may be. (Job 1:42:2-6)
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul is said to have received “a thorn in the flesh,” and he asked God three times to remove it—and God didn’t remove it, saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
[ FYI: Pastor David Jeremiah’s recent sermon was focused on this: “Overcoming Weakness With Strength”: https://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=YYKGK7NX ].
Christian author, Jerry Bridges, made this observation about trials: “God in his infinite wisdom knows exactly what adversity we need to grow more and more into the likeness of His Son.”
The Apostle Paul willingly excepted God design for his life: “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” [ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ].
Just like Job, in the end, the Apostle Paul was ‘glad’ for this affliction because it helped him grow spiritually (and ‘deflated’ his pride).
So, are we all ‘doomed’ and is Satan going to have a “field day” with us? Well now, don’t get too depressed just yet, because there is some good ‘news’: Neither Satan nor his demons can function apart from God’s permissive will and God has provided us with our own protective ‘suit’—the “ARMOR OF GOD.”
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”
[ Ephesians 6:10-20 ]
[ Download this poster for a description of the six pieces of armor [ 1: Helmet of Salvation; 2: Breastplate of Righteousness; 3: Sword of the Spirit; 4: Shield of Faith; 5: Girdle (Belt) of Truth; 6: Shoes of Peace ]: https://davidjeremiah.blog/spiritual-warfare-prayer/ ]
The Gulf War introduced some highly sophisticated weapons that had never been proven under live battle conditions, and most of the troops hadn’t experienced war either. Yet, the troops and machinery combined in a display of military conquest unparalleled in history.
Similarly, your success in spiritual warfare is directly proportional to your preparedness. You must also put on your ‘armor’.
If you delay preparation until the battle is upon you, it’s too late, and if your ‘armor’ isn’t in place, you’re vulnerable to the ‘arrows’ of the enemy. Victory in battle comes when you identify the enemy, resist his attacks, and then take the initiative against him.
Satan disguises himself as an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14) and “prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). It takes wisdom and discernment to identify him and to defend yourself against his attacks, and God has given us all the resources we need—not only to defend ourselves, but also to take the initiative and win the victory over the Devil!
Human resources alone can never defeat Satan, but divine resources can. That’s why it’s crucial to understand the resources you have that ensure your victory of him.
Primarily, within the believer ‘resides’ the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), who strengthens you and accomplishes more than you can ask or think (Ephesians 3:16, 20). Even though Satan’s attacks are subtle, cunning, and deceitful, and it’s impossible to analyze and anticipate his every offense, focus on strengthening your defenses every day to give you strength and confidence. When we bring our bodies under subjection, walk in wisdom, press toward the prize, cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, work out our salvation with fear and trembling, and live in the fear and admonition of God, He will supply the resources we need when we supply the effort.
The Bible tells us to “Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might…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” (Ephesians 6:10, 12), and to “Stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11 ).
Every battle has an offensive and defensive strategy. The Christian’s offensive strategy is taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), and our defensive strategy is to rely on Christ’s strength and “put on our spiritual armor” (Ephesians 6:11).
One of Satan’s most effective tactics is to challenge God’s credibility—raising doubts about His Word.
He used that approach in the Garden of Eden when he said to Eve, “Indeed, has God said. ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1). In one brief statement, Satan disputed and distorted God’s Word. God didn’t forbid them to eat from any tree. They could eat freely from every tree except one—the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17).
Satan followed his distortion with an outright denial of God’s Word: “You surely shall not die!” (Genesis 3:4). He implied that God lied when He said sin would result in death. Satan then went on to tell Eve that if she ate the fruit, she would, in fact, become like God Himself (Genesis 3:5). The implication is that God was withholding something good from Eve, and to keep her from seeking it, He had intimidated her with empty threats of death and judgment.
Do you see the insidious nature of Satan’s approach? Tragically, Eve didn’t. Rather than trusting and obeying God, she believed Satan’s lies and concluded that the tree was “good for food,” “a delight to the eyes,” and “desirable to make one wise.” Then “she took from its fruit and ate” (Genesis 3:6).
Satan deceives and spreads his lies from generation to generation (2 Corinthians 11:14). Although he is subtle, his attempts to discredit God by disputing, distorting, and denying His Word should be obvious to ‘discerning’ Christians.
One thing to note is that, “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” (Ephesians 6:12). Don’t confuse ‘prisoners of war’ with the enemy. Our struggle isn’t against sinful people, but against the evil ‘system’ of this world, and the supernatural forces that influence its attitudes and actions.
Spiritual warfare isn’t as much a frontal attack on Satan’s domain as it is the ability to resist his advances. So, the following are some details about the “ARMOR OF GOD” that you can ‘put on’ to enable you to resist Satan’s attacks.
KNOWING THE TRUTH [ BELT OF TRUTH ]
Today’s soldiers are outfitted with combat ‘harnesses’. It allows them to carry all their needed equipment in a confined space under combat conditions. For Christians, this combat ‘harness’ is the ‘BELT’ OF TRUTH.
Satan attacks us in two areas: the mind and the emotions. He comes at us with deception, shame, trickery, and falsity. He wants to entangle us. He wants to ‘snatch’ the Word of God from you (Matthew 13:3–8) and fill your mind with lies, immorality, and false doctrine. He wants you to think that sin is not all that bad.
Satan wants to confuse your emotions by corrupting your desires and drawing your affections to the wrong things. He wants to destroy your conscience, so it will no longer warn you. He wants to debilitate your will and get you to do things you shouldn’t do.
If we want to be ‘warriors’ in the battle against Satan, we must be people of integrity and sincerity. The Bible says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth” [ 3 John 4 ]. Only the believer with a spiritually transformed mind can resist the world, the flesh, and the devil (Romans 12).
So, if Christians are supposed to learn ‘techniques’ for casting out demons—as the “Charismatics” teach—then why doesn’t Scripture spell them out?
Well, the reason is that spiritual warfare is not a matter of ‘technique’, but of spiritual ‘character’. The emphasis of nearly all of the Apostolic teaching underscores this. You will not find the fixation with demonic powers in the New Testament that characterizes much of the church today. In fact, you will find nowhere in the Bible believers being instructed to seek out, speak to, defy, deride, or cast out demons.
What you will find are admonitions to put aside sin and ‘put on’ spiritual virtues: “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love” [ 2 Peter 1:5-7 ].
When we study the Bible and carefully apply its truths, we end up with a sincere commitment to Jesus, and leave no ‘room’ for Satan to gain an advantage on the ‘battlefield’.
[ FYI: “The Spiritual Warfare” print, by Martin Droeshout, depicting the army of the devil besieging a castle held by a Christian warrior, defended by the Christian virtues. The design is speculated to have influenced John Bunyan’s allegories in “The Holy War” and “Pilgrim’s Progress.” https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Spiritual_Warfare.jpg — Abridged telling of “The Holy War”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUsE8ietAmU ].
So, the way to defend yourself against the cunning deceptions of Satan is to ‘gird’ yourself with a thorough knowledge of God’s Word, and a firm commitment to obedience. However, many Christians remain vulnerable because they’re unwilling to do that.
If your life characterized by truthfulness, great! If not, you’re a ready target for Satan’s schemes. So, ‘put on’ your ‘BELT’ OF TRUTH!
GUARDING YOUR MIND AND EMOTIONS [ BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ]
United States Army soldiers with a current “flak jacket” on these days can be knocked down by small arms fire and still get back up and continue on their mission. As was mentioned, engineers are feverishly working on TALOS to create an even lighter and stronger ‘vest’. Their goal is to create a protective system that is like a second skin, so that the soldier barely even knows that it’s there, but that it offers the protection needed in a combat environment.
In the same way, the ‘BREASTPLATE’ OF RIGHTEOUSNESS should be like a ‘second skin’ that will protect the Christian from the spiritual ‘darts’ of the Devil.
Satan’s ultimate goal is to ‘destroy’ people by preventing them from becoming ‘citizens’ of Heaven. So how does Satan attempt to achieve this goal? Well, by having people believe that they are getting to Heaven because of their ‘good works’ (Ephesians 2:8-9).
During spiritual warfare, Satan’s primary attacks target your thinking and emotions. If he can condition you to think and feel contrary to God’s Word, he has won a significant victory. That’s why he attempts to fill your mind with lies, immorality, false doctrine, and half-truths. He tries to blur the line between righteousness and sin by surrounding you with evil influences that increase your tolerance for sin. Satan wants to corrupt your emotions and draw you into sinful desires.
But, don’t be deluded by Satan. If you think you can ‘merit’ your way into Heaven by living a good life, you are wearing the wrong ‘breastplate’. As the prophet Isaiah said, “All our righteousness deeds are like filthy garments” [ Isaiah 64:6 ].
If self-righteousness were the way into the Kingdom of Heaven, the Apostle Paul could lay claim to it. But he could not, he did not, and no one else can either!
The Apostle Paul said this about humanity: “there is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understand, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one” [ Romans 3:10–12 ].
The Greek word for “useless” speaks of something going ‘sour’, like milk. The whole human race has gone sour. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” [ Romans 3:23 ]. You will become a victim of Satan if you try to protect yourself with your own righteousness.
That’s why God has provided the “breastplate of righteousness” to protect the Christian’s mind and emotions—everything that causes a person to act: one’s knowledge, understanding, conscience, will, desires, and drives—something that is ‘received’ by the person at the moment of salvation. The righteousness which comes from God is the basis of faith (Philippians 3:8-9).
When you become a ‘born-again’ Christian, God covers you with a ‘cape’ of Jesus’ absolute holiness. From that moment throughout eternity, whenever God looks at you, He sees the righteousness of Jesus. The Apostle Paul put it this way: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” [ 2 Corinthians 5:21 ]. Only Jesus can provide true deliverance from Satan, by ‘clothing’ you with His righteousness.
This famous hymn, by John Wesley, speaks of that reality:
“Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness
my beauty are, my glorious dress;
’midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,
with joy shall I lift up my head.
Bold shall I stand in that great day,
for who aught to my charge shall lay?
Fully absolved through these I am,
from sin and fear, from guilt and shame.
Lord, I believe Thy precious blood,
which, at the mercy seat of God,
forever doth for sinners plead,
for me, e’en for my soul, was shed.
Jesus, be endless praise to Thee,
whose boundless mercy hath for me,
for me a full atonement made,
an everlasting ransom paid.
When from the dust of death I rise
to claim my mansion in the skies,
e’en then this shall be all my plea,
Jesus hath lived, hath died, for me.
O let the dead now hear Thy voice;
now bid Thy ransomed ones rejoice;
their beauty this, their glorious dress,
Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness.”
Although, in God’s eyes, you are righteous in Christ, you still must also pursue righteous behavior yourself. In other words, your ‘practice’ should match your ‘position’. That’s what Paul meant when he said. “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling” [ Philippians 2:12 ]. The Apostle John also said that, “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” [ 1 John 2:6 ].
The Christian commits themselves to a life that is honest, upright, authentic, and full of integrity. However, when they find little ways of lying, cheating, and shading the truth, they give Satan a ‘foothold’ in their hearts. The little sins they tolerate represent dangerous ‘holes’ in their spiritual ‘bulletproof vest’. You can be sure that, sooner or later, Satan will aim right at one of those ‘holes’.
Personal holiness is where the real battle is—and is the most ‘intense’ on a daily basis.
In his classic book, “The Christian in Complete Armour,” Puritan minister William Gurnall offered his practical counsel on how to maintain holiness ( https://www.ccel.org/ccel/gurnall/armour/files/armour.html ):
“Be sure to get some Christian friend whom thou mayst trust above others to be a faithful monitor. O that man hath a great help for the maintaining the power of godliness that has an open-hearted friend, that dare speak his heart to him. A stander-by sees more sometimes by a man than the actor can do by himself, and is more fit to judge of his actions than be of his own; sometimes self-love blinds us in our own cause, that we see not ourselves so bad as we are, and sometimes we are over suspicious of the worst by ourselves, which makes us appear to ourselves worse than we are. Now that thou mayest not deprive thyself of so great help from thy friend, be sure to keep thy heart ready with meekness to receive, yea with thankfulness embrace, a reproof from his mouth. Those that cannot bear plain dealing hurt themselves most, for by this they seldom hear the truth.”
If you’re not committed to righteousness, you not only make yourself spiritually vulnerable, but you also forfeit some of God’s wonderful blessings. King David prayed, “Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation” (Psalm 51:12). His sin had robbed him of his joy and assurance. That will be true of us as well, because joy is directly proportional to obedience. If you’re pursuing greater righteousness, you’ll know greater joy!
Apart from the righteousness we have in Jesus, we have no defense against Satan’s accusations, and every time we try to do battle with him, he will go right for that weakness, bringing to mind the sin in our lives, and perhaps even making us doubt our salvation.
By protecting your mind and emotions, you will be ‘impregnable’ against Satan. But without the breastplate of holy living, you will become unproductive, diminish your capacity for serving God, and bring reproach to God’s glory. The Apostle John warned, “Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully” [ 2 John 8 ]. However, the Christian who is wearing their ‘breastplate’ will go through life and, no matter what happens, will find some victory in every situation!
So, ‘put on’ your ‘BREASTPLATE’ OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!
SURE FOOTING [ ‘SHOES’ OF PEACE ]
In spiritual warfare it’s vital for the believer to wear the right kind of footwear. You can have your waist cinched up with truth and commitment, and be wearing the breastplate of holy living, but unless you have sure footing and protection, you’re going to fall.
Roman soldiers wore special sandals with nails coming out of the bottoms, which provided soldiers a solid foundation and better traction during fierce battles.
That’s why the Apostle Paul said our feet are to be ‘shod’ with the ‘SHOES’ OF PEACE (Ephesians 6:15).
When Paul wrote of “preparation of the Gospel of peace,” he was speaking of having ‘embraced’ the Gospel—repenting of your sins and believing in Jesus. We put on these ‘shoes’ at our salvation: “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” [ Romans 5:5 ]. That’s what enables us to have sure footing and stand firm.
Believers are not in a battle against other people, but against the ‘realm’ of devilish powers, and Jesus will come to us in the midst of the battle, when the struggle against temptation or the discouragements of life seem impossible—and He speaks peace to us.
God uses a sense of peace in our hearts to direct or confirm our decisions. That’s how he rules in our hearts (“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” – Philippians 4:7 ).
God has reconciled the believer to Himself through the death of His Son (Ephesian 6:10). Once you were His enemy; now you are His ‘child’. Once He opposed you; now He is on your steadfast supporter! No matter how difficult your circumstances may be or how many opponents come against you, realize that the invincible God of the universe is on your side! (Colossians 3:15).
So, don’t slip, slide, or fall when you’re under attack, ‘put on’ your ‘SHOES’ OF PEACE!
Now, note that the spiritual armor that the Apostle Paul describes in Ephesians 6 is not paraphernalia for an ‘exorcist’, but the simple resources for normal Christian living. We have examined three items that are to be worn at all times: the belt, the breastplate, and the shoes. Then Paul mentions a different set of tools: the shield, the helmet, and the sword.
Although all pieces of armor are essential, the Apostle Paul made a distinction between the first three pieces and the remaining three. The first three are translated with the verb “to have,” which indicates permanency. We are to wear those three pieces permanently as long-range preparation. The latter three are translated with the verb “to take,” which indicates they are close at hand for whatever the battle ensues.
The Roman soldier would always be wearing his belt, breastplate, and shoes. But when there was a lull in the battle, he might temporarily lay aside his shield, sword, and helmet. But, he would be ready to pick them up at a moments notice.
Similarly, in spiritual warfare, there are some long-range elements of preparation and some for immediate readiness as the battle ensues. You are always to be committed to Jesus, pursuing holiness, and standing firm in the knowledge of God is on your side. That’s plenty of protection for the battle!
Yet, God’s spiritual arsenal provides the believer with even more weaponry. By using the remaining three pieces of armor—the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit—we have double protection when the enemies arrows come flying in mass force.
Next up then, let’s see what the “shield” refers to.
TRUSTING GOD [ SHIELD OF FAITH ]
For the Christian, the ‘SHIELD’ for battle is ‘FAITH’. In fact, faith is the ‘KEY’ to all spiritual armor. God gave us faith to deflect the fiery ‘darts’ of Satan, that have but one purpose—to produce doubt, distress of mind, depression of spirit, and disappointment in relationships or in yourself. The shield of our faith in Christ is our defense.
Faith is trusting completely and unconditionally in God and His Word. True faith doesn’t need to ask questions or seek any explanations. “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” [ Hebrews 11:1 ]. The Greek word here translated “assurance” which also appears in Hebrews 4:14, where it refers to a “guarantee.” Faith is the assurance that God’s promises are ‘rock solid’!
However, God puts us through His testing times. He tests us by trials—as if by fire—in order that the things which do not belong to the essence of faith may be ‘burned’ off (i.e. smelting silver). The more we experience these things trials, the more we learn to trust God.
Scripture promises us that this ‘shield’ is sufficient to repel even the enemy’s best shot. However, Satan knows where the ‘joints’ are between our pieces of armor, and that’s where he aims. If we are not protecting ourselves with the shield of faith, Satan can take us out.
Satan will fire ‘darts’ of impurity, selfishness, doubt, fear, disappointment, lust, greed, vanity, and covetousness at us. Those temptations are all part of the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Satan literally bombards his opponents with the fiery darts of seductive temptation to elicit ungodly responses—and the only way to quench Satan’s flaming arrows is to believe that, “every word of God is tested; he is the shield to those who take refuge in Him” [ Proverbs 30:5-6 ].
The way we appropriate faith in our lives is by arming ourselves with the truth about God and who He is. When we know what we believe, we are actively strengthening our shield of faith so that it will be impervious to any attack Satan sends our way.
In the Apostle Paul’s day, Roman soldiers would lock their shields together and hunker down behind them as a reign of enemy arrows came. Then, as they moved forward, the soldiers would use the ‘linked’ shields as a defensive ‘wall’.
The interlocking of shields is a picture of God’s people coming together in church, in small groups, and in-home groups to withstand Satan and his demons, and to help one another out—to be better protected from and prepared for attacks from the enemy.
As a believer, the shield that protects you is your faith in God. If you never question His character, power, or Word, you’ll never fall victim to Satan’s attacks. That doesn’t mean Satan won’t besiege you, but when he does, his assaults will be ineffective.
When Satan suggested that Jesus make bread out of stones, Jesus could have created food. He is the Messiah and the sovereign Lord over the kingdoms of the world. But He trusted the Father and yielded to His will, even though it meant personal discomfort and, eventually, the cross. When Satan saw that Jesus’ trust in the Father was unshakable, he left Him (Luke 4:13). That’s the power of faith.
I pray that you will show a similar strength in times of testing. Satan will flee from you if you “resist him, firm in your faith” (1 Peter 5:9).
We must keep our eyes on Christ and we must not be lazy. We need to consistently exercise and practice an ‘active’ faith. Faith that conquers is great faith, but faith that continues is even greater. Intense spiritual warfare calls for intense trust in God. So, ‘pick up’ your ‘SHIELD’ OF FAITH!
REPELLING DOUBT AND DISCOURAGEMENT [ HELMET OF SALVATION ]
The ‘HELMET’ OF SALVATION is the promise of hope—of victory and triumph over Satan!
When we put on the ‘helmet’ of salvation, we put on the mind of Christ and the wisdom of God. With Him, we can stand strong against Satan’s furious attacks.
The primary ‘battlefield’ for spiritual warfare is always the battle of the mind, where thoughts compete against one another—that’s why we must fill our minds with the biblical defense of the faith.
Your mind is Satan’s ‘target’. So, we must “renew our minds daily, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” [ 2 Corinthians 10:5 ]. That means we must be constantly programming our minds and our spirits with biblical truth and godly thoughts.
Satan is consistently trying to wear down our defenses and corrupt our minds with temptation, rationalization, and false teaching—anything to confuse our thinking about God and His purpose for our life.
But, the hope is that Jesus is ultimately going to resolve this warfare and, one day, he will return and make all things new! Knowing that Jesus will eventually return to earth—to end to spiritual warfare—should provide you with motivation to persevere in battle. We will not have to fight the world, the flesh, and the devil forever!
We can be just like the Apostle Paul because he was “afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” [ 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 ]. He didn’t throw in the ‘towel’ when he was living day-to-day on the edge of death while confronting a godless, hostile world, “Because he knew that someday for sure he would be raised to glory with Christ” [ 2 Corinthians 4:14 ]. He had his ‘helmet’ firmly in place!
The helmet enables us to endure trials, not escape them. Too many people today are seeking to avoid trap trials rather than persevere in them. In her book, “A Step Further,” Joni Eareckson Tada wrote:
“No, Satan doesn’t sneak out and cause pneumonia and cancer While God happens to be looking the other way listening to the prayers of His saints. He can only do what our all-powerfill and all-knowing God allows him to do. And we have God’s promise that nothing will be allowed which is not for our good or which is too hard for us to bear (Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 10:13)…
Praise God that when Satan causes us illness—or any calamity—we can answer him with the words Joseph answered his brothers who sold him into slavery, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20).
I sometimes shudder to think where I would be today if I had not broken my neck. I couldn’t see at first why God would possibly allow it, but I sure do now. He has gotten so much more glory through my paralysis than through my health! And believe me, you’ll never know how rich that makes me feel. If God chooses to heal you in answer to prayer, that’s great. Thank Him for it. But if He chooses not to, thank Him anyway. You can be sure He has His reasons.”
The Roman soldier wore his helmet to defend himself against a broadsword. In spiritual warfare, Satan’s ‘broadsword’ has two sides to it: discouragement and doubt.
When Satan tries to debilitate you with his sword of discouragement, remember this: “salvation is nearer to us then when we first believed” [ Romans 13:11 ]. Don’t give up! The end of the war is near. Your service for Jesus is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).
A great day of victory is coming. Therefore don’t let Satan discourage you. Don’t let him take away the hope that helps you persevere. Someday the glorious light of Christ’s presence will burst upon you. If you keep fighting now, you’ll be able to report then, “Lord, I may be bruised and bleeding, but I’m here. I fought all the way.”
[ Consider watching this “Pilgrim’s Progress” movie to see how to ‘fight’ all the way until the end:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sInqquA2uAQ ].
Besides discouragement, Satan has another edge on his ‘sword’: doubt. He wants you to doubt your salvation.
Why does Satan want us to doubt our salvation? Because he wants us to doubt God’s promises. He wants us to believe that God won’t hold on to us forever. He knows that, in effect, if we doubt our salvation, we have removed our ‘helmets’. Christ Himself said, “All that the father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will certainly not cast out” [ John 6:37 ]. Surely those promises are enough to ward off the enemies blows of discouragement and doubt!
Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand” [ John 10:27-28 ]. That’s a wonderful promise. So don’t let your enemy rob you of the joy and assurance of knowing you belong to Christ, for the Lord will never let you go (Hebrews 13:5).
Now, just a reminder, your performance doesn’t determine your standing in Christ; your standing in Christ determines your performance. Good works are the necessary ‘result’ of salvation (Ephesians 2:10), but they don’t save you or keep you saved. That’s God’s work.
God is powerful enough to prevent you from stumbling into sin and falling away from Him, no matter how intense Satan’s attacks might be. So, ‘put on’ your ‘HELMET’ OF SALVATION!
TAKING THE OFFENSIVE [ SWORD OF THE SPIRIT ]
Within Gods ‘armory’, we have only one offensive of weapon to use in battle against Satan—the ‘SWORD’ OF THE SPIRIT, which is the Word of God (the Bible). The Bible is an armory in which the individual ‘swords’ of the Spirit are kept until you need them for close combat with the Devil.
The sword of the Spirit is not a ‘broadsword’ that you would just flail around hoping to do some damage, but it is the ‘dagger’, which is incisive and must hit a vulnerable spot, or it won’t be effective. God’s Word is a divinely powerful weapon, but if you don’t use it, you will quickly become disabled.
By properly using God’s Word, you can ‘parry’ Satan’s blows and defend yourself from whatever ‘angle’ he might attack.
When Satan came against Jesus in the wilderness, he came with three fiery temptations, but Jesus didn’t even enter into an extended dialogue with him. Neither did Jesus condemn or ‘bind’ him. He responded by using the ‘sword’ of the Spirit (Matthew 4:1–11).
Satan first tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread to satisfy His hunger. Jesus used Deuteronomy 8:3 and said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” [ Matthew 4:4 ].
Next, Satan tempted Jesus to prove he was the Son of God. Instead, Jesus pulled out another ‘sword’, Deuteronomy 6:16, and said, “It is written again, you shall not tempt the Lord your God” [ Matthew 4:7 ].
Satan then told Jesus he would give Him all of the kingdoms of the world if He would just fall down and worship him. But, Jesus pulled out one final ‘sword’, Deuteronomy 6:13, and said, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and him only you shall serve.” [ Matthew 4:10 ]. Jesus resisted the Devil with the Word of God, and “the devil left Him” (Matthew 4:11).
The thing is, we can also use the ‘sword’ of the Spirit just as Jesus did! All we have to do is reach into our ‘armory’ and pull out the right ‘sword’: “It is written…” However, just know that Satan will find an area where you don’t know the Bible’s principles, and that’s where he’ll start his attack.
So, the only way you will know victory in the Christian life is by daily studying the principles of God’s Word. That way you’ll be ready to apply them whenever the world, the flesh, and the Devil choose to attack. That means you must ‘saturate’ your mind with God’s Word.
The Bible is your PRIMARY ‘OFFENSIVE’ spiritual weapon. The question is, Do you know how to use it? Do you diligently study it and apply its principles to your life? Do you have a storehouse of Biblical truth to draw from in the heat of battle?
Well, we all need to ‘MEMORIZE’ more of the Word of God, because most of the temptations we face in life don’t come while we have a Bible in our hands! [ So, have your “YouVersion” at the ready on your Smartphone! ;^D ].
However, even if you do study and memorize Scripture, be warned, Satan never gives up ‘territory’ without a fight! Some of the people you may ‘witness’ to will forget what you tell them. Others will refuse to turn from worldly influences. Still, others may respond emotionally, but without a genuine commitment to serving Christ and forsaking sin.
BUT, don’t give up! Satan cannot do much with people who assault him with Scripture. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” [ Hebrews 4:12 ].
So, ‘take up’ the ‘SWORD’ OF SPIRIT!
ARMOR EFFECTIVENESS [ PRAYER ]
Every soldier today needs a ‘secure’ communication device like a satellite or “IP” phone. The same is true for us in spiritual warfare. The effectiveness of each piece of armor is directly related to the ‘quality’ of our PRAYERS—continually. “Every Christian is to be continually devoted to prayer” [ Romans 12:12 ].
The Apostle Paul ended his discussion on the armor of God by saying, “pray always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, being watchful to this and with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” [ Ephesians 6:18 ].
God intends us to be “more than conquerors” [ Romans 8:37 ], but we can’t be strong in ourselves—we have to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10). We also have to be ‘dressed’ for battle.
Prayer is the ‘energy’ that enables us to wear the armor and wield the sword. No matter how talented we might be, if we try to fight spiritual battles in the energy of the ‘flesh’, we will never be victorious.
We, as soldiers, must keep the communication ‘line’ open so that we can contact ‘headquarters’ at a moment’s notice. We are to be in continual communication with our ‘Commander in Chief’.
Prayer is an ‘essential’ aspect of spiritual warfare. In fact, it is the ‘lifeblood’ of those who seek to be victorious—and that is why Satan would like nothing better than to keep us from praying, so he sends us distractions, discouragements, delays, and disappointments. Satan trembles when he sees the least of God’s children on their knees!
The “Lords Prayer” is arguably the most famous prayer in the world, however, it should more accurately be called the “Disciples Prayer,” since the prayer asks for forgiveness of sins, and Jesus never sinned. It has been called the “Lords Prayer” because Jesus taught it, not because He prayed it for Himself. [ FYI: See John 17:1-26 for what is generally known as Jesus’ “High Priestly Prayer” as His intercession for the coming Church ].
The Lord’s Prayer is perfectly balanced. It teaches us to look first to God, then to ourselves. It teaches us to forgive and receive forgiveness, and teaches us to depend wholly upon God for everything.
The Lord did not give us this prayer so that we would memorize it and repeat it as a mindless ritual. Jesus gave us this prayer as a ‘model’ to follow when we pray.
By praying, we give evidence that we have committed ourselves to God, and that we take him at His Word, that we trust Him, and that even though we can’t always see what He is doing, we know He is working in our lives (Romans 8:28).
Victory over Satan and his demons involves a tremendous commitment to prayer, but there is no biblical basis for special “warfare prayers” addressed directly to the powers of darkness.
What is the right way to pray on the battleground then? The apostle Paul said this: “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” [ Ephesians 6:18 ].
This poem, by Charlotte Elliott, talks about the necessity of prayer, and to be on ‘alert’:
“CHRISTIAN! seek not yet repose,”
Hear thy guardian angel say;
Thou art in the midst of foes;
“Watch and pray.”
Principalities and powers,
Mustering their unseen array,
Wait for thy unguarded hours;
“Watch and pray.”
Gird thy heavenly armour on,
Wear it ever night and day;
Ambushed lies the evil one;
“Watch and pray.”
Hear the victors who o’ercame;
Still they mark each warrior’s way;
All with one sweet voice exclaim
“Watch and pray.”
Hear, above all, hear thy Lord,
Him thou lovest to obey;
Hide within thy heart His word,
“Watch and pray.”
Watch, as if on that alone
Hung the issue of the day;
Pray, that help may be sent down;
“Watch and pray.”
Prayer works in concert with your spiritual armor. Prayer is ‘woven’ into the armor. The lack of prayer will tend to make you prone to faint, grow weary, or abandon the fight when the battle gets hot and heavy. Realize that spiritual armor or any other resource is neither mechanical nor mystical magic. It must be infused with God’s divine ‘power’ and energy.
Pastor David Jeremiah has written a prayer based on Ephesians 6 to equip you to fight the enemy and win. So, don’t leave your spiritual protection up to chance. Learn how to utilize the full armor of God to defeat the work of the devil in your life. Prepare for spiritual battle every day with “The Warrior’s Prayer”:
“Heavenly Father,
Your warrior prepares for battle
Today I claim victory over Satan by
putting on the whole armor of God!
I put on the Girdle of Truth!
May I stand firm in the truth of Your Word
so I will not be a victim of Satan’s lies.
I put on the Breastplate of Righteousness!
May it guard my heart from evil
so I will remain pure and holy,
protected under the blood of Jesus Christ.
I put on the Shoes of Peace!
May I stand firm in the Good News of the
Gospel so your peace will shine through
me and be a light to all I encounter.
I take the Shield of Faith!
May I be ready for Satan’s firey darts
of doubt. denial. and deceit so I will not be
vulnerable to spiritual defeat.
I put on the Helmet of Salvation
May I keep my mind focused on You
so Satan will not have a stronghold
on my thoughts.
I take the Sword of the Spirit!
May the two-edged sword of Your Word
be ready in my hands so I can expose the
tempting words of Satan.
By faith your warrior has put on
the whole armor of God!
I am prepared to live this day
in spiritual victory!
Amen!”
Prayer is ESSENTIAL for all of us because it is the ‘KEY’ to depending on God. So, ‘get down’ on your knees and PRAY!
PRINCIPLES FOR SPIRITUAL VICTORY
Just like the protection of the Army soldier, spiritual armor is useful only if we put it on! If we are defeated in the warfare, if we are wounded in an unprotected place because we are without armor, it’s not the fault of our Commander-in-Chief. God has given us everything we need to battle valiantly and victoriously in one manual—the Bible.
It is the Christian’s personal responsibility to appropriate the armor of God in their own life. Every believer is involved in a personal battle with Satan. If we are not individually and personally implementing the armor of God, we are going to be victims instead of victors. All six pieces of spiritual armor are necessary for every believer.
The only way to protect yourself from Satan’s infiltration is to be on the side of the One who is more powerful than he is, the One who, “is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
In essence, Paul tells us that we are to wear Jesus like we wear a suit of clothes: “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14). Pastor Ray Stedman said this about that: “When I get up in the morning, I put on my clothes, intending them to be part of me all day, to go where I go, and do what I do. They cover me and make me presentable to others. That is the purpose of close. In the same way, the apostle is saying to us, ‘put on Jesus Christ when you get up in the morning. Make him a part of your life that day. Intend that he go with you everywhere you go, and that he asked through you in everything you do. Call upon his resources. Live your life in Christ.”
The more we stand for Christ in the world, the ‘hotter’ the battle will become. But, if we are willing to endure hardship, fight the good fight, and stand firm in the battles, I believe God will give us joy beyond anything we have ever known. That’s because the greatest joys come from the greatest victories.
God has given the believer everything that pertains to life and godliness. Therefore, we lack no ‘resources’ to resist Satan: “by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire” [ 2 Peter 1:4 ].
All the spiritual weapons can be summed up in one word: ‘OBEDIENCE’. Obedience comes by having our minds controlled by the truth of God’s Word, and by obeying God’s Word, you will stand firm “in the evil day“ (Ephesians 6:13).
The ‘PROBLEM’ is, at least here in the U.S., that most people have a very ‘materialistic’ attitude, and that is it breeds ‘INDIFFERENCE’. When your world is an easy place to live in, it’s easy to forget that there’s a spiritual war is going on. It’s easy to forget that Satan always takes advantage of Christians who are lethargic, indolent, or spiritually stagnant.
Another reason for the indifference is that many Christians crave earthly, temporal pleasures instead of the ‘rigors’ of warfare. They seek a life of ease—a life of entertainment and activities, never realizing their ‘role’ in the spiritual “battle of the ages.”
On the other hand, there are also many in churches today who have an unhealthy ‘fascination’ with demons. Their strategy includes speaking to demons and learning techniques for exorcising them. It is becoming very popular to deliver incantations against Satan and supposedly rebuke or ‘bind’ him. Certainly Christians are engaged in a struggle against the powers of darkness, for the Apostle Paul said, “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” [ Ephesians 6:12 ], but God’s Word must be our ONLY ‘GUIDE’ for all we believe and practice, NOT the beliefs, practices, and experiences of those in today’s “spiritual warfare movement”!
Christianity isn’t about making our lives trouble-free. It’s about becoming WORTHY ‘SOLDIERS’ for Jesus—and that’s the ‘spirit’ of godly soldiers. Not looking for the easiest way, but asking God for what’s ahead.
Satan will beguile, seduce, oppose, resist, deceive, sow terror, hinder, buffet, tempt, persecute, blaspheme, and more. His goal is to disrupt your ‘walk’ with God, ruin your testimony, and ‘destroy’ your life. Satan does that by discouraging you, by dissipating your time and energy, and by making a frontal assault on your weak areas that lead you into sin. In the pursuit of that goal, Satan is organized and strategic. He has clever plans, crafty deceptions, and cunning methods. Satan is utterly deceitful, divisive, and destructive!
God Almighty has promised us, his soldiers, that he will protect us and keep us strong. We can, therefore, go boldly to the front lines, knowing that the Christian is not commanded to be courageous in his own strength, but instead to be emboldened by the power of Another—and that Other is Jesus.
Most people don’t realize that part of Satan’s deception is his skill as a counterfeiter and ‘mimic’. Satan attempts to imitate God because he wants to be like God. But, Satan’s duplication is ‘pitiful’, so watch out for false teachers. Remember, Satan is a liar who disguises himself as an angel of light, and his servants as ministers of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Jesus warned that, “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect” [ Matthew 24:24 ].
Satan knows he can’t destroy God, so his next best tactic is to destroy God’s ‘children’—causing adversity in their lives. Satan will take any opportunity, however small and seemingly insignificant, to attempt to destroy a lifetime of faithfulness to God—so STAY ON GUARD!
Satan will try to distract us from healthy spiritual behaviors, and tempt us with bad behaviors. If Satan can distract us from the spiritually productive priorities in our life and occupy us with the ‘things’ of this world, his intervention will be successful. If we are too busy to pray, to study the Bible, to serve others, and to attend church—then we will not grow spiritually, and remain ‘babes’ in Christ.
Satan is not after those who ‘belong’ to him (unbelievers), he concentrates his efforts on those who want to defeat him (followers of Jesus). Satan’s purpose is to weaken the influence of those who evangelize the Gospel.
Satan has a strategy for every one of us. He knows our strengths and weaknesses, and he will stop at nothing if he thinks he can ‘victimize’ a believer for his own purposes.
Note that there are five ‘areas’ that you will struggle with Satan:
– He wants you to be DECEIVED
– He wants you to be COMPROMISED
– He wants you to be COMPLACENT
– He wants you to be ISOLATED
– He wants you to be DISCOURAGED
But, just remember:
– Satan is a defeated foe.
– Remember “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
– You have the power to resist Satan.
You know, an illustration comes to mind about how Satan ‘works’. He’s kind of like whenever you go fishing the ‘old-fashioned’ way—with a hook. You don’t put a ‘sign’ on the hook saying, “Delicious! Indulge! (So I Can Eat You For Dinner)” NO! What do you put on a hook is a worm (‘bait’), that looks really good to a fish. The worm then wiggles (and lures) the fish to ‘indulge’. The fish, never dreaming that there was going to be a ‘hook’ hidden inside the worm, grabs it and now is ‘caught’!
That’s how Satan is in life. There’s a lot of ‘bait’ that he uses to trip us up because it ‘looks’ good or ‘smells’ good to us. You know the old saying, “You can’t tell a book by its cover.” Satan uses many ‘lures’, but here are a few of his ‘favorites’:
– Satan shows you the bait and hides the hook (short-term pleasure/long-term miseries).
– Satan gets you to rationalize sin as a virtue (I’m not greedy/I’m thirsty; I’m not nosey/I’m concerned; I’m not an alcoholic/I’m sociable).
– Satan shows you the sins of Christian leaders (So you say, “He did it too—nobody’s really pure”).
– Satan over-stresses the mercy of God (God will forgive for this).
– Satan will make you bitter over suffering (I’ve suffered or sacrificed/I deserve this).
– Satan will show you the many bad people that are having great lives (I might as well do it, playing by the rules doesn’t pay off).
– Satan gets you to compare one part of your life with another (I’m really good at all this stuff in my live/It’s okay if I’m bad in this area—what do you expect, perfection?).
[ Mafia hit men say that they are really good to their family, even though they kill other people ].
– Satan accuses us by having us look more at our sin than our Savior.
– Satan will accuse you to obsess over past sins that cannot be undone.
– Satan will make you think that the troubles you are going through are punishments from God.
– Satan accuses you of the fact that the inner struggles, feelings, and desires you are having couldn’t possibly be something a ‘real’ Christian would have.
Be aware of Satan’s ‘schemes’ and be aware of what he is ‘up to’! Satan is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short, but it’s not going to stop him from trying to do his evil nefarious work—because there is a ‘group’ of people on earth (believers) who belong to God, and he ‘HATES’ that! So, beware Christian, Satan will be ‘throwing’ his best stuff at you, and you are in for the ‘fight’ of your life—for your ENTIRE LIFE! So, get prepared for the ‘long-haul’!
So, how are we to respond to Satan’s attacks? Well, not by using the ‘bizarre’ methods and ‘picking fights’ with demons as many are advocating today. Instead, you will be a good ‘soldier’ by severing yourself from the ‘ties’ of this world. Rather than being preoccupied with earthly affairs, the believer is to “please the one who enlisted him as a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:4). That refers to Jesus, the believer’s Commander-in-Chief.
The Apostle Paul also gave these five commands: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love” [ 1 Corinthians 16:13–14 ].
Those brief commands capsulize the believers ‘responsibility’ in spiritual warfare. By obeying them, you will do away with your doubts, rise above your sins, supersede your indifference, and walk worthy of your heavenly ‘calling’. In short, it’s the way to do your best for Jesus.
The Apostle Paul also encourages us to ‘FIGHT’!: “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” [ 1 Timothy 6:12 ].
God’s plan for spiritual warfare has nothing to do with exorcism, incantations, mantras, or mysticism. “Fighting the good fight” simply means that we are to keep the faith, uphold sound doctrine, have a good conscience, live holy lives, and stand firm. Satan does not want us to stand.
The Apostle Peter also knew a bit about how ‘strong’ Satan’s ‘attacks’ can be (Jesus said to Peter that Satan demanded that might “sift you like wheat” and Peter denied knowing Jesus three times!). So, Peter is giving us a warning here:
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world” [ 1 Peter 5:8-9 ].
We need to take this matter with the Devil seriously by being wide awake and spiritually alert. Our thinking must not be imbalanced, cluttered, confused, or self-centered. That’s because Satan, our adversary, wants to ‘capture’ us in sin.
We are to stand against our hellish foe by being firm in the faith. “We must shun evil and draw near to God” (James 4:8). When Satan or fleshly desires tempt you, resist! If we do this, Scripture guarantees that, “the devil will flee” (James 4:7).
Resisting the devil is not a manner of speaking to him or rebuking him. Scripture clearly describes the armor we are to use in battle and it consists of divine provisions we are to rely on. The Apostle Paul put it this way: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil…Take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day and have done everything to stand firm” [ Ephesians 6:11,13 ].
So, what is your ‘responsibility’ in spiritual warfare? Strap on the full armor of God with prayer. Be alert, firm, mature, strong, and loving. Those are scriptural commands for victorious living. If you make them your strongholds, you will win the battle!
Just remember these truths…
– We have a calling that cannot be revoked.
– We have an inheritance that cannot be defiled.
– We have a foundation that cannot be shaken.
– We have a seal that cannot be broken.
– We have a life that cannot perish.
So, don’t be victimized by Satan’s attacks. Become strong in the Word through systematic Bible study. Yield to the Holy Spirit’s control through prayer and obedience to Biblical principles.
Satan wants to catch you off guard. Satan wants to render you ineffective for Christ. Satan seeks to hinder your spiritual service. “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” [ 1 Peter 5:8 ].
Spiritual victory involves submitting to God, pursuing His will, keeping
your spiritual armor on, being on the alert for Satan’s attacks, and then standing firm and resisting him “in the evil day” (Ephesians 6:13).
There is a ‘cosmic battle’ raging here on earth (and in the “Heavenlies”) for the souls of people. It’s the way that Satan wants to ‘hurt’ God—having His creation relegated to hell for eternity!
BUT, you can be victorious! PUT YOUR ‘ARMOR’ ON!!!
[ Excerpts from: David Jeremiah; John MacArthur; Voddie Baucham; Brandon Powell; Tony Evans; Greg Laurie; Jim Cymbala; Colin Smith ]
RELATED POSTS:
“Go ‘Tell’ All The World”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/go-tell-all-the-world/234/
“It Will ‘Cost’ You”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/it-will-cost-you-v233/
“April ‘Fools’?”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/april-fools-v230/
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[ P.S.: If you would like to investigate further
If you would like to investigate further about how Jesus solved the problem of evil, visit the following link:
http://4vis.com/sfm/sfm_pres/sp_q5_d5_2of10.html
‘PRAYER’ OF REPENTANCE
In the Bible, there is a parable that Jesus told about a Pharisee and a tax collector praying in the Temple. He notes that the tax collector didn’t even dare to lift his eyes toward Heaven as he prayed. Instead he “beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner’”—and Jesus said that the tax collector “went home justified,” he had been “born again” and ‘reconciled’ by God. (Luke 18:9-14).
If you are ‘sensing’ something like that right now, let me strongly encourage you to HUMBLE YOURSELF, CRY OUT to God, and PLEAD for Him to mercifully ‘SAVE’ YOU! None of us have a ‘claim’ on our salvation, nor do we have any ‘works’ that would cause us to deserve it or earn it—it is purely a gift of Divine grace—and all any of us can do is ask. So, CONFESS YOUR SINS and acknowledge to God that you have no hope for Heaven apart from what He provides through Jesus.
There is no ‘formula’ or certain words for this. So just talk to God, in your own words—He knows your ‘heart’. If you are genuinely sincere, and God does respond to your plea, one will usually have a sense of joy and peace.
Jesus said, “He that comes to Me, I will not cast out” [ John 6:37 ].
[ NOTE: If you have ‘tasted the kindness of the Lord’, please e-mail me—I would love to CELEBRATE with you, and help you get started on your ‘journey’ with Jesus! ].
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RESOURCES:
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“Future Weapons”
This docu-series features former Navy SEAL Richard “Mack” Machowicz, who reviews and demonstrates the latest technological advances in modern weaponry and military technology — future weapons, if you will. The show features some genuinely mind-boggling future weaponry, not all of it made by or for U.S. military forces. While most of the featured weapons involve guns and other types of firepower, not all do. The series also looks at breakthrough technologies that are designed to take on the challenges of terrorism and bomb threats.
https://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/future-weapons/
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“Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems in Future Conflicts”
By: Ted W. Schroeder
The conversation on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS) centers on the ethics of allowing a computer to decide to kill (or not to kill) a human-being. Much of the current discourse on the topic of autonomous weapons comes from a concern over the ethical implications. Over the coming fifteen years, the technology industry will achieve many milestones that will significantly alter the argument about the use of LAWS. There are currently efforts to institute laws and regulations that will inhibit or remove the use of LAWS. This research will clarify what will be technically possible in the future and take a holistic look at the topic. This study will explore the current technological abilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impacts on civil society. It will further look at AI and its impact on lethal weapons. Additionally, the study will explore the acceptance of AI in civil society verse the acceptance of AI in conflict. Such exploration is important as the newer technology may change the conversation about the ethics of employing robotics. This conversational change may encourage or even compel policymakers to use LAWS in future conflicts.
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“Future Weapons”
By: Allison Barrie
Invisible tanks. Thought-controlled fighter jets. Drone swarms. Rail guns slinging Mach 6 slugs. Terminator-style robot troops and cyborg fighters. Space based lasers blasting threats on the ground. Micromissiles. Next-gen mega stealth bombers traveling an entire continent in under an hour….Sound like the stuff of science fiction? Just a few examples of the very real military tech in development and explained in this book.
Future Weapons: Access Granted gives you an insider’s look at the latest remarkable advances underway that will shape battles to come. You’ll find future aircraft, vehicles, submarines, warships, drones, robots, weapons and much, much more for land, air and maritime combat.
In this book, defense expert Allison Barrie shares her ultra unique access with readers. Barrie travels around the world searching for game-changing breakthroughs. She has the extraordinary privilege to explore the most elite government and commercial installations, where shrouded in secrecy behind heavily fortified walls, they make the most cutting-edge innovations for war. And she doesn’t just get to see this future tech—she regularly gets to test it out and kick those next-gen tires.
From Transformer-type assault vehicles through to Predator-style chameleon armor that disappears into its surroundings, Barrie takes the mind-blowing favorites from her FOX Firepower column as seen on FOX News, dives into more of the latest and greatest, and puts it all together in one jam-packed book.
A fun and easy read, pick up a copy to discover what insiders know about how future wars could be fought. Arm yourself with some cool jaw-dropper facts for BBQs and beyond.
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“Future War: Super Soldiers, Terminators, Cyberspace, and the National Security Strategy for the 21st Century”
By: Lieutenant Colonel Robert L. Maginnis
In Future War, Lieutenant Colonel Robert L. Maginnis (USA, Ret.) whose ongoing work with the Pentagon affords a rare glimpse into our security community portrays a frightening, new glimpse into a future world that previous generations could only have dared imagine: cyborgized super soldiers, cyber threats beyond our wildest imagination, sobering outer space developments, and the most horrendous weapons of mass destruction in the hands of troublesome actors who see themselves playing a role in the prophetic end times. Despite the risks associated with a terminator-like tomorrow clearly defined, Future War turns to offer a glimmer of hope for our troubled and lost world. It provides a detailed plan of action to guide America’s churches, government, and Congress from a biblical-worldview foundation, tackling five of the most daunting macro challenges facing America today. Every concerned American and especially Christians must study Future War to understand what is racing toward us, the dangerous threats we will face, and how Bible believing Christians must respond to their obligation of engaging the world (Romans 13:1 7). In Future War, you will learn about: imminent trends in an out-of-control world, a biblical vision for our future threats and risks of the new world order s exotic weaponry in the hands of high-tech terrorists, trans-humanism and the coming super soldiers, outer space war no longer a Hollywood dream, cyber risks that could bring the grid down, weapons of mass destruction that just got scarier, and a 21st-century strategy for surviving and flourishing.
https://www.amazon.com/Future-War-SOLDIERS-TERMINATORS-CYBERSPACE/dp/0996409572/
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“The Global War on Christians: Dispatches from the Front Lines of Anti-Christian Persecution”
By: John L. Allen Jr.
One of the most respected journalists in the United States and the bestselling author of The Future Church uses his unparalleled knowledge of world affairs and religious insight to investigate the troubling worldwide persecution of Christians.
From Iraq and Egypt to Sudan and Nigeria, from Indonesia to the Indian subcontinent, Christians in the early 21st century are the world’s most persecuted religious group. According to the secular International Society for Human Rights, 80 percent of violations of religious freedom in the world today are directed against Christians. In effect, our era is witnessing the rise of a new generation of martyrs. Underlying the global war on Christians is the demographic reality that more than two-thirds of the world’s 2.3 billion Christians now live outside the West, often as a beleaguered minority up against a hostile majority—whether it’s Islamic fundamentalism in the Middle East and parts of Africa and Asia, Hindu radicalism in India, or state-imposed atheism in China and North Korea. In Europe and North America, Christians face political and legal challenges to religious freedom. Allen exposes the deadly threats and offers investigative insight into what is and can be done to stop these atrocities.
“This book is about the most dramatic religion story of the early 21st century, yet one that most people in the West have little idea is even happening: The global war on Christians,” writes John Allen. “We’re not talking about a metaphorical ‘war on religion’ in Europe and the United States, fought on symbolic terrain such as whether it’s okay to erect a nativity set on the courthouse steps, but a rising tide of legal oppression, social harassment and direct physical violence, with Christians as its leading victims. However counter-intuitive it may seem in light of popular stereotypes of Christianity as a powerful and sometimes oppressive social force, Christians today indisputably form the most persecuted religious body on the planet, and too often its new martyrs suffer in silence.”
This book looks to shatter that silence.
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“Standing Strong: How to Resist the Enemy of Your Soul”
By: John MacArthur Jr.
Spiritual warfare is a divisive subject for today’s church. Some Christians focus solely on the immediate world around them, living as if there’s no spiritual opposition to God’s people and His kingdom. Others take an aggressive stance, where confronting the enemy becomes a constant pursuit in their lives.
John MacArthur believes the truth is found between these extremes. Standing Strong offers a balanced, biblically sound approach to spiritual warfare in the life of a believer. A trusted and renowned pastor and author, MacArthur examines key scriptures to debunk modern fallacies, define true spiritual warfare, and share what that looks like for believers today. Throughout, you’ll be encouraged and equipped to stand strong in the face of every spiritual challenge.
Standing Strong includes a guide for both personal and group study, which features discovery questions, suggestions for prayer, and activities, all designed to connect life-changing truths with everyday living.
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“Spiritual Warfare: Overcoming the Enemy”
By: Kay Arthur, BJ Lawson, and David Lawson
Are you ready for battle?
Whether you realize it or not, you live in the midst of spiritual combat. Your enemy, the devil, is dangerous, destructive, and determined to keep you from effectively serving God. In order to defend yourself against his attacks, you need to know how the enemy operates.
Through this six-week study you will gain a thorough knowledge of the enemy’s tactics and schemes. As you discover the truth about Satan—including the limits of his power—you will be equipped to stand firm against his attacks and to develop a strategy for living daily in victory.
40 minutes a week could change your life!
The 40-Minute Bible Studies series from the teaching team at Precepts Ministries International tackles the topics that matter to you. These inductive study guides, designed to be completed in just six 40-minutes lessons with no homework required, help you discover for yourself what God says and how it applies to your life today. With the leader’s note and Bible passages included right in the book, each self-contained study is a powerful resource for personal growth and small-group discussion.
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“Prayers for Victory in Spiritual Warfare”
By: Tony Evans
Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? – 1 John 5:5
If you believe in Jesus and have accepted the life He offers through the cross, then the world and its ways shouldn’t be able to drag you down. But do you still find yourself uncertain how to pray and experience victory?
Pastor Tony Evans stands ready to help you “put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11). In this collection of spiritual warfare prayers that correspond with each piece of armor, you’ll find hope for your struggles with…
– Fear and anxiety
– Broken relationships
– Financial issues
– Negative habits and addictions
– Pain and illness
Satan’s influence is not the final word for those who, through Jesus, overcome the world. God has given you the resources you need to be victorious—and you can access them now through prayer!
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“Victory in Spiritual Warfare: Outfitting Yourself for the Battle”
By: Tony Evans
Dr. Tony Evans, one of the most respected church leaders in the country, is the founder and senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, a thriving congregation of 8000. In this timely, unique exploration of spiritual warfare, Dr. Evans unveils a simple yet radical truth: every struggle and conflict faced in the physical realm has its root in the spiritual realm.
With passion and clarity, Dr. Evans demystifies spiritual warfare so that readers can tackle challenges and obstacles with spiritual power―God’s authority―as they:
– Understand how the battle is fought by Satan
– Actively use the armor of God
– Find strength in prayer and sufficiency in Christ
– Win over chemical, sexual, emotional, relational, and other strongholds
Dr. Evans is compelling, down to earth, and excited for believers to experience their victory in Christ and embrace the life, hope, and purpose God has for them.
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“The Armor of God”
By: Priscilla Shirer
All day, every day, an invisible war rages around you — unseen, unheard, yet felt throughout every aspect of your life. A devoted, devilish enemy seeks to wreak havoc on everything that matters to you: your heart, your mind, your marriage, your children, your relationships, your resilience, your dreams, your destiny. But his battle plan depends on catching you unaware and unarmed. If you’re tired of being pushed around and caught with your guard down, this study is for you.
The Enemy always fails miserably when he meets a woman dressed for the occasion. The Armor of God, more than merely a biblical description of the believer’s inventory, is an action plan for putting it on and developing a personalized strategy to secure victory. (7 Sessions)
Features:
– Bible Study Book includes 6 weeks of homework that can be completed between 7 group sessions
– Includes leader helps and perforated prayer cards that can be used to develop a prayer strategy
– Leader material (guides to questions and discussion with small group)
Benefits:
– Equip women to get serious, specific, and strategic in their discipline of prayer
– Turn challenges and discouragement into opportunities for prayer
– Grow spiritually as you dig deeper into Scripture and expand your understanding of prayer
– Develop and implement practical, purposeful prayer strategies
– Appropriate for new or inexperienced Bible study students as well as those well-versed in Scriptures
– Leaders can be assured of a trusted teacher in every group
– Opportunity for multiple leaders or facilitators
https://www.amazon.com/Armor-God-Priscilla-Shirer/dp/1430040270/
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“The Invisible War: What Every Believer Needs to Know about Satan, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare”
By: Chip Ingram
Some Christians believe strongly in the existence of demons and spiritual warfare. Others downplay or even ignore the idea. With such divergent views, how are Christians supposed to know the truth about demonic forces at work in this world? The Invisible War examines what every believer needs to know about Satan, demons, and spiritual warfare, offering a balanced look at this controversial subject. This provocative book will help Christians understand what the Bible says about these threats and will show them how they can safeguard themselves and their families through prayer. Now repackaged for a new generation, The Invisible War offers a balanced look at what is going on in the spiritual realm and what believers can do to defend themselves.
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“The Spiritual Warfare Answer Book”
By: Dr. David Jeremiah
Do you have questions in regard to spiritual warfare?
Trusted pastor and bestselling author Dr. David Jeremiah brings clarity to the complex topic of spiritual warfare. From his years of teaching on this subject, Pastor Jeremiah has selected answers to your pertinent questions concerning victory in the spiritual realm.
The Bible says God will ultimately be victorious and win the spiritual war. But it also says He has given every Christian promises and power to win our daily spiritual battles. The book includes 86 questions with answers such as: How does Satan imitate God? Are demons real? What protection does the shield of faith provide? How can I defend myself against a hostile world? How do I “put on” Christ?
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“Spurgeon on Prayer & Spiritual Warfare”
By: Charles H. Spurgeon
Prayer is the Christian’s lifeline to God, and with it, lives are changed for eternity! Charles Spurgeon knew the secrets of prayer—divine principles and promises that God established for our every need. He reveals these principles and shares how God has answered the prayers of men and women since early biblical times. This anthology includes six of Spurgeon’s classic books on prayer:
– The Power in Prayer
– Praying Successfully
– The Golden Key of Prayer
– Finding Peace in Life’s Storms
– Spurgeon on Praise
– Satan: A Defeated Foe
Because God keeps His promises, every Christian can have a prayer life that produces lasting results, both personally and in the kingdom of God. Discover how you, too, can develop essential characteristics required for power-packed prayer!
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“Lord, Is It Warfare? Teach Me to Stand: A Devotional Study on Spiritual Victory”
By: Kay Arthur
Are You Fully Equipped for Spiritual Battle?
Once you become a Christian, you enter a war zone. The problem is, you may not even realize it.
But that’s about to change. Lord, Is It Warfare? will equip you to recognize and understand the spiritual warfare that is inevitable for those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ. You’ll learn all the battle tactics and devices of your adversary, Satan. And you’ll discover scriptural ways to overcome the enemy by turning to Christ, who loves you and offers you all the strength, wisdom, and power you need for victory.
Let Kay Arthur guide you through the Scriptures every day in this comprehensive inductive study. Your time with God in His Word will minister to you and help you stand strong in the face of spiritual conflict. And these are truths you can share easily with others, individually or in small groups.
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“The Battle Plan for Prayer: From Basic Training to Targeted Strategies”
By: Stephen Kendrick and Alex Kendrick
Inspired by the Kendrick Brothers’ new movie, “War Room,” this exciting new resource from the #1 best-selling author team behind The Love Dare and The Resolution for Men is designed to help anyone learn how to become a powerful person of prayer. The Battle Plan for Prayer begins with prayer’s core purpose, its biblical design, and its impact throughout history. Readers will be guided scripturally through the fundamentals of how effective prayer works, inspired towards a closer, more intimate relationship with God, and shown how to develop specific prayer strategies for each area of life. Prayer can accomplish what a willing God can accomplish. It should be your first plan of attack in all of life’s battles, not your last resort. If you want to experience the joy of mightily answered prayer, then it’s time to engage with God at another level.
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“War Room” (Movie)
From the creators of Fireproof and Courageous comes WAR ROOM, a compelling, faith-based drama about the power prayer can have on marriages, parenting, careers, friendships, and every other area of our lives.
Opening in theaters nationwide Friday, August 28 and filled with the faith, humor, and authentic characters loved by millions in the previous Kendrick Brothers’ films, WAR ROOM is a vivid reminder that prayer is a powerful weapon.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvBUfx9_kRoGexuOLr3iKtg
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“Victory Over the Darkness: Realize the Power of Your Identity in Christ”
By: Neil T. Anderson
This bestselling book gives you practical, productive ways to discover who you are in Christ. When you realize the power of your true identity, you can shed the burdens of your past, stand against evil influences, and become the person Christ empowers you to be.
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“When the Enemy Strikes: The Keys to Winning Your Spiritual Battles”
By: Charles Stanley
Your enemy is strong. The battle is real. Prepare for victory.
Fear, discouragement, loneliness, anger, temptation. These struggles are common to every human. Yet not all circumstances or negative emotions originate within. They could be the result of a willful, coordinated assault of Satan.
In When the Enemy Strikes, best-selling author Dr. Charles Stanley explores the often-overlooked reality of spiritual warfare?the tactics used by Satan to taunt, confuse, slander, and harm. Your adversary wants to crush your will, delay your promise, hinder your destiny, destroy your relationships, and lead you into sin. Dr. Stanley reveals how you should respond.
The most important component of warfare, says Dr. Stanley, is the supremacy of God?both His sovereignty and His power. Practically, this means the battles you face are ultimately allowed by God to bring you to a place of greater reliance on Him. His strength crushes the enemy.
This is a world of conflict between good and evil, of powers beyond the merely human. The battle is unavoidable, but take heart! God has given you the strength to stand.
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“Overcomer: 8 Ways to Live a Life of Unstoppable Strength, Unmovable Faith, and Unbelievable Power”
By: David Jeremiah
We live in a time of deep uncertainty. And yet, the Bible promises we were created to enjoy lives of freedom, even in times when the world around us seems filled with darkness. We were created to be overcomers, conquering the greatest obstacles in our lives.
In his new book, Overcomer, beloved teacher David Jeremiah offers his insights on one of the most quoted but least understood passages of the Bible: the apostle Paul’s admonition to the Ephesians to take up the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). With his signature depth, wisdom, and compassion, Dr. Jeremiah explores the powerful relevance of spiritual armor as a critical tool each day as we confront the specific challenges in our lives and of our time.
If you’ve had enough of living in defeat, it is time to find renewed strength and claim the promises of God’s Word to overcome life’s greatest threats.
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“Not Against Flesh and Blood: The Battle Against Spiritual Wickedness in High Places”
By: Martyn Lloyd-Jones
https://www.amazon.com/Not-Against-Flesh-Blood-Wickedness/dp/1850491798/
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“The Christian Warfare: An Exposition of Ephesians 6:10-13”
By: D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
The full satanic strategy is uncovered, including how discouragement, anxiety, false zeal, lack of assurance, and worldliness come under the heading “the wiles of the devil.”
https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Warfare-Exposition-Ephesians-10-13/dp/0801058007/
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“How To Meet The Enemy”
By: John MacArthur
C.S. Lewis wrote: There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or magician with the same delight (The Screwtape Letters [New York: Macmillan, 1961], p. 3). Lewis was right. Unfortunately, strands of both errors exist in today’s church. On the one hand, some Christians are materialists who fail to understand that the Christian life is a fierce spiritual battle. One reason for a materialistic attitude is indifference. When your world is an easy place to live in, it’s easy to forget that a spiritual war is going on. It’s easy to forget that millions of souls in the world are in the grasp of Satan. And it’s easy to forget that Satan always takes advantage of Christians who are lethargic, indolent, or spiritually stagnant. He loves it when Christians try to hole up in a sanctified environment instead of fighting the battle. Yet that is precisely the agenda of many churches today. People are trying desperately to enjoy fellowship while remaining indifferent to the battle. Another reason for being materialistic is worldliness. Too many Christians crave earthly, temporal pleasures instead of the rigors of warfare. They seek a life of easeùa life of entertainment and activities, never realizing their role in the battle of the ages. A believer who invests his or her time and resources in mundane things won’t understand spiritual warfare. A Christian who had a deficient view of God’s grace said to me, “The wonderful thing about the Christian life is that basically you can do whatever you want.” Believers are not handed a free pass to do what they want. They are called to obey Christ, the Commander-in-Chief. In Matthew 16:24-25, Jesus raised this call: “If any one wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.” We can’t let spiritual warfare rage around us without joining the fight. It’s vital that we take spiritual inventory by asking, Am I making a difference in the fight? Too many will settle for indifference and worldliness. Satan has a heyday with such Christians. My prayer is that your devotion and commitment level will deepen when you understand how to meet the enemy. On the other hand, there are also many in today’s church who have an excessive and unhealthy fascination with demons. The following article, which appeared in the Los Angeles Times, illustrates this obsession: Under the militant banner of “spiritual warfare,” growing numbers of evangelical and charismatic Christian leaders are preparing broad assaults on what they call the cosmic powers of darkness. Fascinated with the notion that Satan commands a hierarchy of territorial demons, some mission agencies and big-church pastors are devising strategies for “breaking the strongholds” of those evil spirits alleged to be controlling cities and countries. Some proponents in the fledgling movement already maintain that focused prayer meetings have ended the curse of the Bermuda triangle, led to the 1987 downfall in Oregon of free-love guru Baghwan Shree Rajneesh, and for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, produced a two-week drop in the crime rate, a friendly atmosphere and unclogged freeways. This is not the cinematic story line for a religious sequel to “Ghostbusters II,” yet the developing scenario does have a fictional influence: interest in spiritual warfare has been heightened by two best-selling novels in Christian bookstores. “This Present Darkness,” by Frank Peretti, describes the religious fight against “territorial spirits mobilized to dominate a small town.” A second Peretti novel has a similar premise. Fuller Seminary Prof. C. Peter Wagner, who has written extensively on the subject, led a “summit” meeting on cosmic-level spiritual warfare Monday in Pasadena with two dozen men and women, including a Texas couple heading a group called the “Generals of Intercession” and an Oregon man who conducts “spiritual warfare bootcamps” (John Dart, “Evangelicals, Charismatics Prepare for Spiritual Warfare,” 17 February 1990, F16).More and more Christian leaders seem to be championing such efforts. I know of a large conservative mission organization that is requiring all its missionaries to attend special training seminars to learn how to confront and assault the powers of darkness. Their strategy includes speaking to demons and learning techniques for exorcising them. It is becoming very popular to deliver incantations against Satan and supposedly rebuke or bind him. What about this fascination? Do believers need to attend spiritual warfare bootcamps? Are we to break the stronghold of demons so we can regain cities and countries? Should believers speak to demons and cast them out? Can we actually bind and rebuke Satan? Certainly Christians are engaged in a struggle against the powers of darkness, for in Ephesians 6:12, Paul said, “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.”Many of the practices of today’s spiritual warfare movement, however, are in stark contrast to the clear teaching of God’s Word. Dr. Archibald Alexander, the first professor of Princeton Seminary and a brilliant theologian, wrote: There is nothing more necessary than to distinguish carefully between true and false experiences in religion; to “tiy the spirits whether they are of God.” And in making this discrimination, there is no other test but the infallible Word of God; let every thought, motive, impulse, and emotion be brought to this touchstone. “To the law and the testimony; if they speak not according to these, it is because there is no light in them” (Thoughts on Religious Experience [Carlisle, Penn.: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1978], p. xviii).God’s Word must be our only guide for all we believe and practice. Let’s examine what Scripture says about spiritual warfare in contrast to the beliefs, practices, and experiences of those in today’s spiritual warfare movement.
https://www.amazon.com/How-Meet-Enemy-Macarthur-Study/dp/1564760162
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“Prayer And Spiritual Warfare”
By: E.M. Bounds
Here, E. M. Bounds shows how you can obtain the spiritual armor you need in order to emerge victorious in every battle. He’ll show you not only how you can have an effective and powerful prayer life, but also how you can remove hindrances to answered prayer, receive prompt and abundant answers to prayer, develop a joyfulness in prayer, and bring the promises of God from the unbelievable into the believable. Discover how you can experience greater depth and power in your prayer life, and how you can defeat every spiritual enemy. The victory is already yours!
https://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Spiritual-Warfare-BOUNDS-M/dp/088368361X
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“Spiritual Warfare: Victory over the Powers of this Dark World”
By: Timothy M. Warner
This timely and important book provides Christians with the information–and ammunition–they need to engage in spiritual warfare. The author shows from the Scriptures that God’s people can defeat the enemy because of the character of God, the certainty of His promises, our authority as His people, and–most of all–the victory Christ has already won.
The author doesn’t see a demon behind every bush, but neither does he minimize the spiritual conflict. With great balance and sensitivity, he urges the Church to not only withstand the attacks of the enemy, but to storm his gates and bring as many captives as possible into the Kingdom of the God of love.
“Spiritual Warfare is desperately needed! I wish every Christian would read it and put it into practice.” — Warren W. Wiersbe
“Must reading for those desiring to walk in their victory over darkness.” — Mark I. Bubeck, President, International Center for Biblical Counseling
“For all of us in the thick of the battle, this enlightening and scriptural book will prove to be an indispensable field manual.” — George Grant, Executive Director, Coral Ridge Ministries
“I was very encouraged by Spiritual Warfare. If we as Christians will read, understand, and practice the life-changing principles presented in this book, not only will our lives be changed, but together we will dramatically change the world.” — Rick Keenan, Founder, Abundant Life Ministries
https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Warfare-Victory-Powers-World/dp/0891076077
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“What You Need to Know about Spiritual Warfare in 12 Lessons”
By: Max Anders
There is a great deal of talk today about the supernatural. Spiritual Warfare outlines what the Bible says about angels, demons, and Satan as well as how God overcomes the world and will equip you to fight the good fight of faith.
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“Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices”
By: Thomas Brooks
Brooks treated the seductive influence and terrible power of Satan in a way greatly more full and suggestive than in the literature of the present day.
Brooks lists seven reasons for writing this book. The first reason is enough…Brooks says, Satan hath a greater influence upon men, and higher advantages over them than they think he hath, and the knowledge of his high advantage is the highway to disappoint him, and to render the soul strong in resisting, and happy in conquering.
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“Discipled Warriors: Growing Healthy Churches That Are Equipped for Spiritual Warfare”
By: Chuck Lawless
Using solid biblical exegesis, Chuck Lawless presents a well-rounded, proven model for fighting the enemy through the development of a spiritually healthy church. This unique book suggests workable strategies and resources for developing disciples prepared for spiritual warfare.
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“Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical and Balanced Perspective”
By: Brian Borgman and Rob Ventura
Too often, Christians today either sensationalize the subject of spiritual warfare by obsessing over demon possession, exorcisms, binding the devil, and rebuking demons, or they minimize the idea and are unprepared for the real struggle they face against principalities and powers. Pastors Brian Borgman and Rob Ventura provide a balanced approach that exposes the fictions and superstitions surrounding this vital doctrine and at the same time reveal the unseen realities of this struggle. Basing their battle plan on Ephesians 6:10-20, the authors give an overview of the battle, a guide to the armor God gives us, and instruction regarding the vital wartime disciplines of prayer and proclamation of the Word. By learning to think biblically about this subject, Christians are enabled to deflect the blows of their adversary, fight sin, and live God-glorifying lives as followers of Jesus.
Table of Contents:
1. Be Strong in the Lord
2. Put on the Full Armor of God
3. The Schemes of the Devil
4. The Nature of Our Conflict
5. The Belt of Truth
6. The Breastplate of Righteousness
7. The Gospel of Peace Footwear
8. The Shield of Faith
9. The Helmet of Salvation
10. The Sword of the Spirit
11. Warfare Prayer
12. Warfare Prayer and Proclamation
13. Spiritual Warfare Debriefing
Appendix 1: The Sovereignty of God and Satan
Appendix 2: Can a Christian Be Demon-Possessed?
Appendix 3: Pray for Your Pastors
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“The Pilgrim’s Progress”
By: John Bunyan
Often rated as important as the Bible as a Christian document, this famous story of man’s progress through life in search of salvation remains one of the most entertaining allegories of faith ever written. Set against realistic backdrops of town and country, the powerful drama of the pilgrim’s trials and temptations follows him in his harrowing journey to the Celestial City.
Along a road filled with monsters and spiritual terrors, Christian confronts such emblematic characters as Worldly Wiseman, Giant Despair, Talkative, Ignorance, and the demons of the Valley of the Shadow of Death. But he is also joined by Hopeful and Faithful.
An enormously influential 17th-century classic, universally known for its simplicity, vigor, and beauty of language, The Pilgrim’s Progress remains one of the most widely read books in the English language.
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“The Holy War”
By: John Bunyan
“The Holy War,” John Bunyan’s fourth work of major importance, appeared in 1682. Although “The Pilgrim’s Progress” has always been the most popular of Bunyan’s numerous works, “The Holy War” holds a firm second place in the hearts of Christians throughout the world. As in “The Pilgrim’s Progress,” “The Holy War” is a fascinating allegory, a delightful narrative. As Ernest W. Bacon describes it in “John Bunyan: Pilgrim and Dreamer”: “The story sets out to recall the fall and redemption of mankind under the guise of a besieged city. The city of Mansoul (Man’s Soul) originally belonged by right to Shaddai or God, but was betrayed through Ear Gate and Eye Gate into the hands of Diabolus or the Devil, besieging giant who takes control. In the hands of the enemy, Mansoul loses its Major, Lord Understanding, and Mr. Conscience is dismissed from his post as Recorder. Lord Will-be-Will becomes the Lord of Mansoul – man’s fallen will, self-will, and ill-will all combined in one unpleasant and anti-God character.” In the end Mansoul is recaptured by Emmanuel’s army, and Diabolus is driven out. There is triumph over sin and evil—one of the Bible’s most comforting themes.
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“FRUITS OF THE BEATITUDES” WEB SITE
(The ATTITUDES of Jesus that produce the CHARACTER of Jesus)
CLICK ON THE LINK to view:
http://fruitsofthebeatitudes.org/
FACEBOOK PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/FruitsOfTheBeatitudes/
[ Mark Besh ]
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ARTICLES:
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“New ‘Iron Man’ Special Forces Exoskeleton Stops Bullets With Liquid Armor”
We’ve all seen what Iron Man can do in the movies, and it’s rather impressive—what with all the flying and absorbing bullets.
Ultimately, all of his abilities come from the incredible technology behind his suit. And it’s to this inspiration that Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is turning for their future combat exoskeleton prototypes, which are to be ready in 2018.
In 2013, SOCOM expanded their development of such a suit, which they call the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS). Navy SEALs or Special Forces would use these suits for special operations.
However, unlike the metallic, clunky suit of Iron Man, these military operators need to move with great mobility; therefore, the suits will be made with a “liquid body armor” that transforms into solid within milliseconds when a magnetic field or an electric current is applied through the material.
The technology is being developed by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A Polish company, Moratex, is working on a similar kind of liquid body armor, using a non-Newtonian liquid called Shear-Thickening Fluid (STF).
Essentially, what’s being designed is a suit of armor that remains soft and malleable during normal operations, but hardens instantaneously at the point of contact—deflecting and dispersing the immense destructive energy produced by a hit from an enemy round or shrapnel.
POWERED BY A SMALL ENGINE
TALOS is reportedly going to be a physiological subsystem that will use various sensors on the skin to monitor the wearer’s vital signs in great detail. More than that, it will provide vastly increased strength.
And all of this added capability needs a great deal of power.
General Atomics intends to provide the TALOS suits with a tiny combustion engine, that can nevertheless run at 10,000 RPM. This technology will rely on Liquid Piston’s ‘X’ engine, which employs the High Efficiency Hybrid Cycle. According to the company, this engine has a theoretical efficiency of 75%, and can be very quiet since it only consists of two moving parts: a shaft and a rotor.
The purpose of the engine in the exoskeletal suit would be to recharge batteries, which in turn supply energy to all of the power-thirsty components which will be integrated with the TALOS suit—including computer and sensor systems, as well as robotic strength augmentation.
It’s a fascinating glimpse into the future of warfighting technology—and it brings a whole new meaning to the Army’s old recruiting slogan “Be All You Can Be.”
[ Colin Aboy ]
https://futurism.com/2018-will-be-big-on-special-forces-exoskeleton-tech/
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“Game Changer: America’s Most Advanced Weapons”
The most incredible weapons in the U.S. military arsenal.
– Active camouflage technology
– Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System (MAARS)
– XM2010 Sniper Weapon System
– XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement (CDTE) System
– TASER Shockwave system
– Personnel Halting and Stimulation Response Rifle (PHASR
– Auto Assault-12 (AA-12) Shotgun
– Boeing Laser Avenger is an infrared laser system
– Black Knight is a prototype unmanned ground combat vehicle
– Active Denial System (ADS)
– MQ-9 Reaper system (Drone)
– F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft
Details:
https://www.washingtontimes.com/multimedia/collection/game-changer-americas-most-advanced-weapons/
Related Article:
https://www.pocket-lint.com/gadgets/news/142272-28-incredible-futuristic-weapons-showing-modern-military-might
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“The Future of Military Comms on the Battlefield”
New radio and network technologies present opportunities and challenges.
Smartphones, tablets, high-speed wireless networks and other sophisticated communications technologies are rapidly changing the way people access, use and exchange information. The military is embracing the communications revolution, turning to a new generation of sophisticated systems to enable faster, richer, less costly and more flexible communications.
However, as communication options multiply, so does the problem of getting disparate technologies to work together efficiently and securely. Communications integration is now one of the top challenges facing military technology leaders, said Chris Herndon, chief technologist at Morgan Franklin, a company that provides communications and security consulting services to the government. “Smartphones and other IP technologies in particular, it’s all really exciting stuff,” said Herndon, former director of the tactical technologies development lab at the Naval Research Laboratory. “Yet they also pose challenges in terms of interoperability and security,” he added.
After today’s standards and security assurance problems have been resolved, Herndon sees IP as the pathway to interoperability, speedier technology deployment and lower development and maintenance costs. He said although past communications development projects often created impressive and reliable systems, the costly and complex projects tended to address only a narrow set needs and frequently fell far behind schedule. “We often saw pillars of excellence that were essentially obsolete before they were even fielded,” he said. IP technologies will provide a common technology base to span virtually all communications modes, including phones, tablets, mobile and handheld radios, satellites, sensors and networks, he said. [ more… ].
[ John Edwards ]
https://defensesystems.com/articles/2012/02/08/cover-story-military-communications-technologies.aspx
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“Put On the Full Armor of God”
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“The Armor of God”
Sermon Series by John MacArthur:
– Part 1: “The Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-13)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf4ru2044yI
– Part 2: “The Belt of Truthfulness and the Breastplate of Righteousness (Ephesians 6:14)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS1j9aK1ufg
– Part 3: “The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace and The Shield of Faith (Ephesians 6:15-16)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNSoLy4cvqg
– Part 4: “The Helmet of Salvation (Ephesians 6:17)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti0kP0ypobQ
– Part 5: “The Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmvveRkJ8z8
– Part 6: “Praying at All Times (Ephesians 6:18-20)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPZxnMPuDkw
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“Victory in Spiritual Warfare”
“The War Revealed and Strongholds Defined”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJqqp3fac3o
“Putting on the Armor”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEtCW-uQ09g
“The Belt of Truth”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIqMHvkQ9jM
“The Breastplate of Righteousness”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSc5axhH5GE
“The Footsteps Of Peace”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyANehm_QgE
“The Shield of Faith”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw79VwnznvA
“The Helmet of Salvation”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2AwADzZlmw
“The Sword of the Spirit”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koIWH1AI_0U
“The Need for Spiritual Armor”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWHGiHegzgI
[ Tony Evans ]
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“Missions, Warfare and Prayer”
[ Voddie Baucham ]
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“Spiritual Warfare: Terms of Engagement”
Sermon Series by David Jeremiah:
– “Are We Really in a War?”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9KlPmdUV7k
– “Identifying the Enemy”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yITttuX5Ttc
– “Breastplate of Righteousness”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEXkggP-zIM&index=5&t=0s
– “The Girdle of Truth”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-8349M6Ink
– “The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybhzqqy9ygM
– “The Shield of Faith”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkoMkL9BdWE
– “The Helmet of Salvation”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaxH6tzPaD0
– “The Sword of The Spirit”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3IBfmQRRVw
– “Spiritual Warfare Praying Always With All Prayer”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYIk9bx-zI8
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“The Invisible War”
“Spiritual Warfare 101: What Is the Invisible War?”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATx6q_vuuak
“Spiritual Warfare 201: How to Prepare Yourself for Spiritual Battle”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX0DtUFFQEw
“Spiritual Warfare 301: How to Do Battle with the Enemy and Win”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoS2GSF0ar4
“Spiritual Warfare 401: How to Gain Deliverance from Demonic Influence”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SayhTfuA6Y
[ Chip Ingram ]
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Media experts tell us that our brains are bombarded with approximately 1,000,000,006 advertisements each day. Beyond that, our lives are filled with instant messages, text messages, email messages, and phone messages. With all this information headed our way, why would any believer in Christ ever listen to a message from the evil one?
Because the Father of Lies knows how to catch people like you and me. He even has a specific strategy to do it. Consider this analogy borrowed from Andrew Farley’s The Naked Gospel:
Imagine that you’re going to a tropical climate for a vacation. Along the way a local parasite crawls into your sandals and burrows deep inside your foot—so deep you don’t even realize that it’s there. Eventually, its ravages begin to send pain messages to your brain, becoming increasingly difficult to bear. Undoubtedly you begin thinking, ”There’s something seriously wrong with me.” Not knowing about what lies within your foot you assume the problem is your foot itself. If only someone could have detected the parasite, then you’d know the truth.
Although not actually physical, the “power of sin” is much like a parasite that has found its way inside your body.
What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one.” (Romans 3:9-10)
When we become a believer in Jesus Christ, we become a new creation in our spirit, and the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us. Yet, this parasite of sin still lies within us, but it’s not us. When our mind receives a lie from the evil one, “the power of sin” will take that lie and twist it into our own language, and we will think it’s our thought—it even feels like it is coming from us. But it’s not.
Sin is an intruder, a poser, an imposter. Please get this: Satan’s strategy is to introduce his thoughts into your mind and deceive you into thinking they’re yours. We are righteous in Christ, not in ourselves. The power of sin is still in us, but we don’t have to say “yes” to the power of sin anymore. When we know who we are in Christ and who He is in us, we can choose to say “no” for the first time.
Lord Jesus, I know the truth about who You are in me. Today, by the power of Your Spirit and the truth of Your Word, enable me to identify the lies of the evil one that I have accepted as if they are coming from me. I do not want to be a slave to this power of sin. Free me to follow You through grace and truth. Amen.
[ Pete Briscoe ]
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“Spiritual Warfare”
– “Arm Yourself to Battle Satan (1 Peter 4:1)”: https://www.desiringgod.org/labs/arm-yourself-to-battle-satan
– “Stay Alert Against Satan (1 Peter 5:8)”: https://www.desiringgod.org/labs/stay-alert-against-satan
– “How to Fight the Devil (1 Peter 5:8–10)”: https://www.desiringgod.org/labs/how-to-fight-the-devil
[ John Piper ]
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“Spiritual Warfare Series”
– Part 1: “Watch Your Step (Spiritual Warfare Series – Part 1)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUaJRceXP18
– Part 2: “Armor of God (Spiritual Warfare Series – Part 2)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgUSGnHgi3k
– Part 3: “God’s Unseen Power (Spiritual Warfare #3)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psWCrw-sYWE
[ Brandon Powell ]
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“Overcoming Satan”
– “Overcoming the Evil One”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FdnGn85E-E
– “Overcoming Satanic Deception”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=793J1Pa-y94
– “How to Break Satan’s Strongholds in Your Life”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-nP7JWnbwE
– “The Battle for Your Mind”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6M3AvwQwas
[ Adrian Rogers ]
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“Fighting the Noble War”
Now, for this morning, let’s open our Bibles to 1 Timothy chapter 1. First Timothy chapter 1. We’re going to be looking at an introduction, really, to verses 18 to 20. Chapter 1, as you know if you’ve been with us, introduces this great epistle, and in this particular section, verses 18 to 20, in which Paul sums up the introduction to the whole epistle, there is reference made to warfare, and Paul calls Timothy to fight a noble fight. [ more…]
[ John MacArthur ]
https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/54-7
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“Getting Spiritual Warfare Right”
If your life isn’t being filled with the things of God, your ending may be worse than the beginning.
The spirit world is a place of great conflict and activity. It’s also a place of tremendous influence.
When Jesus was accused of casting out demons by the power of Satan, He gave His accusers a couple of things to think about. But more than that, we learn that we can’t get from darkness to light on our own. We need someone who is stronger than the prince of darkness to bring us into the light.
warfare is a very real part of the Christian life, but should not be an opportunity for either fear or pride. Instead, the reality of Satan and his evil forces should cause us to draw near to God all the more, realising His power can conquer any foe we may encounter.
[ Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer ]
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“God’s Strategy for Winning in Spiritual Warfare”
Being engaged in spiritual warfare confirms you are a child of God. Pastor Greg teaches on how to use the armor of God to stand, fight, and be victorious over the enemy’s strategies.
[ Greg Laurie ]
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“How to Overcome the Devil”
Are you in continuous, repeated sin? There are things Satan doesn’t want us to know. Pastor Greg shares how we can overcome the Devil and his temptations by being obedient to the Word of God and gain ground in this spiritual battle.
[ Greg Laurie ]
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“Make War”
Are you waging war against sin, or being conquered by sin? By the grace of God we must remain fully engaged in this battle at all times!
[ John Piper ]
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“Understanding the Spiritual Battle For The Mind”
Time-Tested Steps That Will Lead You to Freedom in Christ! The victory that Christ promises us is complete. He has promised that knowing the truth will set us free. The Steps to Freedom in Christ is a comprehensive process that will help you resolve your personal and spiritual conflicts in Christ.
[ Neil T. Anderson ]
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“Spiritual Warfare”
– Be Strong in the Lord”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBZyNFyw43s
– “Putting on the Armor of God”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bLSbVZoSVA
[ Paul Washer ]
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“Spiritual Warfare”
Sermon Series by Alistair Begg
Jesus secured salvation for all believers when He defeated Satan at the cross. Until Christ returns, however, spiritual warfare rages on in this world and should not be easily dismissed. In His mercy, God has provided the armor by which we can withstand such fierce opposition. In this overview of God’s protective provision, Alistair Begg exhorts us to resist Satan’s accusations, look outside ourselves to Christ, and recall the truth that in Christ, we already have the victory.
– Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v4Fjrpt9n0
Every believer dwells in the spiritual realm and will encounter battle with our adversary, the devil, until Christ’s return. Alistair Begg urges us to remain alert to Satan’s subtle, fiery darts, and outlines a practical strategy to employ in the midst of the struggle. As students of God’s Word, we can persevere—conscious of our weakness, but strong in the Lord; resolute because of His goodness; and with every confidence in our unity with the One who reigns victorious.
– Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r98pv-8mw-Y
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“The Adversary”
Alistair Begg, Senior Pastor of Parkside Church in Chagrin Falls, OH, talks about the adversary to the believer, identified in 1 Peter 5:8-9, and the challenge he brings to the Christian life.
[ Alistair Begg ]
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“Resources on Spiritual Warfare”
All Sermons for Alistair Begg
https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/topics/spiritual-warfare/
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“What is the Full Armor of God?”
What is the full armor of God? Why is it important to put on the full armor of God before I engage in spiritual warfare?
[ Got Questions ]
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“What Can I Do When I Am Under Spiritual Attack?”
Answer: The first thing to do when we believe we may be under a spiritual attack is to determine, as best we can, whether what we are experiencing is truly a spiritual attack from demonic forces or simply the effects of living in a sin-cursed world. Some people blame every sin, every conflict, and every problem on demons they believe need to be cast out. The apostle Paul instructs Christians to wage war against the sin in themselves (Romans 6) and to wage war against the evil one (Ephesians 6:10-18). But whether we are truly under spiritual attack from demonic forces or just battling the evil in ourselves and that which inhabits the world, the battle plan is the same.
The key to the battle plan is found in Ephesians 6:10-18. Paul begins by saying that we must be strong in the Lord and in His power, not in our own power which is no match for the devil and his forces. Paul then exhorts us to put on the armor of God, which is the only way to take a stand against spiritual attacks. In our own strength and power, we have no chance of defeating the “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (v. 12). Only the “full armor of God” will equip us to withstand spiritual attack. We can only be strong in the Lord’s power; it is God’s armor that protects us, and our battle is against spiritual forces of evil in the world.
Ephesians 6:13-18 gives a description of the spiritual armor God gives us, and the good news is that these things are readily available to all who belong to Christ. We are to stand firm with the belt of truth, buckle on the breastplate of righteousness, wear on our feet the gospel of peace, hold up the shield of faith, wear the helmet of salvation, and wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God—the only offensive weapon in the whole armory. The rest are defensive. What do these pieces of spiritual armor represent in spiritual warfare? We are to speak the truth against Satan’s lies. We are to rest in the fact that we are declared righteous because of Christ’s sacrifice for us. We are to proclaim the gospel no matter how much resistance we receive. We are not to waver in our faith, no matter how fiercely we are attacked. Our ultimate defense is the assurance we have of our salvation, an assurance that no spiritual force can take away. Our offensive weapon is the Word of God, not our own opinions and feelings. Finally, we are to follow Jesus’ example in recognizing that some spiritual victories are only possible through prayer.
Jesus is our ultimate example when it comes to warding off spiritual attacks. Observe how Jesus handled direct attacks from Satan when He was tempted by him in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). Each temptation was answered the same way—with the words “It is written” and a quote from the Scriptures. Jesus knew the Word of the living God is the most powerful weapon against the temptations of the devil. If Jesus Himself used the Word to counter the devil, do we dare to use anything less?
The ultimate example of how not to engage in spiritual warfare is the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish priest, who went around driving out evil spirits by trying to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. One day the evil spirit answered them, “‘Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?’ Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding” (Acts 19:13-16). The seven sons of Sceva were using Jesus’ name, but because they did not have a relationship with Jesus, their words were void of any power or authority. They were not relying on Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and they were not employing the Word of God in their spiritual warfare. As a result, they received a humiliating beating. May we learn from their bad example and conduct spiritual warfare as the Bible instructs.
[ Got Questions ]
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“Do Christians Have the Authority to Rebuke the Devil?”
Answer: There are some Christians who believe they not only have the authority to rebuke the devil, but also they must be about the business of rebuking him continually. There is no biblical basis for such a belief. Satan, unlike God, is not omnipresent. He can only be in one place at a time, and the likelihood of his personally harassing individual Christians is miniscule. Of course, he has legions of demons who do his bidding, and they are everywhere seeking to destroy believers’ testimonies. It should be noted here that the Christian cannot be possessed by a demon in the same way people in the Bible are described as being possessed.
As Christians, we need to be aware of the reality of the presence of evil. As we struggle to stand firm in our faith, we must realize that our enemies are not merely human ideas, but real forces that come from the powers of darkness. The Bible says, “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” (Ephesians 6:12).
Clearly, God has allowed Satan significant amounts of power and influence over the earth, at least for now, and always within God’s sovereign control. The Bible tells us that Satan prowls around like a lion in search of prey, looking for victims to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Satan is the power at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God (Ephesians 2:2). Anyone who is not under the control of the sovereign God is under the control of the devil (Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 4:4). Born-again Christians are no longer enslaved to Satan or to sin (Romans 6:6-7), but this does not mean we are immune to the temptations that he puts before us.
The Bible does not give Christians the authority to rebuke the devil, but to resist him. James 4:7 says to “submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Zechariah 3:2 tells us that it is the Lord who rebukes Satan. Even Michael, one of the most powerful of the angels, did not dare to accuse Satan, but rather said, “The Lord rebuke you” (Jude 1:9). In response to Satan’s attacks, a Christian should appeal to Christ. Instead of focusing on defeating the devil, we should focus on following Christ (Hebrews 12:2) and trust that He will defeat the forces of evil.
It is not necessary for a Christian to rebuke Satan because God has given us His full armor to stand against evil (see Ephesians 6:10-18). The most effective weapons we have against the devil are our faith, wisdom, and knowledge about God and His Word. Christ, when tempted by Satan, answered him with Scripture (see Matthew 4:1-11). To gain victory in spiritual matters, we must maintain a clear conscience and have control over our thoughts. “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
[ Got Questions ]
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“The Invisible War”
Shepherds’ Conference; General Session 8; Mar 5, 2010
[ Steve Lawson ]
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“This Is War!”
I want to fight! I don’t want comfort! I don’t want ease in Zion! Because the kingdom of God is built not by those who rest easily in Zion, but by those who go out into the streets and fight. And the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. They are mighty. Intercessory prayer, the proclamation of the Gospel, and sacrificial love.
[ Paul Washer ]
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“Spiritual Warfare: Knowing and Resisting Your Enemy”
Sermon Series
There are two common mistakes people make when thinking about the devil– we become preoccupied with his existence or ignore it altogether. In this series on spiritual warfare, Alistair Begg helps listeners understand the often overlooked reality that there is a war happening all around us every day. As Christians and soldiers in God’s army, The Bible calls us to understand who our enemy is, where this battle is taking place, and how to defend ourselves before we can be successful in this ongoing, unseen, and unavoidable war. Though the fate of our enemy has been decided, the battle rages on, and each of us must make use of the armor and weapons that God has given us to defend ourselves from Satan’s attacks.
– “Spiritual Warfare”: https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/spiritual-warfare/
– “The Devil and Demons”: https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/the-devil-and-demons/
– “Your Enemy the Devil”: https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/your-enemy-the-devil/
– “The Full Armor of God”: https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/the-full-armor-of-god/
– “The Soldier’s Weapons”: https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/the-soldiers-weapons/
[ Alistair Begg ]
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“Your Only Chance to Defeat the Devil”
The whole world lies in the power of Satan. Without God’s word, you have absolutely no defense—but with His word, we can’t fail to overcome.
[ John Piper ]
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“Your Deadliest Weapon Against the Devil: Eight Reasons to Memorize Scripture”
Our greatest weapon in the fight for faith is God’s word. Keep your sword with you every moment by memorizing Scripture.
[ John Piper ]
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“Spiritual Warfare Series”
“Talk To The Right Person”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAMSdA_Xc_A
“The Winners”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AJ__xsZgfs
“Fighting With Joy”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjQ15Qtoo3Y
“The Great Privilege”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvNX1k9AxjU
“Fighting Together”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_Cm26djW2Y
“The Sword”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5qGcAu692s
“The Battle of the Mind”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoAqPXH_87s
“Spiritual Warfare and Deception”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAvREkbTHAo
[ Jim Cymbala ]
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“Sermon on The Full Armor of God from Ephesians 6:10-18”
Pastor Colin Smith preached this sermon on the full armor of God from Ephesians 6 at The Orchard Evangelical Free Church
[ Colin Smith ]
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“What Does the Bible Say About Spiritual Warfare?”
Answer: There are two primary errors when it comes to spiritual warfare—over-emphasis and under-emphasis. Some blame every sin, every conflict, and every problem on demons that need to be cast out. Others completely ignore the spiritual realm and the fact that the Bible tells us our battle is against spiritual powers. The key to successful spiritual warfare is finding the biblical balance. Jesus sometimes cast demons out of people; other times He healed people with no mention of the demonic. The apostle Paul instructs Christians to wage war against the sin in themselves (Romans 6) and warns us to oppose the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:10–18).
Ephesians 6:10–12 says, “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.” This text teaches some crucial truths: we can only stand strong in the Lord’s power, it is God’s armor that protects us, and our battle is ultimately against spiritual forces of evil in the world.
Ephesians 6:13–18 is a description of the spiritual armor God gives us. We are to stand firm with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, and by praying in the Spirit. What do these pieces of spiritual armor represent in spiritual warfare? We are to know the truth, believe the truth, and speak the truth. We are to rest in the fact that we are declared righteous because of Christ’s sacrifice for us. We are to proclaim the gospel no matter how much resistance we face. We are not to waver in our faith, trusting God’s promises no matter how strongly we are attacked. Our ultimate defense is the assurance we have of our salvation, an assurance that no spiritual force can take away. Our offensive weapon is the Word of God, not our own opinions and feelings. And we are to pray in the power and will of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is our ultimate example of resisting temptation in spiritual warfare. Observe how Jesus handled direct attacks from Satan when He was tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11). Each temptation was combatted with the words “it is written.” The Word of the living God is the most powerful weapon against the temptations of the devil. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).
A word of caution concerning spiritual warfare is in order. The name of Jesus is not a magic incantation that causes demons to flee from before us. The seven sons of Sceva are an example of what can happen when people presume an authority they have not been given (Acts 19:13–16). Even Michael the archangel did not rebuke Satan in his own power but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9). When we start talking to the devil, we run the risk of being led astray as Eve was (Genesis 3:1–7). Our focus should be on God, not demons; we speak to Him, not them.
In summary, what are the keys to success in spiritual warfare? We rely on God’s power, not our own. We put on the whole armor of God. We draw on the power of Scripture—the Word of God is the Spirit’s sword. We pray in perseverance and holiness, making our appeal to God. We stand firm (Ephesians 6:13–14); we submit to God; we resist the devil’s work (James 4:7), knowing that the Lord of hosts is our protector. “Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken” (Psalm 62:2).
[ Got Questions ]
Other Resources:
https://www.gotquestions.org/full-armor-of-God.html
– Belt of Truth
https://www.gotquestions.org/belt-of-truth.html
– Breastplate of Righteousness
https://www.gotquestions.org/breastplate-of-righteousness.html
– Gospel of Peace
https://www.gotquestions.org/gospel-of-peace.html
– Shield of Faith
https://www.gotquestions.org/shield-of-faith.html
– Helmet of Salvation
https://www.gotquestions.org/helmet-of-salvation.html
– Sword of the Spirit (Word of God)
https://www.gotquestions.org/sword-of-the-Spirit.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/who-Satan.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-attack.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-battle.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/God-fights-our-battles.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/authority-rebuke-devil.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/authority-over-Satan.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/hedge-of-protection.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/warfare-prayer.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/God-allow-Satan-attack.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/Satan-God-permission.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/the-devil-made-me-do-it.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/resist-the-devil.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/God-Job-Satan.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-bondage.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-strongholds.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/demonic-strongholds.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/demonic-deliverance.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/psychological-demon.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/demonic-oppression.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-demon-possessed.html
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“Peace with God, Chapter 5: Dealing With the Devil”
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. — Ephesians 6: 12
THERE is a satanic principle involved in all that is happening today. The Bible describes “that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9) and we know him to be at work confusing all peoples and all nations. His handiwork is to be seen at every turn.
While we would like to take hope that universal peace is drawing closer, it appears instead that we are standing on the brink of Armageddon. We are told that there were hundreds of “little” wars between 1945 and 1979 which caused between twelve and thirteen million deaths. For Satan is determined that the dark, joyless river of humanity shall continue on its tormented way until the end of time. He won over Adam in the Garden, and he is convinced that he can claim the souls of Adam’s descendants for himself.
There is not a thinking person in the world today who has not wondered many times about the existence of the devil. That he does exist, there is no doubt. We see his power and influence everywhere. The question is not is there a devil, but how and why did the devil come to be?
We know from the story of Adam and Eve that the devil was already present on earth before God made the first man. Evil already existed, else God would not have made a tree whose fruit gave the awareness of good and bad. There would have been no necessity for such a tree, no possibility of it, if evil had not already been present and man been in need of protection from it.
Did God Create Evil?
Here we face the greatest of all mysteries, the most significant of all secrets, the most unanswerable of all questions. How could God — who is all-powerful, all-holy and all-loving — have created evil, or permitted the devil to create it? Why did Adam have to be tempted? Why didn’t God strike the devil dead when he entered the body of the serpent to whisper evil thoughts to Eve?
The Bible gives us a few hints as to what the answer may be. But the Bible also makes it very clear that man is not supposed to know the full answer until God has allowed the devil and all his designs to help work out His own great plan.
Before the fall of Adam, long before Adam even existed, it would appear that God’s universe was divided into spheres of influence, each of which was under the supervision and control of an angel or heavenly prince, all of whom were responsible directly to God. Paul tells us of “thrones, governments, prince-doms, and authorities” in both the visible and the invisible world (Colossians 1:16; Ephesians 1:21). The Bible makes frequent mention of angels and archangels, showing that there was established order among them, some being more powerful than others.
The devil must have been just such a powerful, heavenly prince, having the earth assigned to him, perhaps, as his special province. Known as Lucifer, the “lightbearer,” he must have stood very close to God — so close, in fact, that ambition entered his heart and he determined not to be God’s beloved prince, but to place himself on an equal footing with God Himself! Lucifer was not the counterpart of God, but the counterpart of Michael or Gabriel; he was not a fallen god, but a fallen angel.
It was at this moment that the breach appeared in the cosmos. It was at this moment that the universe — which had been all good and all harmonious to God’s will — split, and a portion of it set itself in opposition to God. Just as there are today regimes and sects that deny the existence of God or defy His authority, the devil defied God and attempted to set up his own authority. He abandoned his own position in the government of God and descended into the lower heavens and cried out that he would be like the Most High God. He had been set by God as the prince of this world; and God has not yet removed him from that position, though the righteous basis for that removal has been laid by the death of Christ. Ever since that moment, the devil has been contesting God on earth.
The Devil’s Kingdom
As a mighty prince, with hosts of angels at his command, he has set up his kingdom on earth. His power and position here are the very reasons that the Scriptures came to be written. Had Satan not defied God and attempted to rival His power and authority, the story of Adam in the Garden would have been very different. Had Satan not set himself in opposition to God, there would have been no need to give mankind the Ten Commandments, there would have been no need for God to send His Son to the cross.
Jesus and His apostles were well aware of the devil. Matthew records an actual conversation between Jesus and the devil (Matthew 4:1-10). The devil was very real to the Pharisees — so real, in fact, that they accused Jesus of being the devil himself (Matthew 12:14)! There was no doubt in Jesus’ mind of the existence of the devil, nor of the power that he wields here on earth.
The devil’s strength is clearly demonstrated in the passage from Jude 9 which relates: “But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
Modern confusion about the personality of the devil has resulted in large measure from the caricatures of him which became popular during the Middle Ages. To allay their fear of the devil, people tried to laugh at him, and pictured him as a foolish, grotesque creature with horns and a long tail. They put a pitchfork in his hand, and a feeble-minded leer on his face, and then said to themselves, “Who’s afraid of a ridiculous figure like this?”
The truth is that the devil is a creature of vastly superior intelligence, a mighty and gifted spirit of infinite resourcefulness. We forget that the devil was perhaps the greatest and most exalted of all God’s angels. He was a sublime figure, who decided to use his divine endowments for his own aims instead of God’s. His reasoning is brilliant, his plans ingenious, his logic well nigh irrefutable. God’s mighty adversary is no bungling creature with horns and tail — he is a prince of lofty stature, of unlimited craft and cunning, able to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself, able to turn every situation to his own advantage. He is unrelenting and cruel. He is not, however, all-powerful, omniscient or omnipresent.
The devil is quite capable of bringing forth the false prophet of which the Bible warns. Upon the wreckage of disbelief and faltering faith the devil will set his masterpiece, the counterfeit king. He will create a religion without a Redeemer. He will build a church without a Christ. He will call for worship without the Word of God.
The Apostle Paul predicted this when he said: “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough……..For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3, 4, 13).
The Devil and the Anti-Christ
We know that the anti-Christ will appear and try to ensnare the minds and hearts of men. The time draws close, the stage is set — confusion, panic, and fear are abroad. The signs of the false prophet are everywhere at hand, and many may be the living witnesses of the awesome moment when the final act of this age-old drama begins. It may well come in our time, for the tempo is speeding up, events move more swiftly, and on every side we see men and women consciously or unconsciously choosing up sides — aligning themselves with the devil or with God.
It will be a battle to the death, in the truest meaning of that word — a battle that will give no quarter, that will make no allowances or exceptions. The human phase of this battle started in the Garden of Eden when the devil seduced mankind from God, making it possible for there to be billions of warring wills, every man turning to his own way. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him [Christ] the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). It will continue until the end of time, until one or the other of these two mighty forces — the force of good or evil — triumphs and places the True King or the false king on the throne.
At this moment in history, two mighty trinities stand face to face: the Trinity of God (the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) and the false trinity that Satan would have us worship in its place. The trinity of evil (the devil, anti-Christ, and false prophet) is described in the Book of Revelation: “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet” (Revelation 16:13).
Never for a second of your waking or sleeping life are you without the influences of these two powerful forces, never is there a moment when you cannot deliberately choose to go with one or the other. Always the devil is standing at your side tempting, coaxing, threatening, cajoling. And always on your other side stands Jesus, the all-loving, the all-forgiving, waiting for you to turn to Him and ask His aid, waiting to give you supernatural power to resist the Evil one. You belong to one or the other. There isn’t a no-man’s land in between where you can hide.
In moments of your greatest fear and anxiety, in moments when you feel yourself helpless in the grip of events you cannot control, when despair and disappointment overwhelm you — in these moments many times it is the devil who is trying to catch you at your weakest point and push you further along the path that Adam took.
In these perilous moments remember that Christ has not deserted you. He has not left you defenseless. As He triumphed over Satan in His hour of temptation and trial, so He has promised that you, too, can have daily victory over the Tempter. Remember: “You are of God . . . and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
The same Book that tells us over and over again of God’s love, warns us constantly of the devil who would come between us and God, the devil who is ever waiting to ensnare men’s souls. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8). The Bible describes a personal devil who controls a host of demon spirits that attempt to dominate and control all human activity, “The prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2).
Don’t Doubt the Devil
Don’t doubt for a moment the existence of the devil! He is very personal and he is very real! And he is extremely clever! Perhaps the most clever thing that he has ever done is to convince people he does not exist. Look again at the front page of today’s newspaper if you have any question about the personality of the devil. Switch on your local radio or television news commentator. Note the local theater listings, glance at the magazine stands, and book racks — in short, just look around you if you feel you need concrete evidence!
Would sane, thinking men and women behave in this way if they were not in the grip of evil? Could hearts filled only with God’s love and God’s goodness conceive and carry out the acts of violence and malice that are reported to us every day? Could men of education, intelligence, and honest intent gather around a world conference table and fail so completely to understand each other’s needs and goals if their thinking was not being deliberately clouded and corrupted?
Whenever I hear an “enlightened” person of our time take issue with the plausibility of a personal, individualized devil in command of a host of evil spirits, I am reminded of this poem by Alfred J. Hough:
“Men don’t believe in the Devil now, as their fathers used to do;
They’ve forced the door of the broadest creed to let his majesty through.
There isn’t a print of his cloven foot or fiery dart from his brow
To be found on earth or air today, for the world has voted it so.
Who dogs the steps of the toiling saint and digs the pits for his feet?
Who sows the tares in the fields of time whenever God sows the wheat?
The Devil is voted not to be, and of course, the thing is true;
But who is doing the kind of work that the Devil alone can do?
We are told that he doesn’t go about as a roaring lion now;
But whom shall we hold responsible for the everlasting row
To be heard in home, in church and state, to the earth’s remotest bound,
If the Devil by unanimous vote is nowhere to be found?
Won’t someone step to the front forthwith and make their bow and show
How the frauds and crimes of a single day spring up? We want to know!
The Devil was fairly voted out, and of course, The Devil’s gone;
But simple people would like to know who carries the business on.”
Who, indeed, is responsible for the infamy, terror, and agony that we see all around us? How can we account for the sufferings that we all experience if evil is not a potent force? Modern education has, in truth, impeded our minds. Because of allegedly scientific findings, some have lost their belief in the supernatural powers of Satan, while others worship him.
George Galloway summed up this dubious contribution of current education when he said: “The theory that there is in the universe a power or principle, personal or otherwise, in eternal opposition to God is generally discarded by the modern mind.”
The modern mind may discard it, but that doesn’t cause the evil principle itself to disappear! Once asked how he overcame the devil, Martin Luther replied, “Well, when he comes knocking upon the door of my heart and asks, ’Who lives here?’ the dear Lord Jesus goes to the door and says, ’Martin Luther used to live here but he has moved out. Now I live here.’ The Devil, seeing the nail-prints in His hands, and the pierced side, takes flight immediately.”
The Certainty of Sin
Sin is certainly a grim fact! It stands like a titanic force, contesting all the good that men may try to accomplish. It stands like a dark shadow, ever ready to blot out whatever light may reach us from on high. We all know this. We all see it. We all are conscious of it in every move we make. Call it what we may, we know of its very real existence. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).
How do those who deny the devil and his minions account for the speed with which evil spreads? How do they explain the endless stumbling blocks that are placed in the path of the righteous? How can they reason away the fact that destruction and disaster are but the work of seconds, while construction and rehabilitation are often agonizingly slow?
Breathe a lie into the air, let loose a slanderous tongue — and the words are carried as by magic to the farthest corners. Speak a truth, perform a generous and honest act — and unseen powers will be at work at once to try to hide this tiny ray of light and hope.
When this book was first written thirty years ago no one built churches to the devil, no one constructed pulpits to preach his word. And yet today they do. His word is everywhere, and all too often his word is translated into desperate deeds. If no unseen power is at work corrupting men’s hearts and distorting men’s thoughts, how can you explain humanity’s eagerness to listen to the base and vulgar and vile, while it turns a deaf ear to the good and clean and pure? One has only to listen to the blasphemous words of punk rock to realize that Satan is alive and well on earth.
Would one single person among us ever pass up a piece of ripe delicious fruit to select a rotten piece that was crawling with worms and reeking with decay, if we were not driven to this dreadful choice by a great and sinister power? Yet that is exactly what we all do over and over again. We constantly pass up the rich and beautiful and ennobling experiences and seek out the tawdry, the cheap, and the degrading. These are the works of the devil, and they flourish on every side!
The Struggle Between Good and Evil
What we see happening here on earth is but a reflection of the far greater struggles between good and evil in the unseen realm. We like to think that our planet is the center of the universe, and we attach too much importance to earthly events. In our foolish pride we see with human eyes. But a struggle of infinitely greater magnitude is being waged in the world we cannot see!
The wise men of old knew this. They knew that there is much that the human eye fails to discern and much to which the human ear is deaf. Modern man likes to feel that he “created” radio, television, and computers, that he made it possible to send audible sounds and visible images through space, and to make and record impossible amounts of data. The truth is, of course, that these waves, unknown to man, have always existed, and that far greater wonders exist in outer space, of which man may never gain the slightest knowledge. That these wonders were there, the ancient prophets knew — but even they had but a suggestion of their magnitude, even they could catch but the faintest echoes of the mighty battle of the spheres.
One of the many prices Adam paid for listening to the devil was to lose the vision of spiritual dimensions. He lost for himself and all of humanity the capacity for seeing and hearing and understanding anything that was not basely material. Adam closed himself off from the eternal wonders and splendors of the unseen world. He lost the power of true prophecy, the ability to look ahead, and by so doing to better understand and perform the work of the present. He lost his sense of continuity. He became literally “dead in trespasses and sins.” He had alienated himself from God.
G. Campbell Morgan says: “Our distance from God is that of inability to know and apprehend the near. It is the distance of the blind man from the glory of the picture in front of him. The distance of the deaf man from the beauty of the symphony sounding round about him. It is the distance of the sensate man from all the movement of life in the midst of which he lives.”
But let tragedy or sickness come to us, let us suffer the consequences of our own sins, and we immediately blame God for it! We may be somewhat patient and understanding with our television sets when they do not give us what we want, but we are quick to rail against God and His universe when we get a distorted picture of it.
Let someone get the business promotion we wanted, let someone we consider less deserving succeed where we have failed, and we cry out against God’s injustice. We demand to know why God permits such inequalities! We lose sight of the fact that God, like a great master television station, is sending out a perfect image of love and righteousness all the time, and that the faulty reception lies with us!
The Evil in Our Eyesight
It is the evil and distortion within ourselves that keeps us from seeing and experiencing God’s perfect world. It is our own sin that blurs the image, that keeps us from being God’s pure children. Paul spoke for all of us when he said: “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing” (Romans 7:19). Paul recognized the dreaded enemy, the powerful foe of all mankind, and cried out, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:24-25).
Two overwhelming adversaries were clearly apparent to Paul and he was acutely aware of being torn between their mighty magnetisms. The power of good was pulling his mind and heart toward God, while the power of evil was trying to drag his body down into death and destruction.
You are caught between these same two forces: life and death! Choose God’s way, and there is life. Choose Satan’s way, and it is death!
[ Billy Graham ]
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“Spiritual Warfare”
Tim Keller sermons via Gospel in Life: Modern people are uncomfortable with the existence of evil, let alone the existence of the Devil. Yet, the Bible teaches that we cannot fully understand the world we live in unless we realize that there are supernatural agents of evil. But it is not enough to believe in the Devil; a Christian must study his methods. Satan practices evil subtly. He tempts and accuses people rather than overthrowing their will. Temptation is when the Devil asks us to ignore the holiness of God. Accusation is when he blinds us to the love and grace of God.
[ Timothy Keller ]
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“Why Satan Is Left on Earth?”
Incentives in the Battle for Joy in Jesus.
Part of the problem of evil is the problem of why Satan is given so much freedom to harm the world, when God has the right and power to throw him in the pit. God will one day do away with Satan altogether (Revelation 20:3, 10). That will be no injustice to Satan. Nor would it be unjust for God to do it today. So why doesn’t He, in view of how much misery Satan causes?
Satan roams like a devouring lion to destroy faith (1 Peter 5:8); he makes people sick and diseased (Acts 10:38); he tempts to sin (Luke 22:3-4); he blinds the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4); he takes people captive to do his will (2 Timothy 2:26); he kills (Revelation 2:10). One day God will stop him from doing this. Why doesn’t He stop him now? [ more… ].
[ John Piper ]
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/why-satan-is-left-on-earth
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“Why Satan Is Left on Earth Incentives in the Battle for Joy in Jesus”
“Can Believers Bind Satan?”
There is pervasive confusion among many modern evangelical churches—especially those that are charismatic—regarding Satan’s activities and operations.
Modern worship anthems that are focused on spiritual warfare tell Christians to go to “the enemy’s camp” and take “back what he stole” from them. Prayers are offered up to put hedges around believers. Furthermore, it is widely thought that the louder and more fervent the prayer, the more effective it is for binding Satan. But is this really the true role of Christians in the realm of spiritual warfare?
In the following audio, John MacArthur shares from his own experiences with bizarre spiritual warfare and provides valuable biblical insight into how Christians should, and should not, respond to the satanic realm.
The Strange Fire conference will provide much-needed clarity and correction to the mass confusion on the evangelical landscape regarding spiritual warfare. For more information about Strange Fire, please visit the conference website.
[ John MacArthur ]
https://www.gty.org/library/strangefire
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“God’s Strategy for Winning in Spiritual Warfare”
Being engaged in spiritual warfare confirms you are a child of God. Pastor Greg teaches on how to use the armor of God to stand, fight, and be victorious over the enemy’s strategies.
[ Greg Laurie ]
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“How to Overcome the Devil”
Are you in continuous, repeated sin? There are things Satan doesn’t want us to know. Pastor Greg shares how we can overcome the Devil and his temptations by being obedient to the Word of God and gain ground in this spiritual battle.
[ Greg Laurie ]
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“4 Ways Satan Tries to Devour Us through Facebook”
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)
Social media has no doubt changed the way we think and live, but how beneficial is that for those in Christ?
I believe that social media can be an effective platform for the spread of the gospel. There are plenty of Christ-centered resources in the online community that I use on a daily basis to help me grow spiritually. But if we’re honest, we probably spend a small portion of our time advancing our spiritual growth, while the rest is spent on aimless scrolling. We spend hours a day consuming endless information, pictures, and videos without any safeguard for our minds. For Christians, I’ve found that this is dangerous territory. This potentially turns the mind into an open plain, with Satan prowling through the grass like a lion, waiting to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
Here are four ways the enemy tries to devour you through social media:
1. Satan wants your marriage.
It starts with a like here, and a like there. She’s only a friend. You justify the innocent interaction of the like button because it doesn’t cross any solid lines. You gradually push the boundary line further and further back. Maybe the likes and comments lead to private conversations. Remember, sin is never satisfied with the amount of you it has.
Sooner or later you are hiding conversations from your spouse. Before you know it, you’re involved in a mental, perhaps even a physical affair.
Many studies show that Facebook is the most common place that an affair starts. I’ve seen it happen to close godly friends that thought they would never get to that point. Unless you have safeguards in place, it can happen to you.
I used to roll my eyes when I saw couples with joint Facebook accounts, or shared passwords. But now I get why most of them do it. Those couples realize the dangers. Those couples are fighting for what they have.
Give your spouse access to your social media. Believe me, having that accountability is absolutely necessary. You are far less tempted to hide anything. And if you have anything to hide from your spouse, it is more than likely sinful.
“Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.” (Song of Solomon 2:15)
2. Satan wants your pure thoughts.
If you are fighting the sin of lust, I suggest taking a break from social media, perhaps even indefinitely. Your relationship with God is infinitely more valuable than Facebook.
Aimlessly scrolling through the mind-numbing newsfeed is one of the most dangerous things a Christian can do. In my experience, that’s where pure thoughts go to die. We live in a pornographic culture and it is almost impossible to avoid while scrolling. Couple that with the ease of giving into lustful thoughts and it’s a disaster for holy living.
The temptation to scroll back up for one more look is even more dangerous because its privately done. Satan will whisper that it’s okay to look because there’s no harm. Who’s going to know? It can be your little pet sin. But just like I mentioned in the previous section, it won’t stop there.
Unfollow, unfriend, or delete your account if you have to. Remember the areas that caused you to stumble before and run the other way. But don’t merely run from them, run to the open arms of Christ Jesus. Run to the promises of His Word.
Matthew 5:8 tells us that the pure in heart will see God! Keep your heart pure and fixed on the Father. Get rid of anything that might hinder that. It’s absolutely worth it, and absolutely deadly if you don’t.
“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.” (1 Peter 4:7)
3. Satan wants your time.
Social media is a very handy tool that Satan uses to rip your attention and affection from God. John Piper quips, “One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time.”
Ouch.
If you compare your daily amount of time spent on Facebook to prayer, how does it measure up? If the former is greater, I wouldn’t simply shrug that off. Psalm 1 tells us the blessed man meditates day and night on the Word of God. How can we know what to pray unless we meditate on His Word? How can we read the Word, much less meditate on it day and night if we’re constantly scrolling through social media? We’re simply choosing the pleasures of this world rather than spending time with the God of the universe. It’s that simple.
Because we’re not pursuing God like we should, we get bored and are attempting to fill the void with constant entertainment. I’m guilty of pulling up Facebook at the slightest bit of boredom. It’s almost second nature to us now. But what if God is wanting to meet you in your boredom to reveal His purpose to you?
Get away from the constant newsfeed noise that the enemy wants to use to fog your mind.
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)
4. Satan wants your worship.
I don’t mean devil-worshiping as in pentagrams, black robes, or any of that garbage. What I’m talking about is much more subtle and inward-focused. Social media can train us to worship the idol of self. We essentially create mini shrines of ourselves, striving for praise via the almighty like.
Satan wants you focused on yourself. If you’re inward-focused, you won’t be focused on Jesus. Satan wants your source of self worth to only be found in the empty praise and attention of others, not the atoning blood of Christ.
You can’t be self-absorbed and have compassion for others. If the enemy can keep us distracted by keeping our faces buried in a screen, then we won’t be able to see the hurting world around us. We certainly won’t be missions-minded if we’re consumed with our own lives.
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)
In 1 Corinthians 10:31, Paul tells us to glorify God in whatever we do. This includes social media. We can either wield Facebook for God’s glory, or Satan’s.
[ Topher Haddox ]
*****************************
“Don’t Believe in a Devil”
Men don’t believe in a devil now,
As their fathers used to do;
They reject one creed because it’s old
For another because it’s new.
There’s not a print of his cloven foot,
Nor a fiery dart from his bow,
To be found in the earth or air today!
At least—they declare it is so!
But who is it mixes the fatal draught
That palsies heart and brain,
And loads the bier of each passing year
With its hundred thousand slain.
But who blights the bloom of the land today;
With the fiery breath of hell?
If it isn’t the devil that does the work,
Who does? Won’t somebody tell?
Who dogs the steps of the toiling saint?
Who spreads the net for his feet?
Who sows the tares in the world’s broad field.
Where the Saviour sows his wheat?
If the devil is voted not to be,
Is the verdict, therefore, true?
Some one is surely doing the work
The devil was thought to do.
They may say the devil has never lived,
They may say the devil is gone;
But simple people would like to know
Who carries the business on?
[ Alfred J. Hough ]
*****************************
“Resist Him”
(Parody of “Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac)
The enemy likes to dwell in the night
And work on you undercover
Takes a disguise but his words are lies and
Through them evil hovers
All your life you’ve never seen
Someone waitin’ in the wings
But when Satan comes he’s too clever
So you never will
Resist while you can with your heart
Against the prince of darkness
He rules the sky but the Lord’s our light and
Wins the fight regardless
All your life you’ve fled the scene
C’mon, take it like a man
What did James preach on in 4:7?
When the devil grins
Will you let him win?
Resist him
Resist him
Resist him
Resist him
He brings lives to hell with delight
And he’s settin’ you up to suffer
He was alive when the earth arrived and
Fooled old Eve, your mother
All your life you’ve never seen
The One takin’ on your sins
God the Savior promised you Heaven
Will you let Him in?
Kill the devil’s sin
Resist him
Resist him
Resist him
Satan’s lies
Take you by surprise
Satan’s lies
Take you by surprise
Satan’s lies
Take you by surprise
Jesus Christ
Crushes Satan’s lies
Jesus Christ
Crushes Satan’s lies
[ ApologetiX – “Music Is As Music Does” album ]
*****************************
“Read Ephesians”
(Parody of “Sweet Emotion” by Aerosmith)
Read Ephesians, Read Ephesians
Talk about things I know God prepares
Spiritual things that your body wears
Call ’em by name, but I gotta make clear
You can’t stand baby if you leave ’em in here
One piece of the armor is a plate of righteousness
It’s a get-up that goes up on top of your chest
And your Gospel shoes, these are real good tires
And the belt of truth to get your pants up higher
Read Ephesians, Read Ephesians
You put on the salvation helmet to start
But the devil overtook you with his little cruel darts
Your shield of faith keeps them from goin’ inside
They can’t touch you if you have it on tight
Stand then firm ’cause when Satan attacks
I think you better pray, did ya think about that
The Word of God’s somethin’ that’s a sword on your hand
And He wants you to know it and to read and understand
Read Ephesians, Read Ephesians
[ ApologetiX – “The Boys Aren’t Backing Down” album ]
*****************************
“Sin Can Be Resistible”
(Parody of “Simply Irresistible” by Robert Palmer)
We cannot be invincible – but God provides the principle
For Baptist or Episcopal – that any sin’s resistible
Sin’s pervasive – can’t ignore it – it’s a powerful force
But He’ll provide a way out when there’s no other door
And you can stay put or leave – but now I’ve found that
Sin can be resistible
Our lusts can be so powerful – that sin seems unavoidable
But James says if we resist the devil,
He’ll run away so miserable
It’s a natural law – that no temptation befalls ya
’Cept the kind that is common to the rest of us all
It used to look good to me – but now I find that
Sin can be resistible
Please hold tight – there’s no tellin’ when he’ll run away
Jesus Christ tells the devil where to go
Sin’s unavoidable but that don’t mean we’ll fall
Read First Corinthians verse 10:13 because
God made a promise, baby, Satan ain’t allowed
To tempt us more than we can bear I’ve found that
Sin can be resistible …
LEAD
Our weapons aren’t shootable – but truth is irrefutable
Our struggle isn’t physical – so fight him with the biblical
Jesus faced him in the desert – he’s a powerful tempter
Even Christ could have fallen – but you know He knew better
He used the Good Book you see – that’s how we find out
Sin can be resistible …
[ ApologetiX – “Spoofernatural” album ]
*****************************
“Matching Punches”
(Parody of “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” by Smashing Pumpkins)
The world is an empire – Satan’s domain
Seeks to destroy you – pull you down to the flames
And what I get? Am I afraid
To face the fire and die in Jesus’ name?
Even though I know – I’m opposed by foes
Who are cruel and cold – I feel bold
In spite of their rage I am filled with a radical faith
In spite of my age I am filled with a radical faith
And someone could say I was lost yet now I’ve been saved
Despite my mistakes I am filled with a radical faith
And I will make it – not being bullied anymore
You’d better face it – the devil wants your soul
You gotta hold on – he’ll run away
You gotta choose God – and read 4:7 James
Even though I know – I’ll expose my soul
To the cruel and cold – I feel bold
CHORUS
Tell me I’m so lowly scum
I’ll tell you ‘bout God’s only Son
Jesus loves His chosen ones
And Hell can never overcome
Jesus died for everyone – for you
CHORUS
In spite of their rage I am filled with a radical
In spite of my age I am filled with a radical
Despite my mistakes I am filled with a radical faith
Tell me I’m some lowly scum
I’ll tell you ‘bout the Father’s love
Jesus died for everyone – for you
And I still believe and I cannot be swayed
And I still believe and I am not afraid
And I still believe that a man must be brave
And I still believe that a man must be saved
[ ApologetiX – “Apoplectic” album ]
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“Devil Fell”
(Parody of “Rebel Yell” by Billy Idol)
That’s right, there is a danger when answering your door
The Bible says that angels can come from another source
He sends them all beaming with false light and false love
Where did they get this brightness? He fell from above
Because
It’s the midnight hour, so find the Lord, Lord, Lord
When the devil fell, he cried war, war, war!
Whoa! It’s the midnight hour, babe – draw your sword
It’s in Revel. 12 — more, more, more, war, war, war!
He don’t look unsavory, he don’t dress in red
But when you try his roadway it leads to death
John 10:10’s creed – I want you to read, babe
God’ll set you free
You need to hear my plea
CHORUS
You’ll think he looks like a gift from Heaven
But check it in Second Corinthians 11
Well, he shines false light to project a glare
Check First John verse 4:1 and don’t get unprepared
Hey! Oh!
Christ watched him fall in Luke 10
As lighting strikes – it’s true
He’ll try to sear your brain, men
A trillion trials for you
He’ll steal your soul from you, friend
He wants you to burn with him
Why risk it all to have fun, then?
Listen, listen, listen, you have to hear my plea
CHORUS
Beware the devil’s angels
They want more
1:8, 9 in Galatians
They want more
More, more, more, more, war!
[ ApologetiX – “Singles Group” album ]
*****************************
“Cunning is the Devil”
(Parody of “Running with the Devil” by Van Halen)
I lived my life like there’s no good morals
Didn’t follow God – I laughed at Sheol
He’s not extinct — no stegosaurus
Yes, God is livin’ and old Satan’s real
Oooh yeah – hey-uh-uhh
Cunning is the Devil
Uh huh yeah-eah
Woo hoo woo
Cunning is the Devil
He’ll tell you all to doubt it
I found the sinful life ain’t so simple
Ain’t no snowplows — on that road
It got so rough – too rough to “four-wheel”
It’s like my body – Satan controlled
Ah yeah-eh-eh!
Cunning is the Devil
God said it, baby – you know He ain’t lyin’ to you
He’s only gonna tell you what’s right — uhhh yeah
Cunning is the Devil
Guess I’m scammed – Yeah!
You know I — I found the sinful life weren’t so simple, no
And I slumped down from that load
I got so low – so low I could kneel
I talked to God and — gave Him control
Uhhh yeah
Come and leave the Devil
Oh, God – Oh, God, I’m coming! Ahhhhh, yeah
Come and leave the Devil
Uh! Uh! I don’t want more time
Heyyyyy yeah!
Come and leave the Devil
Uh yuh Uh yuhhhh yeah!
Come and leave the Devil
Wwoo! Wwwoo!
Come and leave the Devil
Uh huh, yeah! Uh huh, yeah! Uh-uh huh, yeah!
Come and leave the Devil
Ooo!
[ ApologetiX – “Only a Glorified Cover Band” album ]
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“The Devil Went Down to Jordan”
(Parody of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by Charlie Daniels)
The devil went down to the Jordan
He was lookin’ for a show to steal
He was in a bind ’cause Jesus came to find
The people willing to make it real
And he came upon the Son of Man
Saw He had no vittles and was prayin’ to God
Then the devil jumped upon the chance to tempt Him
Said “Boy, let me tell ya, it’s hot!”
“I guess you didn’t know it but I’m a vittle craver too
“And kid I’m scared this desert air might get the best of you
“Now you ain’t been eatin’ your vittles boy
“But, kid, your dinner is due
“So if you’re really God’s son, then turn these stones
To bread and I’ll butter it for you.”
The Lord said, “I am hungry, but that would be a sin
“Cause it ain’t by bread man’s gonna be fed
“But by the Word God’s given him.”
John the Baptist washed the Lord and there’s where it all starts
Cause Jesus left the Jordan and the devil hit Him hard
And if He wins we get to walk on Heaven’s streets of gold
But if He sins, the devil gets your soul
The devil took Him up in space and said, “Christ, start to throw
“Yourself off of this temple top as I’m watchin’ from below
“Cause I’m sure You know that God will bring
“All His angels to assist
“And then men would believe that You’re Him
“If they saw You did something like this”
When the devil finished, Jesus said
“Well, you’re temptin’ God, old son
And it’s written down in that book right there
That thing shouldn’t ever be done”
Shout from the mountain what God’s done
The devil ain’t a match for the rising Son
You can never tempt God, did you not know
Man, he doesn’t live by bread alone
The devil finally said, “Jesus, if You’ll just worship me
Then I’ll give you gold that glitters
All these crowns, and all You see”
Jesus said, “Devil, just turn on back
Cause I’m never gonna buy your scam
I love God too much, I’m gonna resist
I’d suggest you’d better scram!”
And we say
CHORUS
[ ApologetiX – “Grace Period” album ]
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“Drop of Lucifer”
(Parody of “Drops of Jupiter” by Train)
Now that he’s back in the atmosphere the drop of Lucifer is severe
He acts like somehow his worldwide reign
Reminds him of his diamond days
Till the return of the Way and the Truth
He’s livin’ like a king and he talks like it too
Tell me, are you sad you crossed the Son
Did you fake it so the millions may believe
Your light’s not faded and that Heaven is overrated
Tell me, did you fall like a shooting star
One day you’ll be burning in fire
I’m glad you missed me while you were booking your hotel down there
Now Christ came back with our soul salvation
Saving the day to your consternation
I checked out Romans, found He loves my soul
Reminds me that He’s assumed control
Now that He’s back and the coast is clear
I’m afraid that we might think of you as
A plain old angel you’re scarier than that
Though I’m not afraid to die still the devil’s pretty bad
But tell me, did your sin sweep you off your seat
Did you finally face the fact you’ll stand alone in latter days
Get paid back for your filthy ways
Tell me, did Jesus blow your mind?
Did you ever think He wanted to die?
I read your history while I was lookin’ at 14:12 in Isaiah
I do imagine you love tryin’ to deep-fry Christians
You get them always slippin’ up for you
Even when they know you’re wrong
But you’re no match for that verse 10:8,9 Romans
Find out from Revelation
You’ll get yours later but you’re never havin’ me
But tell me, did your sin sweep you off your seat
Did you finally get the chance to glance at all the Bible says
Will happen to you anyway
Tell me, are you sad you crossed the Son
Did you make it through the gilded page to see your final fate in
Chapter 20 in Revelation
Tell me, did you fall like a shooting star
One day now the serpent gets squashed
In Romans 16 verse 20 lookee for yourself
And did you finally get the chance to check Ezekiel 28
And did you fall like a shooting star, fall like a shooting star
And now you’re only booking your hotel down there
[ ApologetiX – “Grace Period” album ]
*****************************
“Tufftumbling”
(Parody of “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba)
Truth is my thoughts were shattered
My heart was bruised and … battered
Because I’d fallen
But God was there when all the people scattered
We’ll be strengthened
When we’re weakened
If we seek Him
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
Though seven times he hits the ground
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
The devil can’t keep him down
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
In Proverbs it’s easily found
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
Verse 24:16 now
Facing a tidal wave
Pacing and wide awake
You think some risky things
Have put you on the brink
It makes you start to think
You’re gonna slide or sink
I think that God’s right behind you through the good times
He sees you fall and He guides you to the better times
Don’t panic boy, panic boy, panic boy
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
Though seven times he hits the ground
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
The devil can’t keep him down
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
37th Psalm will teach you how
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
Verse 24 seek it out
This ain’t your final day
This is the time to pray
You think some risky things
Have put you on the brink
It makes you start to think
You’re gonna slide or sink
I think that God’s right behind you through the good times
He sees you fall and He guides you to the better times
So — try to be — extra patient
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
Though seven times he hits the ground
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
The devil can’t keep him down
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
In Proverbs it’s easily found
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
Verse 24:16 now
INSTRUMENTAL
(The) righteous falls down (We’ll be strengthened)
But rises up again
Though seven times he hits the ground (When we’re weakened)
(The) righteous falls down (If we seek Him)
But rises up again
The devil can’t keep him down (Woo ooh ooh)
(The) righteous falls down (We’ll be strengthened)
But rises up again
In Proverbs it’s easily found (When we’re weakened)
(The) righteous falls down (If we seek Him)
But rises up again
Verse 24:16 now (Woo ooh ooh)
(The) righteous falls down (We’ll be strengthened)
But rises up again (This ain’t your final day)
Though seven times he hits the ground (When we’re weakened)
(The) righteous falls down (If we seek Him)
But rises up again (This is the time to pray)
The devil can’t keep him down (Woo ooh ooh)
(The) righteous falls down (We’ll be strengthened)
But rises up again (This ain’t your final day)
37th Psalm will teach you how (When we’re weakened)
(The) righteous falls down (If we seek Him)
But rises up again (This is the time to pray)
Verse 24 seek it out (Woo ooh ooh)
(The) righteous falls down (We’ll be strengthened)
But rises up again (This ain’t your final day)
Though seven times he hits the ground (When we’re weakened)
(The) righteous falls down (If we seek Him)
But rises up again (This is the time to pray)
The devil can’t keep him down (Woo ooh ooh)
(The) righteous falls down (We’ll be strengthened)
But rises up again (This ain’t your final day)
In Proverbs it’s easily found (When we’re weakened)
(The) righteous falls down (If we seek Him)
But rises up again (This is the time to pray)
Verse 24:16 now (Woo ooh ooh)
(The) righteous falls down (We’ll be strengthened)
But rises up again (This ain’t your final day)
Though seven times he hits the ground (When we’re weakened)
(The) righteous falls down (If we seek Him)
But rises up again (This is the time to pray)
The devil can’t keep him down (Woo ooh ooh)
(The) righteous falls down (We’ll be strengthened)
But rises up again (This ain’t your final day)
37th Psalm will teach you how (When we’re weakened)
(The) righteous falls down (If we seek Him)
But rises up again (This is the time to pray)
Verse 24 seek it out (Woo ooh ooh)
[ ApologetiX – “Play Nice” album ]
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“One More Wall”
(Parody of “Wonderwall” by Oasis)
Today is gonna be the day
Those in Jericho will have to move
Right now the trumpets gonna sound
We will rise up and conquer you
You don’t believe that anyone can
Really break on through behind your wall
I see the warriors laugh at me
From the tower as they all look out
They’re sure the wall is so secure
And they never even had a doubt
They don’t believe that anyone can
Really break on through behind the wall
But all who war with Joshua are finding
In all the fights it seems the Lord’s behind me
There are many Israelites
To fight today with you – but you won’t come out
So, baby
Our God will make your wall just cave in
’Cause after all
You’re just one more wall
Today the story is the same
As in Joshua in chapter six
Right now there’s walls comin’ down
Even like the one in East Berlin
Why don’t you read Second Corinthians*
10, ’cause when you do, it tells you how
Our weapons are not fleshly but they’re mighty
For pulling down all fortresses and high things
Every single thing that tries
To fight the way of truth – will be broken down
And then Satan
Is gonna see his kingdom taken
It has to fall
It’s just one more wall
I said, Satan
Is gonna be the one that’s shaken
He has to fall
He’s just one more wall
I said, Satan (said Satan)
Is gonna be the one that’s shaken (that’s shaken)
Is gonna be the one that’s shaken (that’s shaken)
Is gonna be the one that’s shaken (that’s shaken)
[ ApologetiX – “Apoplecetic” album ]
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“Paranormal”
(Parody of “Destroyer” by The Kinks)
Met a girl called Zelda with a book attacking my faith
Dealin’ with familiar spirits — scented candles everywhere
Stop! Oh, Lord, save this one’s soul
Girl, I let the Spirit lead, but the spirit guiding you is not guiding me
And have you read what the Lord said?
Cause He prohibits necromancing the dead
And since He blew through — inside of me
He teaches stuff to Me — from the Truth — something you never knew
Paranormal things destroy ya — paranormal things destroy ya
Well, I tell her straight, and I quote, “Spirit guides are snares”
Zelda looked at me and said, “Dude, you look so scared”
And she said, “Man, there’s really nothing wrong with it
“Some say they’re gonna help instruct”
“You’re wrong,” I shout, “they can’t help you out
“They’ll tell you good things so you’ll sin and sell yourself out”
Spirit voices they’ll destroy ya — spirit voices they’ll destroy ya
Spirit voices got so much bad info
So what you came for is not what you drive home
You’ll grow involved with the paranormal
Till no one can cure ya — they’ll destroy ya
And the ghosts like tricks — hear me, girl
Paranormal things destroy ya
Spirits pose as friends
Paranormal things destroy ya
LEAD
Stop this nonsense, Zelda, please, I’ll help you understand
There’s a ton of verses I could read on this stuff with God’s commands
There’s Isaiah 8 verse 19
And there’s Leviticus 20 verse 6
You see, they’re not ghosts, baby, it’s just a façade
’Cause there’s an enemy, drawing you, snaring you — it’s the truth
Spirit voices they’ll destroy ya — paranormal things destroy ya
They’ll destroy ya — check yourself
Deuteronomy 18, verse 9-12
And my advice can help instruct ya
You might refuse but they’ll corrupt ya
(Yeah, and they won’t like this, no, they won’t)
Paranormal things destroy ya
(That’s some clairvoyance)
Paranormal things destroy ya
(Hey, hey, hear me, girl)
Paranormal things destroy ya
(And they won’t like this)
Paranormal things destroy ya
(Yeah, they don’t like this!)
[ ApologetiX – “Xit Ego Lopa” Album ]
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“Not Named Job”
(Parody of “Old Time Rock and Roll” by Bob Seger)
Just take that old Bible off the shelf
I’m sick of feelin’ sorry for myself
Today’s problems might be bad but even so
I thank the Lord that I’m not named Job
Job was righteous man with lots of wealth He had a family and perfect health
But Satan took it all and tried to steal his soul I thank the Lord that I’m not named Job
I thank the Lord that I’m not named Job
That kind of sufferin’ would kill my soul When I start gettin’ down and feelin’ low
I thank the Lord that I’m not named Job
He lost his family, he lost his sheep
He lost his animals, his friends were creep
He lost his temper, man, but not his control
I thank the Lord that I’m not named Job CHORUS
Call it a fable but I know it’s true
Say I’m old-fashioned but I’ll say this to you I’m just so awful glad it happened long ago
I thank the Lord that I’m not named Job
[ ApologetiX – “Rare, Not Well Done” album ]
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“The War In You”
(Parody of “The Warrior” by Scandal featuring Patty Smyth)
Ohhhhhh – oh oh oh ohhhhh
Oh oh oh whoa oh oh oh oh
You’re undone – you run away
Cause your heart – led you astray
Failing God – a hundred times
How could your Lord still sympathize?
When is His love limited?
He brought gifts for the war ahead
Break out of passivity
And follow me and stare at First John 4, child
I think you’ll feel
Verse 4’s real wild
Supernatural walls are falling – slam bang!
I sense the war in you
But I sense some more in you?
It’s not too hard to win if you serve Christ
The Lord in you — is more in you
You don’t know what you need
You’ll find such things biblically
Things we need to take the fight
Ephesians 6, the armor of Christ
Oh oh ho oh
Use that armor – use your faith
You need to read — Romans 8
The Holy Ghost – He intercedes
I don’t wanna name your innermost trials
We’ll all be changed – they’ll be gone in a while
Supernatural walls are falling – slam bang!
I sense the war in you
But I sense some more in you?
It’s not too hard to win if you serve Christ
The Lord in you
Is more in you
I sense the Lord in you
LEAD
Supernatural walls are falling
(Supernatural walls are falling)
The war in you
I sense the war in you
It’s not too hard to win
Not too hard to win if you serve Christ
The Lord in you
Is more in you
Supernatural walls are falling – slam bang!
I sense the war in you
But I sense some more in you? There’s victory in Christ
(Supernatural walls are falling) Don’t worry, you
I sense the Lord in you
Supernatural walls are falling – slam bang!
I sense the war in you
But I sense some more in you?
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.
[ ApologetiX – “The War In You/Bad Things for a Good Time” download ]
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DEEP THOUGHTS:
“The only way you’re living your best life now is if you’re going to hell.”
[ John MacArthur ]
“If Satan can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.”
[ Adrian Rogers ]
“It’s not a sin to be tempted the sin of temptation is not in debate; it’s in the bite.”
[ Greg Laurie ]
“Even though Satan might have already lost the war, but he wants to take as many people down with him before the end.”
[ Brandon Powell ]
“The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.”
[ Dwight L. Moody ]
“Satan can’t keep God from answering our prayers, but he will keep us from asking.”
[ Adrian Rogers ]
“Satan is now like a caged lion, enraged beyond words by the limitations now placed upon his freedom. He picks himself up from the dust of the earth, shakes his fist at the sky, and glares around, choking with fury for ways to vent his hatred and spite upon humankind.”
[ John Phillips ]
“The early church used prayer not to remove trouble, but for boldness to go through it.”
[ Kevin DeYoung ]
“Instead of praying for comfort, we should pray that the Lord would get us into the right kind of trouble.”
[ Albert Mohler ]
“The Devil is vicious, but he is not victorious.”
[ Lisa Terkeurst ]
“Words such as these appear to me clear, plain, and unmistakable. They all teach one and the same great lesson, if we are willing to receive it. That lesson is that true Christianity is a struggle, a fight, and a warfare.”
[ J.C. Ryle ]
“Know it or not, like it or not, you and I are in a war! And we need to begin living as if we were in a battle for our lives. Because, in fact, we are.”
[ Stu Weber ]
“The true Christian is called to be a soldier and must behave as such from the day of his conversion to the day of his death. He is not meant to live a life of religious ease, and indolence, and security. He must never imagine for a moment that he can sleep and does along the way to heaven.”
[ J.C. Ryle ]
“Satan continues his efforts to make sin less offensive, Heaven less appealing, hell less horrific, and the Gospel less urgent.”
[ John MacArthur ]
“The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”
[ Ann Graham Lotz ]
“The saddest symptom about many so-called Christians is the utter absence of anything like conflict and fight against spiritual apathy in their Christianity. They eat, they drink, they dress, they work, they amuse themselves, they get money, they spend money, they go through a brief round of formal religious services once or twice every week. But of the great spiritual warfare – its watchings and strugglings, its agonies and anxieties, its battles and contests – of all things they appear to know nothing at all. Let us take care that this case is not our own.”
[ J. C. Ryle ]
“The vice I am talking of is Pride or Self-Conceit: and the virtue opposite to it, in Christian morals, is called Humility…According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea bites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.”
[ C.S. Lewis ]
“It was price that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”
[ C.S. Lewis ]
“The great trouble with the world today and with the church unfortunately, is that they know so little about the devil and the principalities and powers. Much teaching concerning holiness and sanctification never even mentions the devil and these powers at all.”
[ D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones ]
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased with both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”
[ C.S. Lewis ]
“Christians do have to engage in a great struggle against the wiles and temptations of the devil, but nowhere in the New Testament is temptation resisted by a process of commanding demons to lose their hold and leave a Christians mind or body. Satan is resisted by being denied success in the temptation.”
[ Peter Masters ]
“If you are not just now being assailed by any temptation, it is because God is delivering you from it. Yet it may be that Satan is planning some fresh temptation with which to assail you; but, though he desires to have you that he may sift you as wheat, Christ is praying for you, that your faith fail not.”
[ Charles H. Spurgeon ]
“Unbelief is… the king sin, the quintessence of guilt, the mixture of the venom of all crimes, the dregs of the wine of Gomorrah, the root sin, the masterpiece of Satan, the chief work of the Devil.” [ Charles Spurgeon ]
RELATED BIBLE VERSES:
“Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
[ James 4:7 ]
“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.”
[ 2 Corinthian 10:3-6 ]
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
[ John 14:27 ]
“You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord?”
[ Acts 13:10 ]
But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
[ Mark 8:33 ]
“For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”
[ Romans 5:10 ]
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
[ 1 Peter 5:8 ]
“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
[ 2 Corinthians 11:14 ]
“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
[ John 8:44 ]
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
[ James 4:7 ]
“And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”
[ Revelation 12:9 ]
“But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”
[ 2 Corinthians 11:3 ]
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
[ John 10:10 ]
“And give no opportunity to the devil.”
[ Ephesians 4:27 ]
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”
[ Ephesians 6:11 ]
“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
[ 2 Corinthians 4:4 ]
“And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
[ Revelation 12:9-12 ]
“But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
[ Matthew 16:23 ]
“And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”
[ Luke 10:18 ]
“We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”
[ 1 John 5:19 ]
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
[ Ephesians 6:12 ]
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.”
[ Isaiah 14:12-15 ]
“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land”
[ Job 1:6-12 ]
“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 20:10 ]
“Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.”
[ John 12:31 ]
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.”
[ Hebrews 2:14 ]
“I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,”
[ John 14:30 ]
“Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.”
[ 1 Chronicles 21:1 ]
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,”
[ Colossians 1:13 ]
“In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.”
[ Ephesians 2:2 ]
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,”
[ Luke 22:31 ]
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
[ Matthew 25:41 ]
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!”
[ Isaiah 14:12 ]
“And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,”
[ Revelation 20:2 ]
“The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,”
[ 2 Thessalonians 2:9 ]
“And they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”
[ 2 Timothy 2:26 ]
“Because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.”
[ 1 Thessalonians 2:18 ]
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
[ Genesis 3:1 ]
“And said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?”
[ Acts 13:10 ]
“So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.”
[ 2 Corinthians 2:11 ]
“And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time,”
[ Luke 4:1-13 ]
“Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
[ 1 Corinthians 7:5 ]
“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”
[ Luke 10:19 ]
“But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?”
[ Acts 5:3 ]
“The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,”
[ Matthew 13:38 ]
“Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.”
[ Matthew 12:29 ]
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”
[ Matthew 4:1 ]
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“A quick summary of the Christian “Gospel”:
JESUS’ PROPITIATION made our SINS FORGIVEN and IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS to us so that we have GOD’S ACCEPTANCE into His Heaven and ETERNAL LIFE.”
[ Mark Besh ]
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Hope you enjoyed some of these insights—share them with your friends and colleagues—so we can have a larger ‘pool’ to receive from, and more to share with! Also, remember to include your name as the “source,” if some of this wisdom is of your doing—I would like to give credit where credit is due!
The Whole Armor of God
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”
[ Ephesians 6:10-20 ]
Mark
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If you have a ‘neat’ story or some thoughts about an issue or current event that you would like me to try to respond to, I would be glad to give it a try…so, send them to me at: mbesh@comcast.net
Disclaimer: All the above jokes & inspirations are obtained from various sources and copyright are used when known. Other than our name and headers, we do not own the copyright to any of the materials sent to this list. We just want to spread the ministry of God’s love and cheerfulness throughout the world.
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LIFE'S DEEP THOUGHTS 