Weapons of Our Warfare

We are in an unseen spiritual warfare. There is a battle taking place, and you may not know who or what is behind this. You may feel alone, maybe your church has never discussed this topic. Perhaps you need to know what you are going through is part of the Christian walk, however, God has given us some instructions for the warfare.

 

Put on the shield of faith.

The enemy wants to destroy your walk with God, and will make attempts to do so. It is not a matter of if you will engage in this battle, but when. You must be prepared and guarded for this time. Victory is yours, but sometimes you will go through battles of the unseen world. Be of good courage, because the Lord will see you through. Just don’t give in during the warfare. The struggle may seem endless and hopeless, but that is a lie of the enemy; keep pressing through until triumph.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

Those who are not “flesh and blood” are demons over whom satan has control. We don’t fight with people, but these unseen forces. They are a powerful army whose goal it is to defeat Christ’s church. When we believe in Christ, these demons try and turn us away from Christ and back to sin. Although we are assured of victory, we must engage in the struggle until Christ returns.

We need supernatural power to defeat satan, and God has provided this by giving us His Holy Spirit within us and His armor surrounding us. We do not fight alone, nor must we try and engage in this warfare alone.

Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Ephesians 6:16

What we see are satan’s attacks in the form of insults, setbacks, and temptations. But the shield of faith protects us from satan’s fiery darts. With God’s perspective, we can see beyond our circumstances and know that ultimate victory is ours.

What are some weapons of warfare:

1.      Prayer. Ask The Lord to dispatch His Warrior, guardian angels.

2.      Praise; play worship music in your home continually.

3.      Stand still and allow God to battle for you.

4.      Trust God and have faith that the victory will come.

5.      Use the authority you have in Christ to command the enemy to flee.

6.   Plead the blood of Jesus over yourself, your family, home, and children. The enemy knows what Christ’s blood    represents.

7.    Close any “open” doors that you may have opened to the enemy, such as unconfessed sin.

8.    Watch what you say. Don’t get into agreement with that the enemy is showing you. Confess God’s Word instead. Speak what God says. Satan fights with lies that sound like the truth, so we must speak and know God’s Word.

9.    Know who you are in Christ. Satan will attack your self-worth, and your emotions. In other words, what does God say about you.

Read Ephesians 4:14-18

New Year, New Season, and Letting Go

In order to step into your new season, you have to let go of the past. Letting go of all that hinders you. This is a time to leave the “wilderness” and enter into your “promised land.” You cannot carry old, dead-weights into your promised land, but you must diligently lay aside all that would weigh you down; your burdens and concerns of this world. For some, you will not be bringing much of anything of your former season into the Promised Land. It is by and through obedience we take what God shows us into our new season, Promised Land.

These are some things that will hinder you arrival into the Promised Land:

1.       Religion, traditions of men, and legalism.

2.       Toxic and unhealthy relationships.

3.       Anything that hinders your faith, would cause you to stumble or to sin.

4.       Old childhood wounds and current wounds. No victim mentalities in the Promised Land.

5.       Fear of man, people-pleasing, and people approval, along with false responsibility, false guilt and condemnation.

6.       Bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness. We must choose to forgive, release anger and walk in love.

7.       Complaining, murmuring, fault-finding, judging, and criticizing.

We must be free of the entanglements of the world, and go forth in the calling that God had laid out for us. This is a season of change, opportunity, restoration, and open doors. It is time to stop counting all of our losses, reflecting and talking about our wounds, and instead be healed and victorious through Christ.

From the book of Joshua, chapter 5, we read that the Israelites spent 39 years in the wilderness unnecessarily because they were terrified of the Canaanites. They underestimated God’s ability. The Israelites’ first attempt to enter the promise land failed (Numbers 13, 14).

Don’t underestimate God in this new season. If we are faithful to God, He will cause great opposition to disappear.

Reflection/Discussion Questions:

1.    What is preventing you from entering your promised land? What “giants” like the Canaanites are you fearful of?

2.    What do you need to lay aside (look over questions 1-7) to enter the Promised Land?

3.    Have you entered the Promised Land before and did not stay? Do you believe God can cause your great opposition to disappear this time around?

To read more about Wilderness Thinking, you can order a copy of my book, Wilderness Mentality, Stop Your Stinkin’ Thinkin’ from www.createspace.com/4036785