THE BATTLE BELONGS TO OUR LORD

Ephesians 6:12

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

This morning I was acutely aware of the demonic that tries to come against the body of Christ. We must not deceive ourselves. We were born in the middle of a storm. We were born in the midst of a battle. This realm we live in, while quite beautiful, wonderful and even pleasing, can be filled with great fear and darkness. Many are captive to many things.

The struggle is real, but it isn’t against flesh and blood as the scripture above notes. It is against the powers of the hidden dark realm. Things that can’t be seen with the natural eye become our greatest obstacles to succeeding spiritually. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus comes to give abundant life (John 10:10).

We need to live in the awareness of this battle. We need to be able to examine the hiding places of the enemy and correctly discern the truth that will set us free. The battle is in the mind and the lies of the enemy are like darts that could destroy but for the grace of God. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your minds on things above, not on early things.” We are to pray like Jesus taught us and to declare and command “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).”

We need to be people filled with the Holy Spirit and we need to rest in His peace. All that comes against the peace of God we must resist. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

We must be resistance fighters. The enemy may have a stronghold on most of the world, but we must continue to resist him. We must invite the Spirit and the truth of God to abide inside of us, as the scripture says, “the truth will set us free (John 8:31-32). Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Jesus is the word (John 1:1). The truth and the word are only in Christ which means we need His Spirit inside of us. This truth will become our greatest weapon and our greatest defence. God wants His word to pour forth from you like a fountain. You will become like Saint George who destroyed the dragon with the spear.

The Word of God inside of me has a way of defeating the enemy every time. Whenever I am found in chaos I turn to the Lord. I ask Him to come to my defence. His defence is His word that rises in my heart. The word comes by the bible and it comes by the Holy Spirit. There is a difference between the Rhema word and the Logos word, but both are the truth that sets us free.

The Logos word is the written word. Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” All that is revealed in the scriptures are gems that can heal and deliver me. But the word also comes by the Holy Spirt and so we must learn to speak to Him.

I pray and hope that your heart is a fertile soil where the word might be planted. I pray that garden has been cultivated by the glory of God inside of you.

If we are humble vessels submitted to the voice of God and obey Him as He speaks, then our lives will be protected by His peace and joy. It is His manifest presence inside of us that guards us and keeps us in all our ways with the help of angels – His merry band.

We must examine our hearts with the word of God and all that is corrupt in there submit to Him for his pruning. The good news is He is the potter, and we are the clay, and He is fashioning us for His glory. I declare that you will see the goodness of God.

The demonic likes to hide in the dark caverns of our brokenness. The Lord sees those places clearly and a part of remolding the clay is to reform those places so that the cleavages of the enemy no longer have a hold on our life. God will break and remold many times. I have experienced it. Just when I think the breaking is done His hand comes quickly and reshapes me again. I think of these as promotions. Humbling that takes place to help me carry more of His glory.

I am not there yet! I have not arrived! I can see the port of call in the distance and all that is within me longs to walk on the eternal shores of glory where I no longer cleave to any of the flesh and filth of this world. Please God release me into your manna. Please God open my heart and fill it with good things.

I once saw a man that I loved all my life and who was a godly Christian man react negatively when I took a picture of him. In that moment I saw a hidden demon rise to the surface and glare at me through his eyes. It then went back and rested in the dark cleavages of His heart. That thing inside of him was likely there a long time. He didn’t discern it or he did discern but it did not get submitted in some way.

I often wonder what pain was in that dear man’s heart to keep him bottled up inside. That was 20 years ago and often I find myself thinking of Him. He had a lot of torment as he was passing on to eternity. My deepest prayer is that He found peace in Christ.

I pray for you today that you will find your peace in Jesus. God is good so turn to Him with your whole heart. Don’t lean on own knowledge or wisdom but ask Him, who gives freely, and He will give you the gold of heaven – His glory in your life as knowledge and understanding of the ways of God that will protect you and keep you in the struggle.

We when the spiritual word only by the word of God. So, in all you do get the word inside of you.