Spiritual warfare means that we have to know who we are, which means we must know our purpose and we must realize that God is for us and therefore no one can stand against us. Paul knew who he was. He recognized the authority that had been placed in him and the purpose that he lived to complete so when others challenged his actions he was able to rely on the Word and recall that the weapons of our warfare are not physical. But our weapons are so strong that we can wage war against the Devil and pull down strongholds that hinder others from being reconciled to Christ.
Remember that sometimes we allow little gods to ruin us and run us. Those little gods are strongholds and anything that exalts itself over God. Over time these little things become a stumbling block to us because they cause us to lose our will to fight. We give up hope. But remember the story of David and Goliath. Goliath towered over everyone in Israel. But David had to fight! David remembered all that God had done. David knew something that we need to learn. God fights for us when we take a stand against the enemy. Goliath sized David up and counted him out before the fight began, but David already knew that no matter how large Goliath was, he was no match for our mighty God.
God wants us to realize that we can bring all of the giants in our lives down when we stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. When we feel that we can't make it and when we feel defeated just know that is because we are trying to fight the battle with unqualified weapons. We try to fight with tradition or with our past experiences or with other people's stuff, but like David we have to throw that stuff off and recognize that all we need is what God says we need. We can take the stones and the sling because God will get in the stone and the sling and do something that we couldn't have done on our own so that He can be glorified and the Devil horrified.
Remember to tell yourself and let others know, "I am spiritually bigger that I look on the outside so don't count me out!"
We are to attack the imaginations of the world because the world has a deceptive and fleshly way of looking at things. When people come at you with negativity then we loose the truth of the gospel. The world may be in a recession, but my God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory! We are in the world, but not of the world.
People and their attitudes can be our worst source of spiritual warfare. That includes the problem of self. Self doubt, low self esteem, self loathing, and selfishness keep us preoccupied with condemnation and therefore becomes a giant to us. But God came to release us from condemnation.
There are three giants that we must deal with:
Philosophical giants: These are people who seem to understand life so much better than everyone else. No one can give them a word because they already know. Interestingly though these individuals never speak life into others. They can't see themselves to realize that a change needs to be made because from their perspective they are good and the Word doesn't apply to them; it's coming to correct everyone else.
Material giants: these are people who have more so they believe that they have more to say. People listen to them because of the status that they have gained through having material things. Sometimes they can lord their possessions over others.
Intellectual giants: these are the people who know it all and have to prove it. They have all kinds of knowledge, but lack common sense. They work in their own knowledge and not in the spiritual authority of the Lord. As a result their word has a tinge of truth, but they have no power. No power to get a prayer through. No power to help bring down your strongholds. No power because they simply refuse to let God in to reign over their thoughts. Because they portray themselves to be experts others are afraid to challenge them. This person refuses to give God His rightful place.
The solution?
Know the Word of God!
Prayer!
God's people!
Elder Robinson told us we are unique and we all have purpose. In being developed in our calling and in our purpose we need to watch out for a spirit of haughtiness because we can hurt others along the way. We need to know the difference between being assertive and aggressive. It's okay to be assertive, but we are at times too aggressive with others and we mishandle them as a result.
Haughtiness makes people expect to be given something they didn't earn. It is the sense of entitlement. Proverbs 16:17-20 warns that pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Elder Robinson let us know that we as church leaders have to get it together! The word comes to admonish, to encourage an to warn and the warning has been given!
We have to Recognize who God is and give Him the first position in our lives. We must submit.
We have to Reconcile past relationships. It is our job to make for peace and to provide a soft response. We need to resolve conflicts quickly and with the person that you are having the conflict with. Don't go telling everyone else in the world and keep holding a grudge against the person you are upset with. This is the coward's way and the Word states that we have forgive in order to receive forgiveness. Elder Robinson shared that we have to give grace to receive grace.
We must eliminate the excuses! We are out of time to keep offering up excuses. The harvest is ripe. We need every hand on deck because it is harvesting time and souls need to be saved!
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