Spiritual Warfare--Introduction--Recap

Spiritual warfare has become sensationalized. People are desensitized to the physical manifestations of a spiritual battle. In other words we see wrong and think nothing of it. Ephesians 6:11 ~

Remember that the only power that Satan has is that of permission. He cannot harm you. Satan's job description is to kill, steal and to destroy. He is a liar and the father of lies. Do not succumb to the temptation of believing the smoke and mirror lies.

It is important to exercise your faith. When your faith is strong you are less likely to give in to the temptation to believe Satan's lies. Look at the story of Job. Job's faith and trust in the Lord allowed him to stay focused in the darkest time of his life. As a result Satan's attacks could not take Job out.
It is wrong to say, "The Devil made me do it!" Satan cannot make you do anything. You have the power. Power represents your choices. You wrestle between doing right and your own choices as well as other people's influences.

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.

The power of Satan goes as far as his ability to influence you to act outside of God's will. Satan attacks us through circumstances and emotions. When your emotions are out of control and out of sync Satan can use that as an opportunity to plant a thought or to lay a trap. Don't fall for it. Trust God for everything until your last breath. Trust that when man says no God says yes because He specializes in making worlds out of nothing.

In this passage rulers refers to what you allow to rule over you. Do you allow your own unbelief, lack of faith, agenda, desires or anything else to rule over you?

Darkness means ignorance that leads to a disrespect and disregard for divine revelation.

Spiritual wickedness in high places are those things that conflict with your calling and purpose.

Satan tries to attack us through others. Don't fall for it! Be an example and pray. Don't take on an unnecessary warfare. It is all unnecessary because God said the battle was already won. We are already victorious. We gear up to STAND not to fight. We need the gear to withstand the wiles of the Devil. Don't worry about haters. People want you to feel bad about what you have and the blessings you have because they wish they could have them. They are jealous.

Elder Lowe told us last night that the mind is the place where we hear the message intended for our spirit. I believe that where many of us struggle is that we hear the Word of God, but the battle in our minds does not allow the positive and life changing message to be correctly translated to our spirit. that's why we have to put on the mind of Christ. We have to surrender our thoughts and pick up His.

Elder Lowe also taught us that when we fail to mature in the Spirit we disregard the power of God. According to Elder Lowe we have three weapons of mass destruction! Faith, prayer, and praise.