Category Archives: Spiritual Warfare

Keep Your Armor On??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #513

07 Friday Dec 2018

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #513  Keep Your Armor On???

 

As we see people around us in the hustle and bustle of activity during this Christmas season, let us not forget that we will have opportunities to share the “Good News” of Jesus in places and to people who wouldn’t normally be open to it. Yet that will require us to keep our armor on! The enemy of the hearts and souls of men is busy about us, and we must not ‘go to sleep on the job’, so to speak. We must stay awake, aware, and alert for the opportunities that God may be sending our way!

“Finally, my brethren,

be strong in the Lord,

and in the power

of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to stand

against the wiles of the devil.

12 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.

13 Wherefore take unto you

the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to withstand

in the evil day,

and having done all,

to stand.” Ephesians 6:10-13

We must be “strong in the Lord”, not relying on our own strength or wisdom, for our God has a purpose and a plan for our daily walk, and HE will supply “the power of his might”! We must also remember that we are not fighting against the ‘Scrooges’ that we encounter day by day, but that we are in a “spiritual warfare” for the hearts and souls of men, women, boys and girls. We must ‘suit up’ for the battle and recognize the opportunities that God may send our way! God gives us the tools to do what He calls us to do, and not to be trite, but as a modern proverb says, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called!”

“I can do all things through Christ

which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

Yes “I can”, and so “can you”—for it is God at work in us!

“For it is God

which worketh in you

both to will

and to do

of his good pleasure.”   Philippians 2:13

So as you press on with Jesus today, remember that you are not alone, nor do you/I have to rely on the resources of our flesh, for God has provided HIS resources through Jesus!

“For though we walk in the flesh,

we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare

are not carnal,

 but mighty through God

to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations,

and every high thing

that exalteth itself against

the knowledge of God,

and bringing into captivity

every thought to the obedience

of Christ;” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Amen and Amen!!!

Counterfeit Faith??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #505

02 Friday Nov 2018

Posted by in Faith, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, Knowing God's Word, Living Right, Seeing Truth, SIN, Spiritual Warfare, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Truth is True

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #505      Counterfeit Faith???

 

We’ve talked recently about ‘people of faith’, and I’d like to take a bit of a turn today. I’ve been seeing a lot of billboards, ads and social media input lately that I want to call our attention to because genuine believers are often gullible and naïve when it comes to what we hear and see, especially when it claims to be from “people of faith”. What I want to call us to consider today is ‘the counterfeit’: just because it “walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, and even have feathers like a duck”, it may not really be a “duck”! Just like Jesus reminded us, not every thing that says, “baa baa” is a real “sheep”!

“Beware of false prophets,

which come to you

in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly

they are ravening wolves.”   Matthew 7:15

Counterfeit sheep–Jesus warned us that we must beware of whom we listen to, trust, and believe—especially in regard to faith. The issue with “people of faith” is that some claim one thing but have an agenda that is 180 degrees opposite of what they are ‘selling’ (or giving away!) and their real goal is to lead people away from biblical, authentic, and righteous ‘faith’ in the ‘blood of Jesus Christ…..that cleanseth us from all sin’!

We need to be careful and always aware that there are a lot of claims floating around from so-called ‘people of faith’ who are pushing a ‘faith’ in a ‘gospel’ that is totally foreign to the biblical Gospel that calls sin sin, and calls people to repentance and faith in Jesus alone, as the Only Way to God–the only way to be saved from sin, and its penalty (death and hell) to live a pure and holy life before God and man. These counterfeit ‘people of faith’ promote (in Jesus name) everything from abortion and sexual immorality to a debauched life and almost anything that is the opposite of a holy, righteous lifestyle conformed to biblical standards! Scripture calls us to examine things before we jump into them, for not every ‘spirit’ that speaks to our hearts and minds is from GOD!

“Beloved,

believe not every spirit,

but try the spirits

whether they are of God:

because many false prophets

are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1 

Just because something sounds ‘good’ on the surface, we need to ‘dig a little deeper’ into the source, whether it’s a sign on a billboard, or a cute ‘meme’, or an invitation to something ‘new’ and/or life changing! We must recognize that Satan is extremely busy these days, and we must inform ourselves of the things we encounter, always being ‘ware’ before we join or support anything or anyone who claims to present some new “ministry”. Checking out the “facts” before we contribute our time, money and energy into something that may turn out to be diametrically opposed to the very Savior whom we love and want to serve.

It’s important to know The Word, so that we can recognize the false when it comes along—and my friends, it is coming along in boatloads today—on TV, radio, books, newspapers, billboards and of course on social media. We must be sure we are trying every ‘spirit’ to see if it is “of God”, for not everyone is speaking (or writing) truth!

“For such are false apostles,

deceitful workers,

transforming themselves

into the apostles of Christ.

14 And no marvel;

for Satan himself

is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing

if his ministers also be transformed

as the ministers of righteousness;

whose end

shall be according to their works.”    2 Corinthians 11:13-15

I don’t mean to belabor the point, but we must, we simply must know truth to “…withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand…” (See Ephesians 6:10-19) We must keep God’s Word before us and examine the things we see and hear before we buy into what may be lies—as the old adage sums up so aptly, “look before you leap” (or believe, or follow or give!)!

“Wherefore by their fruits

ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will of my Father

which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me

in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied

in thy name?

and in thy name

have cast out devils?

and in thy name

done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess

unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”    Matthew 7:20-23

We must “try the spirits” that call to us every day and examine them in light of The Word, not the by the “cutesy”, eye-catching pictures, ads and slogans that they are using to mislead people—even genuine people of faith. We need to take special care as the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons are coming, beware of who you give your money to—you can check them out online to see how much of their ‘donations’ go to the people or causes they claim to be collecting to support and relieve—you might be surprised. I’ll simply leave you with the words of Jesus:

“Behold,

I send you forth

as sheep

in the midst of wolves:

be ye therefore

wise as serpents,

and harmless as doves.”   Matthew 10:16

Amen and Amen!

 

 

‘Having Done All To Stand’??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 24

22 Sunday Jul 2018

Posted by in Spiritual Warfare

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 24 ‘Having Done All To Stand’???

 

Paul calls us to recognize the fact that we are at war with the enemy of our souls. As I go from day to day it is absolutely imperative that we recognize that spiritual warfare is real. I just want to take a few minutes today to remind us of the urgency of the hour!

I simply want us to consider Paul’s 6th chapter of the letter to the Ephesian church, and it’s just as important for us as it was for them. May we spend some time to consider our behavior, it does make a difference.

The first three chapters of this letter deal with our faith in Jesus and the confidence that we can have in Jesus, His saving work of salvation and the assurance of our relationship with HIM! Then in chapter four, he switches gears and calls us to live faithfully before God and man!

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye

walk worthy of the vocation

wherewith ye are called,

2 With all lowliness

and meekness,

with longsuffering,

forbearing one another

in love;

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit

in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body,

and one Spirit,

even as ye are called

in one hope

of your calling;

5 One Lord,

one faith,

one baptism,

6 One God and Father

of all,

who is above all,

and through all,

and in you all.

7 But unto every one of us

is given grace

according to the measure

of the gift of Christ.” Ephesians 4:1-7

Every born again believer is “given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” to live according to the “the vocation wherewith ye are called”—we are called to serve God and others, not to ‘sit’ down and ‘soak’ up the blessings of God, and fail to fulfill our calling to serve! And what does this service look like? Well, it doesn’t look like arrogant presumption on God’s goodness rather it expresses itself in:

lowliness— not exalting self (Romans 12:3)

meekness—strength in/Spirit’s control (Gal. 5:22-24)

longsuffering—patience toward people (Col. 3:12-13)

forbearing—holding up against opposition (Ro. 3:25)

in love….pursuing unity—oneness (minds set on Jesus not uniformity) (Ephesians 4:13)

Our character, behavior and attitudes ought to reflect our relationship with our life transforming Lord! We are to have the mind of Jesus—the life of a servant!

“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ,

if any comfort of love,

if any fellowship of the Spirit,

if any bowels and mercies,

2 Fulfil ye my joy,

that ye be likeminded,

having the same love,

being of one accord,

of one mind.

3 Let nothing be done through strife

or vainglory;

but in lowliness of mind

let each esteem other

better than themselves.

4 Look not every man on his own things,

but every man also on the things

of others.

5 Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery

to be equal with God:

7 But made himself

of no reputation,

and took upon him the form

of a servant,

and was made in the likeness

of men:

8 And being found in fashion

as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient

unto death,

even the death

of the cross.”   Philippians 2:1-8

We are called to serve—as our Lord served—humbly, totally and all to God’s glory, and the salvation of the lost! And when we serve God the enemy of our souls will not be happy—but we will face opposition, the very spiritual warfare that Paul describes in Ephesians 6. Let’s simply spend time this week pondering the meat of his challenge, as we lay out the principles of godly living as put forth in this passage.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord:

for this is right.

2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children

to wrath:

but bring them up

in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

5 Servants,

be obedient to them that are your masters

according to the flesh,

with fear and trembling,

in singleness of your heart,

as unto Christ;

6 Not with eyeservice,

as menpleasers;

but as the servants of Christ,

doing the will of God from the heart;

7 With good will doing service,

as to the Lord,

and not to men:

8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing

any man doeth,

the same shall he receive of the Lord,

whether he be bond or free.

9 And, ye masters,

do the same things unto them,

forbearing threatening:

knowing that your Master

also is in heaven;

neither is there respect of persons

with him.

10 Finally, my brethren,

be strong in the Lord,

and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to stand

against the wiles of the devil.    

12 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.

13 Wherefore take unto you

the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to withstand

in the evil day,

and having done all,

to stand.

14 Stand therefore,

having your loins girt about

with truth,

and having on the breastplate

of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod

with the preparation

of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all,

taking the shield of faith,

wherewith ye shall be able to quench

all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation,

and the sword of the Spirit,

which is the word of God:

18 Praying always

with all prayer

and supplication

in the Spirit,

and watching thereunto

with all perseverance

and supplication

for all saints;” Ephesians 6:1-18

We must have our confidence and focus on The Lord no matter the circumstance—dressed in our armor—

Truth—Jesus is ‘the way—the truth—the life’—

John 14:6

Righteousness—His righteousness applied us—

2 Corinthians 5:21

Gospel of peace—Peace with God and peace of God—

Romans 5:1-2+; Philippians 4:6-7

Faith—Confidence that Jesus is the only way—

Hebrews 11:1 & 6

Salvation—The mind of Christ indwelling us–

Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-10

Word of God—Jesus the living Word and written Word—

John 1:1-5; Proverbs 30:5

Praying always—Keeping the line open with our God—

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

May you find confidence and reassurance in the power of the cross and The Lord who gave His life for you, not just His death, but His resurrection power, which sustains us in all things, times and circumstances?

“Jesus said unto her,

I am the resurrection, and the life:

he that believeth in me, though he were dead,

yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me

shall never die.

Believest thou this?” John 11:25-26

Amen and Amen!!!