Tag : attack
Tag : attack
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.“
(1 John 4:1, NIV)
The Bible clearly tells us to test the spirits to see if they are from God. We live in a world full of lying spirits and we must test every spirit for truth. But what does it mean to test the spirits? And how do we discern a Spirit who is from God and a spirit who is not? In 1 John 4:1-6, two different spirits are identified. The first is called “the Spirit of God” or “the Spirit of Truth.” The second is called “the spirit of the antichrist” or “the spirit of falsehood.” The Spirit of God which is the Holy Spirit, will never deceive us or lead us astray. He will always lead us to Truth; Jesus, and a closer walk with God the Father. The second spirit is a fallen spiritual being that has attached itself to something or someone, and is a lying, deceitful spirit. This spirit may look and sound very appealing or might tug at your heartstrings, but under their sheep’s skin, they are vicious wolves looking to devour a sheep in Jesus’ flock (Acts 20:29).
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?”
(Matthew 7:15-16, NIV)
There are ways to test the spirits. The following are some ways you can distinguish between the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of lies.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns us about wolves in sheep’s clothing and says we will recognize them by the fruit they produce. In Galatians 5:19-21, the fruits of the spirit of lies, which are acts of the flesh, are listed as: “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like.” Paul warns us, in verse 21, that those who live like this will not inherent the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus Himself says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” I know that I do not want to ever hear those words. Jesus is very clear that not all believers will enter the Kingdom of God, and says “only the one who does the will of my Father will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Many people today are confused by the verse in Ephesians that states that we are saved by the grace of God through Christ Jesus, and not by our works. The enemy has caused confusion and given many people an excuse to not hold themselves accountable for their actions. Scripture tells us Jesus will hold us accountable for our actions on the day He returns. We are saved by grace, His death on the cross washed away our sins and the sins of the world, however, we are to follow Him and live according to His ways and not the way of the world. Jesus Himself was tested in the wilderness for forty days. Satan quotes Scripture to Jesus and twists the Word of God to manipulate Him. Are we above Jesus? If Jesus was tested in the wilderness, then we know that the enemy is definitively testing us daily. We are to test the spirits daily. In 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22, the Bible says do not treat prophesy with contempt, but test them all. Even when listening to your pastor, or your loved ones, hold on to what is good and reject every kind of evil.
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.
(1 Thessalonians 5:19-22, NIV)
Categories: Blog
“But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.“
(Hebrews 10:39, NIV)
When in battle, the army that shrinks back is usually the one defeated. In Hebrews 10:39, the Bible says we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed. The Word of God says we belong to those who have faith and are saved. By faith, as soldiers in Christ, we can stand fearlessly facing our giants. Psalm 3:3 declares, “But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.” What does it mean that God is a shield for us? In Ephesians 6:13, Paul describes the shield of faith as a piece of armor that is used as a form of protection. He tells us to take up the shield of faith to extinguish the flaming, fiery darts of the enemy. Paul uses these words to explain the supernatural empowerment that occurs when a believer lifts the shield of faith high and holds it firmly in front of them. It becomes an impenetrable wall against the enemy’s attacks.
“My Lord GOD has opened my ears, and I did not rebel; I did not shrink back.“
(Isaiah 50:5, ISV)
Romans 10:17 says that our faith is increased by hearing the Word of God. We do not shrink back when we are tuned in to His Word. Before Roman soldiers went out to battle, they soaked their shields in water until their shields were completely saturated. They did this to ensure that if they were struck by a flaming arrow, their shield would not catch fire. In Ephesians 5:26, the Word of God is likened to water and when we are Word-saturated or Word-soaked, our shield of faith is like the Roman soldier’s water saturated shield. It will be so heavily covered with the water of God’s Word that it will extinguish the flame of the enemy’s attack as soon as he strikes at us. I encourage you today to soak your faith in the Word of God, so that when the enemy tries to attack your health, your finances, your marriage, or your children, you will not shrink back. Instead, the devil and his army will shrink back and be destroyed in Jesus’ mighty name.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.“
(Ephesians 6:10-17, NIV)
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Categories: Blog