(We all know the enemy is working overtime to distract....disrupt...destroy what God has purposed His people to accomplish in this troubled hour. He is doing everything he can to destroy our FAITH in God's ability and willingness to come through for His people. How do we overcome the trial? Knowledge! Knowing who we are and what we have at our disposal will assure us that we can, not only overcome, but take back what is rightfully ours. To do so we must not ANYTHING to destroy our FAITH in God. I pray this message speaks to you and helps you understand what is going on around you. Comments are welcomed.)
Ephesians 6:10, 12 NLT, "A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."
The Battleground: Let us now note the four areas the battle is going on in:
a. You: If you cease to believe in yourself and your ability to face head on the problems of life
and overcome them, you will cease to be a testimony to those around you. This ultimately is
the objective of all warfare. How we live and react to what comes our way is the greatest
testimony we have. It is time you began to believe what the Word says about your abilities.
Ph.4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Jesus in Jn.5:30 gives us some insight into where our help comes from, " I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. "
Let your past be your past. 2Co.5:17 " Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. "
Rms. 8:1 THERE is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
b. One Another: 1Jn.2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
Matt. 5 & 6 Releasing anger & offense....
Ro.16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
c. The Church: The power of unity is the power to accomplish. This is the primary purpose of the enemy to drive wedges between God's people. It is not the church that fails people....it is people that fail people. We must do whatever it takes to overcome the endeavors of the enemy to destroy the very fiber that is keeping this world intact, the church. There is far to much independency within the body of Christ. We need to come to the realization that God has made us interdependent.
Note the power of unity and agreement in Matt. 18:19 " Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. "
d. The Word: This, out of all the areas the enemy is endeavoring to destroy faith in, is his main
objective. He knows there is Power in The Word.
Ps. 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Matt. 8:5-13 " And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion,
beseeching him,And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously
tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and
said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. "
How Do We Overcome? How Do We Win?
As simple as it may seem, "You fight the fight of faith with faith." The power of faith is what puts the enemy in his place and keeps him there. This is the reason he works consistently to destory our faith.
Heb. 11:33-34 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Conc. I conclude with some words of Paul in Rms. 8:35, 37-39 " Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. "
