The Spiritual Warfare Crisis

You don’t have to look far to find spiritual warfare. Maybe its modern communication, technology or social networking but the devil is having his day; or so he thinks.

Whether war, kidnappings or brutality is the attack he is pulling out the best “guns” he has left in an attempt to capture the souls of God.

Persecution has become a totem pole of who can say the worst about their opponent as by evidenced of the election Nov. 4^th.

Here in my own state of SC the disgusting, sick and radical lies made about Governor Nikki Haley and Senator Tim Scott backfired. Both won their elections by landslides. What the devil meant for harm for 2 Godly people turned against their accusers. Maybe and hopefully Americans are waking up realizing that getting away with “whatever” isn’t working. 

The fight has been going on since the Garden of Eden. The battle has been won but we humans must heed the truth of God’s word and apply it to ward off the flames of the evil one.  Why? Because Satan just doesn’t want to give up.

One main reason so much is wrong in the world has been a loss of teaching on “spiritual warfare.”  Well, we need it and fast.

Ephesians 6 is full of the Armor of God.  He sheds light on giving us his artillery, weapons and wisdom to “thwart” the enemies’ assaults.

One of the best ways to learn God’s word is to read the same verses over and over and over. Doing this for years is a constant learning experience as God manages to come up with something new the more we read them.  Words jump off the pages as if to come alive. (Hebrews 4:12)

My enthusiasm for the Amplified version of the Bible has grown especially since I really didn’t like it at first. However God can communicate no matter what version it is. Now I find myself soaking in the descriptiveness of this version. And for the record it is Joyce Meyer’s favorite and now I know why.

Verse 13-15 speaks of “standing” firm with God’s armor covering us.

¹³ Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

After reading this for months God said,

“Check out the NIV version and compare the two.”

NIV 13 “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.

Immediately the Holy Spirit enlightened me.

“Stand your ground or Stand over, around and through  the crisis.”

My interpretation is it is a matter of persistent endurance; righteous patience and solid focus on Jesus.

How do we stand?

Continued…..

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Quote: Is Your GPS on?

“Praying is probably the most important part of preparing to do something, yet so many people today ignore or forget this vital part of the process. 

Prayer is like the GPS system in your car. When you turn it on it tells you where you are going and shows you the path you need to take. 

Prayer gives us God’s GPS “Guidance, Provision and Strength.”

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer said what?

God is more interested in changing our character than our circumstances. 

Can’t find your keys? or the Remote? what about your brain?

One of the great novelties about God is he really is interested in every detail of our lives. I am convinced he loves flare.

Joyce Meyer writes about how she is always losing her keys.  She was in a rush to get out of the house only to have no idea where she placed her keys. She stopped and prayed. In her heart God showed her where the keys were.

Another time she was having guests over. The remote control to the TV was no where to be found. She prayed,

“Holy Spirit, show me where the remote control is, please.”

God gave her a Word of Knowledge and led her to the remote.

If you have family members like me who forget to put their brain in first gear,  do as Joyce and I do.

Pray for God to reveal where they lost it! LOL!   It works.

Just imagine. If God gives us his time for our own forgetfulness of such trivialities, how much more do you think he wants to communicate with us about that which is important?

John 14: 26 “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Excerpt from Joyce Meyer’s book: Trusting God Day by Day

Quote

“Worry sees the problem. Faith sees God who can handle the problem.”

Joyce Meyer

The Liberated Woman: Eve, Esther, Ruth etc. etc. etc. (Part 4)

Whoever came up with the idea men and women are alike, physically, mentally and emotionally must have missed Anatomy class.  Feminist decided to show the world women can and will outshine men.

The designation is women must achieve total success in a corporate laddered world equal to men. Attain your goals no matter what it takes; even stepping on the feet of others for the satisfaction of reaching the top. According to these radical suffragettes it isn’t who you are; what you do is all that matters.

Forget the genes God placed in us. Women are personal and relational; men operate from a physical dynamic of competition and goal ambitions. These are not a “fit” for feminism.  This forbidden critique does not apply with their ideals that the more a woman achieves in the working world, the more desirable she becomes.  If that is the case, 95% of the female population isn’t worthwhile according to the women’s movement.

While in this mood of women evolving, they didn’t take into account the undesirability of being over-educated or thriving more than men. This touchy subject tends to counter the male ego. Some can handle it, others wouldn’t dip into that pond. Competition in the operational sense is a given, but can be and usually is totally destructive in relationships.

The feminist movement does not understand God wants and has given the female gender great gifts to pursue, but the Joyce Meyer’s of the world are few. The key point here is God thankfully doesn’t judge us on our achievements. So why should we? Think about it.

In the Bible were mentioned the paralyzed, blind and demon possessed. If God measured people by the activities and business they accomplished on earth where would it leave them?

Why did God create women to reproduce in their younger years?
(1 Timothy 2:15)

1.       He knew the energy it would require chasing children?

2.       He knew the risks of childbirth as one ages?

A feminist attitude

3.       He knew the risks to the new born?

4.       He gives a spiritual covering to those in the condition of pregnancy?

5.       He knew the temptations and spiritual deception when a woman denies her role as a mother in a career

 

 

Another fraud brought on by these driven pressure groups are acting like a “lady” or “womanly” is a sign of weakness. Oh give me a break.

Redefine women. Don’t be kind, generous, good, sweet, loving, and relational or Heaven forbid emotional. Then don’t come to my house when I am watching “Touched by an Angel” because I will smack you upside the head if you laugh because I am crying.

If these women would get it through their thickheaded brains God will take what he has already given us and build on it.

 Luke 21: 14-15 ^“But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. “

Do you know why God tells us this? As Christians we will have to fight off the enemy; relentlessly deal with persecution from even those closest to us and possibly face death.  And the feminist think we are silly, stupid and frail?

To be continued….

Copyright @ 2013 All Rights Reserved

Is this your Final Answer?

We need more information; there isn’t enough.

Those days are long gone.

As an avid reader, refraining from it is almost like going through withdrawal.

Reading books use to be my thing because it was all we had besides the newspapers.

I still read some books, but mostly articles, stories, newspapers online, and blogs. Occasionally, coming across the bizarre catches my eye because it is so unbelievable, silly or ridiculous I can’t resist.  It makes me wonder if the eccentric or ludicrous was always present but not published or did the world become so peculiar since the internet was born.

Information is power. Or someone said.

What do you do with all the material/propaganda/scoop out there?

While part of it is worthwhile, much isn’t.

Scrolling through the daily scandals, government waste and who’s who in the entertainment world will leave you wondering what happened to America or when did it become an unhinged society.

No one, no culture will survive without God.

The elite Ivy leaguers over the last 50 years have been making decisions for everyone about everything.  It goes without saying they don’t know everyone or everything; but don’t wake them up. Until a rock hits them hard enough, they have crowned themselves king.

Attitude will always win out over genius.

Worldly information is useful to a point, but it will never live up to the truth of God’s wisdom and knowledge.  All the information in the universe won’t set anyone free.
What matters isn’t what others tell you or what you know yourself.

Information is vital but what you do with it is what counts.

Remember the days of studying for exams?  At the end of every semester right before exams started an open invitation lurked the halls for crying fits, coffee all- nighters and irritable students.  Falling asleep in the dining hall was a given.

Preparation was inevitable. Studying for hours on end was a declaration.  After an entire semester of repetitious study of the anatomy of a frog or Chemical equations, we just wanted it to end.

Learning God’s word is a little like college; only the tests are real life and often harder than remembering water is H ² 0.

The repetition of study in the Bible is unique. Joyce Meyer describes it like this:

“Meditation takes information and turns it into revelation.”

Meditation is a repetition of the promises of God.  For years, I have spent hours daily meditating and praying over God’s word.  As educated as that may sound I am not even close to learning all the book is loaded with.  God’s wisdom and knowledge is infinite which can be overwhelming.

The never-ending unforeseeable future in it only reveals God’s awesomeness.  My chair remains in the “University of God” and will for the rest of my life.  Unlike college exams, I never want to leave his classroom.

Joyce Meyer also says many people get stuck in the information zone and never move into revelation. Revelation is freedom.  She says and I can confirm it, the revelation arrives when you know that you know that you know that you know.  And when you know, nothing or no one can or will change your mind.  Countless times I have encountered such a “knowing” only to have others throw in the towel of their unbelief.

It sounds difficult, but once you have a revelation from God he gives you an indescribable peace in the midst of your loneliness.  He sets it in stone for you.

In other words, this is my story and I am sticking to it.

http://transcendingbordersblog.wordpress.com/2013/06/30/the-light/

http://kellylevatino.com/2013/06/30/why-this-new-creation-often-feels-old/

http://samuelatgilgal.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/god-works-in-you/

http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/are-we-sincerely-serving-the-lord-or-just-going-through-the-motions/

Copyright @ 2012 All Rights Reserved

 

“Are you still so dull?”

Not exactly the words you expect out of the “Messiah’s” mouth but they were.

The disciples were often confused or misunderstood Jesus words and actions. Who wouldn’t?

His intellect/IQ is unmatched. Public speaking and teaching were built-in gifts.

We know Jesus’ annoyance with the Pharisees, but his disciples appeared dim-witted or sluggish or a little slow on the uptake of his purposes.

Jesus had no problem with being the Messiah.

Imagine sitting around a fire after dinner with Jesus.

Do you ask if he wants to play Gin Rummy? What about Monopoly?

Do you offer him fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and ice cream?

He may prefer a blueberry pie.

The disciples in their meager efforts had big shoes to fill before they ever put them on or knew they existed. Excusing them for their feeble mindedness is a given. Why?

How could you possibly play Gin Rummy with the Messiah and expect to win?

How could you sit around a fire without being in utter awe of his presence?

If it were me, mumbling may be the only communication I could muster up.

There is something to be said for praying to him unseen.

Jesus words from Matthew 15: 16 are in reference to his response from Peter,

“Explain the parable to us.”

Jesus must have hoped by now his devoted protégés’ would have climbed out from under their rocks.

As easy as it is to identify with Jesus’ disappointment, it is equally understandable the disciples bewilderment.  The veil had been partially removed. In other words they just didn’t get it, yet.

Joyce Meyer’s famous quote, “I’m not where I want to be, but at least I left where I was” fits perfectly in this scene.

He was not only hard on those who slighted or refused him, Jesus exhibited his true nature of discipline on his closest friends and allies.

From the tone of Jesus’ words, “are you still so dull?” he may have hoped these special confidante’s knew him better than it appeared.   The message of the Gospel is to seek Christ for a personal relationship with him.  The relationship opens up the hearts and eyes for his followers to understand learn and know his word.

As time passed, Jesus’ character was revealed. Not only did he perform miracle after miracle, teach knowledge no one ever heard, he was love.

Jesus showed tangible love supernaturally.

Eventually the disciples understood this.

And the rest is history.

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Related articles from some blogging friends:

http://butchdean.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/the-choice-is-yours-alone/

http://proverbsgirl.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/if-we-could-see-inside-other-peoples-hearts/

http://samuelatgilgal.wordpress.com/2013/06/23/george-whitefield-on-walking-with-god/

http://goldenbible.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/perfect-in-christ/

Copyright @ 2013 All Rights Reserved

Try God: Guard Everything, Don’t Play with Sin (Part 5)

A few years back after a major upheaval I knew something had to change. Once you start getting serious with God, he gets serious with you. He will offer his advice even when you don’t ask for it. Having to learn it was wise to listen, he informed me my “thinking” needed an extensive adjustment.

Somewhat agitated by his concern for my introspection I agreed to his guidelines since he is after all God.

The next thing I know my head is buried in Joyce Meyer’s book, “The Battlefield of the Mind.” Unable to put it down, it was apparent God was right. Oh. What a novel idea!

After reading it once, I have used it as a reference for many thoughts, reasoning’s or questions bombarding my mind over and over. The poor book is smothered in wrinkles, orange, green, yellow and pink highlighting and bookmarks. It almost looks as used as my Bibles.

The enemy first attacks us in our thoughts or minds. He is subtle using a simple thought that will eventually lead to a “hostile takeover.” Just like in a war, we need to know everything about the enemy. His strong points,  weaknesses, habits and how he operates.

2 Corinthians 10: 4-5 “Our weapons of warfare are not carnal, but are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself above the knowledge of God bringing every thought into the obedience of Christ which is the Word of God. “

The following are a few but not limited to ways he operates:

1. Satan’s biggest hindrance to gaining entrance into anyone is God’s Love. Demons cannot duplicate the fruits of the spirit.
2. God-likeness or masquerading as an angel of light
3. God is the only one to be worshipped. Idolatry of all kinds is a direct line of his work.
4. Evil thoughts and temptations to sin are green lights of a demonic spirit’s presence
5. Lying, gossip, adultery, other religions are demonic in nature. He uses doubt, worry, fear and unbelief to destroy any thoughts of victory. Their intent is to embody themselves in humans to express themselves fully.
6. The Spirit of Divination has taken on many forms. Clairvoyance, mediums, mental telepathy, astrology, fortune telling are obviously under the influence of evil or familiar spirits.
7. Sinful inherited traits or curses that have never been broken

How do we deal with demonic spirits?

Certain spirits must be dealt with in different ways.

1. Evil spirits of threats like anger or unreasonableness, false accusations or mocking should simply be ignored. Isaiah 53: 7 “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”
2. The spirit of torment attacks our thought life. This is why it is so important to keep our minds on the things of God. Read the Bible out loud, pray, speak the name of Jesus.
3. Rebuke or cast them out: James 4:7 “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  Mel Bond says it does no good to yell or swipe at them if you sense their presence. They will only laugh at you.

One verse that has always struck me as revealing the power of Jesus word is: Matthew 8:16 “When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.”

 

Jesus told them to go or leave. He rebuked sickness by speaking to the sickness. (Luke 4)

Jesus himself would often go somewhere to be alone with his Father.  If he needed it, don’t we?

The presence of God is a rejuvenator, a refresher course all in one. The Bible is a belt of truth, a shield and sword. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

His word is God’s armor. Wear it.

Related Articles by some of my blogging friends:

http://vineoflife.net/2013/03/02/chris-tomlin-whom-shall-i-fear-god-of-angel-armies/

http://kellylevatino.com/2013/03/02/mythbusters-faithful-failures/

http://johnadavid.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/c-s-lewis-daily-54/

http://connectingdotstogod.com/2013/03/02/how-to-find-yourself/

Copyright @ 2013 All Rights Reserved

Skeptics Well Laid Rational Points

They are everywhere. Skeptics are in your neighborhood, on facebook, in churches, schools and your families.

The definition of a skeptic is:

1. A person inclined to question or doubt all accepted opinions.
2. A person who doubts the truth of Christianity and other religions; an atheist or agnostic.

Why do we find it so hard to believe anything anymore?

Is it because we have been slapped around with lies?

Have we lost our trust in mankind?

If one person doubts the truth, should we all?

Researching “skeptics” there are those who find it to be one who gathers information to claim the validity of a question or reasoning for a critical thinking process that has nothing to do with doubt or unbelief. What?

Ok. Sure. You sound like a skeptic.

Both point in the same direction; process of elimination? A ruling we make to forge an alliance with one side or another to bring about a fight? NO. A belief system must take place one way or another to make an informative answer.

So….if you don’t agree with that critical thinking neighbor or your lying ex-husband, does that make you a “skeptic?”

How does one get around the idea you are not a skeptic if you disagree?

Some people are very good liars or are compulsive liars. Becoming skeptical of anything they say would lead you to believe nothing from their lying lips. You know: the neighbor who stands in front of you, face to face and lies through their teeth about the crocodile they saw stealing the bench from your yard.

Others can’t get away with lying. As hard as they try, they simply haven’t been able to master the craft. It has to do with the angle of the eyes, or the ability to “smile” while explaining to your Professor,

“No sir. I did not cheat on that test.”

Professor: “Then explain how your answers and the student sitting next to you are identical?”

So why are we skeptical?

Are we really looking for deep seeded answers to life’s most important questions or are we just curious?

Do we need a scientific explanation as to why men’s brains are actually 10% larger than a woman’s? Ok. I don’t like that question.

Do we really need to know why women are better communicators and have a higher degree of emotional intelligence than men? Well, yes, that might be good to know.

There is nothing wrong with asking questions. Seeking answers, observations or interpretations of the universe and the aliens therein are needed. Knowledge and wisdom are infinite; so there is always something to learn. But…. questions can become argumentative instead of informational when taken to an extreme.

Skeptics can often be viewed as negative, adverse or antagonistic. The doubting attitude has become prevalent in American society due to a lack of the truth or the desire to refuse the truth.

“Being negative only makes a difficult journey more difficult. You may be given a cactus, but you don’t have to sit on it.”
― Joyce Meyer, Approval Addiction: Overcoming Your Need to Please Everyone

Why do people refuse the truth? So they won’t have to answer to authority about their behavior. So they can do what they want, when they want with no one to answer to for their actions.

Skeptics can argue Jesus Christ never existed, or existed but wasn’t the Savior of the world, but that doesn’t’ change the truth.

The simplistic idea that our belief or non-belief of anything will change it is ludicrous.

Joyce Meyer says, “I can go sit in the garage all day and it doesn’t make me a car.”

The only belief we need is in Jesus Christ. It is because of that belief everything else exists and has purpose.

“Doubt discovers difficulties which it never solves; it creates hesitancy, despondency, despair. Its progress is the decay of comfort, the death of peace. “Believe!” is the word which speaks life into a man, but doubt nails down his coffin.”

Charles Spurgeon

P.S. In case you’re wondering why men’s brains are 10% larger than us women’s? Nope. They aren’t more intelligent; just larger in body and muscle mass. Thought you had us didn’t you guys!   From the http://www.brainfitnessforlife.com/

http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/2012/10/08/its-a-big-if/

http://freedomborn.wordpress.com/2012/10/06/enemies-can-be-friends/

http://samuelatgilgal.wordpress.com/2012/10/06/true-religion-is-the-work-of-god/

Copyright @ 2012 All Rights Reserved