SPIRITUAL WARFARE, PART 1

Introduction

Hold to His Teaching

Walk in His Protection

Live in His Blessing

You Are Living in a Real-life Melodrama

One doesn’t have to try very hard to see the reality of the supernatural forces of good and evil at work on earth. Modern technology makes it known to almost everyone locally and around the world. These forces impact the life of every person on earth, no matter what country you live in.

You may wonder why some nations and people in the world have such terrible behavior and/or problems in their lives. Some are a direct result of their sin nature, but most are a product of Satan manipulating mankind and their sinful nature with lies, temptations, and deception.

Satan doesn’t want you to discover the truth in the Bible about him, life, and the power of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Satan wants you to believe he is just a character in a fairy tale.

“Life to the full” means life as it was intended before Adam and Eve disobeyed God (see Genesis 1-3). It includes forgiveness of your sins, a new sinless nature, a deeper life-giving connection to God, a renewing of the mind with truth (reality), God’s assistance with your success on earth, and eternal life in paradise.

All this for simply confessing your sins to God, sincerely asking for forgiveness, and inviting Christ into your life as Savior and Lord (leadership). When you do this you are “born again” (spiritually) and you become a member of God’s family. Imagine having the Creator of the universe as your Father and brother, helping you and blessing you.

As you can see above, the devil (Satan) has schemes (strategies) just for you, Christian or not! In John 10:10, Jesus makes it clear Satan’s [the villain] schemes are to “steal, and kill and destroy.” However, Jesus goes on to say, “I have come that they may have life, and have to the full” [the hero (Savior)].

Humans are the victims of this melodrama. A little corny, you say? Don’t be deceived. All humans are living in a real-life melodrama! Satan wants to keep you from experiencing a “full life” and from growing to maturity in God’s family.?

At one time in my spiritual journey, I was naive. Although I became a believer in Christ as my Savior at about age 12, I never heard a sermon on spiritual warfare until I was in my 40s. Little did I know that this spiritual war can impact a person’s beliefs, decisions, morals, and their consequences!?

Little did I know it can impact a person physically, emotionally, and spiritually! Little did I know it can impact a person’s family and relationships! Little did I know it could impact a person’s success in school, at work, or in any area of life! Little did I know, that as a businessman, it could impact my job or my business success! Little did I know it could impact my protection, blessings, and quality of life!?

LITTLE DID I KNOW! How did we get here? Read Genesis 1-3 in the Bible.

“Then the dragon was enraged at the woman [the body of believers in Christ] and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus” (Revelation 12:17).

It seems many Christians have forgotten that the Bible says we have an enemy who has schemes to tempt and manipulate humanity from following God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ and obeying their commands. If successful, this disobedience damages our quality of life, hurts our relationship with them, and hinders us from receiving their full blessing and protection.

One morning, as I was shaving, a thought came to my mind, “God doesn’t care about your business.” Already struggling with some discouragement, the thought that God didn’t care about my business’ success or failure nearly overwhelmed me. As I contemplated this thought, some depression began to set in. The more I gave ground to this thought, the more I began to believe it. Fortunately, I had been studying the idea of Satan communicating with us in our minds. Suddenly the light came on for me as I realized what was going on.

In that instant, I knew exactly how to respond. “That’s not true Satan!” I replied. “The Bible says ‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ So go away, Satan!” I declared this in the name of Jesus. Instantly, my mind became completely peaceful.

Few people can dispute the fact that we face battles in our minds similar to the one I just described to you. There is no question in the Bible as to who is waging this battle in our minds: Satan, the fallen angel – the enemy of God and His creation. This Spiritual War is between Christ and Satan. But as God’s children, we are in the middle of it because Christ is in us and we are implementing His mission of restoration.?

One of Satan’s primary strategic targets is the marketplace – the business domain! Why? Because those who work in the marketplace and own businesses have significant influence over much of the population. The marketplace is where we spend the largest share of our time. So, that is where the enemy intensifies his attacks. His primary scheme (strategy) is to get us to do little or nothing for Christ in the marketplace.

Of additional concern to the enemy is that business people are also most likely to have the resources to promote and advance the Kingdom of God on earth. Unfortunately, many Christians are easy prey for Satan because they are unaware of his schemes (strategies) and the subtlety of his participation in their lives and minds (John 10:3-5).?

?In her devotional?Jesus Calling, Sarah Young reminds us that “there is a MIGHTY BATTLE going on for control of your mind. Heaven and earth intersect in your mind; the tugs of both spheres influence your thinking.”

Most people who work in business do not see their work as a holy calling so they don’t use the business world as a “ministry.” Or, they are simply afraid to do so. The enemy (Satin) likes it that way. The renowned philosophy professor, speaker, and author, Dallas Willard, said, “It is as great and as difficult a spiritual calling to run the mines, the banks and the department stores, the schools, and government agencies for the Kingdom of God as it is to pastor a church or serve as an evangelist.”?

Michael Baer, a businessman and former pastor, says in his book Business as Mission, “In much of the world there is a fundamental conviction among sincere Christians that there is something intrinsically wrong with business and no serious follower of Christ would go into business, much less consider it a calling.”?

Nothing could be further from the truth! Baer goes on to say, “Business is a good thing from God…a high calling from God.” You may sense such a calling on your life and already view your job or business as a ministry. More likely, you may be wondering if you can really be “doing something for God” while working in a business.?

Baer points out that God “is a God of purpose and plans, that He has an end in mind for the things He does and creates.” He uses people to implement his plans!

The Bible teaches us that we each have a purpose:?“In Him, we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.”?(Ephesians 1:11)?“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”?Ephesians 2:10?

All Christians are called to make disciples. But when you begin doing this, you put a target on your back. In the middle of fulfilling God’s purpose for your life, you are in the middle of this cosmic war! If you are not a born-again believer, you will not go to Paradise when you die, so Satan has already won the war with you.

Would you like to have God “with you” and learn how to “put on the Armor of God” as you live out this melodrama?

The Bible says when you choose to live God’s way, by following His commands and teachings, His power is “with you.” If you obey God, the Lord will send a blessing on “everything you put your hand to” (Deuteronomy 28:8a).

These spiritual warfare articles will give you a clear understanding of The Armor of God and how to use it and have God “with you” to defeat Satan and his forces of darkness.

Value-Added Section

The Truth About Jesus Christ

Matthew 22:16

“And they *sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any.'”

Matthew 6:2

“So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

Matthew 6:5

“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

Matthew 11:11

“Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

Matthew 13:17

“For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

Matthew 18:3

“and said, ‘Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.'”

Matthew 18:13-14

“And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.?In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.”

Matthew 19:28

“And Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.'”

Matthew 21:21

“And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, “Be taken up and cast into the sea,” it will happen.'”

Matthew 25:11-12

“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’”

Matthew 25:40

“The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’”

Matthew 25:45

“Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’”

Matthew 26:34

“Jesus said to him, ‘Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’”

Mark 3:28-29

“Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”

Mark 9:1

“And Jesus was saying to them, ‘Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.’”

Mark 10:15

“Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

Mark 10:29-30

“‘Truly I tell you,’?Jesus replied,?‘no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel?30?will fail to receive a hundred times as much?in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come?eternal life.'”

Mark 11:23

“Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.”

Mark 14:30

“And Jesus *said to him, ‘Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.’”

Luke 12:37

“Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.”

Luke 12:42-44

“The Lord?answered,?‘Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time??It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.?Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.'”

Luke 18:17

“Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

Luke 21:3

“And He said, ‘Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them [the rich];'”

John 3:3

“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’”

John 3:5

“Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.'”

John 3:11

“Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony.”

John 5:19

“Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.'”

John 5:24

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

John 5:25

“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”

John 6:26

“Jesus answered them and said, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.'”

John 6:32

“Jesus then said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.'”

John 6:47

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.”

John 6:53

“So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.'”

John 8:34

“Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.'”

John 8:51

“Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.”

John 8:58

“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.’”

John 10:7-10

“Therefore Jesus said again,?‘Very truly I tell you, I am?the gate?for the sheep.?All who have come before me?are thieves and robbers,?but the sheep have not listened to them.?I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.?They will come in and go out, and find pasture.?The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,?and have it to the full.'”

John 10:7

“So Jesus said to them again, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.'”

John 12:24

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

John 13:16

“Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.”

John 13:20

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

John 16:23

“In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.”

John 21:18

“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.”

John 16:7

“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper [the spirit of truth] will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”

John 8:14

“Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.'”

John 8:40

“But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God…”

John 8:45

“But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.”

John 8:46

“Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?”

My Purpose

“My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart?and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery?of God, namely, Christ,?in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so the one one may deceive you by fine-sounding argument.” Colossians 2:2-4