But Ive Believed The Gospel Why Do I Still Think The Way I Do Im So Frustrated
The problem is that now theres a struggle for your mind, called spiritual warfare. It is a battle in which the enemy knows that if he can influence your mind, he can affect your actions. In this spiritual warfare, he seeks to get your focus off of Gods truth so he can sidetrack and destroy your life. Satan wants you to think thoughts contrary to Gods Word.
We Must Be Disciplined
The present tense of the verb be strong means that it is not a once and for all eventbe strongbut a constant strengthening through God.4 The implication of this is that we need discipline. If it were a one-time event we could stop working, but it is not. We need to continue to strengthen ourselves in the Lord.
Discipline is not only necessary to be empowered by God, but also to put on his characterhis armor. 1 Timothy 4:7 says, discipline yourself unto godliness or, as it can also be translated, exercise yourself unto godliness. We need to practice spiritual disciplinesprayer, Bible reading, fellowship, serving, solitude, and givingdaily in order to become holy.
The Christian with poor spiritual discipline is like the soldier without disciplineunprepared and therefore vulnerable to attack.
What Paul Teaches About The Full Armor Of God
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devils 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. Eph. 6:11-17
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thess. 3:3
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What Are Battles For Your Mind
The battles for your mind come in the form of spiritual warfare and personal attacks. In 2 Corinthians, Paul shares what a spiritual battle looks like and his response to the attack.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
Who Will Gain Victory In The Spiritual Battle
Gods victory has already been secured. He gained power and authority over sin and death when Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected. Now, the power of that resurrection lives inside everyone who holds to the teachings of Christ. Gods grace and eternal life are available to all, so we must make every effort to to take hold of it.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
-1 John 5:1-5 NIV Full Chapter
More Bible verses about spiritual warfare: Isaiah 54:14-17, Psalm 84, Matthew 16:13-19, 1 Corinthians 15:57, 1 John 5:5
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What Does The Bible Say About Spiritual Warfare
There are two primary errors when it comes to spiritual warfareover-emphasis and under-emphasis. Some blame every sin, every conflict, and every problem on demons that need to be cast out. Others completely ignore the spiritual realm and the fact that the Bible tells us our battle is against spiritual powers. The key to successful spiritual warfare is finding the biblical balance. Jesus sometimes cast demons out of people other times He healed people with no mention of the demonic. The apostle Paul instructs Christians to wage war against the sin in themselves and warns us to oppose the schemes of the devil .
Ephesians 6:1012 says, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. This text teaches some crucial truths: we can only stand strong in the Lords power, it is Gods armor that protects us, and our battle is ultimately against spiritual forces of evil in the world.
RESENT POST
What The Old Testament Teaches About Spiritual Warfare
The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. Deut. 28:7
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Josh. 1:9
For You have girded me with strength for battle You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. Ps. 18:39
Through You we will push back our adversaries, through Your name we will trample down those who rise up against us. Ps. 44:5
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Surely he will save you from the fowlers snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart Ps. 91:1-4
No weapon that is formed against you will prosper and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me, declares the Lord. Is. 54:17
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Spiritual Warfare Scriptures To Declare Victory In Christ
Are you looking for spiritual warfare Scriptures that you can use to declare victory over your life? There are times when we feel like the weight of the world is on our shoulders. Although we will sometimes experience difficulty and hardship in this life, we can walk in joy and freedom when we use Gods Word as a powerful weapon of warfare. Lets take a look at 25 Scriptures on spiritual warfare that we can use to encourage our hearts and stand firm against the enemys schemes.
You can also download a FREE printable at the end of this post with spiritual warfare Scriptures that you can use to pray with power and confidence each day!
Appendix: Discussion Questions For Spiritual Warfare
MEN 7/52 is a men’s ministry of bible.org. Our desire is to see all men become true followers of Jesus Christ 7 days a week/52 weeks a year.
It should come as no surprise to the Christian to read here that we are engaged in a great spiritual battle. From the early chapters of the Old Testament it is apparent that Satan is the enemy of God, and that he actively seeks to oppose God, His purposes, and His people.
Ephesians 6:10-20 is perhaps the clearest definition of the spiritual war which we find from the pen of the Apostle Paul. It not only assures us that there is a spiritual war, but it warns us that apart from utilizing the weapons which God has provided for us, we are hopelessly underpowered. This passage informs us as to what our divinely weapons are. Beyond this, these weapons imply the nature of the struggle which we are in. The weapons which God has provided for us are those weapons which best repel the attacks of Satan, and thus we can learn a great deal about the nature of Satans opposition from simply considering each of the weapons at our disposal.
We are in great danger, not when the enemy is great and powerful, but when we think that we can stand in our own strength, rather than in the strength which God provides. Peter learned this lesson the hard way . Paul warns every Christian about the danger of self-confidence.
Session 1
1.Where do you see and experience spiritual warfare in your church?
2.How is it affecting your spiritual growth?
Session 2
Session 3
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What Is Spiritual Warfare In The Bible
Spiritual warfare in the Bible is older than time itself. The war originated in Heaven when Lucifer challenged Gods authority. It did not go over well for him, to say the least, and we are left with the consequences of Lucifers rebellion. These Bible verses about spiritual warfare explain more on this topic:
Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled downthat ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah.For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
-Revelation 12:7-12 NIV Full Chapter
More Bible verses about spiritual warfare: Genesis 3, 1 John 3:7-10
How To Pray Warefare Prayers
Walk Worthy and Pray:Colossians 1: 9-14 ESV And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
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Deep Spiritual Warfare Prayer For Saints:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for for providing a way for me to remove my old nature and escape the grasp of the enemy. I thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I rejoice and celebrate Christ's blood which paid for my sins. I am overjoyed that I am now a new man and Child of God with a sound mind that has been renewed. I am in awe of you God because you are selfless, loving, and patient with your children. You came to earth and taught us how to walk and talk like you, thank you for that example. Lord, help us to imitate Christ and be a role model for all the world to see.Help us to demolish strongholds of satan and generational curses that would try to keep us in bondage. I thank you for the discernment and spiritual strength to stand in the gap for the pain of others. You have given me authority over demons and the workings of the enemy. Help me to walk confidently in the supernatural power you've given your children to send wicked spirits back to hell. God, help me to be a world changer like the Apostle Paul and have every area of my line up with scripture. I pray that I would persuasively and lovingly preach eternal life, the Gospel, and the power in the blood of Jesus. Thank you for being with me in daily life activities and removing evil spirits that would destroy your will for my life. I love you God and I will give all my energy and strength to be in the fullness of the will of God. Amen.
Additional Prayer Points:
Lutheranism Anglicanism And Reformed Christianity
The practice of exorcism was also known among the first generation of teachers and pastors in the LutheranReformation. Johannes Bugenhagen was the pastor of the Wittenberg town church and officiated at ‘s wedding. In a letter addressed to Luther and Melanchthon dated November 1530, Pomeranus recounted his experience of dealing with a young girl who showed signs of demon possession. Pomeranus’ method involved counseling the girl concerning her previous baptismal vows, he invoked the name of Christ and prayed with her. .
The Anglican–Puritan writer William Gurnall wrote a lengthy three-volume work The Christian in Complete Armour that was published between 1662 and 1665. In this work Gurnall stressed the place of reading Scripture, prayer and the name of Christ.
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What Caused Lucifer To Fall From Heaven
Lucifer was perfect till iniquity was found in . Isaiah 14:13-14 tells us what happened in Lucifers heart when he rebelled against God:
You have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.
Lucifers heart was captivated by pride.
He decided it was no longer good enough to be an angel created in the beauty of God. Lucifer wanted to be like the Most High.
He desired Gods place in Heaven Gods position, His power, His perfection, His privilege. And when Lucifer became Satan due to this sin in his heart, he was banished from heaven . His proud heart was the reason for his fall, and the Bible tells us he did indeed fall. Here are Jesus own words:
I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven. Luke 10:18
The essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride It was through Pride that the devil became the devil. Pride leads to every other vice. It is the complete anti-God state of mind.3 ~ C. S. Lewis
The Devil Works Through An Army Of Demons
Paul says this in Ephesians 6:12: 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.
Scripture teaches that demons are fallen angels. Revelation 12:4 says that at Satans fall a third of the angels fell with him.
How many demons are there? We dont know. But we do know that Satan could spare up to 6,000 of them to focus on one person. In the story of the demoniac in Mark 5:9, the demons said their name was Legion. As a Roman legion consisted of up to 6,000 men,6 the fallen angels appear to be innumerable. Satan has no shortage of allies, and all of them are seeking to destroy the people of God and the plans of God.
Paul doesnt teach us everything about demons, but there are many things that can be discerned from this passage.
ObservationQuestion: What characteristics of demons can be discerned from Pauls teaching in Ephesians 6:12?
- Demons are supernatural.
Paul says we dont battle against flesh and blood. This means that demons are supernatural, and that our primary opponents are not evil people, but the power that works behind them. Wiersbes comments are helpful here:
- Demons are wicked.
- Demons are organized.
The demonic categories that Paul uses are not explained, but they seem to represent differing degrees of authority, such as presidents, governors, mayors, and aldermen, on the human scale.9
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How To Fight This Battle
The spiritual battle is fought in prayer, according to Christian demonology. Praying for protection against the devil and his demons are common practices amongst Christians who believe that spiritual warfare exists.
The Apostle Paul called on believers of all time to pray with all prayer and supplication.
Prayer itself can be considered a spiritual weapon since it subdues evil spirits while simultaneously uplifting Gods name through praise and thanksgiving. There are also other forms of spiritual weapons, including fasting which some consider an even more effective form of spiritual war.
There are demonic spirits out there, whether or not you believe in it. The key to success in spiritual conflict with the devil and his demons is through prayerprayer can be considered one of many spiritual weapons given by God to defeat evil spirits.
An important aspect of spiritual warfare includes knowing what God has done for us already, which helps Christians understand that they are more powerful than Satans forces since Christ defeated him on the cross at Calvary.
Prayer also serves as a way to praise the Lord while asking for His guidance throughout your life journey.
When all else fails, remember these words from scripture: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you .
Incorporate spiritual warfare into your life by praying daily, as guided by the scriptures.