Spiritual Warfare
"O our God... we
have no power against this great multitude that is coming
against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon
You."
(2
Chronicles 20:12)
|
"Until fairly recently, most people would argue that
America was uniquely blessed -- a nation of sturdy
and hard-working immigrants in the land of the free!
But our nation has changed and our security is
fading fast.
"The deadly wars now spreading through the Middle
East reminds us that torture, rape, beheadings and
other forms of persecution and cruel deaths have no
real boundaries. Meanwhile, America's borders have
opened wide. The poor, the angry, the uneducated,
the drug sellers, the militant ISIS and the vision
of an Islamic caliphate on American soil are fast
becoming a reality. Our nation is changing fast.
"Hard to believe? Then ponder the current
transformation. 1. 40% of all workers in L. A..
County (10.2 million people) are working for cash
and not paying taxes. This is because they are
predominantly illegal immigrants working without a
green card.
2.
95% of warrants for
murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.
3.
75% of people on the
most wanted list in Los Angeles are illegal aliens.
4.
Over 2/3 of all
births in Los Angeles County are to illegal alien
Mexicans on Medi-Cal, whose births were paid for
by taxpayers.
5.
Nearly 35% of all inmates in California detention
centers are Mexican nationals here illegally.
6.
Over 300,000 illegal aliens in Los Angeles County
are living in garages.
7.
The FBI reports half of all gang members in Los
Angeles are most likely illegal aliens from
south of the border.
8.
Nearly 60% of all occupants of HUD properties are
illegal.
9.
21 radio stations in L. A. are Spanish speaking.
10.
In L.A. County 5.1 million people speak English, 3.9
million speak Spanish.... 29% of inmates in federal
prisons are illegal aliens."
(Source:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/1738432/posts)
It's a
sad message indeed! But in the midst of the
spiritual darkness, our Lord reminds us:
"Be
strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be
dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever
you go."
(Joshua 1:9)
|
"...the whole world
is under the sway of the evil one."
1 John 5:19
"Beloved, do not
believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of
God; because many false prophets have gone out into the
world...."
1 John 4:1
"...submit to God.
Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."
James 4:7-8
"For
though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
For
the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God
for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every
high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,
bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience
is fulfilled."
2 Corinthians
10:2-6
"Satan himself
transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no
great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into
ministers of righteousness..."
2 Corinthians
11:14-15
"And
they
overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the
word of their testimony...."
Revelation
12:11
"Be strong and
courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor
before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than
with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to
help us and to fight our battles.' And the people were strengthened by the
words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” 2 Chronicles 32:7-8
"Do not be discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not
yours, but God’s.”
2 Chronicles 20:15
"Behold, I send
you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise
as serpents and harmless as doves... [W]hen they deliver you
up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it
will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for
it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who
speaks in you."
Matthew 10:16,
19-20
"Be
ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For
the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine,
but according to their own desires, because they have
itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will
turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
But you be watchful in all things..." 2
Timothy 4:2-5
"Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus for you.
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things;
hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil."
1
Thessalonians 5:16-22
"Finally,
my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His
might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be
able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
"For we do not
wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against
spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take
up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand.
"Stand therefore, having girded your waist
with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and
having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to
quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
being watchful to this end with all perseverance and
supplication for all the saints."
Ephesians 6:10-18
"I have been crucified with
Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me..." Galatians 2:20
"Be strong and of
good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord
your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua
1:9
"The Lord your God, who
goes before you, He will fight for you..."
Deuteronomy
1:30
"Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he
pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired
him. For this reason he was hired, that I should be afraid and act that
way and sin, so that they might have cause for an evil report, that
they might reproach me."
Nehemiah
6:12-13
"If God is for us,
who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but
delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give
us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is
God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died,
and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who
also makes intercession for us. ...
"...in all these things
we are
more than conquerors through Him who 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 created thing, shall be able to separate us
from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:31-38
Helpful
charts:
The Nature and Tactics of
Satan & Unequal
Contenders in the Spiritual War
Put on
The Armor of God
Read
The
Invisible War and A
Wardrobe from the King