The REAL Battle!

 

Ephesians 6:10-13

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.

When you understand this truth, it changes the way you view people and the world. Jesus told His disciples to be gentle as a dove but wise as a serpent for a reason! The hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places will show you no mercy, period! And evil spirits are not just in heavenly places but also in the bodies of human beings too! 

A perfect example of this is when Jesus went into a Synagogue (building) to preach and an evil spirit manifested inside a man who was there.

Mark 1:21-28

"Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee."

The scripture clearly says Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. Now Jesus being full of grace, truth, power and light, caused the unclean spirit to manifest in the man. More than likely, none of the pharisees and teachers of the law knew the man had an unlean spirit in him, but the power of God emanating through Jesus as he taught the scriptures, brought the demon out!

This is why I keep saying exactly what the scriptures teach, that the Church is NOT a building! Jesus said, "upon this Rock, (Himself) I will build MY church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it." Your body is the temple of God in which He dwells by His Spirit, IF so be, His Spirit is within your soul.

Jesus also did not entrust Himself to anybody because He knew what was in them!

John 2:23-24

"Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man."

And when Paul and Silas was just walking around in the city of Philippi the kindgom of darkness was right there with them inside of slave girl!

Acts 16:16-19

"Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities."

The real spiritual warfare is going on right here in these scriptures, in a synagogue, on a street corner, in somebody's house, it does not matter where you are, or who you are, the real battle for souls is being waged every single day, whether you know it or not!

It is my desire to walk as Jesus did, without spot, wrinkle or blemish, holy, and set apart for God's use, there really isn't another way to live on this earth, because that is what God requires of His people, His servants. He wants those who serve Him to be holy as He is Holy!

John 14:29-30

“And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.

Let us strive to be like our Master, completely holy! That's one of the reasons Jesus died on the cross, so that our souls could be washed clean by His blood, our bodies sanctified by His Spirit, and our minds transformed and washed by His word.

In Christ,

Tyrone