The True Christian Battles

[emekrus]

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh-for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”- 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

From a myopic view or understanding of the above scripture, many Christians have been spending the better part of their time and energy fighting the lesser battles. That is, warring against the devil and his cohorts…

Although, they are supposed to wrestle against those forces according to scriptures, but they are supposed to be wrestling from a triumphant position by faith.

From scriptures, we understand that Christ has given us victorious authority over the devil and all his cohorts (Lk 10:19); and also, that we are seated together with Christ in heavenly places, far above principalities and powers…

And as such, as a true Christian, dealing with the devil or any of his cohorts, shouldn’t take so much time and energy that so many well-meaning Christians spend fighting battles that Christ has already won for us.

You know, many a time, we see folks organize an all-night meeting, just to scream on top of their voices for the devil and demons to be cast out. More so, individual Christians spend hours in prayers, fighting against the activities of the devil and his agents- instead of fellowshipping with the Father and the Son through the Holy Ghost...

Church leaders spend quality time that is supposed to be used to share the truth of God’s word (that brings true deliverance), to be laying hands on people, and even pushing them around in order to cast out the devils or demons-that most of the time are not there.

They lay hands, and get the devil manifesting and getting people to fall, yet the peoples’ lives after all the whole manifestations are not in any way bettered after such a long period of time…

All these are the wiles and strategies of the devil to distract and completely get the eyes of the Church from fighting the major battles we are admonished to fight in the opening scripture (2Cor 10:3-5). He gets Christians to focus on fighting with him and his demons so he can be always successfully carrying on with his maneuvers.

He gets Christians screaming and sweating at him and his agents instead of using their weapons (the whole armor of God) to cast down vain imaginations; every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God; and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…

Because he knows he can only defeat or oppress a believer in any area of life through their imaginations, thoughts and untamed/unrighteous fleshly desires. Once these doors are properly secured, he must always loose against the believer in any battle of life.

The Major Christian Battles

From the opening scripture (2 Cor 10:3-5), it is very clear, that the major battles of a Christian, is casting down vain imaginations that always bombard his /her mind every now and then. And bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…

And all these battles we’re supposed to be fighting on daily basis with our mighty spiritual weapons, which are the whole armor of God (Eph 6:13-18)…

And also, we’re to always render our bodies as living sacrifices to God and consistently renew our thoughts with the word of God every day and minute (Rom 12:1-2). As we pay the major part of our spiritual attention to the obedience of these scriptural injunctions, dealing with the devil or his demons becomes very very easy.

When your body and thoughts are sanctified at all times, each time you sense the devil or demons in any area of your life, a single command of faith, will just be enough to stop them from their maneuvers and strategies…

Just like our Lord Jesus, each time you see someone oppressed or obsessed with demons as revealed to you by God, a single authoritative command of faith will dispel them out. And sometime, even with a quiet command… You may not need to shout-He is a small and finished devil.

And Christ has given us great authority over him and all his cohorts. And our position in Christ, is far above all principalities and powers (Eph 2:6).

But however, rendering our bodies as a living sacrifice, renewing our thoughts and casting down vain imaginations consistently, is discomforting to the flesh, hence, folks prefer the other alternative…

That is, allowing their flesh to still have its way (instead of crucifying it); and allowing their thoughts and imaginations to wander as they want- then as an easier fix, they go on screaming and sweating at the devil and evil spirits…

Then sometimes, they can go to someone to be helping them cast out evil spirits, even when the devil is not connected to their problems at all in any way.

Many a time, what these folks who doesn’t want to take the responsibility of obedience to God’s word, call demonic activities are merely works of the flesh, which they fail to discipline themselves to let go.

For instance, someone is into seeing pornographic movies and consequently into masturbation, then instead of disciplining his flesh and eyes to stop seeing such obscene movies, he consistently runs to a pastor to get evil spirits of masturbation cast out of him, and after the exorcism session, he continues with it, blaming it on the devil.

All these are all self-deception. If you take a strong stand against any unrighteous habit with the whole armor of God, including prayers, you can live above sin, and consequently enjoy your authority against the devil and his cohorts sweatlessly.

   I see you getting into that realm of supernatural authority against every evil forces, all your life, as you take responsibility to fight the right Christian battles, from now onwards, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ!

Remain Blessed!

Emeke

[Esther4:14]

 

Many a time, what these folks who doesn’t want to take the responsibility of obedience to God’s word, call demonic activities are merely works of the flesh, which they fail to discipline themselves to let go.

 

 

I think that this is a good point.  Personally, I think that practicing the Sabbath is a remedy for this.  The Sabbath was originally a method of disciplining the flesh according to the law.  In my experience, I have found it to be a lot more like fasting.  It is actually a very spiritually challenging activity that is beneficial in becoming more effective in spiritual battles.

 "It is a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you must practice self-denial; it is a permanent statute," (Leviticus 16:31).   

Now, I know many people are confident that the verse in Colossians 2:16 says that we don't need to practice the Sabbath anymore, as though this was a good thing, and I am not going to make any sort of legalistic argument in favor of practicing the Sabbath.  However, I think it is a beneficial spiritual discipline.  The commandment is simple.  It says you shall not work and your servants should not work, which creates equality in the body as well (Exodus 20:8).  You will really feel the burn, so to speak, on that first day when you can't go through the drive thru at McDonalds because people are not supposed to serve you on that day.  They are supposed to rest too, whether that  literally happens or not.  I remember a day years ago that I wanted to go to rent a movie, but couldn't because the clerk is your servant, and they are supposed to rest too.  I really spent a long time just frustrated on the Sabbath because my flesh needed to be disciplined to practice this simple commandment.  

Jesus says that the Sabbath was made for man because it is a method of disciplining the flesh.  This is why the Sabbath benefits man, and man doesn't do the Sabbath a favor by practicing it.  There are a boatload of things we can experience and learn in practicing the Sabbath, the way the disciples did when Jesus was with them, that can teach us how to overcome spiritual battles.  

Peace