Tag-Archive for » spiritual warfare «

29
Sep
Don’t Collaborate With the Enemy!

Confused?

“May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house,” says George Carlin. That’s a great blessing prayer, but I think it is more often we who become confused and often end up collaborating with the enemy.

An attack from the enemy brings forth anything that is the fruit of evil and not the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control). Collaborating with the enemy means that we join forces with him—our sin nature working together with demonic suggestions and plans (see Galatians 5:19–23).

Do a little fruit inspection, in yourself and in the circumstances, to know if you are collaborating with the enemy. Then decide if you are facing one of the 3 types of demonic attacks I shared about in my last post—resistance, temptation, or flaming arrows. Now—to battle!

Scripture gives us clear directions for battling evil. We are told to submit, or present ourselves ready for battle, to God. Next we are to resist the devil, which results in his retreat (see James 4:7). But how does one resist the devil? What does that mean and what does that look like?

Counter Resistance with Truth

Daniel and some of his friends were cast into a flaming furnace because they refused to give into their king’s demand to worship him as god. The young men decided to meet resistance with truth—they took the consequences and came out victorious. Their truth sounded like this: “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:17–18 NIV). Did it work? You can read the rest of the story in Daniel 3.

Counter Temptation with Truth

Temptation confronts all of us, and it is also resisted with truth. Jesus modeled this for us when he countered every temptation Satan thrust at him by speaking a truth from Scripture (see Luke 4:1-14).

For example, when facing sexual temptation I might remind the enemy (and myself) of 1 Corinthians 10:13: “Satan, no temptation has seized me except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let me be tempted beyond what I can bear. When I am tempted, God will also provide a way out so that I can stand up under the temptation. Now, be gone and stop harassing me with this temptation.” I would then put 2 Timothy 2:22 into action and flee whatever form of lust the enemy is shoving in my face.

Counter Flaming Arrows with Truth

Since flaming arrows are aimed directly at our thoughts and emotions, countering them with truth is important to getting our mind and heart saturated with faith and standing strong against the enemy.

When attacked with inadequacy or feelings of being unloved, we can grab Scriptures such as Romans 8:37–39 and tell the enemy, “No, this is not true. The Scripture says that I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus my Lord.”

Collaborating with the enemy leads to death—on many levels. Collaborating with the Spirit Holy requires that we learn and speak truth—both to ourselves and to the enemy. Share with us your story of using truth to resist the enemy. I would love to hear from you.

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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27
Sep
Warning! Be Alert to 3 Types of Demonic Attacks

Be Alert!

Has anyone ever told you that you need to become alert to 3 different types of demonic attacks? Really—there is a predator on the loose and he wants to destroy your life. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). This predator is supernatural, difficult to recognize, and he doesn’t work alone (see Ephesians 6:12).

Demonic forces provoke and pressure us into wrong ways of thinking or acting. We feel “driven”. These attacks are often hard to identify because we are so used to them. We often believe that they are our own thoughts or just a part of everyday life.

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11 KJ). The word “devices” used here can be translated as “mind devices” from the Greek—giving us a word picture of how the enemy of our souls attempts to attack us—through our thoughts and emotions.

Most people are ignorant of the devices used by the predator. Satan’s goal is to manipulate our free will so that we will act according to his dictates and become his slaves (2 Peter 2:19). He aims most of his attacks at our thoughts and emotions, which then motivate our will, or decision making ability, in a wrong direction.

Be Alert to 3 Types of Demonic Attacks

Learning to recognize the 3 different types of demonic attacks can help you avoid becoming predator fodder.

Attack of Resistance

Sometimes we feel resistance because we deserve it—we’re trampling on other people or being stupid in our actions. But when resistance comes because of a God assignment in our lives it may indicate something other than immaturity. The goal of a resistance attack is mental, emotional, and physical discouragement. Check out the following stories to see what I’m talking about:

  1. Daniel is resisted by people in his God given assignment (Daniel 6).
  2. Daniel is resisted by demonic powers (Daniel 10:11-13).
  3. Paul is resisted in his ministry by Satan (1 Thessalonians 2:18).

Ask God to reveal who or what is causing the “road block” you are facing. Both Daniel and Paul knew who was causing their road blocks. These men of God could identify what they were up against.

Attack of Temptation

In James 1:14-16 we are given the pattern that temptation follows: “But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.”

Learn how this pattern works in your own life:

  1. What happened in your thinking that led to wrong actions?
  2. What feelings arose within that prompted your choices?
  3. How did the sin grow once you had given in to the temptation?

Do you see a pattern?

Attack of Flaming Arrows

“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16). Like temptation, arrows are aimed at our thoughts and emotions. If demons can capture our mind or feelings, they can then direct our actions.

To resist a flaming arrow, learn to tune into your thoughts and feelings:

  1. What are you feeling or thinking? Identify the “arrow.”
  2. Why are you feeling or thinking this? Learn the cause of the arrow. What is the enemy trying to stir up in you?
  3. Is your initial reaction godly or ungodly? Wrong reactions signal that you have accepted, rather than rejected, a flaming arrow.

Pulled any flaming arrows out lately?

What has been your experience with these 3 types of demonic attacks? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

Check back on Wednesday for the next post on how to resist the enemy and avoid becoming predator fodder. You can also find other tips on dealing with demonic attacks in the August 30, 2010 post, “How to Deal With the Accuser Living in Your Head.”

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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30
Aug
How to Deal With the Accuser Living in Your Head

Do you ever have one of those days when you feel like there is a little voice in your head telling you what a poor example you are of the human race? Be assured that the little voice is not you. It may sound like you, but it is not. That voice is actually thoughts being thrown into your mind by someone known as the Accuser—and he is out to destroy your life. Here are some facts about the Accuser and some tips on how to deal with him.

How to know you are being condemned by the Accuser

You will feel one or more of the following emotions: depressed, discouraged, guilty, shamed, inadequate, a failure, hopeless, stupid, unloved, disliked, rejected, blamed, useless, lonely, discarded or condemned.

You will think thoughts along the lines of the following: “I’m a failure.” “This will never change.” “I’m a jerk.” “There is no hope for me.” “No one likes me.” “It’s not worth it.” “Why me?”

He is not flesh and blood! 

The Accuser is not human. He is a type of spirit, and he has been around for a very long time. He goes by the names of Satan, Devil, Accuser, Adversary, Angel of Light, Father of Lies, Lucifer, Serpent and many more that describe his character and activities (see Ephesians 6:12).

The Accuser does what his name implies—he accuses. “For the accuser of our brothers is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night . . . .” (Revelation 12:10 NIV).

What to do when the Accuser assaults you

1. Don’t agree with him! Recognize who is speaking. Even if the voice sounds like your own voice, don’t believe it!

2. Put on your spiritual armor and use your spiritual weapon (see Ephesians 6:13–18).

3. Apply the finished work of Christ through repentance if you have sinned (see 1 John 1:9).

4. Remind the enemy that the Lamb’s blood identifies you as sinless. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (Revelation 12:11 NIV).

5. Then speak your testimony to the enemy. “Yep, everything you say was once true, but in Christ that is no longer who I am” (see Revelation 12:11 above).

6. Reaffirm your total commitment to Christ and expect a little more practice in laying down your life (see Revelation 12:11 above).

7. Rebuke the enemy! You’ve been given authority—now use it! Just say something along the lines of, “Accuser, I rebuke you. You have no power over me. I have been bought with the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and he now owns me and has authority over my life. You have no authority to accuse me of anything. Take your accusations about me, and tell them to Jesus. Stop criticizing God’s property”  (see James 4:7).  

Dealing with the Accuser can be an ongoing battle when we first realize who is attacking us. But the more we practice the above steps, the more we find freedom from mental torment and the tendency to believe the lies of the enemy.

What suggestions can you add that would help in dealing with the Accuser? Please leave your input in the comment link below. We would love to hear from you.

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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