What Is Temptation?

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41)

Everybody experiences temptation. It doesn't matter how "spiritual" you are or how long you've followed Christ. Sometimes, it seems like a faint whisper. Other times, it's an unbearable shout in your mind. Regardless of how it sounds, you know what it's like to be tempted. But if someone asked, could you define it? 

 

Temptation is simply an enticement to take a God-given desire beyond God-given boundaries. Many people reject this idea. They refuse to believe their temptation could be even remotely related to God. But think about it: in what ways are you most often tempted? Material possessions? Intimacy? Relationships? Food? These are all things that God not only created, but also uses to bless His people. The problem comes when we take those drives beyond the healthy limits God set. 

 

For example, He created sex for enjoyment within marriage. But this divinely approved desire is horribly corrupted by physical intimacy outside of marriage. In those cases, something the Creator designed for His purposes becomes a source of guilt and shame. That's not what God intended. 

One of Satan's top strategies is to distort a God-given drive for his own evil purposes. You can short-circuit such an attack by reminding yourself of the origins of this drive and praying for the strength to use those drives for God's glory.

In Touch Daily Devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley © 2004. All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward the message).

Overcoming Temptation

 

I heard the story of a guy who was quite overweight and wanted to shed some pounds. Knowing his hankering for doughnuts, he carefully avoided driving past the Krispy Kreme doughnut shop on his way to work every day. He did this successfully for three weeks, and all his coworkers were really proud of him. Then one day he came to work with five boxes of hot Krispy Kremes – three of them already consumed.

Everyone started getting on his case for falling off the wagon. He smiled and said, "Wait, these are special doughnuts! I accidentally drove by Krispy Kreme in the morning, and I could see the sign was lit up telling me the doughnuts were being made fresh.

"So I prayed, 'Lord, if You want me to have some of these incredible donuts, let me have a parking space right in front of the store!' And sure enough, the eighth time around the block, there it was!"

That reminds me of a bumper sticker:

"Lead me not into temptation. I can find it myself."

We all know what it's like to be tempted to do the wrong thing. Like Oscar Wilde said, "I can resist anything – except temptation."

But the Bible promises us that we can overcome the lure and seduction of various kinds of temptation:

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13) Now, this is not to say you cannot put yourself in a place of temptation – a place where you don't belong.

Jesus taught us to pray, "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." We cannot completely remove ourselves from temptation. To do that, we'd have to leave the planet. In this petition, we are asking God to so guide our steps that we will not wander out of His will and place ourselves in the way of temptation. We're saying, "Lord, don't let me be tempted above my capacity to resist."

But then there is also the devil, Satan, who directs a well-organized, highly effective army of fallen angels (demons) to lure you into bondage to sin.

The purpose of demons seems to be twofold. They seek to hinder the purposes of God, and they seek to extend the power of Satan. We see this illustrated in Scripture. Consider this snippet from Paul's letter to the church in Thessalonica: "For we wanted to come to you – certainly I, Paul, did, again and again – but Satan stopped us" (1 Thessalonians 2:18).

The Apostle Paul mentioned his own personal struggles that were brought on by demons, and even allowed by God. In his second letter to the Corinthians, he speaks of a "thorn in the flesh" and calls it "a messenger of Satan" to buffet him (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).

The word "buffet" in this passage means to "strike with the fist." Though it's true we as believers can be hassled like Paul was, and tempted and oppressed and harassed by Satan, the devil cannot control us! The apostle said, "We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going" (2 Corinthians 4:9).

That's because when we put our faith in Jesus Christ we come under "new ownership!"

However, let me extend this word of warning: If you have not put your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, you are entirely vulnerable to the devil and his attacks.

Silver bullets, holy water or crucifixes will not stop him.

Only the power of Jesus Christ.

Someone may ask, "Greg, are you saying that you actually believe in demon possession?" Absolutely!

Now, I am not speaking of the "Hollywood/Exorcist" style of demon control here with spinning heads, etc. In the New Testament, we see people who were possessed by demons having many illnesses as well as suicidal tendencies.

There was one man who was possessed by not one but many, many demons. He hung around in a graveyard, naked, cutting himself with sharp rocks. The Amplified Bible says of this man, "Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always shrieking and screaming and beating and bruising and cutting himself with stones" (Mark 5:5). He had super-human strength and was able to break chains with his bare hands. No doubt the people of the area avoided this place – especially at night.

Nobody, that is, except Jesus, who delivered this tortured man, releasing him from an army of evil spirits in the space of a heartbeat.

But how does this sort of thing happen? By opening the door of your soul to Satan.

Note the man was suicidal. When I look at the rash of suicides in our country today, especially among young people, I have to say Satan is at work. Suicides among adolescents have nearly tripled over the last 40 years. For those age 15 to 24, suicide is the third-leading cause of death, behind accidents and homicide.

The devil whispers in your ear, "You are worthless – take your life!"

Remember, his ultimate agenda is to "steal, to kill and to destroy."

But we can be encouraged to understand that when Christ comes in, the devil goes out. And that's why it's wrong when we hear people saying Christians can be "demon-possessed." Believers might allow themselves to be hassled, harassed or oppressed by demons, but those evil angels cannot enter a space occupied by the living Christ! God is not interested in a time-share program with the devil.

If you are a true Christian, God has given you exceedingly precious promises that you can stake your life upon. God will help you overcome temptations of various kinds, and He has given you spiritual armor to wage war against Satan and his legions. Even better, since Jesus has overcome Satan and all his power, He is our Defender and invincible Advocate. As one of God's children, every move of the enemy against you must come by permission through the protective hedge of Jesus.

So pray, "Lord, lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil."

I suggest you flee temptation and not leave a forwarding address!

HARVEST MINISTRIES by Pastor Greg Laurie © 2007. All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward the message).

Under Attack

Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. (1 Peter 5:8 NLT)

 

A group of recruits was having a written examination. When one of them was asked why he wasn't working, he replied, "Sir, I have neither paper nor pencil." "Well," exclaimed the instructor, "what would you think of a soldier who went into battle with neither rifle nor ammunition?" The recruit thought for a moment, and then answered, "I'd think he was an officer, sir.

 

Unfortunately, too many Christians today think they are "officers" in God's army and don't really have to prepare for the battle. The best way to avoid sin is to stay prepared to face temptation. The minute we let our guard down or the minute we are unprepared, the enemy strikes. In order to stay ready to wage the war of temptation, we must take three actions:
 

Action 1: Be alert
"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:11 NIV)

"Alert" literally means "to stay on guard" or "to keep watch". Our Father wants us to stay alert and always be on guard! Columnist Herb Caen wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle: "Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up knowing that it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up knowing that it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle; when the sun comes up you'd better be running." The best way to stay alert and the greatest deterrent to sin is the word of God! 
 
It is important to remember that God's truth came before Satan's lies. When God's truth comes first in our lives, we will be able to recognize the lies of Satan and temptation will be easier to withstand. When we get away from God's Word, we become an easy target for temptation and sin. Sin will keep us from God's Word or God's Word will keep us from sin.
 
Eve either did not know God's command very well or she chose to forget God's command. When Jesus went into the wilderness and was tempted, He won the battle of temptation by using the word of God. Every time Satan came at Him with a temptation, He responded with scripture. The best way to prepare for temptation is by knowing the Word of God. 
 
Action 2: Pray continually
 
Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to "never stop praying". But many times, we pray only as a last resort. I read about a kindergarten class that went to the fire station for a tour. The fireman was explaining what to do in case of a fire. "First go to the door and feel the door to see if its' hot. If it is hot fall to your knees! Does anyone know why you should fall to your knees?" A little voice spoke up: "Yeah! To start praying and asking God to get us out of this mess!" The power to withstand temptation comes from a praying heart. The devil will do anything to keep us from praying! He laughs at our religious activities and mocks our human wisdom. But he trembles when we pray! I wonder what choice Eve would have made if she had talked to God about Satan's temptations.
 
Action 3: Practice self-control
 
James 1:14-15 Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires. These evil desires lead to evil actions, and evil actions lead to death.
 
Temptation is the first step on the road to sin. It begins in human desire and can stop there if we learn how to control those desires. While speaking for a conference in Colorado, I often saw cows on the country roads. I even spotted a sign that read "If you hit a cow, you pay for the cow". A local farmer explained that cows often escape and get lost. When I asked how a cow could possibly get lost he explained, "Well, the cow starts nibbling on a patch of green grass. When it finishes it looks ahead to the next patch of grass and starts nibbling on that one. Then it nibbles on a clump of grass right next to a hole in the fence. On the other side of the fence is another patch of grass, which the cow nibbles. The next thing you know the cow has nibbled itself into being lost. Sin is not usually one giant leap but the result of many small steps. Eve chose to give in to rather than control her natural desires and physical appetites.
 
Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
 
Today we are tempted just like Eve was tempted. When she ate that fruit, it was more than just a rebellious act. It was choosing to value her own desires over God's will. It was choosing to believe the lies of Satan. Adam was just as guilty as Eve - not just because he ate the fruit but because he said nothing. Silence is always agreement. Self-control is the choice to do the right thing in preparation for facing temptation. 

To win the war with temptation we must be prepared by staying alert, praying continually and practicing self-control.

Now it's your turn 
· I must recognize the power of prayer against temptation.
· I must admit that I have allowed the enemy to "sneak" into my life.
· I must identify the areas in my life that are out of control.
· I must surrender each one of those areas to God and the power of the Holy Spirit working in my life.

 

GIRLFRIENDS IN GOD by Mary Southerland © 2006. All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward the message).

Welcome to the war

 

No, Virginia, there is no Santa Claus, but, I am sorry to say, there is a Satan.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about the character in a red suit with the horns and pitchfork. I'm talking about the real spirit-being the Bible calls the devil, or Satan. And if you have put your faith in Jesus Christ, you need to know that he's going to set his sights on you.

Becoming a Christian, the best decision you ever made, doesn't mean you'll be walking along sunlit paths through California poppies for the rest of your life.

In fact, that decision launches a war that will follow you all your days until Jesus takes you to His Father's house. "Conversion," someone wrote, "has made our hearts a battlefield."

Just as you came to realize there is a God who loves you, you also must come to understand that there is a devil who hates you.

And that devil wants to pull you right back into sin – right back into the snares and traps and sorrows of the old life from which you just escaped. In one of the stories Jesus told, sometimes called "the parable of the sower," He spoke about what happens right after the living seed of God's Word is planted in someone's heart. "And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts" (Mark 4:15).

If the evil one fails in that task, he will simply battle with you, contending each forward step you take for Jesus Christ. The devil's "ultimate objective," as the Lord tells us in John 10:10, is to "to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." So, until the day we finally walk through the doorway of heaven, spiritual warfare will rage on.

The believer may be known by his inward warfare as well as by his inward peace. This battle is not against flesh and blood. It is spiritual battle! With a very real devil. As Martin Luther wrote in the classic hymn:

For still our ancient foe, Doth seek to work us woe.
His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate
On earth is not his equal.

We should never underestimate the devil. He is a sly and skillful adversary, with thousands of years of experience dealing with mankind. But even though he is a wily and powerful foe, he also has clear weaknesses and can be overcome.

If we want to effectively resist him, first we need to understand his "M.O." – his method of operation. The Bible says, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).

But how do you do that?

First by knowing about his strategies and weaknesses. And there are many. Let me start by sharing with you a few things the devil does not want you to know.

Satan is not the equal of God

It isn't even close!

God is omnipotent. He is unlimited in power and might. Satan is not. Yes, he has great power – more than any man and most angels – yet he is nowhere near being the equal of our God.

God is omniscient. He knows everything there is to know down to the tiniest, atom-sized details. Satan does not. Our adversary is not omniscient. He has a powerful intellect, a long memory and from experience knows many things – far more than people. But only God is all-knowing.

God is omnipresent. There is nowhere that He is not! He is everywhere at once all the time. Satan is limited. As an individual personality, he can only be in one place at one time. So when we say "the devil is hassling or tempting me," it's not likely. It is his power working through a well-organized network of demonic forces.

But there is another thing the devil doesn't want you to know.

Satan is subject to God's permission

The evil one can do nothing in the life of a believer without permission from God. The book of Job gives an account of the angels presenting themselves before God – an amazing "behind the scenes" look at what happens in the spiritual realm.

One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan the Accuser came with them. "Where have you come from?" the LORD asked Satan. And Satan answered the LORD, "I have been going back and forth across the earth, watching everything that's going on." Then the LORD asked Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth – a man of complete integrity. He fears God and will have nothing to do with evil." Satan replied to the LORD, "Yes, Job fears God, but not without good reason! You have always protected him and his home and his property from harm. You have made him prosperous in everything he does. Look how rich he is!" (Job 1:6-10, NLT)

Understand some important truth from this text. First see that Satan, even after his fall, still has access to the throne of God. He has lost his once high-ranking position, but he still has access. But see also that in spite of his power and wicked agenda, he has to ask permission when it comes to the child of God, because of this "hedge of protection" God has put in place.

The intercession of Jesus for you

In one instance in the gospel of John, it appears that Satan himself was specifically asking for Simon Peter by name. Jesus said to Peter: "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:31-32, NASB).

Apparently, Peter was such a "big fish" that Satan himself went knocking. Thankfully, God knows our breaking point and won't give us more then we can handle. That's a promise!

So remember: If you are a Christian, you better expect to see some real spiritual warfare in your life. But take heart: Satan is not the equal of God by any means, and he can't harass you without obtaining God's permission. Best of all, you have the Lord Jesus right there beside you, praying for you to fight the good fight of faith and overcome the evil one.

That seems to me to be more than enough of a reason to put your faith in Jesus Christ! So, the next time the devil comes knocking at your door, you can say, "Lord, would you mind getting that?"

HARVEST MINISTRIES by Pastor Greg Laurie © 2007. All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward the message).

Tactics of The Enemy

 

Talk about having it made in the shade! When God created Adam and Eve, He placed them in a veritable paradise. It was beautiful to say the least, and they enjoyed direct communication with God Himself!

Adam's job description was to tend and keep the garden, discovering and marveling in all God had done and walking in fellowship with Him.

The first couple was told they could eat of any tree in the garden – except the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. And yet there was Eve, hanging out by that very tree.

Why is it that we are always attracted to that which can harm us? You tell a child to not touch a certain thing or go to a certain place and that's exactly where he will be when given a chance. It's human nature!

Satan was saying, "Eve, you can be a goddess! Adam, you can be a god – just take a bite and see."

That was the bite felt around the world. Satan certainly knows how to package his wares. But God told Adam and Eve, and us, not to sin for good reason.

In our warped minds, we think that God is keeping something good from us. Scripture, however, tells us: "No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11).

God gave them a warning, and they ignored it. The book of Genesis records how our first parents ignored the warning, were fatally injured and had no one to blame but themselves (Genesis 3:1-13). Of course, Satan, the devil, was there too, waiting for an opportunity to lead Eve astray.

 

Here are three ploys he used to bring her to ruin. Ploys, I might add, that he is still using today.

No. 1: He questioned God's word.
Satan didn't deny God had spoken. He simply questioned whether God had really said what Eve thought He had said. He wanted her to think that perhaps she had misunderstood God's command. He wanted to "interpret" God's words for Eve. It's the same in our world today. Satan still twists the truth to try to alienate people from God.

No. 2: He questioned God's love.
Satan wanted to make Eve think that God was holding something back from her. In reality, God Himself had placed this lone restriction in Adam and Eve's life to keep them from sin and its painful consequences! In the same way, the barriers God places in our lives are there because He loves us.

No. 3: He substituted his own lie.
Satan led Eve to believe if she ate of the tree she would become like God. At that point, Eve had a choice: She could take God at His word, or believe Satan's lie.

Satan knows that our minds are "command central." This is where we reason, fantasize and imagine. Through our imaginations we can reach into the future, and in our memories we can reach into the past. The devil will try to get a foothold in your thinking. He will attempt to make you second-guess what God has said in His Word, or try to get you to dwell on the "what ifs" in life.

Our counterattack is found in II Corinthians 10:4-5: "I use God's mighty weapons, not those made by men, to knock down the devil's strongholds. These weapons can break down every proud argument against God and every wall that can be built to keep men from finding him."

Having eaten now of the "forbidden fruit," something unusual happened to Adam and Eve: The Bible says, "The eyes of both of them were opened." That is, their eyes were opened to the earth, but closed to heaven.

So what happened next?

And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:3).

When God didn't find Adam waiting in their usual meeting place, He called out to him, "Adam, where are you?"

I believe there was hurt in that voice, but love as well, as a Father called out to His wayward son.

And there was Adam, the crown of God's creation, cowering behind a bush in fear. He then asked Adam and Eve a series of questions in that terrible moment.

Who told you that you were naked?
Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?
What is this you have done?

Obviously, God already knew the answers to those questions, but He wanted to be sure they understood their actions. He was looking for an admission of wrongdoing, an admission of sin. He desired nothing short of a full-blown confession.

Instead of acknowledging his sin, however, Adam offered the mother of all excuses – in fact, it was the first recorded excuse in all of human history. "The woman who you gave to be with me …" Adam was in essence saying, "This is Your doing. It's the woman You gave me!"

That's what sin does. It blinds you to reality. We dare to blame God for the stupid decisions we sometimes make in life.

But God wanted fellowship restored with Adam. That would ultimately be accomplished through the death of God's own son, Jesus Christ, when He died on the cross.

God desires to walk with you in the cool of the day, just as He had enjoyed the company and fellowship of the first human beings. He wants to draw near to you, comfort you, instruct you, guide you and lead you into a life of abundance and joy. He wants to be an intimate part of your life.

Could He be calling out to you right now, just as He called out to Adam?
Where are you? How did you get to this place? Do you want to change?

If so, you need to come to Jesus, and ask Him to help you do just that. He's just a prayer away.

HARVEST MINISTRIES by Pastor Greg Laurie © 2007. All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward the message).

Are You Hearing Voices?

 

My primary source of income is television sports directing. Soon I will head into another season of Major League Baseball with my beloved Texas Rangers. Reading the positive reports from spring training has me excited about this season. I picked up the paper today and found a Peanuts cartoon that hit the nail on the head on a couple of levels. Peanuts creator Charles Schultz loved the Lord and loved baseball. That should qualify him for sainthood in my scorebook.

This particular strip has Charlie Brown standing on the mound ready for the first game of spring. Charlie Brown loves baseball more than any character on the planet except my friend John Frost. Charlie raises his arms in triumphant joy and exclaims, "I love the start of baseball season."

In the next panel he has a nostalgic smile and notes, "There's a certain indescribable feeling in the air." >From rightfield Lucy decides to add her feelings about what is in the air: "Defeat!"

Isn't that what most of us deal with from time to time? Or maybe all of the time. We feel excitement. We feel triumph. We feel optimism. And then that voice from rightfield tells us that defeat is certain. That voice can be programmed from childhood. Negative parents, teachers, coaches, siblings, friends, Christians and assorted others have laid down tracks on our mix of negative thoughts. But another voice that believers hear is the voice of Satan.

One thing is certain as you follow Jesus. If you are doing something for the Lord you can count on hearing from the Enemy. I get letters and emails and stories nearly every day from heartbroken people in the church. It almost always starts out the same way. "I was serving Jesus and it was going great and then…"
...another churchgoer did or said something.
...someone took my place or took me out of my place.
...I didn't get appreciated or honored.
...I was disappointed by someone or something.

Then the voice jumps in. And the voice starts telling you what you want to hear. That they should never have said that or did that if they were really a Christian. Or, you deserve that spot, not them. Or, how dare they take you from that position? Maybe the voice reminds you of how hard you work and no one cares. Or how others don't work and you have to do it all and they still don't care. That voice is not the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit. That voice is the one yelling "Defeat!" from rightfield. That voice is the one robbing you of your joy in serving Jesus. Let's be honest. If we are serving Christ to honor Him, we should be serving without expectation. Have I done that very well? No. Am I getting better? A little bit.

If I approach my service without expectation then it is about Him and not me. I am always ready to reverse the pronouns. If I offer to serve and I am not picked… praise God. He knows my heart and knows that I had an unselfish desire to serve. If my four decades of following Jesus have taught me anything it is that God will honor that spirit. Don't let that "voice" ruin your walk with Jesus.

There is another voice. It is much softer and requires a lot more effort to hear. You have to slow down and be quiet and spend time in prayer and God's Word. Casting Crowns has a great song called "The Voice of Truth" that describes this spiritual battle:

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand
But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again, "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"
The song goes on to describe that "other voice":
But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story
The Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
And the Voice of Truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth

Jesus had to deal with voices. Three times He was tempted by Satan (Matthew 4). The very men who Jesus invested His life into heard that voice and made ungodly suggestions. James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy a town that did not welcome them. Jesus rebuked them. And Peter got his hair parted when he tried to explain to Jesus that the events the Lord had just outlined really couldn't happen.

 
But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. "Heaven forbid, Lord," he said. "This will never happen to you!" Jesus turned to Peter and said, "Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's." Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. (Matt 16 NLT)

All of us hear those voices. The voices from bad experiences in our past may require a little help to erase. Here is a little tip that I have learned: The voice we hear in the spiritual battle is the loud one. Listen for the quiet voice. Be still. Pray. Read His Word. The Voice of Truth says, "This is for my glory." That is a plumbline for righteous action.

Is it for His glory? That is what the Voice of Truth tells you.

I am choosing to listen and believe the Voice of Truth.

CONFESSIONS OF A BAD CHRISTIAN by Dave Burchett © 2007. All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward the message).

The Matrix As A Parable

 

NEO TYPICAL OF THE PARADIGM SHIFT REQUIRED OF OVERCOMERS CONCERNING SPIRITUAL WARFARE

* * *

Morpheus: We have survived by hiding from them, by running from them. But they are the gatekeepers. They are guarding all the doors. They are holding all the keys, which means that sooner or later, someone is going to have to fight them.

Neo: Someone?

Morpheus: I won't lie to you, Neo. Every single man or woman who has stood their ground, everyone who has fought an agent has died. But where they have failed, you will succeed.

Neo: Why?

Morpheus: I've seen an agent punch through a concrete wall. Men have emptied entire clips at them and hit nothing but air. Yet their strength and their speed are still based in a world that is built on rules. Because of that, they will never be as strong or as fast as you can be.

Neo: What are you trying to tell me, that I can dodge bullets?

Morpheus: No Neo. I'm trying to tell you that when you're ready, you won't have to.
* * *

The issue of overcoming is closely linked to the topic of spiritual warfare. Since Overcomers demonstrate the victory of Christ and the preeminence of His Life over sin, self, and satan, a paradigm shift concerning spiritual warfare as it is now taught is in order.

 

Modern-day spiritual warfare doctrine is based on a dualistic worldview which pits Good versus Evil, Light versus Darkness, God versus satan. While this part of the characterization is correct, dualism goes a step further and suggests that these forces are all equal, each struggling for supremacy, neither with any clear advantage. Things go along back and forth between the two like the positive and negative fields of a magnet. It is the classic pantheistic universalist "Star Wars" worldview of life, the stuff cowboy movies are made of.

 

This notion of cosmic dualism is reinforced with novels and warfare manuals from Christian writers depicting spiritual warfare as an invisible tug-of-war between angels and demons, with the Church caught in the middle trying to influence the outcome through prayer. This paradigm is not true at all. The Truth is that we are seated in heavenly places in Christ, far above every principality and power and name which is named. The tug-of-war is already won, and the Church is here to demonstrate a victory which is already secured by Christ Himself. In a nutshell, the difference is between fighting through to obtain the victory versus standing in a victory which has already been obtained.

THE TRAINING OF NEO TYPICAL OF THE PRESENT-DAY SPIRITUAL WARFARE FAD

The characters who have escaped the Matrix have experienced an awakening, but they remain bound. Their whole paradigm of warfare is to run from the Agents. According to Morpheus, "everyone who has ever stood their ground against them has died." Cypher's advice to Neo is, "If you see an Agent, you do what we do - run."

 

Immediately upon coming out of the Matrix, Neo is put through a rigorous training program. He "learns" how to fight as the computer downloads data into his brain. He becomes very fast and he is an excellent fighter. He has a complete arsenal of weapons at his disposal. This is typical of the spiritual warfare training many Christians are putting themselves through. It should be noted however that as good as Neo is at fighting, the best he can do is match the strength and speed of the enemy. As soon as he destroys one it just reappears someplace else and the fight continues. Eventually his strength is exhausted and he ends up running from them again.

THE STRATAGEMS OF SATAN ALL RELATE TO POSITION

The strategy of satan is to bring us down from our heavenly position and get us to fight according to his rules of engagement. The problem with this sort of fighting is we are heavily outclassed and outmatched. We cannot fight a spiritual enemy by going toe to toe with him and fighting according to his rules. This sort of tit-for-tat back and forth boxing match will go on and on until we are eventually worn out. Since satan is a spirit he has unlimited endurance, whereas we do not. He can be defeated today but he will come back tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that. He does not get tired and is not subject to the emotions of frustration, despair, or depression. We humans are different, and while we may be able to shout the victory today, tomorrow we may be totally routed. How so? We have forfeited our place in the heavenlies and have gotten down into the mud to wrestle with the devil.

 

Additonally, spiritual warfare doctrine as touted today fails to recognize that our struggle is with Self more than it is with satan. It is easy to point to an external enemy "out there" and overlook the obvious: that satan can only have the advantage over people who are still alive to Self. If Self is denied then satan has no ground in us.

 

While it is true that we do wrestle, it is not against flesh and blood. If it were then we would use flesh-and-blood rules of war. Instead, we are in conflict with a spiritual foe. Thus, the rules of war are different. Contrary to popular belief, we are not told to "fight therefore", but to "stand therefore". Christ is the Full-Armor of God, thus having clothed ourselves with Christ there is nothing more to be done than to stand. Our victory is not bound up in our ability to fight and quote Bible verses; our victory consists of maintaining our heavenly position with Christ in His throne (Revelation 3:21) while bringing the will and rule of heaven to bear upon the earthly realm in which we are living: "on earth, as it is in heaven". On earth as in heaven is the key to living out the victory here and now.

DODGING BULLETS VS. IGNORING BULLETS

Those who hold the popular view of spiritual warfare spend much of their time trying to become fast enough to dodge bullets, while the Overcomer sees that the bullets are not real: that the enemy is already defeated and can inflict no real damage. They ignore what their senses tell them and see beyond the temporal towards the spiritual, into the realm where Christ is preeminent.

 

Most Christians are fighting like they HOPE to win. They are in survival mode, just trying to battle their way through the week so they can make it to church on Sunday. They have betrayed their position already and thrown away their heavenly advantage. The more aggressive ones are going into different parts of the world to confront alleged principalities and powers which are said to be in dominion over different communities and nations. They are still relating to the spirit world according to Daniel, which is prior to Christ and the Cross. They are not demonstrating a secured victory.

 

The Overcomer demonstrates the preeminence of Christ over sin, self, and satan. "[Christ] made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in the Cross." How is preeminence demonstrated if we are still trying to fight our way to victory? We must stand in victory, not battle for it. If we do fight, we fight FROM victory, not FOR victory. It must be to us an accomplished fact, not a future hope, and just there lies the difference between those who are still waging warfare and those who are quietly resting in Christ and steadily praying His Will into the earth.

OVERCOMING IS THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN LIFE

We have said that according to our interpretation Neo is not typical of a single Messiah or a sort of spiritual superman, but a remnant of people who rise up and live according to the Truth as opposed to just talking about it. It should be reiterated over and over again that Overcomers are not a special class more gifted than the average Christian. Instead, Overcomers are living out the normal Christian life and fulfilling God's original thought for the Church. This means that "whosoever" can be an overcomer: it is not for a select few. Nor is it a case of God setting up a special class of Christians within the Church who are superior. Not at all. The fact remains that many are called, but few are chosen.

 

What qualifies someone to be an overcomer? "They overcame [the enemy] by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and loved not their lives unto death." The Blood of the Lamb is the Life of the Lord, and when we live according to this Life we will be changed into His likeness. The word of our testimony is the demonstration of the Life, and the death of self means that Christ is All in All because the Cross has accomplished the work of decreasing us that He may increase. That, in essence, is what an overcomer is.

REVELATION IS SUFFICIENT: THE ILLUMINATED HEART OVERCOMES THE ENEMY

Do you see a defeated devil, or a powerful devil? Many Christians still see a powerful devil, almost but not quite as powerful as God. They are afraid if they aren't looking the devil will slip in and harm them. They become angry if you suggest the devil has no power, and will defend him with anecdotal "evidence" of satanic episodes they have experienced. Their spiritual warfare is based on fear of what the devil might do next. When we see a defeated devil instead of a powerful devil then our paradigm of spiritual warfare will change. It is all in the seeing! This is why the devil must deceive us into thinking he is more than he is.

 

Why all the formulas and techniques and methods? Because we see the devil as powerful. True, he has power, but only over those who are deceived. I do not need a technique to defeat a defeated devil. It is absurd. It is like trying to enter into a room in which I am already sitting. We have already been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of His Dear Son.

 

If we see the devil as defeated then we will not fight, we will stand. If we see ourselves as earthly then we will behave in an earthly manner: our words, our thoughts, our prayers, our deeds, our warfare will be carried out in an earthly manner. If we see ourselves seated with Christ in the heavenlies then we will behave in a heavenly manner, as a heavenly people, bringing the Mind and Will and Kingdom of God to bear upon that which is contrary to Christ on the earth.

 

How do we obtain heavenly vision? We must ask to see as He sees. We must pray that God will illuminate our heart. Our vision affects our actions. The servant of Elisha looked with his eyes and saw the army which surrounded them. His panicked response was based on what his eyes told them. To put it in Matrix language, the Matrix was telling the servant that the enemy was about to close in and destroy them. Elisha prayed that the Lord would open his servant's eyes, and when he looked again he saw the chariots of fire and the army of the Lord around Elisha. Elisha can remain calm because he sees something the servant does not. He sees the natural, true, but he subjugates what he sees in the natural and forces it to make way for what he sees in the Spirit.

 

The question for us remains: what do we see? Many people look, but do not see. They look at the world and believe everything it says. Others have their eyes opened to see as the Lord sees. This revelation, or unveiling, is what enables us to live in the world while being apart from the world. This seeing enables us to overcome the world and demonstrate Christ as All in All. We do not have to live according to what we see or feel, but according to the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ.

 

May God show us who we are, and may God raise us up to walk worthy of the calling He has given us. If something has been said in this analysis to bring us towards that end then this writing has accomplished its intended purpose.

 

THE SCHOOL of CHRIST by Chip Brogden © 2006. All rights reserved. (Please include this line to forward the message).

Armour of God

Goliath vs. GOD

Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was a giant of a man, measuring over nine feet tall! . . . Goliath stood and shouted across to the Israelites, 'I defy the armies of Israel! Send me a man who will fight with me!' (1 Samuel 17:4, 8, 10 NLT)

Israel had lost all hope. Their arch nemesis, the Philistines, had brought out their big gun. His name was Goliath, and he was over nine feet tall! His immense height was matched only by his super-human strength. He walked around in a coat of armor that weighed 125 pounds, and he was proficient at throwing a spear weighing 15 pounds. To top it off, he had a bad attitude, and day after day, he taunted and hurled insults at the Israelites, baiting them to fight him to the death. This went on for 40 days.

Then one day David came into the camp with a care package for his enlisted brothers. In the course of his visit, he heard Goliath's mocking and asked:

'Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?' (1 Samuel 17:26 NLT)

Before we get to the showdown in this scene, we need see the significance of what David is saying here. Every Israeli soldier saw this as a battle between Goliath and Israel, but David understood that it was really a fight between Goliath and God. That's because long ago the Lord had promised Abraham that He would be against anyone who cursed or came against his descendants (Genesis 12:3).

David was aware of this promise, so he had great confidence that Goliath wouldn't and couldn't prevail. It didn't matter how tall, strong, or mean Goliath was. All that mattered in David's heart was what God had promised in His Word.

Perhaps there's a 'Goliath' taunting you who has you fixed in fear at this very moment. Don't allow that to be your focus, but rather, make God's Word your rule of life. When you do, the promises there will remind you that God is on your side, which means you're invincible to any enemy's attack.

If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 NKJV)

Shared by : premdavid kumar, August 17, 2006

Story of King David (The Stolen Ark)

Dear friends,

I'd like to distribute these 5 series of King David, a warrior of God that fought to get the stolen ark of the covenant back into the midst of God's people. We're told the ark of the Lord represented God's presence and was covered with purest gold. Thru this bible study God is showing His church that the fullness of His presence, stolen by the enemy, is making its way back to the temples as we maintain victory in battle. Today friends, we are to be sacred containers, temples of the Holy Spirit, vessels of honor and glory. The ark was built at the command of God, just as man was created at the command of God. One of the ark's primary functions was for God to communicate with Moses, "from between the two cherubim on the ark's cover" (Exodus 25:22). Still today, God communicates with His sons and daughters using angels "marching in the tops of the mulberry trees," announcing the rustling of the armies of God who go before us into each battle.

May the Lord bless and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

Keep marching beloved !

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Part One : You Can't Come in Here

The Old Testament is a magnificent map for training and equipping us for battle; a.k.a. "spiritual warfare." The Word clearly states that in the Kingdom of God there are times of peace, and times of war. Let's study King David in II Samuel 5 to see what nuggets of wisdom we can glean from our warrior/brother. May we gain much knowledge from his battles to apply to our own.

David was personally familiar with the "in your face," intense assaults from the enemy as he marched upon Jerusalem to oust the Jebusites who were living there. This battle is hugely significant historically, and spiritually. Jerusalem was part of God's covenant with Abraham and His warrior David had been anointed to reclaim the land for His purposes. What a huge victory in the city of God!

Beginning with verse 6, the harassment from the enemy begins. "The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, "You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off." They thought, "David cannot get in here" (II Samuel 5:6).

When you march, make sure you take the King with you.

"You will not get in here." Can anyone relate to this concept? You cannot come in here - your worship is inappropriate, your gender is wrong, your denomination is questionable, your finances are inadequate, and your reputation is tainted. Sometimes this mocking spirit adheres to traditions, overlooking the fact that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). It discounts the truth that there is no gender in Christ Jesus (Galatians 2:28). Furthermore, it neglects the promises of God stating, "your sins are forgiven" (Luke 7:48), and "my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). Often mockery can be generational; "You can't come in here. You'll never be good enough and you'll never make it." We take authority over this lie and replace it with truth in Jesus' name. I say to you this day. "You can, you can, you can! Everything is possible for him who believes" (Matthew 9:23).

Planned Ignoring : The mocking didn't appear to inhibit our brother-warrior as he continued his quest. "Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David" (v 7). "David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the supporting terraces inward" (v 9).

Nevertheless!

Social workers use a term called "planned ignoring," when teaching parenting skills. This technique can be very effective in extinguishing undesirable behaviors. I think brother David may have been ahead of his time in this area. He chose to ignore the mocking spirit and conquered the enemy - period. Now, I'm not implying we don't remain alert and aware, but I am saying we don't focus on the enemy, but on the Lord of hosts. We must "stand firm, then. . . with the breastplate of righteousness in place" (Ephesians 6:14), knowing and believing that righteousness is warfare for the church. "In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds" (Psalm 45:5).

The more we know our Holy Commander, the more we can ignore a mocking spirit, the accuser of the brethren. Remember, the sacred chest was the visible sign that God's presence and protection went before His people. So, as sacred containers, the more we become one with the Lord, the more confident we are, marching with his constant presence and protection. Always, we love the Lord and He loves us. But friends, we can truly become one with our Holy God as He sanctifies us, making us holy, as He is holy (I Peter l:16). One with God! Oh, if He is for us, who can be against us?

For years, I've heard the Holy Spirit tell me, "Just keep marching." "But, God, I . . . " "Just keep marching."

I believe this indicates that consistency in Kingdom advancement is more important than speed or ferocity. After all, eternity is timeless. Sometimes our journey with Jesus may seem like plodding. But, God orchestrates our steps. As long as we're in motion and not stagnating, we're taking ground. May we be able to declare, like Jesus our Shield declared,

"Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame" (Isaiah 50:7).

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Part Two : Stronger With Each Battle

It's compelling to walk with the knowledge that no weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:7). There is an amazing awe in realizing what the Redeemer does best - He redeems! Jesus reverses the battles the enemy means to use against us, and mobilizes them to make us prosper! Verse 10 of II Samuel 5 is profound; "And he [David] became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him."

Friends, it's crucial that we grasp this as reality. While engaged on an already-victorious battleground, our strength is multiplied because the Lord Almighty is with us. Jesus has already won every battle and paid the price in full. He came to destroy the works of the devil (I John 3:8). We must stand and personify the victory of Calvary. Now don't let the Evil One whisper "arrogance" to you here. The day we were saved by grace, arrogance was exchanged for faith. The devil didn't say "David [we] can become more and more powerful"; our Covenant God said it!

Marching upon the path of faith is similar to pumping spiritual iron. Each time we wield the sword, every time we put on the breastplate of righteousness, every time we act in faith, our spiritual muscles grow stronger in Christ Jesus. This is invaluable knowledge because, in accordance with the Scriptures we're studying here today, the enemy will come after us again, and again, and we must be ready. There is no time to get ready while the fiery darts are flying! It's crucial that we learn and grow stronger from each battle and intently discern the guidance of our Commander in Chief.

Here They (the enemy) Come Again - Regroup

Take a look at verses 17-20; "When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the Lord "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" The Lord answered him, "Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you." So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, "As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me."

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Part Three : Always inquire of the Lord before engaging in battle

Stay in the cave and wait

Beloved, incredibly there are times we do not engage in battle. There are times we simply "stay in the cave" and wait (Judges 15:8; I Samuel 22:1; I Kings 19:9). It's crucial to pray and inquire so we know if, and when, God is sending us to fight. It's difficult to stumble when we're on our knees. The battle belongs to the Lord. Therefore, the defeat of the enemy is in His hands. Sometimes silence is the greatest weapon of all, allowing the contender to exhaust himself shadowboxing while we stay in an attitude of worship - the highest form of warfare.

Often, the battle is not with the devil but with our own carnal nature. Our flesh really longs to rise up and fix things, stating our opinion. Think about it. Does the Creator of the Universe really need our opinion to accomplish His Divine purposes? It's difficult to remain quiet while we're wrestling. However, we must remember; the greater the faith, the fewer the words. If there are some battles or power-struggles going on in your sphere of influence, keep in mind, it's best to always bow lower. After all, God became a baby to conquer the world. For it's "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord" (Zechariah 4:6).

Recognize His orders

Now, let's pay particular attention to the fact that when David inquired of the Lord a second time, the marching orders he received were quite different. If we aren't careful, friends, our last victory can be our demise for the next encounter. "Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, "Don't go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees" (II Samuel 22-23).

Although our adversary is always the same, he manifests himself in different ways. Thus, there are various types of battles and many styles of warfare. At times, we have to "circle around," a "sneak attack," so to speak. Please allow me to add that as we circle around, locking arms with our brothers and sisters, let's be very careful not to lock out any of the new recruits God has sent us. Sometimes when churches, ministries, or families are recovering from one battle and entering the next, they will be so guarded or overprotective, they neglect to recognize that fresh troops have arrived - friend, not foe.

Dear ones, we see the whole world engaged in different types of wars, figuratively and literally, battling for life. Although it's difficult to watch, weep, and intercede, if we truly believe that our Redeemer, redeems, then let's rejoice - if not for all things, in all things. We don't rejoice for the battles but we exalt in the victories that are already won in Christ. Listen! It's in times of adversity that millions, great multitudes, will come to know Christ Jesus, as many as the sand which is on the seashore (Genesis 22:17-18). Exodus 1:12 proves this. "But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites."

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Part Four : Listen For the Wind

"As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer" (II Samuel 5:22-25).

God goes before us

How powerful, reassuring, and intimate to know that our God goes before us! Moses is another brilliant example for us. He knew he was marching into enemy territory and learned total dependence was upon God for success and victory in war, as well as for direction and supply in the wilderness. He began and ended each day's march with prayer. Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, "Rise up, O Lord! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you" Numbers 10:35.

The fulfillment of God's purposes in our lives will depend upon our seeking His guidance through prayer, and following the leading of the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us. We must listen when the Lord gives us commands. There are times He says "go straight ahead," there are times He says "go around behind the enemy." When Lord says, "circle around," He's saying "protect your borders." We must take our stand and encircle the camp. There are forces that want to annihilate, there are enemies that will return, again and again to steal, kill, and destroy. If you give the enemy one thing, he won't stop with that. He'll take another, and then another. That's why sin must be defeated, because it begets sin and causes weak links among the ranks. Righteousness must become our defense. We must protect our borders, families, cities, churches, nations as we march! "The gates of hell shall not prevail against us" (Matthew 16:8).

Beloved, we're living in "move-quickly" days. When you hear the wind in the top of the mulberry trees, move quickly. Delayed obedience can be disobedience. Don't be afraid of man; don't be afraid of the consequences for your obedience to the King. He will go out before you.

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Part Five : Move quickly and don't miss Him !

"But, Lord I just don't know if that's You." I'm unsure of the reference for that miracle; I haven't read a manual listing all of the signs and wonders of Heaven. Good news, I've found truth to replace doubt in John 21:28. "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written."

Listen, move quickly. If we miss God, it's difficult to go back. The Lord shows us this in Luke 19:41, when he approaches Jerusalem and weeps over it. "If you even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace - but now it is hidden from your eyes." Jesus weeps, he says, "Oh you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."

Reflection

Do you hear a sound like the blowing of a violent wind coming from heaven? Is God asking you to break away from the status quo? We must be ready to say, "Yes Lord, I am Yours. You are my Master. I'll do what You tell me, whenever and wherever You command. You formed me in the womb to be Your servant (Isaiah 49:5). I thank You for commanding angels concerning me to guard carefully (Luke 4:10). And, I thank You that I can hear those angelic hosts rustling in the top of the mulberry trees. How could I miss it, God? It must be quite a roar as I open my spiritual ears because John ". . . looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand" (Revelation 5:11).

Troops, some of you may have dreams that weren't realized so you shelved them. The Lord is saying, "Stir yourselves up now and listen for the rustling in the trees and be prepared to move quickly. I Am the I Am who allowed those Divine delays. I allowed times of testing, false starts and trial runs to build up your spiritual muscles and create a tenacious spirit within you. Can you feel the breeze as I am drawing back the arrow right next to your cheek? Get ready to take flight." When David did as the Lord commanded him, he knew that God had gone before him and he struck down the enemy all the way.

There's a time of peace and a time of war, a time to weep and a time to laugh. A time to speak, and a time to be silent. A time to wait, and a time to move quickly. Go before us, God and teach us to war and to be bearers of Your glory, yet never touch it.

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"Listen For The Wind" by Rev. Paulette Reed (e-mail at info@dotmm.org or visit : www.dotmm.org)

Lesson We Learn from Jesus' spiritual warfare prayer

Then the Lord said, "Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to have you apostles for himself. He wants to separate you from me as a farmer separates wheat from husks. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faithwill not fail. So when you recover, strengthen the other disciples." (Luke 22:31-32, GW)

Almost 2,000 years after Jesus spoke these words to Simon Peter, Christians continue to debate the validity of spiritual warfare prayer. However, I suspect that those who argue against spiritual warfare prayer argue less with Scripture and more with some of our models and methods. They would say, "Perhaps spiritual warfare prayer is valid, but what that group is doing can't possibly be it!" In some cases, they may be correct.

There are some things about these two verses that I find particularly interesting.

First, notice that Jesus is so in touch with heaven (because of His own intimate prayer life) that He knew what Satan had demanded of the Father. Remember, Jesus was completely dependent upon the Father (see John 5:19). Without his daily "military intelligence report" from heaven, Jesus was helpless. He could do nothing. So, true spiritual warfare prayer, whatever it is, is absolutely heaven-dependent. What Satan is doing today is not nearly as important as what God is doing, when it comes to spiritual warfare!

Second, look at what Satan really wanted. We know Satan's job description is "to steal, to kill, and to destroy" (see John 10:10). Jesus said that Satan wanted to sift Peter (and the other disciples) like a farmer separates the wheat from the husks. But look what Satan1 was actually after. He wanted to separate the Apostles from Jesus! His war strategy was to "divide and conquer."

Third, Jesus said, "But I have prayed for you." No doubt Peter breathed a big sigh of relief at this point. He must have thought, What a relief. For a minute there it sounded like I was going to be sifted, whatever that means. But Peter's relief was short lived, for Jesus continued, "I have prayed that your faith won't fail during the sifting." What do you mean, "During the sifting!?" Why didn't you pray that I wouldn't be sifted? Again, Christ wasn't praying according to Satan's agenda. His praying was based on God's agenda. And at the time, God was developing Apostles. And Apostles, like you and me, are forged in the fiery furnace of affliction. At times, God will even allow the enemy to do things in our lives, in order to accomplish His purposes.

Old Testament saints prayed to be delivered from their circumstances.
New Testament saints pray to be developed by their circumstances.

Finally, you will see that Jesus had no doubt about Peter's ultimate victory. Why would He? After all, He had prayed in faith for Peter's faith not to fail. So, he confidently says, "So when (not if) you recover, strengthen the other disciples!"

A happily married woman with two children lost both of them. They were buried in the same grave. After that, she suffered a deep emotional collapse. For years her family fed and cared for her as though she was as weak and helpless as a little child. One day her aunt, a joyful Christian, took her turn at feeding her. The distraught and despondent woman said, "Auntie, you keep on saying that God loves us. I used to think so too; but if He loves us, why did He make me as I am?"

The aunt kissed her gently, said with the wisdom of years, "Dear, He hasn't made you yet. He's making you now!"

"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply; The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine."

(This article may be duplicated and distributed as long as the folllowing line below included.) Lessons we learn from Jesus' spiritual warfare prayer (c) Copyright 2006 written by Eddie Smith. His and Alice's books are at: www.PrayerBookstore.com Their FREE 52-week School of Prayer is at: www.TeachMeToPray.com Postings are by inspiration, not perspiration.