Together # 52
A Together for Battle
A Together for Battle
Stand Up to the Devil at One Another's Side
copyright by Dick Wulf, 2018
Go against Satan with at least one other Christian by your side; use the delegated authority from Jesus Christ to fight spiritual forces of evil.
Mark 6:7; Luke 10:17-20; Rom 16:20; 2 Cor 2:11; Eph 6:10-12; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9
God wants us to know that we must face Satan together, not alone. That was His original design in the Garden of Eden. It is now even more so. Together! Together!
Adam and Eve forgot that even when they were perfect they needed to help one another. When the devil showed up as a serpent, he divided them, speaking only to Eve, hoping that the first two humans would forget that God made them strong only together, only with each other’s help.
Today, being sinful rather than perfect, we are definitely not adequate to confront Satan alone. Let us remember humankind’s greatest defeat and make certain that we face off against the devil together.
Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
We might think of resisting as passive, but it is: “(1) to fight against (something); to try to stop or prevent (something) and (2) to remain strong against the force or effect of (something); to not be affected or harmed by (something)”. [Merriam-Webster Dictionary, online 2016] All of these definitions seem to apply. Resisting must be deliberate, strong, and assertive. It is a power encounter with Satan.
This is something we do together, especially in our closest Christian relationships. Jesus is there! When we are in our “two and three together with Jesus” groups, Jesus promises to be with us. Think about it. Envision two or three of us standing up to the devil at one another’s side. What does Satan see? The devil who is spirit, even though evil, is not hindered by this material world and sees more than just the two or three of us. He sees Jesus with us!
So, if we first submit ourselves to God, then we will gather together in the name and authority of Jesus. That sets the stage for bringing Jesus into the confrontation to stand up to Satan at one another’s side. It is bringing Jesus into the fray that sends the evil one fleeing.
Submitting to God also means obeying Scripture. Therefore, in our Christian friendship groups, our Christian families, and our Christian marriages, with Jesus present, ready to confront Satan, we implement all of the Togethers as ways to defeat Satan in one way or another, at one time or another.
As the Army of God, some Togethers give specific instructions on methods of warfare. This Together to stand up to the devil by one another’s side simply points out the absolute necessity of resisting Satan and attacking the gates of hell together.
Note that the context of James 4:7 is clearly in the plural. We do not need a Greek-translation Bible to see the plurality in the phrase “submit yourselves”. This shows how unsafe it is to miss the plurality in so many Bible passages. We must remember that individualistic Christianity is not only an oxymoron, it is dangerous!
This is something we do together, especially in our closest Christian relationships. Jesus is there! When we are in our “two and three together with Jesus” groups, Jesus promises to be with us. Think about it. Envision two or three of us standing up to the devil at one another’s side. What does Satan see? The devil who is spirit, even though evil, is not hindered by this material world and sees more than just the two or three of us. He sees Jesus with us!
So, if we first submit ourselves to God, then we will gather together in the name and authority of Jesus. That sets the stage for bringing Jesus into the confrontation to stand up to Satan at one another’s side. It is bringing Jesus into the fray that sends the evil one fleeing.
Submitting to God also means obeying Scripture. Therefore, in our Christian friendship groups, our Christian families, and our Christian marriages, with Jesus present, ready to confront Satan, we implement all of the Togethers as ways to defeat Satan in one way or another, at one time or another.
As the Army of God, some Togethers give specific instructions on methods of warfare. This Together to stand up to the devil by one another’s side simply points out the absolute necessity of resisting Satan and attacking the gates of hell together.
Note that the context of James 4:7 is clearly in the plural. We do not need a Greek-translation Bible to see the plurality in the phrase “submit yourselves”. This shows how unsafe it is to miss the plurality in so many Bible passages. We must remember that individualistic Christianity is not only an oxymoron, it is dangerous!
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
1 Peter 5:8-9
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When Jesus told us to not fear those who can kill the body but only to fear God who can throw our body and soul into hell (Matt 10:28 & Luke 12:5), our Lord was referring to those men who were out to kill Him and His followers. Regarding Satan prowling like a roaring, hungry lion wanting to kill and eat us, we must be wary and on the watch. The devil cannot take our eternal lives from us, so fear of that has no place in our faith. However, out of the context of death, it seems that it is wise to be seriously concerned about how Satan can afflict us. Being apprehensive of the devil should make us stand together defensively as well as attack together offensively. Corporately, we find the strength to be unafraid.
Some of us reduce the danger from Satan because we lead sheltered lives, shielded from the pain in the world. A life confined to the pleasantries of church participation and fun recreational pursuits is hardly what we have been called to in Christ.
Some of us reduce the danger from Satan because we lead sheltered lives, shielded from the pain in the world. A life confined to the pleasantries of church participation and fun recreational pursuits is hardly what we have been called to in Christ.
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
Phil 1:27-30
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We are called on to open our eyes and see the devil prowling. We are to help Jesus who came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). We are to resist the devil, fight against him, stop his evil, prevent his destruction, not be affected or harmed by him, remain strong against the force and effect of the evil one, and not be affected or harmed by Satan, God’s enemy.
Yet, lest we limit our warfare to fighting against the evil we can see all around us, let’s open our spiritual perception to the evil forces behind visible evil. Ephesians 6 cannot be taken to mean these enemies are hiding in Africa. They are here too. And we are largely not aware of their presence, making them far more dangerous.
Yet, lest we limit our warfare to fighting against the evil we can see all around us, let’s open our spiritual perception to the evil forces behind visible evil. Ephesians 6 cannot be taken to mean these enemies are hiding in Africa. They are here too. And we are largely not aware of their presence, making them far more dangerous.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Eph 6:10-12
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Here in the Western world Satan has become more subtle, perhaps because it causes us to take him far less seriously. In other parts of the world, evil supernaturalism manifests itself in openly demonic ways. Witch doctors really do heal. People recognize the obvious powers of evil spiritual forces. Missionaries talk about the importance of power encounters before sharing the knowledge of the Bible because people first want to know if our power is superior to the spiritual powers they see in their cultures.
We see irrefutable evidence of the existence of evil supernatural powers and demons throughout the Bible. Do we think that these evil spiritual beings disappeared? They are still around and they must be confronted. They are all extensions of Satan and must be resisted in the power we have from our relationship with God.
Every so often we might see someone demonized, far less often someone demon possessed. And at times we might witness some manifestation of Satan’s evil supernatural powers. But, by and large the devil must consider it more profitable to work behind the scenes to work havoc. This, too, is written of in the Old Testament when Daniel received a vision from an angel who had been opposed by an evil principality, the prince of the kingdom of Persia, and been helped by the mighty angel Michael.
We see irrefutable evidence of the existence of evil supernatural powers and demons throughout the Bible. Do we think that these evil spiritual beings disappeared? They are still around and they must be confronted. They are all extensions of Satan and must be resisted in the power we have from our relationship with God.
Every so often we might see someone demonized, far less often someone demon possessed. And at times we might witness some manifestation of Satan’s evil supernatural powers. But, by and large the devil must consider it more profitable to work behind the scenes to work havoc. This, too, is written of in the Old Testament when Daniel received a vision from an angel who had been opposed by an evil principality, the prince of the kingdom of Persia, and been helped by the mighty angel Michael.
The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days,
but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me . . . .
Daniel 10:13
but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me . . . .
Daniel 10:13
When the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 6 of “rulers, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”, he knew firsthand that Ephesus was a main center for demonic supernatural evil. The people there would have read his words far differently from how we read them. They knew what Paul meant by such descriptions of evil spiritual personalities. We don’t. We need to.
We should take the Ephesians passage literally and realize that behind the evil that surrounds us are strong, unseen, vicious spirits. Might that person in our extended family battling with drug abuse be a victim of demonic involvement – a real, evil spirit coaxing him or her on? If so, we can resist that evil power by the love of Jesus Christ and treat the person as not totally responsible. Nor is that person totally capable of recovery without the soldiers of Jesus, submitted to God, standing with Christ in their midst, releasing the power of God on that person’s behalf in prayer and loving actions.
Christians must remember that our enemy is Satan, along with his demons who are unseen rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers, all spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. The humans who are their victims are not our enemies, even if they treat us horribly. This helps us not to judge people because we remember that there are evil, shadowy figures standing behind them and urging them to do wrong things. Then, we can roll up our sleeves and attempt to be of help to someone off the path of righteousness, while at the same time challenging through prayer and the armor of God the dark proponents of their misbehavior.
There are a few times in each Christian's life when we face intense evil. During those attacks, it is critical that we each are totally surrounded by close, committed Christians who are submitted to God. There we can safely pray, stand up to the devil with others and cast him out of the situation.
Because Satan is behind all evil, casting him, his demonic servants, and his influence out of each other's problems is both appropriate and wise. And we should enjoy the conquest. Let’s remember to stand up to the devil at one another’s side.
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
We should take the Ephesians passage literally and realize that behind the evil that surrounds us are strong, unseen, vicious spirits. Might that person in our extended family battling with drug abuse be a victim of demonic involvement – a real, evil spirit coaxing him or her on? If so, we can resist that evil power by the love of Jesus Christ and treat the person as not totally responsible. Nor is that person totally capable of recovery without the soldiers of Jesus, submitted to God, standing with Christ in their midst, releasing the power of God on that person’s behalf in prayer and loving actions.
Christians must remember that our enemy is Satan, along with his demons who are unseen rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers, all spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. The humans who are their victims are not our enemies, even if they treat us horribly. This helps us not to judge people because we remember that there are evil, shadowy figures standing behind them and urging them to do wrong things. Then, we can roll up our sleeves and attempt to be of help to someone off the path of righteousness, while at the same time challenging through prayer and the armor of God the dark proponents of their misbehavior.
There are a few times in each Christian's life when we face intense evil. During those attacks, it is critical that we each are totally surrounded by close, committed Christians who are submitted to God. There we can safely pray, stand up to the devil with others and cast him out of the situation.
Because Satan is behind all evil, casting him, his demonic servants, and his influence out of each other's problems is both appropriate and wise. And we should enjoy the conquest. Let’s remember to stand up to the devil at one another’s side.
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
The Ward Family lives in a multi-cultural area in the borough of Queens in New York City. African Americans, Hindus from Bangladesh, and Muslims from Pakistan make up 95% of the neighborhood. In their interactions with others on the street and in neighborhood shops, the Wards battle the devil with love. When two or more Wards get into a conversation, they try to praise God and also mention the victory Jesus has won over the devil. Like Jesus who faced Satan in the wilderness, the Wards see their neighborhood as a sort of wilderness and verbalize Scripture as did Jesus long ago.
Sometimes, while talking to someone of another religion, the Wards can feel darkness retreat and light enter the brief personal encounter. The family is making many friends and there are smiles as they pass their many diverse neighbors. |
Resisting the devil and his minions, fighting against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places, stopping or preventing evil which is powered by God’s enemies, and remaining strong might seem way over our heads. And, it certainly is.
But we have help. Jesus has all authority over everything in heaven and earth, including Satan and all of his evil supernatural fallen angels.
But we have help. Jesus has all authority over everything in heaven and earth, including Satan and all of his evil supernatural fallen angels.
And Jesus came and said to them,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Matt 28:18
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Matt 28:18
But, pay attention to this: our Lord who has absolute authority over heaven and earth delegates authority over Satan’s power to us!
The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Luke 10:17-20
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Since we have been given authority over all the power of the enemy, we do not need to be frightened. In having been given power to take authority over evil supernaturalism, when we utilize that authority together, we become like Jesus.
As Jesus does nothing apart from the Father, we can only be like Him if we face the devil together. We have to remember that we are not to face Satan alone. The 72 disciples who came back victorious were sent out by Jesus in twos.
Prayer and truth from the Bible are our main methods of standing against the devil and his evil beings.
As Jesus does nothing apart from the Father, we can only be like Him if we face the devil together. We have to remember that we are not to face Satan alone. The 72 disciples who came back victorious were sent out by Jesus in twos.
Prayer and truth from the Bible are our main methods of standing against the devil and his evil beings.
“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Matt 18:19-20
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Did we catch that “again”? Jesus must have told his disciples this truth about two agreeing and two and three in His name more than once. It should not be considered just a single verse of Scripture, but one that was repeated over and over by Jesus. If we are submitted to God, we can fight against the devil by praying together against specific evils. Jesus will be with us spiritually and will at the same time be at the right hand of God the Father to pass on the request.
Hopefully we have all understood the great importance of listening prayer. By this is meant that we recognize Jesus in our midst and ask Him what He wants. Then we ask for it, joining with our Lord in battle against evil, destroying the works of the devil.
Individual prayer is very important. But, we must emphasize prayer with those in our Christian Inner Circles. It is with others that this promise of Jesus’ presence and answered prayer happens.
Christian friends would do well to take time to go further than a prayer of blessing over a meal. At the least, they should list the evil things Satan and his servants are doing in the lives of loved ones and associates. Whenever time permits, friends should add to these prayers a few specific evils the “Lord-in-Their-Presence” brings to their minds. Imagine in the United States that there are five million Christian friendship configurations meeting each week. Out of a population of over 300 million, that is not too wide a stretch. What if 10,000 of those small friendship groups prayed against the evil spirits behind sexual molestation and rape whenever they pray for sick friends and relatives?
What if 300,000 families of the 21 million most devout Christian believers in America added a different evil to their mealtime prayer (hopefully they still pray together) each of the seven days of the week? Think of how 300,000 weekly prayers would be received and answered if the evils were terrorism, family violence, human trafficking, resistance to the gospel, corporate greed, divorce, and violent crime. Wow! Would our world be different?
Jesus also used Scripture to battle Satan. In the wilderness testing, Jesus countered everything the devil said with truth from the Bible. The danger of Satan’s prowling like a hungry lion ought to have us knowing Scripture well.
Standing together with Jesus against Satan is like Jesus who destroys the work of the devil with the Father’s and Holy Spirit’s help. Together, let’s become more like Jesus in this way.
Opportunity to Worship God
Hopefully we have all understood the great importance of listening prayer. By this is meant that we recognize Jesus in our midst and ask Him what He wants. Then we ask for it, joining with our Lord in battle against evil, destroying the works of the devil.
Individual prayer is very important. But, we must emphasize prayer with those in our Christian Inner Circles. It is with others that this promise of Jesus’ presence and answered prayer happens.
Christian friends would do well to take time to go further than a prayer of blessing over a meal. At the least, they should list the evil things Satan and his servants are doing in the lives of loved ones and associates. Whenever time permits, friends should add to these prayers a few specific evils the “Lord-in-Their-Presence” brings to their minds. Imagine in the United States that there are five million Christian friendship configurations meeting each week. Out of a population of over 300 million, that is not too wide a stretch. What if 10,000 of those small friendship groups prayed against the evil spirits behind sexual molestation and rape whenever they pray for sick friends and relatives?
What if 300,000 families of the 21 million most devout Christian believers in America added a different evil to their mealtime prayer (hopefully they still pray together) each of the seven days of the week? Think of how 300,000 weekly prayers would be received and answered if the evils were terrorism, family violence, human trafficking, resistance to the gospel, corporate greed, divorce, and violent crime. Wow! Would our world be different?
Jesus also used Scripture to battle Satan. In the wilderness testing, Jesus countered everything the devil said with truth from the Bible. The danger of Satan’s prowling like a hungry lion ought to have us knowing Scripture well.
Standing together with Jesus against Satan is like Jesus who destroys the work of the devil with the Father’s and Holy Spirit’s help. Together, let’s become more like Jesus in this way.
Opportunity to Worship God
Cam and Faith have a daughter about to get married. Her wedding expectations were within reason, and Cam and Faith agreed to pay for the wedding place and preacher. Then, without the money, Cam and Faith decided to take a week’s beach vacation, ignoring their commitment to their daughter.
Fortunately, Cam and Faith mentioned their decision to take the vacation to their friends Gabriel and Maddie. Later that evening as they headed to bed, Gabriel and Maddie agreed that they were troubled about their friends’ decision to spend money on themselves and put financial burden on their daughter. They wanted God to be glorified by their friends, especially in keeping a promise and not damaging a relationship with a daughter who was now going off on her own. Gabriel got out of bed, and even though the hour was late, called Cam and asked Cam and Faith to hold off on making airline reservations, that he and Maddie wanted to share an idea with them the next evening. As God watches over His people for their welfare, so Gabriel and Maddie did the same and it was an act of worship that reflected God’s character. Together, Gabriel and Maddie were standing up to the devil at one another’s side and hoping that on the morrow the two of them and Cam and Faith would be standing together to defeat Satan’s scheme to harm a parent-daughter relationship while reinforcing selfishness. The next day Cam and Faith decided to do what was right. And, in discussion with Gabriel and Maddie, it was discovered that Cam and Faith were having great difficulty in letting go of their daughter. They were unconsciously trying to create emotional distance by treating their daughter poorly so that she might be angry at them. Better angry than sad was not the right way, but the devil thought it was a great scheme. |
God has given us wisdom and power in community to stand up to the devil at one another's side. When we do so, we worship God by reflecting back to Him his own repudiation and repulsion of the devil.
Eve dealt with the serpent in the Garden of Eden without seeking Adam’s help. It did not work. She succumbed to Satan’s temptation. Adam then made the same bad mistake. Neither glorified God that day. There is an important lesson for us in this. If we want to glorify the Lord, we need to not think that we can make righteous decisions on our own. We should ask one another for help in thinking through big choices, realizing that the devil might be distorting our reasoning as he did with Eve.
Usually we think things through in the privacy of our own minds. We think we know the Bible well enough to be invincible to Satan. However, consider that Adam and Eve knew nothing but God’s truth when with a forked tongue the devil spoke. When God decreed that Adam needed a helper just before creating Eve, He knew what He was doing. We need to recognize our need to ask others if they see anything that might be wrong in what we want to do.
We might not seek input for many reasons, but probably because we want to do what we want to do. Knowing this, our friends and family members hesitate to speak up. They would not hesitate if they could actually see the devil sneaking up on us like a hungry lion.
Friends, families and marriages need to agree to speak up when they think they might see a possible scheme of Satan. And, individuals need to be very careful not to use this “speak-up policy” to control one another. All observations and warnings need to be given out of biblical love, which is selfless and not meant to control. Otherwise, comments will be received with defensiveness toward the speaker or the suggestion.
Let’s review how it might have gone right in the Garden of Eden when it had begun going badly. Satan shows up and makes his move. Adam and Eve tell the devil they have to think it over without any more input from him. Probably: end of story. The forbidden fruit stays on the tree for the local bats to eat.
But, what if Eve had impulsively taken a fruit off the tree and had it in her hand. Instead of watching curiously as Adam must have done, he asks to see the fruit, Eve hands it to him, and he sets it out of her reach, gets the two of them to walk away from the tree, and then they talk it over and remember what God said. Adam tosses the fruit to some nearby animal. Then, Adam and Eve build a fence around the tree that would make it impossible to impulsively grab and eat a fruit.
By resisting the devil and his schemes by one another’s side, we protect worship of the God who loves us so very much. Let’s never think that we are godly enough without one another’s help. Not only will that come back to bite us, it will set us up to dishonor God when we want to worship Him.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
Eve dealt with the serpent in the Garden of Eden without seeking Adam’s help. It did not work. She succumbed to Satan’s temptation. Adam then made the same bad mistake. Neither glorified God that day. There is an important lesson for us in this. If we want to glorify the Lord, we need to not think that we can make righteous decisions on our own. We should ask one another for help in thinking through big choices, realizing that the devil might be distorting our reasoning as he did with Eve.
Usually we think things through in the privacy of our own minds. We think we know the Bible well enough to be invincible to Satan. However, consider that Adam and Eve knew nothing but God’s truth when with a forked tongue the devil spoke. When God decreed that Adam needed a helper just before creating Eve, He knew what He was doing. We need to recognize our need to ask others if they see anything that might be wrong in what we want to do.
We might not seek input for many reasons, but probably because we want to do what we want to do. Knowing this, our friends and family members hesitate to speak up. They would not hesitate if they could actually see the devil sneaking up on us like a hungry lion.
Friends, families and marriages need to agree to speak up when they think they might see a possible scheme of Satan. And, individuals need to be very careful not to use this “speak-up policy” to control one another. All observations and warnings need to be given out of biblical love, which is selfless and not meant to control. Otherwise, comments will be received with defensiveness toward the speaker or the suggestion.
Let’s review how it might have gone right in the Garden of Eden when it had begun going badly. Satan shows up and makes his move. Adam and Eve tell the devil they have to think it over without any more input from him. Probably: end of story. The forbidden fruit stays on the tree for the local bats to eat.
But, what if Eve had impulsively taken a fruit off the tree and had it in her hand. Instead of watching curiously as Adam must have done, he asks to see the fruit, Eve hands it to him, and he sets it out of her reach, gets the two of them to walk away from the tree, and then they talk it over and remember what God said. Adam tosses the fruit to some nearby animal. Then, Adam and Eve build a fence around the tree that would make it impossible to impulsively grab and eat a fruit.
By resisting the devil and his schemes by one another’s side, we protect worship of the God who loves us so very much. Let’s never think that we are godly enough without one another’s help. Not only will that come back to bite us, it will set us up to dishonor God when we want to worship Him.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
Alice Barker ran into an old school friend last month. When she and the friend, Tamara, got together, she learned that her friend had become involved with witchcraft. Immediately she made more plans to meet with Tamara, but wisely decided to invite Kylie, a strong Christian friend from her church. Together they would face Satan with the authority of Jesus and free Tamara from her bondage. They knew that it might take some time, but that they needed to confront in the Name of Jesus the witchcraft and demons attached to Tamara. Success would come as long as Tamara allowed them to work with her.
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It is the church's great privilege to win victories for God. As a mighty army for God, we get to battle evil, fighting aggressively at the very gates of hell! Through the power of God, we are on a continual search and destroy mission. We can attack evil that rampages within each of us. We can attack evil that attacks our families, marriages, friendships, churches and community. We can attack evil that causes havoc throughout the world. We have the privilege of marching boldly to war - daily!
You and I, as soldiers in the Army of God, participate every day in a universal conflict of great significance and consequence. Whether or not we are aware of it, you and I are in the middle of a cosmic battle that is both wonderful and terrible.
To understand the necessity of winning victories for God, every Christian needs to adequately comprehend this universal war between God and the forces of evil led by Satan. We can make sense out of the various troubles we face only by accepting our temporary life on earth as one of fighting on the cosmic battlefield. And to understand the critical reason why we must persevere, we need to understand the nature of the conflict.
God's honor has been challenged. We fight for His glory! And it is real war, with real pain on a regular basis. With the Commander-in-Chief leading the charge, we cannot be in love with safety. Moment by moment, donning our armor and grasping our spiritual weapons, we Christians must urgently face the difficulty of battle. Following Jesus our Lord and using his great weapon of graceful love, we are vulnerable to frequent injury, especially emotional. But then we don't want to disgracefully enter heaven's gates without battle scars. We want to be like our Savior-King!
Soldiers rarely go into battle alone. Instead, we defeat Satan by standing up to him by one another’s side.
Yet it is a strange war we fight, for the enemy has already been defeated and our King has authority over the evil powers that are keeping the war going. It is in His authority that we fight. That is why we do everything in His Name. If we encounter a demon, we take control and command it to leave in the name of Jesus, which means we speak not with our own authority but with the authority of the Son of God.
When we pray against evil in this war “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”, we pray in the name of Jesus. This phrase means that we pray under the authority of Him who has all authority and has delegated it to us.
In olden days, a herald would enter a public square and call everyone to hear him speak the words of the King. All knew that to disagree with the herald was to challenge the king. Not a good idea in those days, since “off with their heads” was a great possibility.
Similarly, when we speak with the authority of Jesus Christ who has delegated such power to us, demons must obey. Throughout the historical books of the New Testament, no demon ever disobeyed a commandment made in the name of Jesus from someone who was a true believer with such delegated authority. But, when some who were not followers of Jesus tried it, the demons beat them up.
You and I, as soldiers in the Army of God, participate every day in a universal conflict of great significance and consequence. Whether or not we are aware of it, you and I are in the middle of a cosmic battle that is both wonderful and terrible.
To understand the necessity of winning victories for God, every Christian needs to adequately comprehend this universal war between God and the forces of evil led by Satan. We can make sense out of the various troubles we face only by accepting our temporary life on earth as one of fighting on the cosmic battlefield. And to understand the critical reason why we must persevere, we need to understand the nature of the conflict.
God's honor has been challenged. We fight for His glory! And it is real war, with real pain on a regular basis. With the Commander-in-Chief leading the charge, we cannot be in love with safety. Moment by moment, donning our armor and grasping our spiritual weapons, we Christians must urgently face the difficulty of battle. Following Jesus our Lord and using his great weapon of graceful love, we are vulnerable to frequent injury, especially emotional. But then we don't want to disgracefully enter heaven's gates without battle scars. We want to be like our Savior-King!
Soldiers rarely go into battle alone. Instead, we defeat Satan by standing up to him by one another’s side.
Yet it is a strange war we fight, for the enemy has already been defeated and our King has authority over the evil powers that are keeping the war going. It is in His authority that we fight. That is why we do everything in His Name. If we encounter a demon, we take control and command it to leave in the name of Jesus, which means we speak not with our own authority but with the authority of the Son of God.
When we pray against evil in this war “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”, we pray in the name of Jesus. This phrase means that we pray under the authority of Him who has all authority and has delegated it to us.
In olden days, a herald would enter a public square and call everyone to hear him speak the words of the King. All knew that to disagree with the herald was to challenge the king. Not a good idea in those days, since “off with their heads” was a great possibility.
Similarly, when we speak with the authority of Jesus Christ who has delegated such power to us, demons must obey. Throughout the historical books of the New Testament, no demon ever disobeyed a commandment made in the name of Jesus from someone who was a true believer with such delegated authority. But, when some who were not followers of Jesus tried it, the demons beat them up.
Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Acts 19:13-16
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If, as Ephesians 6 proclaims, we are not fighting against flesh and blood, we need to bring the authority of Jesus into every encounter with evil.
And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two,
and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
Mark 6:7
and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
Mark 6:7
We may pray against crime in our city and end with the phrase, “in the name of Jesus, amen”, but without conscious awareness that we are invoking the authority of Jesus the Christ, are we leaving out the power. If we have been given authority over unclean spirits, let’s use it. Let’s be aware of the power of this delegated responsibility.
We are pretty familiar with this concept of delegated authority. Just watch children ordering one another around. When a child doesn’t obey, then comes the declaration: “Mom said so!” which brings compliance. It is as though one child says to another, “Who made you in charge?” The answer explains that the message to put away toys came from, or under the authority, of Mom.
It might seem strange to translate “amen” into “Jesus says so!” Perhaps we have heard that it means, “let it be so”, but when we are confronting evil, it can be said by us with more authority than that. Let’s be aware that whenever we are confronting evil, we should end our prayers with Jesus’ powerful supremacy.
Let’s fight Satan and evil with the authority of Jesus which He has delegated to us. We certainly can always pray silently and say authoritatively under our breath, “in the Name of Jesus”.
And when we quote Scripture, let’s do so with clear understanding that it is not we who are saying it, but that God said it. If someone doesn’t like something God has said in the Bible, their beef is not with us, so we do not have to get defensive. But, it is on His authority, not our own, that we stand when passing on Scripture.
We must stop acting like we are not at war with the devil and spiritual forces of evil. Every time we encounter evil, whether in person or in the news, let’s command evil to diminish by using the authority of Jesus which He delegated to us through silent prayer in His Name.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
We are pretty familiar with this concept of delegated authority. Just watch children ordering one another around. When a child doesn’t obey, then comes the declaration: “Mom said so!” which brings compliance. It is as though one child says to another, “Who made you in charge?” The answer explains that the message to put away toys came from, or under the authority, of Mom.
It might seem strange to translate “amen” into “Jesus says so!” Perhaps we have heard that it means, “let it be so”, but when we are confronting evil, it can be said by us with more authority than that. Let’s be aware that whenever we are confronting evil, we should end our prayers with Jesus’ powerful supremacy.
Let’s fight Satan and evil with the authority of Jesus which He has delegated to us. We certainly can always pray silently and say authoritatively under our breath, “in the Name of Jesus”.
And when we quote Scripture, let’s do so with clear understanding that it is not we who are saying it, but that God said it. If someone doesn’t like something God has said in the Bible, their beef is not with us, so we do not have to get defensive. But, it is on His authority, not our own, that we stand when passing on Scripture.
We must stop acting like we are not at war with the devil and spiritual forces of evil. Every time we encounter evil, whether in person or in the news, let’s command evil to diminish by using the authority of Jesus which He delegated to us through silent prayer in His Name.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
The Owens Family lives in an area of Chicago with armed neighborhoods terrorized by gangs and inadequate police protection. Prostitution and drug dealing take over the nights. While residents live in moderate safety during the day, once it is dark everyone but the most dangerous stay inside.
The Owens are Christians who have no doubt about the existence of the dark spiritual powers listed in Ephesians 6. Nightly they gather to eat and stand against various demonic forces, one night against those evil spiritual forces causing prostitution, another night against those influencing drug suppliers, the next night against those working to destroy drug abusers, and so on. Little by little, the Owens Family has recruited other neighborhood Christians to do the same in their friendships, families and marriages. Also, every Wednesday late afternoon to early evening and all day Saturday, one member of the Owens Family sits on their apartment stoop with a very large sign that reads, “Join us and pray against Satan who is victimizing our neighborhood. Let’s rescue the prostitutes and drug dealers and gang members.” They hand out a piece of paper their church has printed up listing a week’s schedule so that all people will stand together in prayer against the same dark forces in the heavenly realms responsible for the same neighborhood problem. On Saturdays, even on harsh winter days, those praying during the week walk around the six block neighborhood praying against and expelling demons from the area. This has gone on so consistently over six months that people hang out of windows cheering them on, and over time a great many people have come to faith in Jesus Christ. Most Saturdays up to 300 men, women and children march. These believers don’t know it, but by not looking away from evil and, instead, praying against its various forms in their neighborhood plus the evil spirits behind each tragedy, they are preparing for greater joy when they get to heaven. Boy, will they ever notice the absence of Satan’s forces and societal evils in the New Jerusalem! |
We can only imagine some of the many benefits of preparing for heaven by standing up to the devil at one another’s side. In heaven, there will be no devil or evil to confront, but it is logical to suppose that there will be benefits to having done so before death.
Those of us who have been in the military often have really strong ties to those with whom we served. It is hard to describe to others, but there is a definite loyal connection to one another. It will be similar when we get to heaven. Those we stood up to the devil with in battle will be strong friends.
Also, having been incensed by the devil and evil will create a greater love for the good surrounding us in heaven. Like the ability to taste all the finest flavors in good food, we will have varying sensibilities to goodness in heaven. It is not likely that we will all experience the goodness of heaven to the same degree. That is wishful thinking. It seems more likely that the basic nature of things will exist in heaven as it does now. The more we pay attention to less flavorful food, the more we appreciate more flavorful food. Logically, why would that way of things change in heaven?
Another good thing to come out of standing against evil powers now is that in heaven we will be more open to people because we knew that their objectionable behavior back before death was designed by the devil and fueled by his organization of evil spiritual powers and influences. Even though they were fully responsible for their behavior, we will have recognized that they had some very bad help and without that push from the devil they would just have been ordinary sinners like we were.
Recognizing that fact now helps us not put unreasonable emotional and physical distance between objectionable people and ourselves. Will this ability to relate a little more lovingly prepare us for heaven? It would seem so.
It might be tempting to think that when we get to heaven we will have everything we lacked before. If we did not know all of the information in an encyclopedia before, once we enter the pearly gates we will know it all. If we were not able to ski well before, we will have all the skill of an Olympian skier just after shaking Saint Peter’s hand. If we were not able to tolerate or even enjoy social interaction with dishonorable people before, if they happen to get to heaven, we will rush up to them and embrace.
If this sounds foolish to you, well it probably is. What would be the use of obeying God if we can do whatever we want, die, and then have all the heavenly life we would have had if we had lived for Him?
What we will be complete in once we enter heaven is purity, no sin, and the ability to see more clearly without the distortion or struggle of sin. We will be like people whose eyesight was blurry because of cataracts being able to see without the disease. We will be able to learn the contents of an encyclopedia without the limitations sins imposed beforehand. We will be able to learn to ski without the fear of falling that might have hindered us before. And we will be able to embrace citizens of heaven who before salvation were murderers, rapists, human traffickers, thieves, greedy business owners, and the like.
But, we will start where we left off on earth. We will begin devouring the encyclopedia where we had left off, not having to learn all over again what we had already learned. And, if we had skied before, we will begin where our skill stopped. Likewise, we will begin to relate to heaven’s rescued scoundrels and villains and despicable people at the height of attainment in the environment of sin before death.
Of the latter, some of us will be able to hug a previously disgusting person because we realized that he or she was strongly influenced by demonic powers, probably without knowing it or inviting such darkness. This will be the result of gains we made in standing up to the devil by one another’s side, thus able to see the evil spirit world behind the scenes empowering the most awful things. Others entering heaven, not ever having learned about or taken seriously the need to constantly war against Satan and his evil powers, will not be so open at the start to a close relationship with people they meet on the streets of heaven whom they knew to be loathsome back before death.
Can it be that we will have different abilities to love in heaven where love rules? In the general sense of denying ourselves for the good of others, we will all be able to love However, there are some expressions of love that must have been acquired within the atmosphere of sin, and if they were not, there will be some aspect of pure love missing from that person’s abilities.
For one example, the Together that instructs us to examine one another’s faith in the sinful culture before death prepares us to be able to love others in heaven in a wonderful way. We will in heaven be able to love one another by not being able to hold ourselves back from pointing out new, previously unimaginable good things to be seen and achieved.
And, so, the person who before death was able to befriend a rapist because of seeing the sneering devil behind him will be able to hug redeemed rapists saved by the blood of Jesus and inhabiting heaven. With full understanding of that person’s past, they will be able to hug. We will all be able to have some loving contact with such a citizen of heaven because that person will be a new creature in Christ. But the hug from someone who understands that the rapist was victimized by Satan will be filled with an additional ingredient from the possible seasonings of love.
Let’s realize that by standing up to the devil with those in our Christian Inner Circle we are more fully recognizing the existence of the devil and the evil spirit powers under his control. That in turn will enable us to more clearly sense heaven’s lack of evil as well as embrace in our heavenly relationships those whose horrible sins have been embraced by the blood of our Savior.
How this Together Can Make It Really Good in Heaven
Those of us who have been in the military often have really strong ties to those with whom we served. It is hard to describe to others, but there is a definite loyal connection to one another. It will be similar when we get to heaven. Those we stood up to the devil with in battle will be strong friends.
Also, having been incensed by the devil and evil will create a greater love for the good surrounding us in heaven. Like the ability to taste all the finest flavors in good food, we will have varying sensibilities to goodness in heaven. It is not likely that we will all experience the goodness of heaven to the same degree. That is wishful thinking. It seems more likely that the basic nature of things will exist in heaven as it does now. The more we pay attention to less flavorful food, the more we appreciate more flavorful food. Logically, why would that way of things change in heaven?
Another good thing to come out of standing against evil powers now is that in heaven we will be more open to people because we knew that their objectionable behavior back before death was designed by the devil and fueled by his organization of evil spiritual powers and influences. Even though they were fully responsible for their behavior, we will have recognized that they had some very bad help and without that push from the devil they would just have been ordinary sinners like we were.
Recognizing that fact now helps us not put unreasonable emotional and physical distance between objectionable people and ourselves. Will this ability to relate a little more lovingly prepare us for heaven? It would seem so.
It might be tempting to think that when we get to heaven we will have everything we lacked before. If we did not know all of the information in an encyclopedia before, once we enter the pearly gates we will know it all. If we were not able to ski well before, we will have all the skill of an Olympian skier just after shaking Saint Peter’s hand. If we were not able to tolerate or even enjoy social interaction with dishonorable people before, if they happen to get to heaven, we will rush up to them and embrace.
If this sounds foolish to you, well it probably is. What would be the use of obeying God if we can do whatever we want, die, and then have all the heavenly life we would have had if we had lived for Him?
What we will be complete in once we enter heaven is purity, no sin, and the ability to see more clearly without the distortion or struggle of sin. We will be like people whose eyesight was blurry because of cataracts being able to see without the disease. We will be able to learn the contents of an encyclopedia without the limitations sins imposed beforehand. We will be able to learn to ski without the fear of falling that might have hindered us before. And we will be able to embrace citizens of heaven who before salvation were murderers, rapists, human traffickers, thieves, greedy business owners, and the like.
But, we will start where we left off on earth. We will begin devouring the encyclopedia where we had left off, not having to learn all over again what we had already learned. And, if we had skied before, we will begin where our skill stopped. Likewise, we will begin to relate to heaven’s rescued scoundrels and villains and despicable people at the height of attainment in the environment of sin before death.
Of the latter, some of us will be able to hug a previously disgusting person because we realized that he or she was strongly influenced by demonic powers, probably without knowing it or inviting such darkness. This will be the result of gains we made in standing up to the devil by one another’s side, thus able to see the evil spirit world behind the scenes empowering the most awful things. Others entering heaven, not ever having learned about or taken seriously the need to constantly war against Satan and his evil powers, will not be so open at the start to a close relationship with people they meet on the streets of heaven whom they knew to be loathsome back before death.
Can it be that we will have different abilities to love in heaven where love rules? In the general sense of denying ourselves for the good of others, we will all be able to love However, there are some expressions of love that must have been acquired within the atmosphere of sin, and if they were not, there will be some aspect of pure love missing from that person’s abilities.
For one example, the Together that instructs us to examine one another’s faith in the sinful culture before death prepares us to be able to love others in heaven in a wonderful way. We will in heaven be able to love one another by not being able to hold ourselves back from pointing out new, previously unimaginable good things to be seen and achieved.
And, so, the person who before death was able to befriend a rapist because of seeing the sneering devil behind him will be able to hug redeemed rapists saved by the blood of Jesus and inhabiting heaven. With full understanding of that person’s past, they will be able to hug. We will all be able to have some loving contact with such a citizen of heaven because that person will be a new creature in Christ. But the hug from someone who understands that the rapist was victimized by Satan will be filled with an additional ingredient from the possible seasonings of love.
Let’s realize that by standing up to the devil with those in our Christian Inner Circle we are more fully recognizing the existence of the devil and the evil spirit powers under his control. That in turn will enable us to more clearly sense heaven’s lack of evil as well as embrace in our heavenly relationships those whose horrible sins have been embraced by the blood of our Savior.
How this Together Can Make It Really Good in Heaven
I am standing at 4520 Josiah Boulevard looking up at a beautiful building made of various rock slabs woven into a spectacular mosaic.
This morning’s walk in the streets of the New Jerusalem brings back memories of when my friends and I used to graffiti buildings on the streets of Cleveland, Ohio with our cans of black spray paint. We were not doing it out of anger, but out of hopelessness. The ugliness that we created on building walls reflected our dismal lives with nothing much to look forward to. How fortunate I was to be brought to God through the sacrifice of Jesus. I found a hope not based on my situation, as I still would not have any exciting prospects ahead of me in that life. But, I could look forward to this one. Now, standing before this wonderful building and contrasting it with the ugly, graffiti-covered buildings of my life on the Old Earth, I behold the beauty of heaven. And tears of joy stream down my cheeks. |
Have we ever had to go to a party, wedding or other social event where we dreaded running into someone who treated us badly or whom we did not like? Or someone who did not bully us but mistreated others so hurtfully? And the more horribly that person treated us or the more we disliked that person, the more dread we felt. If then we went and found that the person was not in attendance, if we are honest, it felt really good. And the event was far more enjoyable. In fact, the more we disliked the person or the more that person treated us badly, the more we enjoyed the occasion after we found the person was not coming.
Well, it will be like that when we get to heaven. Satan won’t be there. Nor will the atmosphere of sin foul the air. And, unlike the example above, we will not have to worry that Satan might change his mind and show up anyway, as might happen at a wedding. Instead, it will be like the person we wanted to avoid at the wedding was locked up in jail and there was no way that person could change mind and show up. Satan will be bound. He will forever be excluded from our everlasting dwelling place.
The extent that we did not want the devil around and resisted him with other Christians by our side before death will determine the extent of our joy that he is not there in heaven. How good it will be in heaven, even more so than how good we would feel if an enemy did not show up for a social event.
Perhaps it can be likened to having to work with a bully and then our employer fired him or her. Every time we remembered the bully’s absence would make our work more enjoyable. So, in heaven, we can have unending joy that the devil and his comrades and his evil is not there and never coming back. The amplification of that joy will coincide with how aware we were of Satan’s evil presence before we died.
And then there is the added enjoyment of the citizens of heaven, the more we realize that the evil that victimized them is gone. Not just the mental illness, but the evil design of Satan to inflict mental illness upon people. Not just multiple sclerosis, but the forces of evil behind the horrible disease. How joyful we will be when we visit with a friend from the earlier corrupted life to see that person without the trail of generational sinfulness mucking up his or her eternal life? These joys will not be available to those who never comprehended Satan as the cause of all evil or the spiritual forces of evil behind anything that is not pure and good. But, how good it will be for those of us who did recognize that we fought not “against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
And then there will be a million ways that heaven will be thrilling because we paid attention to evil and resisted the devil on the Old Earth. Perhaps we hike a prairie trail on the New Earth, and because we saw the evil in broken bottles and cigarette butts on paths on the Old Earth, how much more enjoyable will be the heavenly walk. Those who did not like to see trash on the trail will also be thrilled at its absence. Those of us who saw the trash and realized that it was made possible by Satan will be even more overjoyed. The trash will be gone, and we will sense the absence of its evil source (not the selfish people who left trash, but the evil powers that made people so selfish as to not think of the enjoyment of others).
Let’s get ready to enjoy heaven in these ways by standing up to the devil at one another’s side.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Empathy
Well, it will be like that when we get to heaven. Satan won’t be there. Nor will the atmosphere of sin foul the air. And, unlike the example above, we will not have to worry that Satan might change his mind and show up anyway, as might happen at a wedding. Instead, it will be like the person we wanted to avoid at the wedding was locked up in jail and there was no way that person could change mind and show up. Satan will be bound. He will forever be excluded from our everlasting dwelling place.
The extent that we did not want the devil around and resisted him with other Christians by our side before death will determine the extent of our joy that he is not there in heaven. How good it will be in heaven, even more so than how good we would feel if an enemy did not show up for a social event.
Perhaps it can be likened to having to work with a bully and then our employer fired him or her. Every time we remembered the bully’s absence would make our work more enjoyable. So, in heaven, we can have unending joy that the devil and his comrades and his evil is not there and never coming back. The amplification of that joy will coincide with how aware we were of Satan’s evil presence before we died.
And then there is the added enjoyment of the citizens of heaven, the more we realize that the evil that victimized them is gone. Not just the mental illness, but the evil design of Satan to inflict mental illness upon people. Not just multiple sclerosis, but the forces of evil behind the horrible disease. How joyful we will be when we visit with a friend from the earlier corrupted life to see that person without the trail of generational sinfulness mucking up his or her eternal life? These joys will not be available to those who never comprehended Satan as the cause of all evil or the spiritual forces of evil behind anything that is not pure and good. But, how good it will be for those of us who did recognize that we fought not “against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
And then there will be a million ways that heaven will be thrilling because we paid attention to evil and resisted the devil on the Old Earth. Perhaps we hike a prairie trail on the New Earth, and because we saw the evil in broken bottles and cigarette butts on paths on the Old Earth, how much more enjoyable will be the heavenly walk. Those who did not like to see trash on the trail will also be thrilled at its absence. Those of us who saw the trash and realized that it was made possible by Satan will be even more overjoyed. The trash will be gone, and we will sense the absence of its evil source (not the selfish people who left trash, but the evil powers that made people so selfish as to not think of the enjoyment of others).
Let’s get ready to enjoy heaven in these ways by standing up to the devil at one another’s side.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Empathy
The Lord dropped by recently, as He does from time to time, to reminisce about one more instance where I had made His heart glad by standing up to the devil with one or more of my friends when younger, then with my wife, and later with my family.
Today, He reminds me of the time in our midwestern town that my friend Kenneth and I turned in to the law four mean boys in our high school for sexually harassing a timid girl over and over again. Jesus smiles as He remembers how my friend and I were heroes one day and beaten up rather severely the next week, landing us in the hospital and the four delinquents in jail for six months. He tells me how happy He was that we took advantage of our privilege of suffering with Him and repeated the words of Philippians 1:29: For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ
you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, . . . “I was there, you know”, He says. I focus my memory, and, now that I can see the spirit world of angels, I can see the spiritual world in my memories. In my recollection of those events, I see Jesus there with my friend and me. In this more complete memory with the then-unseen aspects included, I see Jesus standing next to the girl being sexually harassed and frightened. He had tears in His eyes. And, I can more clearly feel the Holy Spirit urging and empowering Kenneth and I to take the girl into the principal’s office to call the police. I can remember with Jesus now in the scene where we were beaten up, my Lord limiting the violence by holding the attackers back. And, I can now see Him in the hospital room while I recovered.
Lost in my expanded memories, I don’t notice that Jesus leaves. But, the warm joy of His pleasure remains. |
God will eternally appreciate those who opposed the forces of evil bent on destroying the good of His creation: people, societies, places and other things meant to be wonderful. God will find joy in those of us who stood against His enemy, together as He designed us to do.
How much would we appreciate those who protected our children or property? And, if it required two or more people to take action and keep harm from our children or property, how much more would we like them than others who could have helped but did not. Suppose our children have gone on a trip in the city with a babysitter and are not sure where they are and become very frightened. How would we feel about two people who took it upon themselves to make sure our kids and their sitter got back home safely?
So, it should be easy to see how our relationship with God will be enhanced in heaven if we kept an eye out for the destruction of Satan and resisted together the devil in the powerful way that can only be done in Jesus’ Name.
Also, the more we face off against the devil and feel disgusted with him and his evil forces, the more we will feel what God feels. Such empathy will increase our sense of closeness with God and His with us.
Praise and Prayer Regarding this Together
Sovereign and Holy God, I praise You that You have always been absolutely pure without any sin. I thank You that by Jesus’ substitutionary death You in your Trinity stood up against Satan and my sins have been made white as snow.
Equipped with the full armor of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit, lead me to stand against the devil with those in my Christian Inner Circle. Allow us the courage to recognize the vile evil powers of Satan and use the authority of Jesus that has been delegated to us to expel them. Help us to know the power we have in You to defeat evil, not once in a while, but more and more often.
Satan is our enemy too, and we do not want him to have any victories against Your honor.
Therefore, I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to go with Jesus to resist Satan. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory in the way we submit to You and stand up to the devil at one another’s side.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus who came to destroy the works of the devil. Remind us that we should face Satan together, just as Jesus has the other two personalities of the Godhead to be with Him when He faces evil. Then, when we see some evil powered by the sin the devil planted in our world or influenced by demons, help us to gather together a group of believers to go with Jesus and do what needs to be done to destroy the works of the devil.
May our lives worship You more because we, like You, are repulsed by evil. May we bring You honor by submitting to You and standing up to the devil at one another’s side.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by together with those in our Christian Inner Circles attacking evil within ourselves, in our families, marriages and friendships, in our churches and in our communities. Keep us from thinking that if we are safe we do not need to stand up to the devil at one another’s side. Push us to seek out where there is damage being done by evil and to stand up to the devil’s schemes in such situations.
Help us all to prepare to experience great joy and peace later in heaven by facing off against the devil and bad things now and then noticing their absence in heaven. Guide us to have a closer relationship with God in heaven because now, together, we oppose the forces of evil bent on destroying Your creation, people, societies, places and other things You meant to be only wonderful.
How much would we appreciate those who protected our children or property? And, if it required two or more people to take action and keep harm from our children or property, how much more would we like them than others who could have helped but did not. Suppose our children have gone on a trip in the city with a babysitter and are not sure where they are and become very frightened. How would we feel about two people who took it upon themselves to make sure our kids and their sitter got back home safely?
So, it should be easy to see how our relationship with God will be enhanced in heaven if we kept an eye out for the destruction of Satan and resisted together the devil in the powerful way that can only be done in Jesus’ Name.
Also, the more we face off against the devil and feel disgusted with him and his evil forces, the more we will feel what God feels. Such empathy will increase our sense of closeness with God and His with us.
Praise and Prayer Regarding this Together
Sovereign and Holy God, I praise You that You have always been absolutely pure without any sin. I thank You that by Jesus’ substitutionary death You in your Trinity stood up against Satan and my sins have been made white as snow.
Equipped with the full armor of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit, lead me to stand against the devil with those in my Christian Inner Circle. Allow us the courage to recognize the vile evil powers of Satan and use the authority of Jesus that has been delegated to us to expel them. Help us to know the power we have in You to defeat evil, not once in a while, but more and more often.
Satan is our enemy too, and we do not want him to have any victories against Your honor.
Therefore, I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to go with Jesus to resist Satan. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory in the way we submit to You and stand up to the devil at one another’s side.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus who came to destroy the works of the devil. Remind us that we should face Satan together, just as Jesus has the other two personalities of the Godhead to be with Him when He faces evil. Then, when we see some evil powered by the sin the devil planted in our world or influenced by demons, help us to gather together a group of believers to go with Jesus and do what needs to be done to destroy the works of the devil.
May our lives worship You more because we, like You, are repulsed by evil. May we bring You honor by submitting to You and standing up to the devil at one another’s side.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by together with those in our Christian Inner Circles attacking evil within ourselves, in our families, marriages and friendships, in our churches and in our communities. Keep us from thinking that if we are safe we do not need to stand up to the devil at one another’s side. Push us to seek out where there is damage being done by evil and to stand up to the devil’s schemes in such situations.
Help us all to prepare to experience great joy and peace later in heaven by facing off against the devil and bad things now and then noticing their absence in heaven. Guide us to have a closer relationship with God in heaven because now, together, we oppose the forces of evil bent on destroying Your creation, people, societies, places and other things You meant to be only wonderful.