We are in a battle.
The past weeks, it has become apparent for me that we are waging war daily against the devil. The battle ground is mostly in the minds and hearts of people.
Working full time for Jesus as an evangelist, I am convinced more than ever that one of the biggest issues believers face today is that we are NOT equipped in spiritual warfare.
Ephesians 6:10-11 “Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”
The truth is plain and simple. We need the armour of God because we are at war against the devil and the principalities of the unseen world.
The devil will never play fair. He is a loser, a thug and a cheat! He is ruthless especially on the weak, the ignorant, the hurting, the vulnerable, the young, and even the elderly,
The devil hates us because Jesus loves us so much. Whenever you feel that you are under attack by the enemy, rejoice in the Lord! This only means he is attacking those whom Jesus loves most – His children.
I’ve personally seen how the enemy will attack members of the family to gain leverage so we would lose heart and give up on what Jesus has called us to do.
Praise God because we have Jesus! There is so much power in the Blood of Jesus. Victory is ours in Jesus.
One of the best weapons to use against the enemy is prayer, fasting and worship! The devil detests worship and cowers on prayer and fasting.
In Jesus, we have God grounded assurance that we can devil proof our marriage, our children, our family!
Marriage is two people making a covenant with God joined in the eyes of God to be partners for the rest of their lives. Because of the holiness and sanctity of this relationship, it is the number one target of the enemy.
We can protect our relationship with our spouse by understanding God’s design about marriage.
The same powerful emotion that brought two people together can be the same thing that can destroy marriage through arguments, unforgiveness, anger, and pride.
This is why God designed marriage to be a blessed union of three: a man, a woman and God. Marriage will not work unless Jesus and His presence becomes the center of the relationship.
The husband must love his wife just as Jesus loves the church. When the wife feels unconditional love outpoured on her, she will respond in respect and submit to her husband.
Yes, the husband is the leader of the family. But given the gravity of the accountability, it is important for a husband to understand that God created his wife to be strong not physically but mentally, emotionally and spiritually, as a watchman who sees the enemy which a man does not normally see. The wife is an ally and a partner, not the enemy.
Children are God’s most precious gifts to us. All material possessions we cannot bring in the after life. But our children and the generations after are inheritance we get from God whom we can love eternally even in heaven. Because our children are so important, they too become prime targets.
Satan attacks the one he fears most. One of the biggest fears that the enemy abhors is for our children to be raised by Christian families to be God loving, God fearing new generation trained in the Word of God to grow up and live for Jesus.
Let us never underestimate the importance of passing our faith down to our kids. They are so precious to God and we as parents should, at every second, ask Jesus for wisdom on how to raise them godly in the likeness of His image.
Our children have pure hearts that are wide open for the Word of God. Let us train them in the way that they should go as God has instructed. Protect them from getting exposed to defiled and abominable things. Guard them against the internet, applications, reference materials, toys and games that are demonic in nature. Pray for them always and be a godly example for them to follow.
Families standing strong in their faith in Jesus must fight to remain committed to God. Every member of the family must completely yield and surrender to the Holy Spirit who works in and through us. No exemptions! From the oldest to the youngest member.
Give all our worries and cares to the Lord. Protect our joy so that our children will not be provoked to anger but grow in the love of the Lord Jesus Christ.
More importantly, let us develop within our children a “warrior mind-set.“
Psalms 127:4-5 “Like arrows in the hand of the warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them, they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.”
In this verse, God likens our children to arrows. A powerful weapon against a hostile world. As arrows, we should train our children in the Word of God. As they hear the Word of God, their faith increases as it becomes so sharp that it will pierce through the darkness of the world.
Our marriage, our children and our family are worth fighting for in Jesus. We should be intentional in fighting for time to be invested on our spouse, children and family. When we do so and keep Jesus the center always, joy beyond words become complete in Jesus.
Acts 16:31 “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved and your household.”