Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. 2Timothy 2:1-7
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:1-6
Spiritual Warfare Is Serious Business
..We’ve already looked haven’t we in 2Tim.2 verses 1-7 and James 4 verses 1-6 – what hinders the Overcomer in warfare. Don’t even enter into warfare if you are not right with God.. or your brother or sister, or if you’re not walking as God wants you to walk. Don’t enter into spiritual warfare – you will come out the worst. And that of course is exactly what The Devil wants you to do. He wants you to come out the worst because he wants to dampen you.. ‘ Part Of Our Trials Are To Teach Us Warfare. ‘
‘ You see you’re not really called in that ministry. You’re not really effective in warfare, you’ve tried it before and nothing really happened. ‘
The devil
Bowing The Knee
That is exactly what he wants to do. You see he’s very clever, very cunning. He doesn’t want you humbling yourself – bowing that knee before the presence of Almighty God. Because your humbling yourself gets The Devil off your back. That enables you to rise up in the power and strength of Almighty God to be effective against him in warfare. Can you see now how subtle he is – how he tries to work?
Blessed be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: Psalm 144:1
He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places. He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. 2Samuel 22:34-35
Watch And Prepare
Did you know that being watchful – which we are called to do in these last days – is part of warfare? Turn with me if you will to Mathew twenty four and we’ll glean a few things from this. And this is all part of warfare – soldiers being trained and prepared..
Pastor Kim L. Page
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:4,5
.. Now they won't come literally saying ' I am Christ, I am The Messiah ' but they will come preaching and teaching using His name. This we have today - so it's all around us. He says ' take heed that no one deceives you.. .. ..
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Matthew 24:11,12
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matthew 24:23,24
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Matthew 24:42-44
