I have been struggling with how to write what I want to share and pray that I can put down in this note what I have been feeling in my heart and in my spirit. I feel it is important for me to share, unsure why, but I know someone needs to read this.
There is a teaching I am hearing making its rounds in the denominational churches. I am unsure how this teaching started, or where it started, but it has taken root and seems to be spreading. What is the teaching?
"Stop fighting the battle because Jesus has already won."
What is my problem with this teaching? It is quite simple: if we were to no longer fight the fight, we would not have been provided an armor with which to protect ourselves and we would not have been told that our weapons are not carnal, but spiritual.
Putting on the Armor of God: Ephesians 6:11-13
11-Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12-For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principaliites, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13-Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
You can read about the various pieces of the armor of God in verses 14-18.
The teaching to stop fighting and share in the victory that Jesus has given us is a dangerous teaching. Yes, we have victory but not in and of ourselves. We only have victory through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe the enemy has managed to deceive Christians in believing there is nothing further for us to do. Christians that should be strong, growing in the power, grace, and love of Jesus Christ are actually becoming slowly defeated. Christians are accepting what is handed to them throughout their lives without questioning the source. Poverty is more widespread in this country now that has been in many decades. Christians, God does not intend for us to live in poverty! It should not be within us to say, "Well, I guess this is all God wants me to have. Praise Him I have a home." NO! God wants to bless us beyond human measure, but we have to be actively seeking Him and doing what His Word tells us to do. Does God want us to remain unemployed? NO! He will provide. Matthew tells us He will provide what we need. Does He want us to continue having damaged relationships in our lives, our families? NO! He wants to heal wounds and restore relationships.
These things will not magically occur on their own. Yes, our God still performs miracles, and just like we as parents take care of our children because we love them, so does our Heavenly Father take care of us. However...there are powers, principalities that seek our destruction. They seek to be faith stealers, plant doubt, damage reputations, start gossip, destroy relationships, and steal what God gives us. How can the enemy steal what God has given us?
Simple. We have laid down our sword and shield.
We have removed our breastplate of righteousness and are no longer seeking the truth. We do not walk in peace. We do not spread His love. And we do not don our salvation every day. We have not continued to stand when we have done all we can do. We have laid our weapons down and allowed the enemy into our camp, not recognizing the fact that there is still a battle to be fought!
We must remain equipped for the battle, understanding we cannot see our enemy. Our enemy must obey the name of Jesus Christ, because He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. There is no name above His name. We use the Word of God and speak it over lives, our husbands or wives, our children, our siblings, our parents. There is power in the tongue, James says. There is power in the Word of God. Releasing the Word of God verbally into any situation brings divine power to our situation that the enemy cannot overcome, but instead will be subdued. Does it happen overnight? No. Remember, when having done all, continue to stand. We must stay faithful to the Word of God knowing deliverance comes in His time. We must make a choice to BELIEVE THE REPORT OF THE LORD and not what the world would tell us. We either believe what the WHOLE Word of God says, or we can't believe any of it.
SO...Body of Christ...take up your weapons! Put on your armor! God wants to move. He wants to release shackels and chains. He wants to deliver those in bondage into the redemptive Blood of His Son. Fight the good fight. Run the race. Do not quit. When having done all, continue to stand.
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