Last week I shared a video that gave us a deeper look into spiritual warfare, Halloween and witchcraft. In a day and age where sorcery and it's kind alike, are made to appear harmless, that video reminds us that is not at all the case. I grew up with shows like Bewitched, and the Lost Boys where Hollywood portrayed vampires and witches very innocently. Now a days it's all over the big screen and television, and made to look even romantic in movies like the Twilight Series. The deception that movies like Harry Potter or shows like Lucifer, are just entertainment, is a huge part of the plot to desensitize us to witchcraft and the horrors of hell.
It is time for the saints of God to stop bickering among ourselves and band together to see this world change for the glory of Jesus. We have a war on our hands and we must be more concerned about who is dying and going to hell, than anything else. It's time to win a national championship for team Jesus. It's time to suit up in the full armor of God and take our place on the battlefield. We must put all our differences aside and each use our gifts to snatch others out of the grip and deception of hell- however we are gifted and called to help the world. We are much stronger together than apart, and there is more that unifies us than separates us. Distracting us within the ranks is a rather smart battle plan of hell, but we must no longer buy into it.
If you have not taken the time to watch the video I shared last week, I urge you to take time to do so. Yes, God saved John Ramirez because he loved him, but he also saved him for the team. He saved him to send him to the nations as an evangelist, and join the ranks for the greatest army in the world-the army of God. As Christians we cannot afford to walk around with blinders on, to the reality of this underworld activity that goes on around us everyday. It is our responsibility to be sober and alert and in prayer, dismantling such demonic structures and plots, each by using our own gifts.
1 Peter 5:8 NLT Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
Prayer keeps you alert and watchful, it keeps you aware that you are in a battle and not just on a daily stroll in the park. If you are reading this and unaware of your true identity, maybe it is time to start asking yourself some questions. First one being this:
What has God saved me for?
I wholeheartedly believe there has been a great war for your identity. If you know who you are in Christ, you are a real threat to those kingdoms of darkness. Why not just keep you in the dark a while longer until you give up the fight, right? Wearing down the saints is a real plot that hell employs often. Wearing you down with fights against your brothers and sisters in Christ; wearing you down, with pain and suffering or with fear and doubt. Maybe you are worn down with depression and constant discouragement, sickness and trials. Whatever your case, the strategy to wear you down will continue until you stand up and declare you've had enough.
Most people have no game plan at all against their adversary, much like a child on a playground with a bully. Most children shy away from bullies hoping they won't pick on them. Unfortunately that is not how hell works. Hell is always looking for a conquest and will continue to come looking for you, especially when you are down. The only way to fight and conquer a bully, is to know who you are, and what your strengths are. Only then, can you square off in confidence during the fight.
Hell's bully's have a definite strategy against you and me if we don't know who and whose we are, we will be busy fighting one battle after another with no W'S in our win column. Wemust have a daily game plan that includes surrendering to God in prayer for strength and strategy all the while using our arsenal of weapons.
THE FIRST STEP IS OFFERING YOURSELF
You are now more than just a child of God, you are now an enlisted member as a soldier in the army of heaven when you join yourself to Christ. You must look at yourself as a soldier. Your mindset must change, as you enlist in the army of God.
Romans 12:1-2 AMPC I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
Obviously not all soldiers have the same service requirements or rank so it is important to find out where you fit.
WHERE DO YOU FIT?
We each have graces and gifts given us by the Lord and now we must put those graces to good use together in the great company of our Lord Jesus Christ, so as to fight this good fight of faith with great strategy and intention.
Romans 12:4-8 AMPC For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use, So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another].
Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith; [He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching; He who exhorts (encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness.
Ephesians 4:7,11 Yet grace (God’s unmerited favor) was given to each of us individually [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and bounteous] gift..... And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.
What if John Ramirez got saved but did not fulfill his call to be an evangelist? Or others like Billy Graham, Oral Roberts or any of the greats of history? It is not so we can be the next great minister, but for us to fulfill the call of the great commission as his disciples.
Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Why must we take our place? Can't I just love God and go to heaven?
Matthew 9:37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields."
1 Cor. 6:19 "Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body."
The above passage refers to staying pure and clean from sexual immorality, but it also paints that picture for us as to the understanding that we are no longer independent Christians, but part of a greater plan of salvation.
We must have the same attitude as Jesus:
Philippians 2:5-8 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Matthew 16:24 "Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me."
Why is it important to know where you fit? Because we each have a part to play in overcoming the dark deeds of Satan and his workers and no part is insignificant. We must each take our place on the wall and take up the sword and shield in this fight of faith. We must each continue fighting, learning, equipping, serving and growing all the more until we mature in the fullness of his likeness-and until we meet him face to face.
Vs. 12-13 "His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church), [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him."
WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK FROM WALKING IN IDENTITY AND DESTINY?
Are life's distractions keeping you from walking in purpose or destiny?
Is it a fear of failing or not measuring up?
Do you not have any idea of your calling or purpose in life?
Or have you been identified but have had no proper training to equip you?
Could it be that you've never really given it much thought?
Or are you equipped, but have not found your company?
Where do you fall in those questions listed above. I believe many Christians are sitting on the sidelines of destiny neither knowing or fulfilling the purpose for which they were called out of darkness. Your children, spouse and family need you to know who you are. The world needs you to know who you are, and most certainly the other soldiers in the army of God need you to know who you are, so you can take your place beside them. More than that, the Lord has need of you, and it's time for you to take your place.
Scriptures to pray into this week:
Prov. 19:21 "Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails."
Prov. 16:3 "Commit your way to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."
Proverbs 3:5, 6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take.'
Jeremiah 1:5 "I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
Ephesians 1:11 MSG "It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone."
Ephesians 1:9-11 CJB ..."he has made known to us his secret plan, which by his own will he designed beforehand in connection with the Messiah and will put into effect when the time is ripe — his plan to place everything in heaven and on earth under the Messiah’s headship. Also in union with him we were given an inheritance, we who were picked in advance according to the purpose of the One who effects everything in keeping with the decision of his will..."
God has a purpose, destiny and a plan for your life. My prayer today is that you seek him to understand that plan more fully, in Jesus name.
In his service,
Dana