The other night I was reading from John Bevere’s book Relentless when Holy Spirit downloaded several connecting scriptures into my heart. The first is 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” Be on guard, at all times with honor and righteousness that the ploys of the evil one may not distract you from your service to the LORD. Guarding our hearts, souls and minds is easy enough to say, but at times can be very difficult to carry out. Within life our emotions, pride and self-interests tend to play a part in how we respond to situations that come against us, our families, or our livelihoods. I do not mean this in a negative way, but when most people feel threatened, there is a more common occurrence to be negative and believe the worst. The Bible instructs us to stand in faith, focused upon our LORD believing in His promises while rebuking worldly elements that may try to conjure up falsifications against who we are in Christ. If we have been instructed to stand on God’s Word, then why do we tend to crumble and think negatively when this life is not lining up with God’s promises?
It is based upon what we feed our souls and spirits. What you consume is what you become and directly influences how you respond to situations. As human beings, we have a strong desire to be involved, be included and be knowledgeable, even about areas of no spiritual value. This desire to be involved and knowledgeable if not guarded tends to draw each of us into reading tabloids and watching news or talk shows that focus upon the negative. We must remember, social media and shows only stay on air if people watch them and their sponsorships through advertisements maintained. With this in mind, what is the desire for people to watch shows of no value?….DRAMA! Drama this and drama that, after a while you can be totally stressed out about this world and the things of this world merely through watching or listening to media of one type or another. These are some of the lifestyles Paul is warning us to be on guard against while standing firm in the faith and being strong. When your life turns difficult or negative influences of this world come against you or your family, stand on God’s Word, speaking His promises and committing in your heart to the faith that moves mountains, heals the sick and frees those oppressed by demonic influences!
A second scripture connected to our spiritual walk is 1 Peter 5:8, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” The devil roams around looking for cracks in our armor, areas where through demonic influences we can be derailed and misguided in our interpretation of God’s Truth. I have read this scripture many times, but for whatever reason, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion really stuck out to me this time. Then the revelation came to me, the devil in his fictitious self is misrepresenting Christ in an effort to misguide and lead believers astray. The devil prowls around like a lion, not being a lion, but falsely imitating a lion. Why is a lion specifically mentioned, because Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Revelation 5:5 tells us, “Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Even though I had read it many times, the deceptive practices of satan have really begun to stand out as time grows short and his manipulations grow more intense and malicious. You can see his schemes, lies and falsehoods in mainstream media of today and throughout society. This leads me to encourage you even more to be on guard, noble in God’s Word and able to test all spirits that arise.
The Word of God is the foundation for the Truth. Without the plum line of God’s Word, there is no basis for right or wrong. The problem at hand is society has decided they do not agree with God’s Truth and instead of moving the realms of this world toward God’s Word, there is a movement trying to misrepresent God’s Word in support of worldly altered beliefs. As we study this it is easy to wonder how we have come to this and how even believers have allowed this move away from God’s Word to occur. We can find the answer in the false narrative of satan, 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 states,” And no wonder, for satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness.” If followers of Christ do not have a firm foundation in God’s Truth, then satan and his demonic influences masquerading as light, roaming around as lion’s can lead believers into following non truth’s. 1 Timothy 4:1 states, “Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.” As we walk through our days, we will continue to find people’s self-justification of their actions in relation to God’s Word more and more evident of the falling away from His Truth. Through satan’s deceptive practices and misrepresentation of light roaming around as a lion, satan has been able to lead many non-believers and believers alike away from the Truth and toward a doctrine of lies.
Without God’s Word, this situation could look hopeless, but Praise Almighty God for His Hope and Redemption. 1 John 4:1 tells us, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” As believers, it is our responsibility to pray unceasingly about everything and test spirits that arise around us. This sounds daunting, but true to His nature, God also provides the way for the testing of spirits. If we continue reading on in 1 John 4, it relays, “This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” Through the name of Jesus Christ not only have we been granted all authority on earth as it is in heaven, but we are able to test spirits and demonic influences. As believers, on this earth in representation of God through our acceptance of Christ, we have been given the discernment and authority to stand in faith on God’s promises pushing back the evil whims and darkness of this world bringing His light and Truth to our lives while influencing and bringing His Hope to those around us.
As you walk out your days, I encourage you to be mindful of the influences that come against you and your family but even more so, mindful of your response. Your heart is the determinant of your actions and reactions and what you pour into your heart determines the spiritual influence you will have. Take the authority that Jesus gave you and bind the chains and assignments that the devil and his demons have planned for your life and for the lives of your family. Render him powerless in the name of Jesus and release God’s promises and His Truths into your lives so that you and your family may walk victoriously in the overcoming abundance God planned for you in Jesus’ mighty name. May your hearts be filled with God’s Truth, His faith abound in your soul and Holy Spirit guide and lead you in God’s will for your life! Shalom!!
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