by David Brenneman
We get up each day.
We may or may not remember to stop and pray.
We decide to go here, go there.
We possibly go to work, to take a day off, we don't see what God sees.
We don't see what's going on in this very same space in which we live our lives that's gone on for centuries.
What am I talking about? Take a read of the book of Daniel. Of all of it as a whole, but as to what this is about this morning, it's to do with the last chapters. Couple this with a very popular passage that speaks to seeing the Spiritual realm in this:
"Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “This is hopeless, my master! What are we to do?” And he said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are greater than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “Lord, please, open his eyes so that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So He struck them with blindness in accordance with the word of Elisha. Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he brought them to Samaria." 2 Kings 6:15-19 NASB
Daniel saw visions of Spiritual battles. Was explicitly told of battles that were occurring that kept Gabriel from coming to explain something to him. These battles have not ended. They go on daily around us and do influence us all greatly.
In Ephesians we're told to put on the whole armor of God. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the lspiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints, and pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." Ephesians 6:10-20 NASB
Why would there be some unseen battles going on around us?
My Friend, my Dear Reader, as I like to borrow movie quotes: You have asked the question and you are the answer. You.
The battle goes on around us, it influences us, it impacts us because it's us. We were made for a right relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We were made to worship our Creator. Satan wants that. He wants the Throne of God. He cares not who dies along the way, but Jesus does! He died for us in our place in order that we might have the righteousness of God.
You are the reason and it's the key reason for what we're told in Ephesians 6. It's what's behind the passage about taking every thought captive. Those are words of battle. It's behind the idea of praying without ceasing. Because constant communication with our Lord Jesus Christ is imperitive to success in battle. It's what's behind much of what you read in the New Testament. The war was won at the cross but there's still battles to have until Jesus comes again, at least on the part of the Church. For 7 years there will be an off-the-charts series of battles and judgments upon mankind and this Earth to deal with the last of the ravages of sin and it's consequences. Then for a thousand years Jesus will rule and reign on this world personally. During the 7 years of judgments the Church will not be here. People will come to Christ during that time but they won't be Raptured as will have happened to those before it began. You can read about what happens with them in the book of Revelation.
Satan does not want anyone to have a right relationship with Jesus.
Satan does not want anyone to take Spiritual warfare seriously.
Satan does not want anything to do with morality taken seriously.
Satan does not want us to take Jesus at His Word.
Satan wants us to keep sprinkling selfishness into our lives to keep us entangled in the things of this world.
To also quote another movie: "Were at war old friend a world war. It's not about who has the most bullets it's about the information. What we see, what we hear, it's all about the information." It's funny where Hollywood actually does sprinkle in the truth so that when it does happen nobody believes it.
We're told to not forsake the assembly and to be engaged with other Believers not just for saying to do it but to keep each other built up in the body of Christ.
We're told growing up that there's safety in numbers. Jesus had that written down centuries ago in the Bible.
The battle is real. Our hearts and minds are at stake. Read again in Daniel. Life isn't exactly what you think you are seeing. Read in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Just the beginning chapters of the life of Jesus before He began His ministry. Satan was doing whatever he was allowed to do in order to take the life of Jesus before His ministry began. Many thousands of babies from 2 years old and under were summarily murdered in a blitz by Satan to kill him.
Joseph took Mary and Child to Egypt to escape much of it until it was safe to return. As Jesus began His ministry, after the Spirit decended upon Him, Satan tried going in to twist and lie to thwart the plan of God.
We're told of the truth that those who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer. We're going to be in battles. We're going to face things...all the while growing in Christ Jesus. Indeed there's a war footing conotation to "greater is He who is in us than He who is in the world".
One of the greatest problems in physical warfare is getting broken off from command. Losing communcation. We can choose to do that with our life in Christ but He has promised never to leave us or forsake us.
Satan does not want anyone growing in Christ. Does not want anyone sharing the good news of the Gospel...that others might be saved. As has been written, He has never been to Hell, doesn't want to be there himself. He lost many powerful demons to Hell. He does NOT want to join them. He does not have horns nor is he blood red in color. Satan was one of the most beautiful of angels before his fall. Deception is in his nature because of what he became. Jesus called him a liar and the father of lies. Called him a murderer from the beginning. When Satan fell a third of the host of Heaven fell with him. That's how influencial he was with angels of God.
My Friend, it's oh so important to know for sure that you are saved. It's oh so important to know where you stand. The battle that rages in this world right now is over the souls of people. As said, Satan cares not who falls into Hell, he wants NOBODY to go to Heaven. He wants no Christian's to live out their faith. He wants nobody living in obedience to Christ Jesus. Wants nobody to be the light in this darkness of his.
When the Rapture of the Church happens the beginnings of the judgments come...and there will be no place to escape what will be happening. In recent years we had been told to shelter in place. To wait things out. That will not be an option. Demonic activity will be rampant and in the faces of those who are still here.
Judgments will occurr that will be the most severe mankind has seen since the Great Flood. These things too are part of the warfare. Revelation shows both the physical world and the Spiritual world.
We also read that we battle not against flesh and blood in Ephesians 6. To say it like that is to tell us that we ARE engaged in the battle whether we like it or not.
We also read that we don't go it alone when we're in Christ Jesus.
I was also looking at Daniel's prayers. How deep they were. What they included, and how it was included as he prayed. King David was described by Jesus as a man after God's own heart. We read in Psalms of his heart. We read of the many prayers of his in Psalms as well. King David was a warrior from his youth with animals and later on with Goliath and many other men.
It's oh so deceiving to live in a so-called civilized world and think that wars are only on some other part of the planet. Wars are in homes right now right where we are. Wars are in the workplace right where we work. Wars are on the streets. What's at stake is the lives of people.
Pray always, pray without ceasing. See that differently now? Abhor evil, cling to what is good.
Makes you really think of what's important doesn't it? Satan's deceptive practices are always subtle. He won't involve himself or demons when we're doing such a great job at getting close to the world on our own. When we build our own little kingdoms that aren't including God in them.
Oh that the eyes of people would be opened and that we would see and remember what's really going on.
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