Tag Archives: Ephesians 6:12

We Are In A Battle

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disappointed boyWe are in a battle.

As the apostle Paul stated in Ephesians 6, we are not fighting against human beings, but against wicked spiritual forces.

In his book, Peace With God, Billy Graham states Christians have three distinct dangerous, vicious enemies who will use any method to defeat us in our Christian life. Those enemies are Satan, the world, and the flesh.

First off, Satan.

We know Satan was defeated at the cross by Jesus, but he still has power to influence us toward sin.

Just look at the names the Bible gives him. The wicked one. Devil. Murderer. Liar, and the father of lies. Adversary who seeks to devour. Serpent. Accuser of the brethren, along with other none flattering titles.

Satan is not happy when anyone gives their life to Christ. In fact, it makes him really mad.

Billy Graham says we shouldn’t rely on our feelings, because that’s where Satan attacks first. He’ll do whatever he can to tempt us and lead us into sin. To make us doubt. To discourage, and disappoint.

There are a lot of ways the deceiver can tempt us; jealousy, hatred, envy.

Satan might tempt us by making us feel proud and important. To make us confident in our own powers, instead of trusting in God.

The father of all lies would like nothing more than for us to follow his example, and become liars and lead others astray. He is powerful, crafty, and subtle. He is called the god of this world, the prince of this world, and the prince of the power of the air.

In his book, Mr. Graham told a story regarding Satan’s attacks.

Years ago I heard my friend J. Edwin Orr compare the Christian attacked by Satan to a mouse being attacked by a housewife wielding a broom. The mouse does not sit there contemplating the housewife or the broom. It is busy looking for a hole — a way to escape. So we Christians under satanic attack should look for our “way of escape.”

He goes further to say,

The devil will tremble when you pray. He will be defeated when you quote or read a passage of Scripture to him, and will leave you when you resist him.

Next, among our enemies is the world.

Mr. Graham said when anyone asks him how to know what is “okay” to do, and what isn’t, he tells them to:

Earnestly and prayerfully ask, ‘What would Christ have me to do?’

‘Can I ask His blessing upon this particular thing for me?’

‘What would Christ think about my amusements, recreation, books, companions, and television programs?’

‘Could I ask Christ to go along with me to this particular event?’ Being omnipresent, He’ll be there anyway. The point is, should you?

He continues by saying,

This does not mean that in society we are snobs or have a superiority complex, lest we be in danger of spiritual pride — which would be far worse than any worldliness. But today there are so many professing Christians who are walking hand in hand with the world that you cannot tell the difference between the Christian and the unbeliever. This should never be.

Lastly, Mr. Graham addresses the third enemy we face; the lust of the flesh, which he calls that evil tendency of your inward self.

It is the battle of the self-life and the Christ-life. This old nature cannot please God. It cannot be converted, or even patched up. Thank God, when Jesus died He took you with Him, and the old nature can be made inoperative and you can “reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin” (Romans 6:11).

Yes. We are in a battle. A spiritual battle. We do not fight a battle against human beings, but against wicked spiritual forces.

Aren’t we glad we don’t have to fight this battle alone?

Jesus won the victory at the cross. Because we belong to him, we too have victory. We stand under Christ’s authority and in his mighty power. The same power that defeated hell, sin, Satan, and death.

Let’s put on our armor and stand our ground, refusing to give one more inch to our enemy. Amen?

Leave a comment below to share your thoughts on the subject. If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age. Ephesians 6:12 (GNT)

You can find my October Inspire a Fire post here. Please stop by and read it.

I wish you well.

Sandy

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Sunday Scriptures — Satan is Vicious But Not Victorious

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by Sandy Kirby Quandt

On October 2, 2017 Max Lucado wrote a compelling blog post titled Evil: Why in the World? after the shootings in Las Vegas. If you haven’t read it, I suggest you do. In light of the shootings last Sunday in Texas, I decided to share some of the points Max made in his post.

Max began his post by stating, “Where the Bible may not tell us the why of the tragedies, it is quick to tell us who.”

Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world. Ephesians 6:12 (NCV)

He goes on to say, “The Bible names a real and present foe of our faith: the devil. He is not just a symbol for evil, he is the source of evil. He doesn’t live in myths and fables, he is an actual being who stalks our planet. He knows his time is short so he seeks to wreak havoc on every occasion.”

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

The are several main take-aways I received from Max’s post that I would like to share with you: “We play into the devil’s hand when we pretend he does not exist. The devil is a real devil … Be alert to the devil, but don’t be intimidated by him. … But, and this is huge, the devil is a defeated devil.”

Near the end of his post Max reminds the reader what we should do when Satan threatens. Turn to God in prayer. Go immediately to Scripture. Stand on the promises of God regarding Satan.

God’s Spirit, who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world (1 John 4:4 NCV)

Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7)

[The devil] is filled with fury because he knows his time is short (Revelation 12:12)

 

I will close my post with the same words Max closed his. “Satan may be vicious, but he is not victorious.”

Leave a comment below to share your thoughts on the subject.

If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

The God who brings peace will soon defeat Satan and give you power over him. Romans 16:20 (NCV)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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If you wish to use any of my blog posts, please contact me through the comments section for permission first. All written material is copyrighted.

Sunday Scriptures — Spiritual Warfare

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By Sandy Kirby Quandt

In the book, Peace With God, Billy Graham states Christians have three distinct dangerous, vicious enemies who will use any method to defeat us in our Christian life; Satan, the world, and the flesh. So, we must be prepared to ward them off.

First off, Satan. We know he was defeated at the cross by Jesus, but he still has power to influence us toward sin. Just look at the names the Bible gives him. The wicked one. Devil. Murderer. Liar, and the father of lies. Adversary who seeks to devour. Serpent. Accuser of the brethren, and other none flattering titles.

Satan is not happy when anyone gives their life to Christ. In fact, it makes him really mad. Billy Graham says we shouldn’t rely on our feelings, because that’s where Satan attacks first. He’ll do whatever he can to tempt us and lead us into sin, to make us doubt, to discourage, and disappoint. Satan might tempt us by making us feel proud and important to make us confident in our our powers, instead of trusting in God.

There are a lot of ways the deceiver can tempt us; jealousy, hatred, envy. The father of all lies would like nothing more than for us to follow his example and become liars and lead others astray. He is powerful, crafty, and subtle. He is called the god of this world, the prince of this world, and the prince of the power of the air.

In his book Mr. Graham told a story regarding Satan’s attacks.

Years ago I heard my friend J. Edwin Orr compare the Christian attacked by Satan to a mouse being attacked by a housewife wielding a broom. The mouse does not sit there contemplating the housewife or the broom. It is busy looking for a hole — a way to escape. So we Christians under satanic attack should look for our “way of escape.”

He goes further to say, “The devil will tremble when you pray. He will be defeated when you quote or read a passage of Scripture to him, and will leave you when you resist him.”

Next, among our enemies is the world. Mr. Graham said when anyone asks him how to know what is “okay” to do, and what isn’t he tells them to “earnestly and prayerfully ask, ‘What would Christ have me to do?’ ‘Can I ask His blessing upon this particular thing for me?’ ‘What would Christ think about my amusements, recreation, books, companions, and television programs?’ ‘Could I ask Christ to go along with me to this particular event?’ Being omnipresent, He’ll be there anyway. The point is, should you?”

He continues by saying, “This does not mean that in society we are snobs or have a superiority complex, lest we be in danger of spiritual pride — which would be far worse than any worldliness. But today there are so many professing Christians who are walking hand in hand with the world that you cannot tell the difference between the Christian and the unbeliever. This should never be.”

Lastly, Mr. Graham addresses the third enemy we face; the lust of the flesh, which he calls that evil tendency of your inward self. “It is the battle of the self-life and the Christ-life. This old nature cannot please God. It cannot be converted, or even patched up. Thank God, when Jesus died He took you with Him, and the old nature can be made inoperative and you can “reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin” (Romans 6:11). This is done by faith.

Aren’t we glad we don’t have to fight these battles alone?

Leave a comment below to share your thoughts on the subject. If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age. Ephesians 6:12 (GNT)

I wish you well.

Sandy

Please enter your email address on the form located on the right sidebar to sign up to receive posts every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Thanks!

Sunday Scripture — Anyone Can Wear the Uniform

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by Sandy Kirby Quandt

As I drove to the store the other day, I noticed a sticker on the back of a car. Combat Medic.

Several thoughts wove through my brain as I considered that sticker.

  • Being a combat medic would be difficult
  • It would require courage and training
  • Anybody could buy one of those stickers
  • Having that sticker didn’t necessarily mean the driver was a medic

That’s when this blog post began to form in my brain.

I’ve been in Army Navy surplus stores before. I’ve purchased camo pants and Seabees tee shirts. I even have a waaaay cool bunny fur lined leather pilot hat I wore in Alaska when it was minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit, so I know just because someone wears camo, has a certain medal, or places a sticker on their car, whose to say they didn’t pick it up at a surplus store?

That’s when my brain turned to those of us who call ourselves Christians. We are called to the battle zone here on earth. We are called to be God’s Combat Medics to a dying world that is hurt and bleeding.

We’re called to the front line where the fighting is fierce.

Some may wear the uniform, buy the medals, or put stickers on the backs of their cars because they earned them. Others may have picked them up at the surplus store.

With all these thoughts mulling around inside my head I picked up the items I needed at the store and got in the checkout line. When the cashier scanned what I bought she said, “I’m not doing Halloween this year.”

Okay. Right away from the way she said it, I knew she was hurting.

I told her I didn’t do Halloween either.  The candy was for the Fall Festival our church held for the community.

You know how wonderful God is?

There was no one behind me in line, the cashier wasn’t rushed, and she kept talking. She told me how hard it was for her and her husband to pay their bills with the small amount of money they made. She told me how he wanted to buy expensive decorations and she told him they couldn’t afford them.

As we talked I told her I totally understood not having the money for extras. I’d been where she was. I got it.

When we finished talking I asked her name. She turned so I could read her badge. I looked her in the eye, called her by name, and told her I’d be praying for her.

She smiled for the first time, and her eyes lit up when she said, “Thank you. Thank you.”

I prayed for her the whole way home and I’ve continued to pray for her.

But you want to know the most amazing part of all this?

It wasn’t until I started writing this post that I realized that while the thought of Combat Medics rolled through my brain as I drove to the store, God  had put me on the front line to help one of his children who was hurt and bleeding. He used me as one of his Combat Medics.

God will use each of us, if we let him. It’s up to those of us in his army to be worthy of the uniform.

How has God used you as his Combat Medic?

Leave a comment below to share your thoughts on the subject. If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

For our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organisations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil. Ephesians 6:12 (Phillips)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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