Saturday, April 11, 2015
Friday, April 10, 2015
Declaration
The enemy of God, the devil, is roaming the earth, looking for ways he and his army of demons can destroy lives, pull people away from trusting God, and basically create as much havoc as possible. I have witnessed this horrible destruction in the lives of people I care about. And to be honest with you, it’s not some huge battle that I usually see happening. It’s small ones that build, and build, and build. The devil doesn’t usually swoop in with something so grand he is announced. It’s little “mini-battles” that start in our lives, and if allowed to go unchecked, they gather together and burst into major battlefields. And we wonder “how did this happen?” Well, Lindsey Clifford has the answer for us in her JUST JESUS Topical Bible Study.
Lindsey reminded us yesterday us that “The key to victorious spiritual inclination is worship.” She continues on “We all encounter spiritual warfare, because the devil is here on earth. God has equipped you with the gifts and callings to use under His anointing. So your gift becomes a liability when used in your carnal nature instead. Worship keeps you inclined to God” (Clifford, p.13).
That is some serious stuff, right? Do you understand what Lindsey is saying? God has equipped us! For example, one of my spiritual gifts is encouragement. I love encouraging people in their walk with Jesus. But if I were to use this gift carnally, making it all about me, trying to bring the focus on me instead of Him, it would be a liability. But as I stay tuned into the leading of the Holy Spirit, I will worship the Lord, and stay in His presence. In the same way, during spiritual warfare, we must use the gifts God has given us instead of trying to fight the enemy on my own.
Lindsey shares that in 2 Chronicles 20:15 and 17 we see the Israelites were not at all ready for the battle they saw brewing. (From the World English Bible):
“Listen, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat. Yahweh says to you, ‘Don’t be afraid, neither be dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
“You will not need to fight this battle. Set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed. Go out against them tomorrow, for Yahweh is with you.”
Lindsey reminds us that “The king and his people followed Jesus’ pattern of an attitude of worship, winning the battle through faith, authority, equipping and His Word, while God won the battle for them.”
Let God win your battle. Wait, stand still, have hope. Don’t be afraid.
God is with you right now, in this very minute.
As I close this short Bible study for today, I pray that you continue to put on the whole armor of God and stand strong in the Lord, no matter what the battlefield in your life is, and no matter how you feel. Emotions come and go, but the word of God stands forever.
On page 19, Lindsey shares a beautiful declaration she has adapted from Ephesians 6:10-18. I’ll be sharing it every day that we study spiritual warfare. I am saving it as my personal declaration, too, as I seek the Lord’s help in this current battlefield of mine.
Your Bible Study Guide, Becky
Question to ponder today: Are you waiting on God to fight your battle?
To read the past studies on Spiritual Warfare, click on Beckys’ profile photo below to take you to the archives. JUST JESUS book can be purchased for only $3.99 plus shipping. The Complete Unabridged Topical Bible Study can be downloaded here.*All material used with permission from Lindsey Clifford
Count on You
God will lift your spirits today. Set aside some time for just you and Him to spend together.
Act of Will
John Hagee Ministries
Father God, we praise you today! We honor you! We exalt your name! We lift you on high. The Name that is above every other name! You alone are worthy of our highest praise! May we honor you with our words and our deeds, that all might see YOUR LOVE shining through us. In Jesus' name, AMEN!
Wisdom & Vision
"Do you ever feel like you can’t see? When I turned 40, I started losing my eyesight. And, it’s gotten worse every year! I can see but not clearly. When I wake up in the morning, I need glasses just to see the clock. I see the red lights, but the numbers are blurry.
Oh how I wish I ONLY had trouble seeing with my eyes, but honestly, there are times when I look at life with blurred vision, too. I need help knowing which direction to take and decisions to make.
Just like I need glasses now to see the world, I need God to give me wisdom and the ability to see things the way He sees them not just through my own temporary circumstances.” - From P31 Radio Show, “Everyday Life with Lysa & Renee” — a production of Proverbs 31 Ministries
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)