Waging War and Winning!

There will be a time in every Christian's life where they will have a "crisis of faith". A time when they must decide who they believe and what they believe, regardless of the circumstances. It is not a time to bemoan or belittle. This is not a time to feel guilty for having a "lack of faith". This is a time to be excited that you are facing something bigger than yourself, of which you have no control, because you serve a God that is big enough to bring you through victoriously. Be excited that you are about to see Eph 3:20 alive in your life (to Him who is able to do FAR MORE abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us).

The Bible offers us some specific promises when we find ourselves in the midst of extreme spiritual warfare:
1. James 4:7 - "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he WILL flee from you."
2. Romans 8:37 - "in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us" (We have the power to OVERWHELMINGLY Conquer!)
3. Isaiah 26:3 - "He will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you"

The revised version reads, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose imagination is stayed on thee." Steadfast means to be firmly established, anchored, stayed, leaning wholly upon. The Bible promises that He will keep us in perfect peace when our mind is firmly established, anchored, leaning wholly upon the Lord.

When spiritual warfare begins to creep in (whether in the form of fear, doubt, etc.) follow this formula outlined in the Bible over and over:

1. Bind up and rebuke the spirit of fear in the name and blood of Jesus Christ.  Command the spirit to leave and bind it to the dry and waterless places. (See Matthew 12 for this. I don't understand it all, but I know it works. I have seen the power of this over and over in my life)

2. Ask that in place of the spirit of fear, the Lord would fill you with the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) - Galatians 5:22-23

3. Obey Phil 4:8 ( Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things).

4. Renew your mind in the word (Romans 12:2). (Ex. If your main spiritual battles involve fear, MEMORIZE scriptures that help you fight your fear) - See a great list to get you started below, but also ask God to reveal Scriptures to you. Also remember to pray and not doubt: "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind." James 1:5-6

5. Start praising the Lord. The Bible says that God inhabits the praise of His people, meaning he dwells in the atmosphere of praise. (Ps 22:3) There are 100s of things to be thankful for if for nothing else that you are standing, that you can breathe on your own, you have a family that loves you, etc.

6. Move on. Don't stay defeated. Trust God to answer your prayers. Get up and go. (See 2 Tim 1:7 and Gal 5:1)

Pray these scriptures back to God. Tell Him you believe that these promises are truth and then speak them over your life.  (These deal with fear because that is what my main spiritual battles involve)

Prov 3:5-8 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones. (ex. prayer: Lord I want to trust in you with all my heart. I do not want to lean upon my own understanding. Today I am resolving that in all my ways I am going to acknowledge you and I know you will make my path straight. I don't want to be wise in my own eyes. Help me to fear you Lord and turn away from evil. I believe your promise that this will be healing to my body and refreshment to my bones).

Romans 8:15 - For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “ Abba! Father!” (ex. prayer: You did not give me a spirit of slavery to fear. I have a spirit of sonship where I can call you Father! Please help me to not be enslaved by fear, but enslaved to my recognition of my place in your family!)

Proverbs 3:24-26 - When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught (ex. prayer:  Lord I will NOT be afraid!  My sleep will be sweet.  Thank you that I don't have to be afraid for you are my confidence!)

2 TImothy 1:7 - For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love and self-control (ex. prayer: Lord I thank you that you did not create me with a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love and self-control!  Help me to walk in the power, love and self-control you provide!)

Psalm 27:1 - The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread

James 4:8-9 - Draw near to God and He will draw near to you... let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.

Isaiah 55:8-13

Galatians 5:1 - It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Psalm 46:1-2 -God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea

Ps 62:1-2, 7-8 - My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken... On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.

Ps 4:8 - In peace I will both lie down and sleep,For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety

John 14:1 - Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.

Ps 112:7 -He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

Ps 34:3-5 - O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces will never be ashamed.

Jer 17:5-8 - Thus says the Lord, Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the Lord. “For he will be like a bush in the desert And will not see when prosperity comes, But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, A land of salt without inhabitant. “ Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord And whose trust is the Lord. “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes;But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit.

Is 12:2 - Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation

Ps 127:1 - Unless the Lord builds the house,They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain

Is 41:10 - Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Ps 34:17 - The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles

Read Mark 9:14-29, esp. verse 24

Jeremiah 30:17 - For I will restore you to health And I will heal you of your wounds,’ declares the Lord.