spiritual attacks

Why in the World Would God Allow a Sincere Believer to Undergo Attacks of Evil?

Why in the World Would God Allow a Sincere Believer to Undergo Attacks of Evil?

Spiritual Warfare – If God is For Us, How Can He Allow Such Difficult Seasons of Trials and Attacks to Come In Our Life?

Spiritual warfare is a part of life that many people prefer to ignore and overlook.

However, on a daily basis, we experience all kinds of attacks and temptations from the unseen world; some more intense than others.

Under typical conditions, most godly people will walk steadfast throughout life. Not perfect, but in victory.

God develops strength in us through tests and trials. But why would God allow us to go through intense evil attacks? Well, since God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours, we can’t completely understand; but there are some answers available to us.

Tests and Temptations of Life

God may test us, but He never tempts us to sin. And He always provides a way of escape for us.

“There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 
— 1 Corinthians 10:13

We see temptation come through a couple of obvious sources. One is the devil and the other our own lusts. (1 Thessalonians 3:5, James 1:14)

The Example of Job

Before the devil can wage an all out war on a believer, he first has to get God’s permission. Look at Job, for example, and how God allowed him to be tested so harshly. Why? Because God had faith in Job. And Job, having no idea what was going on in the unseen world during his attacks, proved to be faithful to God.

Sometimes in life, the heat is turned up and it is battle on, and things can seem unbearable. But that is when we need to stand firm and trust God. Remember, God is for us and we can come through victorious just like Job!

“Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.
Put on the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take to you the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand.”
 
— Ephesians 6:10-13

No matter how bad we get knocked down we need to call on the power of God and get back up!

The Example of Peter

Another example is Simon Peter. Satan wanted permission to attack Peter and attempt to cause him to lose his faith. But God had a different purpose for allowing the shaking. When Simon Peter’s self-confidence was shaken he was brought closer to a true foundation of trust in the Lord, and better equipped to strengthen his brothers.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.
But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.
And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
 
— Luke 22: 31-32

Jesus did not pray that Simon Peter would escape the sifting, but that his faith would not fail in the process.

Why Does God Allow the Attacks?

We see in these examples that the devil can seek permission to come at us with intense attacks. God also allows him permission sometimes. And even though it is not a happy thought, in each of these examples they were tested by God through Satan.

All of us will be tested so we can be refined like gold. None of us will escape some degree of it.

“When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” 
— Job 23:10

“Greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” 
— 1 Peter 1:6-7

God knows what He is doing. And what Satan intends for evil, our faithful God intends for good.

“The very God of peace sanctify you wholly;
and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body
be preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is He that calls you, who also will do it.”

– 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Make no mistake about it: God is faithful and He will do whatever it takes to sanctify us to fulfill our calling. Yes, there are things going on out there that we just don’t understand. But if the enemy has been allowed to attack, and we go through a season of severe sifting, we still have to trust God.

May you faithfully trust God in all seasons and live a life of growing prosperity!

God bless you always,
Brenda

P.S. Please feel free to share your thoughts, comments, or feedback…

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Spiritual Warfare – How Does The Shield of Faith Help When the Attacks Come?

Spiritual Warfare – How Does The Shield of Faith Help When the Attacks Come?

Discover How to Take the Power Out of the Attacks by Putting on
the Shield of Faith!

Spiritual warfare requires responding to attacks with the Shield of Faith.

Sometimes the attacks come at our thoughts with the power of suggestion. Other times it may be in the form of sickness, accidents, poverty, or tragedy.

In all cases, we must react immediately to the attack with faith.

A Battle to Fight: The Enemy

Spiritual Warfare Shield of FaithDon’t be fooled, lest satan should get an advantage on you.

Throughout the Bible, in verses such as 2 Corinthians 2:11, we are told not to be fooled of his devices. This is important to be aware of, because if we are not conscious of the true source of trouble, we may fall guilty to blaming God.

“Enemy-occupied territory—that is what this world is.”
– C.S. Lewis

Attacks are going to come. That is part of life on earth regardless who you are. Whether you choose to acknowledge it or not, the enemy is regularly throwing his fiery darts at us.

Do we really see the enemy hand behind the attacks?

There is a whole lot more going on behind the scenes of our lives than the majority of us have been led to believe.

Keep in mind: As believers we have the image of God reflected in a us. This does not please the enemy. My greatest battles in life have come after purposing to step out in some way for God.

A Battle to Fight: Power to Overcome

The Lord wants to protect us from attacks. That is why He provided us His Word and tells us to put on the whole armor of God.

The Shield of Faith is part of the armor and designed to render harmless the fiery darts that come our way. Be aware that we cannot stop the attacks from coming, but we can stop them from having a lasting effect.

Regardless of the type of attack, we must stand ready to repel the enemy plan with the Word of God spoken in faith. Remember, we are to live by faith.

Stand in the Battle: You are Not Alone

Jesus is a great example of how to stand against the enemy and overcome.

He was tempted by satan through the power of suggestion. Notice that He was not passive about the attacks in His thoughts. He always took immediate action and repelled the suggestions with the Word of God. This caused satan’s darts to quickly become extinguished. Christ aggressively answered each barrage with faith.

“If we would endeavor, like men of courage, to stand in the battle, surely we would feel the favorable assistance of God from Heaven.” – Thomas A Kempis

Shield your heart, mind, and body. Our faith should be in every promise God made to us. We all have different levels of faith in different areas.

If your faith is weak in an area build it up by listening to the Word of God on that subject. Meditate on verses that will help your faith in that area.

Examples of Responding to Attacks in Faith:

For bad thoughts, fear, and negative suggestions:
Resist by saying God has given me a spirit of power, and love, and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

For sickness and physical attacks:
Resist by saying Jesus took my infirmities and bore my sickness, and by His stripes I am healed. (Matthew 8:17, 1 Peter 2:24)

For poverty attacks:
Resist by saying my God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

For persecution attacks:
Resist by saying no weapon formed against me shall prosper. (Isaiah 54:17)

Case in Point: The Shield of Faith repels not only attacks on our minds, but circumstances as well. Stand strong and have courage knowing that all the attacks are rendered harmless when we rise to meet them in faith.

May you walk by faith and continue to experience a life of growing prosperity!

God bless you –
Brenda

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How Do You Overcome Spiritual Attacks with the Powerful Authority Provided You?

Spiritual Warfare – How to Overcome with the Powerful Authority Provided You?

Fight Spiritual Attacks with Spiritual Weapons!

Spiritual warfare is real and it is important to understand this raging battle between the Word of God and the forces of darkness. Once you acknowledge the battle at hand, you’ll understand the need for the authority Christ gave to His believers.

What Authority Do We Have?

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” 
— Jesus Christ (Luke 10:19)

Powerful Authority to Overcome in Jesus NameKeep in mind, poisonous reptiles and insects were something that the early church leaders regularly encountered. They had to battle this type of attack from the enemy, while spreading the Gospel, and they also had to deal with demonic spiritual activity.

Today, as believers, we may not regularly face serpents and scorpions, but we do face fear, rejection, persecution, hatred, sickness, poverty, and such. But we are not powerless, because Jesus gave us power to overcome all the attacks of the enemy.

Who is the Battle Against?

First let’s look at what we are up against. Spiritual warfare is a battle against unseen demonic spirit beings that use people. Our real enemies are not people.  And because they are not flesh, we cannot fight them physically. Unfortunately, because they are unseen, many people don’t believe they even exist.

“We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” 
— Ephesians 6:12

Spiritual attacks are fought with spiritual armor and weapons. The Lord tells us to put on the whole armor of God, which He provided us, so that we will be able to stand against the evil one. (Ephesians 6:13) The armor helps defend us from the enemy’s fiery darts that come at us.

How Do We Use Our Authority?

God gave us an offensive weapon that will penetrate the spirit world. It is called the Sword of the Spirit. This is the Word of God.

“The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.” 
— Hebrews 4:12

A sword used to be the most powerful weapon and was compared to the Word of God to represent the power available in the Word. Today we have much more powerful weapons available, but you get the idea.

The Word of God, when spoken by a believer, can penetrate the spirit world and cause harm to the enemy and stop him in his tracks.

Most of the attacks of the enemy are aimed at filling the minds of people with lies so that they cannot think clearly about God’s truth. Jesus told us that the devil is the father of all lies and there is no truth in him. (John 8:44)

Specific Instructions

We exercise our spiritual authority in Christ by speaking the Word of God directly to the enemy.  There is no instruction in the Bible to pray to God to stop the devil. Nor are we to just ignore him.

The instructions given say to resist him and give him no place. (Ephesians 4:27, James 4:7). Believers are also empowered to cast him out. (Mark 16:17)

We are to use our authority and speak directly to the enemy, like Jesus did, and command him to stop. When satan attacked the thoughts of Jesus, He immediately responded by saying ‘It is written’, and spoke the Word of God. (Matthew 4)

Work the Word and watch it work!

Now that you are armed with this information; use it. We are not powerless to resist outlaw spirits that challenge us and our mission. Power is available in the Word of God to overcome evil. It is our responsibility to use the authority Jesus has provided. If we will take authority over the enemy, we can cause his plans to backfire on him every time.

May you put the power of the Word of God to work in your life daily and continue to experience a life of growing prosperity!

God bless you,
Brenda

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