Jesus came bringing God’s Kingdom into the world where many kingdoms exist, and this means war!
There is rowboat Christianity and there is sailboat Christianity. You can strain at the oars for every inch of advancement, or you can put up those sails that are down right now and be empowered to take off in dimensions you never even knew existed. Click this link for a series of messages to help with a deeper understanding about this important topic: https://destinyokc.com/ghoststories
When the devil tempted Jesus, Jesus didn’t react with fancy responses. He simply focused on the Word of God saying, “IT IS WRITTEN!” The word of God must be our constant focus in this journey of life where the enemy is trying to distract our lives and entangle our souls.
Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ESV
What in the world is this talking about? Spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places? Really!?! There is a war behind all wars as there is an enemy behind all enemies. More is taking place in the world around you than meets the eye.
You need to know that you are not just a physical being. You are also a spiritual being. In addition to living in this world that we know and see in the natural, you are also called by God to live and function in the unseen realm.
A young man passed out in our gym about 30 years ago when I was the principal of our school. As I saw him collapse, I ran over and began praying over him. At once I had a phone number in my mind and I knew it was a number to call to reach his family. I never knew this number before that moment as the Holy Spirit gave me this word of knowledge to know the number needed to be called in that moment. Still to this day, over three decades later, I know that number.
One of my college friends named Al Newman was awakened in the middle of the night with an unusual burden for him to pray over one of our other friends name Neal Raney. Al was so compelled to pray that he got up and kneeled beside his bed feeling such a strong sense of spiritual warfare. He noticed it was 2:15 am as he prayed. The next day when I saw Neal he began telling me about the craziest experience of spiritual warfare he’d ever experienced in his life. He explained how he woke up just after 2am feeling like his room had suddenly grown very cold and he felt a demonic presence that struck fear in his heart. He laid in his bed feeling like he was fighting for his life.
You are not just a physical being. You are also a spiritual being. You are called by God to live and function in these heavenly places. In these six chapters of Ephesians, we find five references to these heavenly places. Though we live in this fallen world when we accept Christ we are seated in heavenly places. When you accept Christ you are then seated in heavenly places which we read about when we started our journey of studying Ephesians:
Ephesians 1:16-23 (God will) give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. ESV
There is a demonic strategy at work in our world to desensitize us from what the Bible warns us again.
In WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz the good witch is played by Ariana Grande. I watched an interview, and she shared that she actually practices witchcraft claiming to be “the witchiest witch” she could be. When asked if she could do a tarot card reading she replied, “Oh, my God, I wish I’d brought them.”
There is a demonic agenda at work, trying to make things like witchcraft seem fun, cool and harmless. The Bible tells us that divinations, casting spells, sorcery, interpreting omens, mediums, spiritists, witchcraft and consulting the dead are detestable to the Lord. Click this link to find some of those verses: https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-witchcraft/
Isaiah 5:20 says, Woe to those who call evil good and good evil. This isn't just entertainment. It's a strategic effort to desensitize us from what the Bible warns against. The love of theater is real, but our allegiance to Christ should never be compromised.
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ESV “
The Greek word that translates here as “schemes” is “methodeía”. “Methodeia” literally means “Organized evil-doing and (well-crafted trickery) as a calculated and intentional effort to deceive and mislead.”
Ephesians 6:13-24 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. 21 So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. 23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. ESV
Book recommendation about the armor of God: Dressed to Kill by Rick Renner
Ephesians 6:10 …Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you. (TPT)
We need every one of you in this fight! The first 40 days is a strategic portion of the year. It bears the resemblance of 10% of the year. Let’s sacrificially initiate the year believing God for his Kingdom to come through our surrendered available lives!
GP2RL: Strategically position yourself to more effectively take authority in heavenly places as God’s Kingdom advances in 2025 with 40 days of sacrificial focus.
Fast and Pray: Sunday 10am and Tuesday 6am prayer.
Sacrificially get in the Word of God!
Sacrificially give honoring the Lord with your tithe every time you increase.
Sacrificially gather with faith and expectation.
Sacrificially love others becoming the outrageously loving people God has called us to become.