Spiritual Warfare
I have been praying for the mission team that is working with Jeff and Lori in Nagoya this week. The emphasis for the group is to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, so that they can all discern the Lord's leadership in praying, witnessing, and building relationships as they go from place to place. Some of the sites to which they will go are shrines and temples. Usually, it is possible to feel an oppressive atmosphere around these places because of the influence of Satan and his demons. I hope you will join me in lifting them up to the Lord for His blessing and protection.
At the same time I want to encourage all of us to enter the same type of spiritual warfare in our own lives every day. Often, we forget because we live in a free country, and we are able to worship as we please. However, Satan is hard at work around us to bring people into all types of bondage, and we are to be the agents of God to bring them the truth of the gospel, so they can be set free. If we ignore the war, Satan wins every time. If we fail to put on the Whole Armor of God, Satan defeats us, because we attack him in our own power. We must prayerfully engage him with God's armor and the spiritual weapons. Then, he will be defeated by God's power and wisdom every time.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 59-61.
At the same time I want to encourage all of us to enter the same type of spiritual warfare in our own lives every day. Often, we forget because we live in a free country, and we are able to worship as we please. However, Satan is hard at work around us to bring people into all types of bondage, and we are to be the agents of God to bring them the truth of the gospel, so they can be set free. If we ignore the war, Satan wins every time. If we fail to put on the Whole Armor of God, Satan defeats us, because we attack him in our own power. We must prayerfully engage him with God's armor and the spiritual weapons. Then, he will be defeated by God's power and wisdom every time.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 59-61.