Pick Up Your Sword and Fight

Today my friend Alli and I went on a prayer walk and found ourselves at one of the many temples in the area. We went in and asked a few questions about the rituals practiced there.

A man from China who works in the office received us with warmth and patience, and through the google translate app on my phone we were able to quickly usher in the topic of our faith and the God we love so much and want to introduce him to. The atmosphere was a peaceful one for almost an hour as we talked about the differences between Christianity and Buddhism. Then we asked if we could pray for him. As we were praying however, people started coming out of nowhere. Lurking behind us, sitting next to us, staring at us. It felt as though a siren had gone off in the building and the enemy was doing everything he could to prevent this man from experiencing Holy Spirit. 

Too late. The truth is that we worship YAHWEH, The Lord who is responsible for all of creation. He knows no limits and no boundaries and His Spirit can boldly interrupt a Buddhist temple and minister to the people there. He can surround those who deliver His message with protection and favor and through His power God can use all things to glorify Him. 

Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Every day I wake up rooted in this truth and to say it has changed the way I live my life would be a vast understatement. 

RECOGNITION

Let me backtrack a bit…when I was a little girl my dreams were filled with action packed warfare. 

I’m talking about the kind of dreams you have when you are deep in sleep, your body taking the rest it needs to be ready for whatever the next day brings. 

Not only did my subconscious dream of a life where I was some kind of princess ninja warrior, (free from the laws of gravity and pain) but often I found my conscious thoughts drifted to the same wild ideas. 

Fiction books and fantastic stories would capture my attention for hours, and I often wandered in my imagination from algebraic equations to taking down crime and karate chopping my way through any danger I faced. 

It felt as though my hearts’ desires and physical limitations had never officially met. Even when I tried to bring the two together and compromise, I found that neither was interested in yielding to the other. 

Maybe you can relate. Have you ever felt as though you were destined for something more? Some epic purpose for your life you were meant to discover? 

I couldn’t seem to shake it, a missing piece of the puzzle.

Although I was baptized when I was ten, I didn’t truly submit my ways to Lord God until I was 23. Committing to the World Race and the Fathers Will for my life was the moment that I truly began discovering the “more” that was waiting for me. 

Beginning ministry in South America felt as if I had stepped through the wardrobe into Narnia. My eyes were opened to the spiritual realm and I began actively taking part in the warfare I had been surrounded with (but oblivious to) my entire life. Armed with new knowledge and understanding (Isaiah 11:2), fitted with the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), and confident in the authority as a daughter of the Most High King (Luke 10:9), I began to do battle. 

I quickly discovered that you don’t have to be physically large or equipped with a black belt to be considered dangerous to the enemy’s schemes. 

For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, or think demons and spirits are the stuff of fiction, you need to know that one of the devils’ greatest schemes is blending in and pretending like he is doing nothing we should be on guard against. Pretending that things like fear, worry, and anger are normal. Lies like addiction and lust and pride are things of our nature that we can’t help but give into. That we are doomed whenever we are diagnosed with any kind of illness, mental or physical. 

This is not what Paul meant when he said “it is for freedom that you have been set free!” (Galatians 5:1)

TACTICS

The first course of action in fighting this battle is recognizing Lucifer for who he really is, a deceiver. He can only cheaply fabricate and mimic what God Creator has intricately designed. The devil is a liar and a thief and he only comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). 

We must take up our weapons and defend ourselves. When you feel a thought that is not blameless or Holy come into your mind, don’t ignore it or relish in it, but capture it and cast it out in the name of Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:5). 

Speak out so the enemy can hear you and say to him “be gone in the name of Jesus.” Declare your authority over the things of this world and say “pride, confusion and bitterness get out you are not welcome here” (Mark 11:22-24). Let Holy Spirit overwhelm your heart and mind, from your outer physical being to your very soul. Give every part of you over to Him and let Him show you what it means to move from a defensive pose, fighting to gain a breath of fresh air, to a steadfast place triumphantly standing in victory and gaining grounds for the Kingdom of Heaven daily (James 4:7). 

Don’t submit to whatever destructive path you are stuck on. Sing worship and praise His name when you are feeling under attack, the devil cannot stand to be in the Lords‘ presence, and the Lord is always present when we are worshiping Him (Jeremiah 29:12)!

From interceding on the behalf of people and countries, to helping others break free of oppression, I’ve seen many hours of spiritual battle. I’ve experienced atmospheres changing before my eyes as the enemy is overtaken and Jesus sets His captives free. 

Whether you want to believe it or not, it’s happening. It’s time to take your stand and defend your heart, mind, your family, and your church. 

As it turns out my dreams weren’t make believe, I’ve been fighting for freedom my whole life. 

The urge to watch those action movies and read fiction novels disappeared when I joined the Lords’ army, and my dreams are not as active while I sleep. 

That’s because I get all my fighting done during the day. 

Why dream it, when you can live it? 

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”-Ephesians 6:12

If you would like to hear more or have any questions please leave a comment below. 

An easy read that describes this concept more fully is a book called Warfare: Winning The Spiritual Battle by Tony Evans.