Warfare
As we awake on this Sunday morning to close to 100,000 death and growing due to the COVID 19 virus; it is with a pause that I encourage you to consider the days ahead. We live in a country that has with blatant disregard put the value of its economic system above the lives of its citizens. This is truly a dark time, a time lost of empathy, compassion, and consideration to the many families who mourn the loss of their loved ones, and the thousands who will follow.
Many of us observed from our television these past few days the arrogance and ignorance of so many entering back into their city streets as though yesterday’s calamity is over and life as we knew it has returned. What has clouded our minds, what has dumb down our spiritual awareness, and who has deceived us to walk on this thin line of insanity? Where is our concern for humanity, and welfare for the lives of children gone, and who brought this great deluge to the doorsteps of the world?
Is it possible that we are experiencing a great awakening, a shaking of our moral consciousness, and a glimpse at the hardness of the hearts of many? A world that is completely void of the presence of God and sensitivity to what concerns his heart. Have we through our arrogance and ignorance become so religious that we have lost our relationship with him, and have deceived ourselves into becoming nothing more than mere churchgoers.
I’ve heard our political leaders call this a war against an invisible enemy. The question must be considered; who are they referring to when they say, an enemy. Could we be so blind to the wickedness of the world that we missed the fact that God may be judging this world?
Take for a minute a global look at the world to see how many countries you can find that are truly God-fearing countries. I would dare to say you can’t find one, not even this country. A president that lies and has admitted that he never repents. Yet he set a verbal decree to open religious institutions and defy governors that may resist, only for political posturing. Laws passed by our lawmakers that are a direct offense against the laws of God. Where is the convicting presence of the spirit of God in the hearts of these so-called political leaders?
More importantly, where are the spiritual leaders, the prophets (who God does nothing without telling them) so that the people may be warned. Even many of them in their own righteous indignation kick against the prick, blind to their own deception. Why haven’t they heard the call for repentance? Why haven’t they determined in their hearts that only God can shut the doors of the church, and when he does, no man can open them, only he can?
Is it because the institutions of religion depend so much on the offerings of the people to meet their economic needs; proving that they have been struck with the same curse of greed that the world has? Their flock has become the commodity. They base their year-end report on the number of giving units as opposed to the number of souls led to Christ.
This Sunday morning, many churches, because of the blindness of their leaders have become nothing more than COVID -19 death traps.
People of the Most High that love God with all their hearts, you are referred to in the Bible as wise virgins. I encourage you to prepare for what’s coming by keeping your oil lamps full. It’s time for you to put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wicked darts of the enemy.
According to what we have seen, we can conclude that we can’t trust governments, or systems promoted by them. If you test them in many cases you will get a false positive. The same with the test for the virus that many have taken, only to get a false positive. I would also warn you that they have confessed that this virus is like nothing they have ever seen. So I would encourage you to fortify your mind and strengthen your resolve in the word of God putting your trust in no man, and leaning not even on your own understanding.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
To the elect of God, we must keep in mind that we are engaged in continuous warfare. We are on a spiritual battlefield, and the weapons of this war are not flesh. We must know that we have weapons given to us, specially designed for this battlefield.
These weapons are spiritual. First, the Word of God, is sharper than any two-edged sword. Second, prayer, that can move any mountain through the power of the Holy Spirit. These weapons are uniquely created by God for the sole purpose of entering into the unseen realm. Through these weapons, we may pull down imaginations, and every wicked high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and brings it into captivity.
Remember this, that thoughts are powerful to harm us and also powerful to help us. One of the most important concerns in our lives should be who and what is going to control our minds.
“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Proverbs 16:32
In this season many of us spend a lot of time alone, and our mind is our only companion. Therefore what you think about, and what communication is going on between you and yourself will become your front line of defense. You only win the battle of your mind, by bringing every thought that is not of God into captivity, then your thoughts will align with the thought of God.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength" Isaiah 26:3-4
Why is this important, because the enemy of your mind has already won the battle. Most people are blinded to this system of wickedness, this beast system that we live in, full of wicked imaginations that exalts itself against God.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10
In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic that has covered the entire earth with death, how many people, governments, or even churches have called for repentance, understanding that we are in a season of judgment.
Instead, people want to go back to normal, and governments want to re-open their countries, and churches are praying; calling the pandemic the work of the devil. Oh the wickedness of our minds that causes us to see ourselves through the prism of arrogance, pride, and selfishness.
“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:7-8
The word enmity means deep-rooted hate, therefore we should always remember that there is no good thing in our flesh; our minds are the battlefield.
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
Because of this arrogance our defense system against the enemy has become powerless, and the god of this world (the devil) has deceived us to think we are something when we are nothing without Christ. Having a form of Godliness but denying the power. So our minds convince us that we are a people highly favored and pleasing to God. Yet we have accepted covertly and overtly, a system that is an abomination to God.
So let’s test and see if the word of God is true. If it is, then according to scripture these are the beginning of sorrows. The birthing pangs have begun, and just as a woman in labor, the pain will increase and in shorter intervals until the child is delivered. While many are waiting to return to "normal", if this is the season of sorrows, then what is known as normal will never return.
As you perfect your warfare, sharpen your weapons; prayer, and reading and studying His word, so that the Father might keep your mind in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on him.