“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

Posted by Pastor Randy Burbank  for “Kingdom Pastor”  @  https://kingdompastor.wordpress.com

Original post @ https://kingdompastor.wordpress.com/2022/02/24/and-the-fight-is-on/

AND THE FIGHT IS ON!

Posted on February 24, 2022 by Pastor Randy

What is your perspective when you think of prayer? Soft organ music in a pristine sanctuary? Quietness and solitude? Bowed head, closed eyes, and folded hands? Reading a prayer written by someone else? But do you feel like your prayer life doesn’t change the thing or things you are praying about? What if I could show you a different model for prayer? What if I could show you a way that would cause a radical shift in your prayer life, transform it into a might force and power? Are you interested? If not, go find another blog to read. But if you are, then fasten your seatbelt and hang on. Here is is:

Prayer is a fight and combat! That’s right! Sound blasphemous to you? Then get over yourself. In a fight and in a combat situation, meek and mild gets you slaughtered. Do you need a verse from the Bible to back up my audacious claim? You got it! Ephesians 6:9–For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (NLT; emphasis mine) Folks, agree with me or not, believe it or not–people we are in a WAR!

And being in a war requires and demands we excel in enemy identification! I’ve heard some who say that are followers of Jesus pray AGAINST people. If you are fighting against your neighbor, the politicians, the President of these United States, you’re fighting the wrong ones! We are to engage THE Enemy–Satan, himself! Satan doesn’t fight mildly or even fairly. He will use every trick up his sleeve to beat us down and crush us! So tell me, why we think meek and mild works in our prayer life? Need more Bible quotes to back this up? Well, here’s your sign:

¹⁵ This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Hebrews 4:15-16 (NLT) (emphasis mine)

See? And if you still doubt that Prayer Is Warfare, then remember the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested. (See Luke chapter 22) We find that an angel came to help Jesus. If prayer is all about meek and mild, Jesus certainly didn’t need any help in this category! Then we find that Jesus was praying with such intensity that He started sweating, sweating with such intensity that as his sweat hit the ground, there was blood mingled within them. And this certainly doesn’t sound like His prayer life was meek and mild.

Can’t you see that Jesus is fighting? Fighting against Satan? Fighting for us sinners (people)? So, let’s start treating our prayer life for what it is: Fighting! Forget that fighting is for games like Mortal Combat or Halo! Before you begin to pray–equip yourself for the battle that is in front of us all! Don’t give up and throw up the white flag of surrender! Remember Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane–when He finished praying/fighting–He got up on his feet and announced, “My betrayer is almost here! Let’s get moving!” And when the battle becomes impossible, and it will, hit your knees again in prayer and remember this:

¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Ephesians 6:10-18

*****************************************************************

P.S. (from bruce)  When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

You say you are a “born again” believer…  “ BUT ”  is your soul “ON FIRE ” for the Lord ??  If not, open this link – https://godsmanforever.com/2020/08/01/are-you-a-christian-in-gods-eyes-and-on-fire-for-the-lord-or-not/