Spiritual Warfare

2 Biblical Solutions to Fear

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two ways to overcome fear

“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. -Luke 12:4-7

When I was a boy and one of our friends hurt themselves, we had a trick to help them with the pain, “Hey, do you want me get the pain in your finger to go away?” And then we would punch them in the arm so that their arm would hurt more than their finger, thus making them forget the pain in their finger.

Humans naturally pay attention to whatever is causing, or has the ability to cause, the most pain. Jesus knows this, so he reminds us all that the one who can cause us the most pain is actually God himself.

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Knowing When to Die

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Knowing when to dieVery truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.-John 12:24-26

32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.-John 19:32-33

Beware of refusing to go to the funeral of your own independence. – Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, December 9th

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How to Fight Against Satan

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how to fight satan

Satan is a liar (John 8:44), Satan is a deceiver (Revelation 12:9), and Satan is an accuser of Christians (Revelation 12:10). Satan is the Christian’s chief enemy, for we fight not against flesh and blood, but against Satan’s spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:12). And we are to resist him (James 4:7), but how? How do we fight against Satan?

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Why Does God Allow Satan to Tempt Us?

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Why does God allow satan to tempt usBible Verses: James 4:4-10

With just a quick read of Scripture, there’s no doubt that God not only allows Satan to live, but God allows Satan to tempt us. But why does God allow Satan to tempt us? Or maybe an even better question is why did God allow Satan to tempt Jesus?

Why Does God Allow Satan to Tempt Us? For God’s Glory

It’s a good place to start by noting that any question that starts with “Why does God . . . ?” can always be answered “For his own glory and our good.” Everything God does ultimately is rooted in his sovereign plan of glorifying himself and loving people.

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Part 4: How to Overcome Temptation

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Part 4_ How To Overcome Temptation2Bible Verses:

And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”. . .  41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” – Mark 14:36-42

Jesus said in Mark 14:36, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you.” We are to look for our deliverance from God and not worldly pleasures because God is the one who is in total control of everything.

One way God has sought to show us that he is still in control even though Satan is active in the scenes in our life is through his preordained use of the number three throughout the pages of Scripture. Mark 14:41 states that Jesus returned to the disciples sleeping a “third time.”

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Part 3: How to Overcome Temptation

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Pat 3_ How To Avoid TemptationAnd he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?  Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak…” Mark 14:37-42

Again, Jesus said to Peter in Mark 14:38, “Watch and pray that you might not enter into temptation.” That’s gold if you’ve ever been plagued with a reoccurring sin. If you’ve ever wondered how you are going to stop indulging in addictive sins over and over again, Jesus just told us, but so often we skip over this advice because it sounds so simple.

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Part 2: How to Overcome Temptation

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Part 2_Overcoming TemptationAnd they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” -Mark 14:32-26

The Bible’s warning on temptation is as clear as can be. It is not a matter of “if” we will be tempted; the Bible always talks about temptation in the context of “when you are tempted.” Therefore, like Jesus, we must prepare in advance through prayer before the moment of temptation is upon us.

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Part 1: How to Overcome Temptation

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Overcoming TemptationAnd Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same. – Mark 14:27-31

Peter said in Mark 14:31, “I will never disown you.” Peter denied even the idea that he could fall away from Jesus, he denied that he could ever sin against his Lord, and because he denied this he took the first step to falling away from Jesus.

It sounds so odd, but to finally admit that you are capable of turning your back on God, is the first defense against turning your back on God.

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Can Other People Cause Me to Sin?

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There are many roads temptation travels on to get into our lives. The world, the sinful flesh, and the devil work together in tempting people to sin. However, whenever we sin, no matter what avenue or form the temptation came to us in, as James 1:13-15 explains, sin is always the result of a person’s individual choice to turn from God and rebel.

can other people cause me to sinOther people are usually involved in tempting us. 1 Corinthians 15:33 states, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” Proverbs 13:20 also explains, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” People in rebellion towards God not only tempt others on their own, they can also be used by Satan to do his tempting. If a person is unsaved, they are still under immense influence from Satan, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).

With these verses in mind, it is wise to protect oneself from negative influences when possible.

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Christianity and Social Justice: Satan Can Use Social Justice Too

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Bible Verses: 1 John 5:19, Ephesians 2:1-2

It seems there should always be a natural link between Christianity and social justice. A broad definition of “social justice” is to create a society where all are treated equally and fairly. When the term is deployed it typically comes in conversations regarding a social inequality (real or perceived) that a group of people desire to fix.

So again, it seems a logical connection should transpire between Christianity and social justice movements.

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