"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God..."
- 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
- 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
As Christians we must recognize that we are in a spiritual battle against the enemy of God, and that the enemy also wants to win souls. When we are doing all we can to win souls for Christ and make disciples, the enemy will do all he can to try to stop us. Expect spiritual warfare if you have determined in your heart to join God in His work to win souls and make disciples. We experience alot of spiritual warfare, especially right before we are going to share Christ in a school or a church, or immediately after we have seen God win a great victory.
In fact, things can get pretty difficult and crazy. This past week is a good example. We are in the midst of a 4 week period where we will share Christ with over 4000 people, and the enemy is not happy about this. There have been: computer problems; family problems; personal conflicts; sickness; frustrations; increased temptations; near accidents on the way to speak; 4 interpretors that were scheduled to help called and cancelled ; one interpretor's car was hit right before we went to speak in a school; a near cancellation at one school; and at times we can literally feel the oppression from the enemy. Plus add the fact that we get very tired when speaking over 120 times in a 4 week period.
Don't get me wrong - we love serving the Lord and sharing Christ with others, but at times things get very difficult. That is why missionaries and pastors need your prayers. We are human. We are weak. We get tired, yes even cranky. We make mistakes. And the battle is far too difficult for us, and the enemy is too strong for us. I can only imagine how difficult it is for people who are serving in places like the Middle East where it is very dangerous to witness for Christ, where they could lose their lives. I have a great amount of respect and admiration for these servants of the Lord. Praise God that we serve the One who is far greater than he that is in the world. And God has given us His Word, His promises that He will lead us to victory. God cannot lose. Remember that we are on God's winning team. For us, usually the strong spiritual warfare is a sign that God is about to do something wonderful and great, and the enemy is not happy about it. Here are some of the many promises concerning the work of sharing Christ with others and the victories that God will give us:
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us victoriously in Christ, and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him." - 2 Corinthians 2:14
" For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."
- Deuteronomy 20:4
" Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand." - Isaiah 14:24
In fact, things can get pretty difficult and crazy. This past week is a good example. We are in the midst of a 4 week period where we will share Christ with over 4000 people, and the enemy is not happy about this. There have been: computer problems; family problems; personal conflicts; sickness; frustrations; increased temptations; near accidents on the way to speak; 4 interpretors that were scheduled to help called and cancelled ; one interpretor's car was hit right before we went to speak in a school; a near cancellation at one school; and at times we can literally feel the oppression from the enemy. Plus add the fact that we get very tired when speaking over 120 times in a 4 week period.
Don't get me wrong - we love serving the Lord and sharing Christ with others, but at times things get very difficult. That is why missionaries and pastors need your prayers. We are human. We are weak. We get tired, yes even cranky. We make mistakes. And the battle is far too difficult for us, and the enemy is too strong for us. I can only imagine how difficult it is for people who are serving in places like the Middle East where it is very dangerous to witness for Christ, where they could lose their lives. I have a great amount of respect and admiration for these servants of the Lord. Praise God that we serve the One who is far greater than he that is in the world. And God has given us His Word, His promises that He will lead us to victory. God cannot lose. Remember that we are on God's winning team. For us, usually the strong spiritual warfare is a sign that God is about to do something wonderful and great, and the enemy is not happy about it. Here are some of the many promises concerning the work of sharing Christ with others and the victories that God will give us:
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us victoriously in Christ, and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him." - 2 Corinthians 2:14
" For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."
- Deuteronomy 20:4
" Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand." - Isaiah 14:24
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