Greetings In Jesus Name!
AN OVERPRICED PIZZA… It was a late Wednesday night, and I was new to the “youth group” thing. In the middle of her message, the Youth Director decided to auction off a large cheese pizza. At first, it struck me as strange, but as the auction went on, it got my attention. What would have been a $7 pizza was going for over $40. That was a lot of money for a lukewarm pizza! She then went on to introduce this principle: A hungry need is a dangerous need. Obviously, several students must have come hungry to youth group.
MORE GOING ON… Depending on what is going on in your life, you are susceptible to temptation. What you may fail to understand is that your nature’s vulnerability to temptation is heightened by the invisible war taking place. I recently heard a quote from Christine Cane in reference to Isaiah 54:17. She said, “No weapon formed against you will prosper, but make no mistake, it will be formed.” Yes, it will. In the backdrop of your everyday comings and goings, you are in an all-out spiritual battle.
The Apostle Paul talked about this to the church in Ephesus. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12 ESV)
Here are 3 Key Principles that can help you understand Spiritual Warfare.
1. Spiritual Warfare is the mind of Satan warring against the mind of God in the mind of man. When Satan attacked Adam and Eve in the garden, he did not threaten their physical lives; instead, he presented them with an idea. The battle is for your mind, and the key is God’s Word. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 ESV) Our mind is renewed by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.
2. A hungry need is a dangerous need. If you are hungry enough, just about anything sounds good. If you are hungry for a meaningful relationship, be aware of your vulnerability to settle for less than what you deserve. If you are hungry for a simple answer to our political climate, then you are susceptible to worshiping a political ideology as the answer to our country’s woes. When Jesus was in a desolate place and had fasted for 40 days, who decided to show up? The devil himself. When tempted, let us remember Jesus’ response: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4 ESV)
3. If the devil cannot make you bad, he will make you busy. God established the Sabbath, so we would spend a full 24 hours replenishing our soul in worship and rest from our vocational work. But we tend to adopt the rhythms and pace of our culture. We live in the tyranny of the urgent and forsake the importance of the sacred. God has given His people multiple healthy soul practices that protect us from the enemy if employed. Slow down, reflect on scripture, pray, and prioritize your family of faith.
The fact that this war is non-stop means you must grow in the discernment of your vulnerabilities while strengthening your emotional and spiritual disciplines. For more on this topic, check out our video series This Means War. Several books that I recommend are “Winning the War in Your Mind” by Craig Groeschel and “The Bait of Satan” by John Bevere. If you are into fiction, consider “This Present Darkness” by Frank Peretti. One of my favorites is a classic masterpiece by C.S. Lewis, titled “Screwtape Letters.”
I am praying for you, my friend. You are not alone!
Rick Lorimer
Lead Pastor
Christ Place Church
“Nothing sets a person so much out of the devil’s reach than humility.” – Jonathan Edwards
“My main ambition in life is to be on the devil’s most wanted list.” – Leonard Ravenhill.
“Whatever sin the heart of man is most prone to, that the devil will help forward.” – Unknown
“Let us see to it that the devil will hold a thanksgiving service in hell when he gets the news of our departure from the field of battle.” – C.T. Studd
