I want to talk with you about spiritual warfare. Before we proceed, however, I have two concerns. The first is our need for wisdom. There is an old European proverb worth heeding. It reads: "Age and treachery will always defeat youth and zeal." Before we engage in spiritual warfare, we should know this about Satan: he is an ancient and extremely treacherous foe. On the other hand, the strength of most Christians lies primarily in idealism and untested fervor. It is not long, usually five to ten years in the ministry, and most zeal has waned. Without warning, the minister's call has deteriorated from a walk of vision to a mere job.

What occurred was that zeal, by itself, challenged the treachery of hell and lost. The brightness of youthful dreams dimmed under the dark cloud of relentless satanic assault. Under the weight of growing frustrations and discouragement, compromise increased, and with it came iniquity and spiritual bondage.

Yet, the real villain was not sin but ignorance. We put the devil in a doctrinal box and expected him to stay there. He did not. He undermined relationships, and our love grew cautious. He resisted us in prayer, and our faith turned weak. Disillusionment set in. After spending much time with struggling pastors, I have seen a common trend in most: They failed to discern the assault of the devil. They stood unprotected against an ancient, treacherous foe.

Jesus prepared His disciples for everything, including spiritual warfare. They watched Him cast out demons; they clearly knew the devil was real. In fact, He sent them forth to also deliver people from demons. But before He sent them out, He charged them to become wise "as serpents" yet innocent and harmless "as doves" (Matt. 10:16). This fusion of divine wisdom and Christlike innocence is the taproot of all spiritual victory. Indeed, we can defeat the enemy, but wisdom must precede warfare and virtue must come before victory.

Consequently, my goal is to train the church in wisdom and call the church to innocence. We will not disregard what we have previously learned; we will still live by faith. But we must learn the ways of God, which means we must think with wisdom. And we must pursue purity of heart, that we may see God and gain discernment. Indeed, it is the lack of discernment that has left us vulnerable to satanic attack.

Of my second concern, let me say that there are no shortcuts to successful warfare, only ways to make it longer and more perilous. One way of peril is to enter battle blinded by presumption. When it comes to waging war effectively, consider carefulness to be the essence of victory.

Whatever lofty spiritual plane you imagine that you are on, remember: Adam was in Paradise when he fell. Before your increased knowledge and religious experiences make you overly self-confident, recall that Solomon wrote three books of Scripture; he actually gazed upon the glory of God, yet he fell. Yes, even in your deepest worship of the Almighty, do not forget in long ages past Lucifer himself was once in Heaven pouring out praise to God.

We each know of many who have fallen. Jesus warned that the love of many would grow cold. Do not presume it cannot happen to you. Our enemy has been deceiving mankind for thousands of years. Our experience, on the other hand, spans but a brief moment. It is wisdom to recognize that we do not know all there is to know concerning warfare.

Therefore, be bold but never brash or arrogant in your prayer life. Use your spiritual authority administratively, compassionately, but never presumptuously. Multitudes of well-meaning but ignorant Christians have approached the field of spiritual battle with flippant attitudes and have suffered greatly for it. Study several books and seek confirmation from the Lord for your strategies. As it is written, "Prepare plans by consultation, and make war by wise guidance" (Prov. 20:18).

Thus, our purpose here is to help equip you for battle in three primary areas: the mind, the church and the heavenly places. There are other fields or subcategories of spiritual warfare; however, these are where most of us will face conflict.

One last note. A few of you will be instrumental in actually turning your cities toward God. Our prayer is that the truth of God's grace will empower you for that goal and that others will join in that grace to see an enduring move of God accomplished. The promise of the Spirit speaks thus: "There was a small city with few men in it and a great king came to it, surrounded it and constructed large siegeworks against it. But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom" (Eccl. 9:14–15).

While many are predicting the destruction of our nation and the collapse of our cities, they have not considered the power of Christ in you. But remember, "Wisdom is better than strength . . . wisdom is better than weapons of war" (Eccl. 9:16, 18).

 The visible glory of God descended, then manifested on the top of Mt. Sinai. As many as six million Israelites heard the audible voice of God speaking to them from the majestic fire. The entire nation quaked and trembled in holy fear. In response, Israel's leaders begged Moses that no further words be spoken to them by God. Moses agreed, then turned and ascended the mountaintop and entered this frightening holy blaze where He remained for forty days. (See Exodus 19:17-20:19; 24:18.)

Incredibly, when Moses delayed his return, the Israelites began to rebel, making for themselves an idol, a golden calf, similar to the idols of Egypt. They did this in full view of the glory of God, defying His glory with their outrageous idolatry. (See Exodus 31:1-8.)

Nothing angers the living God more than man's idolatry, and this brazen act was enough to have destroyed all Israel, both the sinners and also those who saw their sin and did nothing to stop it. In response, the Lord said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people. Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them, and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation" (Exod. 32:9-10).

This is an amazing verse. It reveals something of the inner workings of the divine mind. I am thinking in particular of the Lord's statement: "Let Me alone." The implication is that if the Lord is "alone"---that is, without an intercessor to appeal to His mercy---divine wrath can be fully expressed. Conversely, the opposite is also true: wrath can be restrained if we, as intercessors, do not withdraw our entreaty. As long as Moses does not withdraw from prayer, there is a mercy opportunity that is being made possible.

The goal of an intercessor is to remain in prayer; i.e., to "not let God alone." This is not to imply that we are more merciful or forgiving than God. That would be quite untrue. What is true, though, is that some measure of divine grace and forgiveness - an unreasonable measure - is reserved in God's heart and only escorted to earth by human intercession. God's holiness demands that sin be punished; His mercy, however, triumphs over judgment and can be enlisted by prayer.

Our quest is to unite in oneness with the mercy of God. Conversely, the devil's goal is to create the opposite relationship between us and God where we accuse people for their sins and failures. Satan seeks to embitter us against our loved ones and associates, neighbors and nation so that our desires are not redemptive but accusatory and judgmental.

Peter tells husbands to not be embittered against their wives so that their "prayers will not be hindered" (1 Pet. 3:7). Underline this truth: bitterness hinders intercession. The Lord desires we climb into His very thought-processes in extending mercy to earth. In this, the mercy-oriented intercessor attracts the full attention of God.

"Let Me alone," the Lord said. Yet Moses refused. Instead, he reminds the Lord of His promises for Israel as well as His relationship with Israel's forefathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Ex. 32:11-13). Too many intercessors misinterpret the Lord's initial pushback and report, erroneously, that God has exhausted His mercy. He has not. In fact, His mercies are new every morning. Moses' response to the pushback was to prevail upon God's love. He reminds the Lord of His purpose, repeats the Lord's promise, and he does not stop praying for Israel.

Moses became a mature intercessor. He stayed close to God, prevailing in prayer. Even though the Lord said He would make of Moses a great nation, Moses ignored the prospect. He knew all people would have times of sin and failure. Moses had come too far to start over. This journey was about a covenant that was made with Israel's forefathers.

Remember, the assignment is to bring an imperfect people with a promise from God into fulfillment. The intercessor's role is to pray from the beginning of that journey, through the valleys of sin and setbacks, and continue praying until the promise from God is obtained.

You may be a pastor of a church or an intercessor or a parent. Regardless, whoever you are praying for, you must have this attitude: "Lord, I am not letting You alone concerning my loved one."

When I pray, I never pray for divine wrath to fall; I always pray for mercy and grace. I agree with God that wrath is justified because of man's sin, yet I plead with God for mercy and correction.

The Result
The result of Moses' intercession is utterly amazing: "So the Lord changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people" (Exod. 32:14).

May this be a revelation to us all! Moses' prayer changed God's mind!

Much of how God relates to the future of a nation is based upon how the people in that society pray. The Spirit has made one truth plain to me: The future of a society does not belong to sinners; it belongs to those who pray. Thus, Jesus tells His disciples that whatever two of them agree on "about anything that they may ask" (Matt. 18:19), it will be granted by the heavenly Father. Two or three servants of God who refuse to abandon their faithfulness in prayer can release the mercy of God into their world.

For Moses and the Israelites, the outcome was profound: "the Lord changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people" (Exod. 32:14).

Think of it: prayer changed the mind of God.

Lord, thank You for always remaining open to our cries. Help me to persevere, to give You no rest, until You fulfill Your highest purposes with my family, church and nation. Thank You that one voice is not too feeble that You cannot hear it. Master, I stand in the gap for those I love. Reveal Your mercy to them.

If you are desperately sick and in need of a physician, I have good news for you.

Mark 2:15- 17 reads, “And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and His Disciples:  for there were many, and they followed Him.  And when the Scribes and Pharisees saw Him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto His Disciples, How is it that He eats and drinks with publicans and sinners?  When Jesus heard it, He said unto them, They who are whole have no need of the physician, but they who are sick:  I came not to call the Righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Jesus came for the sick and the needy.  He came for the unrighteous sinner to come to repentance.  We often get caught up in our own self-righteousness.  Much like the Pharisees, we feel proud and confident in our own religious devotion.  Pride seems to find itself at the heart of much religious activity and yet we see that it is the number one enemy of the Cross of Christ.  Pride, without exception, keeps us out of the Lord’s presence.  Jesus didn’t come to heal those who proclaimed they were healthy. Jesus didn’t visit the “health clubs” of the day where everyone, full of pride, strutted around in their own health and vitality.  Jesus visited the “spiritual emergency room” where those who were sin-sick and in desperate need of the Great Physician lay in need.  It didn’t bother Jesus one bit that the religious elite were concerned with His acquaintances.  Jesus knew that the worst condition possible was unrepentant self-righteousness and pride of which there is no cure.  This is the reason why He made it clear that He was there to “heal the sick” and call the sinners to repentance.

There is an old quote that states, “You must get a man lost before he can ever be found…” Please realize that if you haven’t seen the Great Physician, you’re not healthy, but rather very sick and if you haven’t visited the “spiritual emergency room” you will never see the Doctor.  Don’t trust yourself.  Trust God’s Word and most importantly His Son, Jesus. He wants to heal you!

In spite of breakthroughs in several regions, many Christians have grown weary. Their love is growing cold; their passions, lukewarm. The prophet Daniel warned of a time when the enemy would "…wear down the saints of the Highest One" (Dan. 7:25). To emerge victorious in this day, we must climb into the reality given to us by God in Psalm 91. There is a place of replenishing life, a fountain of light, wherein we can abide. The Bible calls this place the shelter of the Most High.

Elijah: A Man Like Us
Elijah was a man with passions like ours, and he fought in a spiritual war similar to ours. In his battle for the soul of Israel, he stood against the wiles of Jezebel and her husband, King Ahab. Yet his most intense battle was not against visible foes but against personal discouragement.

As bold as Elijah was, he lived as a fugitive moving in and out of caves and places of hiding. Jezebel had murdered nearly all of the Lord's prophets, replacing their godly influence with the dark, satanic oppression accompanying the priests of Baal and the Asherah. A new initiative, however, had come from the Lord: Both Elijah and the prophets of Baal were to build altars, each to the deity they each served. The God who answered with fire would be acknowledged as Lord over the nation.

King Ahab and all Israel came to the confrontation. Try as they may, the priests of Baal could draw no response from their demonic idol, Baal. In dramatic contrast, at Elijah's prayer, fire immediately fell from heaven and consumed his sacrifice. This was Elijah's greatest victory. And when the Israelites saw the display of God's power, they bowed to the ground saying, "The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God" (1 Kings 18:39).

But the Lord was not finished. After Elijah had the priests of Baal executed, he went to the top of Mount Carmel and, kneeling face down, he prayed seven times for rain until the Lord brought a great downpour that ended a devastating three-year drought. On this one day, both fire and rain miraculously fell from heaven!

Perhaps if this tremendous day had occurred at any other time in Israel's history, the nation would have repented, but it did not. Baal worship should have ended, but it continued. In fact, nothing changed. Instead of the revival that Elijah envisioned, the opposite occurred: an enraged Jezebel vowed to kill the Lord's prophet, spurring Elijah to flee into the wilderness. There Elijah collapsed, exhausted and despondent, beneath a juniper tree. "It is enough; now O Lord," the weary prophet prayed, "take my life, for I am not better than my fathers" (1 Kings 19:4).

Elijah had offered the Lord his very best effort. This day had been the culminating event of his life. Elijah had prayed that Israel would know the Lord was their God and that, in response, the Lord would turn Israel's "heart back again" (1 Kings 18:37). Yet, like the prophets before him, Elijah could not trigger revival for Israel.

Discouragement overwhelmed him. He had had enough.

Have you been to the point of spiritual or emotional exhaustion where you too have said, "It is enough"? Perhaps you were frustrated by your own inability to effect positive change in your family; or, you've fasted and prayed for your church or society but no visible change occurred. You gave your all but found little success. Disheartened and weary like Elijah, all your resources were spent.

Elijah lay down and slept. As he did, an angel touched him and said, "Arise, eat" (1 Kings 19:5). At his head were bread and water. Elijah, weary with life itself, ate and withdrew back into sleep.

Once more the angel touched him. "Arise," he said. "Eat, because the journey is too great for you" (v. 7). For all our visions, plans, and programs, the journey before each of us is also "too great." Indeed our journey will always, at various points, be too great for us. For life is so constructed to drive us closer to God.

Back to Our Foundations
"So [Elijah] arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God" (1 Kings 19:8).

The Lord gave Elijah strength, not to send him back to battle but to bring him back to basics. If we become more consumed with our task than we are with our love for God, our lives will eventually become brittle and desolate. To restore our souls, the Lord brings us back to the essentials of our faith. Indeed, He might even stop our labors completely and direct us to the simpler realities of prayer, time in the Word, and worship. He reminds us that, of all He calls us to accomplish, His greatest commandment is to love Him with "all our heart" (Mark 12:30). Without this focus, we lose touch with God's presence; we are outside the shelter of the Most High.

The Lord brought Elijah to "Horeb, the mountain of God." In Hebrew, Horeb means "desolation." The barren environment mirrored Elijah's soul. Yet to God, Horeb was actually a place where the issues of a man's heart were flushed to the surface. There is no theater at Horeb, no acting. It is the place of unembellished honesty and core-to-surface transparency.

How Did You Get Here?
Perhaps Elijah's greatest virtue was his zeal. Indeed, twice in his communication with God, Elijah speaks of having been "very zealous" for the Lord. But zeal unattended by wisdom eventually becomes its own god. It compels us toward expectations that are unrealistic and outside the timing and anointing of God.

To remain balanced, zeal must be reined in and harnessed by strategic encounters with the living God. Otherwise we become frustrated with people and discouraged with delays. We step outside our place of strength and spiritual protection.

Elijah had come to Horeb and lodged there in a cave. Soon the Word of the Lord came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (v. 9). This is one of the most important questions God will ever ask us. His question probes the reality of our spiritual state: "How did your service to Me become dry and desolate?" God wants us to know that when we fail to esteem Him as our first love, we will always find a desert awaiting us.

Our primary purpose in life must be to abide in Christ. Otherwise we can become so consumed with the deteriorating condition of the world that we fail to see the deteriorating condition of our own soul. In His love, the Lord stops us and forces us to look honestly at our heart: Is this existence that I now live the abundant life promised me from Christ?

Let's speak candidly. We have nothing to prove and no need to pretend. We can abandon the internal mechanisms of defensiveness and pride. If we are disappointed, we are free to express it; if frustrated, we can admit it. We must simply and truthfully evaluate, without rationalization, our true spiritual condition.

Transparency is the outer garment of humility; and, humility draws the grace of God to our hearts. Is not intimacy with God the very thing we most neglect? And is not the Lord alone our source of strength in battle? If the enemy can distract us from our time alone with God, he will isolate us from the help that comes from God alone.

Let us approach the living God without any garment, but with transparency.

A Fresh Anointing
As the pressures of this age escalate, we will soon discover that yesterday's anointing will not suffice for today's battles. The Lord brought a new beginning to Elijah's life at Horeb---one that would ultimately release a "double portion" of power to Elijah's successor, Elisha. Under this new anointing, Jezebel would be destroyed, Baal worship abolished, and the only period of revival the northern tribes ever experienced would begin.

To reach a similar place of breakthrough, it will take more than the momentum of our own zeal. We should not be surprised if God calls us to pass through our own Horeb.

How will we recognize this place? Horeb is the voice of personal desolation; it is the desperate compelling of our heart to possess more of God. We must now listen carefully to the voice of God. For it is at Horeb that He brings us deeper into Himself. It is here, under the canopy of His compassion, that we discover the purpose of our brokenness: our desolation is in fact a time of preparation.

The Lord is about to bring a new beginning to you. When you return to the battle, you shall war from the shelter of the Most High.

Lord Jesus, apart from You, my life is dry and desolate. Forgive me for trying to do Your will without abiding in Your presence. I desperately need You, Lord. This day, I commit my heart to return to my first love. Teach me, Lord, to consider intimacy with You the greatest measure of my success. Let me see Your glory; reveal to me Your goodness. Guide me, Oh Holy Spirit, into the spiritual fortress of the presence of God. Amen.

Love….a word thrown around often these days without caution or thought.  We love good food, entertainment and possessions. We also love our spouses, parents, girlfriends and boyfriends and even our country. Have you ever thought about how many times you use this word every day without examining what the word really means?  Yes, all of us throw around the word quite frequently, but do we really understand its origin and true nature?

As Christians, we come to church and declare our love for God while not really grasping the love He gave us.  Yes, we sing songs of God’s love, grace and forgiveness and we declare the freedom we enjoy in Him, but do we really take time to examine how God defines the word love?

There are numerous scripture passages in the Bible that reflect on God’s love for us, but I don’t think there is a scripture more powerful and clear than John 3:16. For God so loved the world…God loves the world!  God loves all people groups! God loves me! That He gave His only begotten Son….Now here is the definition…God doesn’t have another son. An unlimited God, the creator of the universe chose to give a limited resource, His only Son!  That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.   Wow! God thought enough about you and me that He gave us the most important thing in His life so that we could possess everlasting, unlimited life.

Now, the next time you use this word, remind yourself about how God not only defined the word for you and me, but how he acted on His love.

GOD WAS SO MOVED BY HIS LOVE FOR YOU THAT HE SENT HIS ONLY SON TO DIE FOR YOU.

Don’t just live life today……Celebrate it!

Have you ever watched any of the legal or law firm advertisements on television?  All of these commercials reach out to the viewer and appeal to the viewer’s cause.  The spokesperson will ask if the viewer has been “wronged or taken advantage of.”  The advertisement is designed to appeal to the feeling of victimization and is created for the viewer to take swift action to pick up the phone to obtain legal representation.

Maybe you are facing troubles today that have you feeling perplexed.  Maybe you need an advocate to plead your case.  I researched the definition of the word advocate and here is what I read:  “one that pleads the cause of another before a judge or court…one that defends or maintains a cause or proposal.”

All of us have a genuine problem and it is sin.  We are all guilty of sin and if it is not legally dealt with, it will leave us hopeless, abandoned and alone.  Perhaps you are at the point where life is not what it used to be. It’s not fun anymore and now the world is not laughing with you, but rather at you.  The Bible talks about the pleasure of sin for a season.  Another words, sin is pleasurable for a certain unspecified time frame.  This time frame could be different for different people.  Some folks are capable of living a lifetime of sin and feel that its effects have not caught up with them.  Others may enjoy little if no pleasure in sin, but make no mistake about it.... sin will result in judgment and ultimately death if left undone.  In Romans 6:23, the Bible says that the “wages of sin is death.”  The penalty for sin is death.  The pleasure will be over and judgment will come.

In review of this, we all have a judgment day coming.  We all will have a time set aside where we will appear before the Judge of All, the Lord.  Scripture is clear that if we do not confess our sin to God (before we die) and trust His Son, Jesus then we will be guilty of the judgment to come.  Truly then, we will be isolated, alone, abandoned, helpless and hopeless as we stand before the Judge.  We went through this life living on our own and making our own rules.  We lived recklessly and never took the time to take some legal advice.  We needed an advocate.  We needed legal representation.  We were warned, but decided to go it alone.

Hebrews 9:24 makes it clear that we don’t have to struggle alone.  It reads, “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us…”

Jesus actually entered (and is still there today) a heavenly courtroom where we all will stand before the Judge.  Jesus has appeared (and is there now!) before the Lord, our Judge, for us!  Jesus wants to be your advocate, but it is your decision.  He wants to walk beside you in that courtroom and vigorously defend you.  It is very clear that you don’t have to go unrepresented.

I will tell you that His legal fees are very high, but they have already been paid.  His defense will not cost you….it has been paid by the Judge and it is free to you.  Your circumstance is wonderful (if you accept).  The Judge that you will stand before has actually paid for your defense.  Your advocate has never lost a case for which he has defended.  All of Jesus’ clients have won their case and never suffered  eternal isolation or defeat.

Take some good legal advice today and call the Heavenly Law Firm today at 1-800-John 3:16.

Yesterday was  a wonderful day in the Lord!  We talked about the "pit" and how to get out of that pit.  We know that praise breaks the chains that the enemy uses to keep us bound!

I enjoyed this e-mail titled "Created to Praise" by Derek Prince Ministries.  Take a moment to read this devotional.  Perhaps you are part of the generation that is created to praise!

God bless you.

Psalm 102: 16-18 " (When) the Lord shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory.  He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, and shall not despise their prayer.  This will be writtten for the generation to come, and the people yet to be created may praise the Lord.  NKJV

One of the great signs that teh Lord's coming is near at hand is stated there, "When the Lord shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory."  He's coming back in glory.  What's going to proceed?  The rebuilding of Zion.   And today we see that taking place.  The Lord is building up Zion.  He's building up and restoring the people of Israel.  he's also building up and restoring hte Church of Jesus Christ.  This is one great evidence among many that the Lord is ready to appear in HIs glory.

It says then "He shall regard the prayer of the destitute."  There are so many prayers that have been offered and it seems they haven't been answered.  But there's a day coming when millions and millions of prayers will be answered in a very short space of time by the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And then the psalmist says that people shall be created to praise the Lord.  This is written for that generation.  I believe we're in that generation.  I believe God's people have been so slack to praise Him for so many centuries that God is actually creating a people today for one specific prupose:  that they may praise Him. And as we praise Him we, too, are preparing the way for the return of the Lord in His glory.

- Derek Prince

This Sunday is what we call “Super Sunday” or to most folks “Super Bowl Sunday.”

Many people are very excited about the action that will take place on the football field  when the New England Patriots and New York Giants take the field.  Others will be excited about the commercials that will air during the game and maybe if you are like me, you will get excited about the food!  Anyway you look at it; this game has become an American cultural tradition.  There are many people who could care less about football, but they decide to watch this game because of all the hype surrounding this event.  Many people treat this day as the “other American holiday.”

With all of this stated I don’t think there is anything wrong with sports or cheering for any particular team, however I would love to see the same passion exerted for the Lord.  You and I will not take the field on Sunday evening and even if we are fans of one of these teams, we still have very little at stake.  One team will win and the other will lose Sunday evening.  Some players will walk off the field with the glee of a five year old at Christmas while other players will not be able to stop the tears. And yes…..we are talking about a football game or as my Pastor, who is now in heaven, once  stated “a pigskin full of hot air!”

You don’t have to take the field Sunday to be a champion.  You will not have to kick a game winning field goal, but you will have to make a very important decision in life, and this is to choose whether you will decide to win or lose. It’s up to you today.  2,000 years ago Jesus took the ultimate penalty for you and me so that we could have the easy decision to be a champion.  He “played” the perfect game and then we (in our sin) fumbled the ball numerous times turning our lives over to the enemy but, Jesus laid his perfect game on the line to take the ultimate hit of death for all of us. Don’t let His game-winning sacrifice be in vain.