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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: DEFENSE (06/02/22)
In the realm of spiritual combat, many advancing disciples find themselves on the defensive side of the battle, while contending with what Eph. 6: 12 would collectively identify as the forces of evil.

If one is to be victorious, he or she must be equipped and trained in the use of each piece of the full armor of God (1), as the devil will strike where one is the weakest.

This equipping is the job of Biblically-qualified pastor-teachers (2).

Having a clear understanding (3) of the unadulterated Gospel Message is the footgear (4), when combined with the breastplate of righteousness (accurate doctrine), the spiritual warrior experiences stability (5) in the heat of battle.

The one offensive weapon, the sword (6), doubles as a defensive weapon, as well.

An inadequately equipped or poorly trained soldier is an easy target and likely to become a casualty, being neutralized or removed from the battlefield altogether. So is the warrior, who has been properly equipped and trained, but fails to make proper use of the equipment and training that he or she has received.

Knowing the prophetic significance of the part that the Jews have to play in the End Time activity and the Millennial kingdom to come, anti-Semitism has always been on the devil’s agenda, and on the agenda of many who do his bidding.

During the darkest periods of Church history, individuals and groups outside and inside of the Christian Community, believing they were or are doing the work of God, have been responsible for persecuting, torturing, and putting to death, many followers of the Lord Jesus Christ (7).

Deceived individuals in positions of political authority have unwittingly done the work the devil (8) while believing that they were doing the will of God, attributing their success and preservation to the providence of God.

The timing of the rise, duration, boundaries, and fall, of ALL the nations throughout world history are ultimately in the hands of God (9), but the forces of evil work long and hard influencing the decisions of those in leadership positions (10).

For this reason, Christians are to pray that their kings (or leaders) will listen to the right source of influence. For this, and not the nation’s military (11), is any nation’s first line of defense.

There is the same need to pray that one’s pastor-teacher will listen to the right source of influence (12), if he is to defend his flock from evil influence.
Born again believers of the Church Age can not be demonically possessed (13), but can certainly be demonically influenced (14). This is especially true when the information is coming from clergy whom the devil has deceived.

Most of the spiritual combat that the rank in file Christian will encounter, takes place in the battlefield located between one's two ears.

Scripture (15) teaches, and the devil knows, that however a man thinks, so he is.

One’s overt speech or behavior is a reflection of what is going on in his head.

The Eph. 6: 17 helmet of salvation protects the advancing warrior from “spiritual head trauma” that the enemy hopes would cause him or her to question the security of his or her salvation (16). Failing to keep this helmet on, places one in great danger in the midst of spiritual combat.

Keep in mind the part that the Eph. 6: 16 shield of faith plays in the realm of spiritual combat. Faith is not only the act of believing. Having great faith in the wrong things is counterproductive. Faith is not only a verb (an action), but is a noun, referring to what it is, that one believes.

The shield of faith is what enables us to defend ourselves during satanic attacks.

These attacks can come in the form of adversity and or what deceptively appears to be an opportunity.

Every day, our soul structure comes under the bombardment of incoming missiles (17), intended to shake us up, impede our forward progress, have us question our faith, and or neutralize our effectiveness in the realm of spiritual combat.
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(1) Eph. 6: 13 (2) Eph. 4: 11/2Tim.3: 16, 17 (3) Rom. 8: 1 (4) Eph. 6: 15 (5) Eph. 6: 13 (6) Eph.6: 17/Heb.4: 12 (7) John 16: 2 (8) John 8: 44 (9) Dan. 4: 25/Acts 17: 26 (10) Luke 4: 6 (11) Psalms 33: 16 (12) 2Tim. 3: 16 (13) 1Cor. 3: 16 (14) 1Tim. 4: 1 (15) Prov. 23: 7 (16) Rom. 8: 1 (17) Eph. 6: 16
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Avigail David
06/15/22
We are now in a world of darkness as Jesus said, "As in the days of Noah."

I read between the lines and understood the sovereign power of God Almighty and His plan that will inevitably come to pass in the end.

Like what Apostle Paul and brother in the LORD Jesus said from 1 Corinthians 2, also quoting from prophet Isaiah 64:4.

Thank you!