Take for example the parable of the sower. It is recorded in three of the four gospels where a sower went out to sow some seed. (God’s word). (Matt 13 Mark 4; Luke 8). In the first example we see where the seed falls on the trodden down ground and immediately the birds of the air swoop down and eat it up. Jesus would later explain to His disciples that the birds represented the devil who ‘comes immediately to snatch the word from the hearts lest they believe and are saved.” (Luke 8:12)
Paul would write to the Corinthians and share how one man plants, another waters, but God gives increase. I think you can see the application here...where you share the word with someone...later another person comes and ‘waters’ that seed...but it is the Holy Spirit that brings growth and increase in revelation and understanding with the hope of fruit being produced. (John 15:16, 8) [those would be a good verse to look up, mark, and memorize]
So guess what...Satan does the same thing. He plants. He waters. And he too...likes to see ‘increase’. Remember all those examples I cited yesterday regarding how thoughts and images just ‘come out of nowhere’ at times? Or what about when you try to spend time in God’s word? Is it not interesting how your mind can be bombarded with all kinds of distracting thoughts and ‘reminders’ of things you need to do that day? Does that happen if you are reading a People magazine or scrolling through FB or Tik-Tok videos? I bet not.
Now let us examine Paul’s writing in 2 Cor. 10. He is talking about how even though we ‘walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.’ (vs 3). Then he goes straight in to talking about how our ‘weapons’ and warfare are not ‘carnal’ or earthly/fleshly, but are actually ‘mighty in God’ (spiritual-vs 4)
He elaborates on how this warfare we engage in includes: pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God”...and listen to this: “Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”(vs. 5). You think Paul was on to something about the need to ‘bring into captivity every thought’? As if in he knew one of Satan’s schemes in how the enemy works his way into our hearts?
Here’s a news flash. If you are a follower of Christ...you are in a war. And you have weapons and are advised to use them. To not use them, or to ignore the enemy or the fact you are in a spiritual war is to suggest you already surrendered...or worse...never even showed up to begin with.
Currently the world is aghast over what we are witnessing in the Ukraine right now where Russia invaded their country. We are inspired by and applaud the Ukrainian people who are taking a valiant stand to defend their homeland...taking up arms and doing whatever they can to thwart the advance of Putin’s armies.
This may step on some toes, but I have a hunch there are more believers today in this country who would be very eager and quick to do the same with their arsenal of weapons they have stored at home...more so... than they are to take up spiritual weapons at their disposal to defend their own hearts and minds of not only themselves and their families...from a spiritual enemy who has invaded their homes and lives.
This is the time of year where people will start breaking up soil in their garden beds and getting ready to plant their vegetable gardens. After preparing the soil, would you tolerate a neighbor coming over with a bag of seed from unwanted weeds and scattering them in your garden that you worked hard to clean up? I suspect not. Yet...how many hours a day do we allow the enemy to come and sow seeds of lust...anger...hatred...violence...greed...deceit... and murder through that one device we lovingly hang on the wall called our Television? ( tell-a-vision)
*ahem*... moving on quickly here...
Jesus stated in Luke 6:45: “From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” He taught in another place that it is not what goes in to a man’s mouth that defiles him, but what comes out that defiles him.” (Matt 15:11). He expounds on this further down identifying those things that come from the heart like evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, lies, etc.”
So how do those things get there to begin with? Let me break it down this way...we were all born with a defiled, sinful nature. Our hearts were evil (Jere 17:9) and we were spiritually dead as Ephesians 2:1-4 explains how the ‘prince of the air’ (powers of darkness) were IN us...operating through our carnal fleshly nature.
When a person repents and turns to Christ, He begins to lead us in a walk where in the same way Joshua lead the Israelites to clear the promised land of the wicked Canaanite nations, Christ begins to remove from our land (hearts) all these things that defile. And these would be unclean spirits and such....spirits of pride, anger, lust, greed, hatred, selfishness, etc. Keep in mind when an ‘unclean spirit goes out of a man’,...he will seek to find entry back in.(Matt 12:43-44).
So let’s use lust for example. It’s a common area of struggle for both men and women alike. It can lead to many unhealthy and sinful choices that can in turn, create a wake of hurt and pain and broken lives. There is little reason to doubt that lust is a demon...an unclean spirit and one that is much more prevalent than you might suspect. When a person truly repents of this sin, Jesus will literally remove that ‘spirit’ from a person’s heart. (Remember where the sin of adultery begins? (Matt 5:28)
It is the power in the blood of Christ that not only forgives and removes the stain of that sin, but it ‘evicts’ the culprit behind it...the demon of lust. (Remember Paul tells us it’s not ‘flesh and blood’ we wrestle with, but....what?- Eph 6:12
So when the spirit is evicted, we have read already that spirit goes looking for a place to dwell and will eventually make his way back to the house from which it came. (Matt 12:44). This is where the battle begins. IF… you love God more than the demon of lust, you will lean on the power of God’s grace who in turn will give you the strength to stand and ‘resist the devil’. You might look up these verses: Heb 4:15-16; 2:18; James 1:2-3; 4:7-8; 1 Peter 5:6-10
So how does that spirit attempt to find a way back in? With thoughts. Think of this way...if you are in your house and wasp are swarming you, it can be a daunting task to just ignore them. But once they are outside and all the doors and windows are shut, you may be aware of them outside, but only you can open a door or window to let them back in. Taking that second ‘look’ when you pass someone on the street...is cracking a window open. Watching a show or video clip that is filled with seductive images is one way of opening the door and inviting those spirits back in. Remember...we are in a war and instructed to ‘bring into captivity every thought’. We are not told to set a table and invite them to dinner.
I don’t know who needs to hear this...but I can personally testify to you today...Yes...you can be set free. Totally. Doesn’t mean the war has ceased...but you can walk in freedom and victory. It is by the grace and power of God’s spirit that makes us more than conquerors...Through Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:37) Where the sobering wake-up call is comes when we discover there are some sins we kind of love…more than God. Remember the rich ruler…wanted to hold on to just that one thing. Jesus will not be one of your idols. He has to have your WHOLE heart.
You may not be aware of this nugget of inspiration...but the entire story of the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt...led by Moses...is a blueprint of sorts that foretells what Jesus came to do for all of us. Paul even cite examples of where the people blew it and paid a price for it when he wrote to the Corinthians in his first letter, chapter 10. He says “all these things happened to them as examples...and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”(11)
God sought to establish covenant with a people who would trust Him, Love Him, and Obey Him...in order that He could lead them into a good place where He could BLESS them. That...is the heart of God...Goodness and Mercy and Love that He desires to pour out on those who walk in covenant with Him. But woe be to them that reject Him and rebel against Him. (Rom 11:22)
You may actually get a lot more out of the book of Deuteronomy if you read it with fresh eyes. When God tells them this land He is taking them into is defiled with wicked nations that are ‘stronger than the people’...guess what He is giving us insight to? Your heart is that ‘land’ that needs to be rid of ‘wicked nations’. And they are stronger than you. But one of the ‘perks’ in walking in covenant with God is ...your enemies become His enemies and He knows how to deal with them. You want to see His Blessings...His protection...His provision...along with a newfound freedom...and joy...and peace?
There is more to it than walking an aisle, signing a card, and repeating a prayer. We are to Abide in Him. As in follow, surrender, and obey. That’s not as difficult as you might suspect…when you truly love Him with all your heart. (Ps. 91; John 15:1-8)
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