Whatever Our Battle Is, God's Word Wins!

He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’ ” 2 Chronicles 20:15-17 NIV

When the Spirit of The Lord comes upon us--like it did when Jahaziel, we should listen and not concern ourselves with the battles of life.

Our position in these battles--when we are fully suited up-as Paul tells to be--is to keep on the whole armor--wearing our offensive protection because God is our defensive protection.

One of the reasons so many people fall prey to depression is the oppression felt about things going on around them in which they have no control. They are constantly (they think) in a battle and most of the battle they feel is actually a battle taking place in the mind--where the enemy attacks. And when the enemy attacks, we need to be fully armed and ready with The Word to fight back.

When the enemy tells us we'll never amount to anything, we need to tell the enemy that everything God made was good and so are we.

When the enemy tells us our bodies are disease-ridden, we need to tell the enemy that we are healed by the Blood of the lamb and made whole in His love.

When the enemy tells us that no one cares about us, we need to tell the enemy that we are never alone because Jesus is always with us and loves us, unconditionally.

When the enemy tells us what we can't do, we remind the enemy that we can do all things through Christ Jesus.

When the enemy tells us that our ideas are stupid, we remind the enemy that with God, all things are possible.

When the enemy tells us we don't have a future worth anything, we remind the enemy that God designed our future and planned it for our success so we would have hope.

When the enemy attempts to tell us we're not worth looking at, we remind the enemy that we are wonderfully and uniquely created by God and lovely in His sight.

We can respond to the enemy's attack with God's Word and know victory, but first we must know His Word to in order to know--there is victory with Jesus on our side!

We must remember that we are not in a battle against flesh and blood, but against the influence of the enemy and his attack on our minds. We can know peace with the Prince of Peace and when we remember that the Joy of the Lord is our strength, we can endure the enemy's attacks until victory is won.

Every time we rise in the morning, the enemy should quake in fear at what we'll do, not us fearing what may happen to us. We can have that kind of confidence when we know that God's Word is our guiding light every day of our lives.

Is Holy Spirit Infilling Wasted On Us?

"This is what God the Lord says--the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison, and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness." (Isaiah 42:5-7 NIV).

The Spirit of the Lord--poured into His Servant (Jesus Christ) and for all who choose to serve Him--this is the promise fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ and is still being fulfilled in those who follow Him and obey the Father. When He returned to heaven, He promised that He would provide us with the Comforter--His Spirit--so we would be able to do all things.

Through the record of events as noted by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, we know that Jesus did all that had been prophesied by the prophet Isaiah and what is more notable is--Jesus telling us that we would do greater things than He did because we would have the power of His Spirit to guide us, strengthen us, and teach us.

We know what Jesus did being filled with the Spirit of the Father--but what are we doing--being filled with His Spirit? Has His promise atrophied in those who claim to be filled or do we need to stay before--seeking constant refilling and when we are filled, are we doing the greater works that He said we would do?

If we are filled (not just sealed as some would argue) with Holy Spirit--are we seeking to open blinded eyes, laying hands on the sick so they will recover, interceding on behalf of those in far-away places as well those under our own roof? Are we visiting those in prisons promoting the message of Good News--a Risen Savior has taken upon Himself all of our sins that we might abundant life? Are we the beacons of light that shine brightly, leading those in darkness out of the dungeons of circumstances and oppression?

Before you ask yourself these questions, please think about what being filled with Holy Spirit means versus being sealed by Holy Spirit. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:30, " And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." To understand the difference between being sealed and being filled--think about the contents of an envelope. We are the envelope--an empty vessel--until we are filled and then sealed. Now, many are filled with various content which is why Paul admonishes us to not be filled with bitterness, anger and slanderous tongues. Once the envelope is sealed--nothing else should be able to get into it, unless it is opened and its content revealed. When we first repent and accept Jesus as our Person Savior, we are sealed against the wiles of the enemy, but when we receive the infilling of Holy Spirit, we are empowered from within to withstand the fiery darts the enemy throws our way.

When we understand that our bodies are the "temple where Holy Spirit resides" we would be careful as to how we treat our bodies--providing Holy Spirit a clean place in which to live so He can clearly communicate with us all we need to know. Choosing to live in sin grieves Holy Spirit and He will leave since He will not dwell in a defiled place. When He leaves, the seal is broken and all that is within us exposed for all to see.

What are you doing with the infilling of Holy Spirit? Are you seeking the lost to bring them to the light of love and has your seal been broken because of the content within you--is not of Holy Spirit?
Looking at the world today--and the number of professing Believers--I'm not sure Holy Spirit is guiding many people and I can tell by the chaos that most of our government leaders do not even Holy Spirit has left the building and there are voids in their hearts that the enemy has filled.

But all is not lost for the Lord promised He would save for Himself--a remnant--the few who will remain faithful and filled, serving Him at all times, and allowing Holy Spirit to direct them. On that remnant--the infilling of Holy Spirit resides within and they will serve The Lord until the day of His returned, completely sealed--immune the tricks of the enemy.