Category: Spiritual Warfare

Readiness

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13 (ESV) We are at war. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have to confront the reality of spiritual warfare. The kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness are in opposition. As children of the light, we must combat the forces of evil. God’s agenda is our agenda. God’s mission is our mission. Loyalty to Christ will produce opposition from Satan and his demonic forces. Be proactive by preparing your mind for action. Fill your mind with the Word of God and choose to claim God’s promises. God has revealed His plan and provided His spiritual armor for the spiritual battle. Prepare your mind for the warfare of combating temptation, sin, and compromise. Be self-controlled. This is no time for apathy or lethargy. Don’t drift into complacency. Submit to the control of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to bear the fruit of self-control in you. Yield to the Spirit’s prompting for perpetual victory over sin and Satan. Where have you anchored your hope? Your life in Christ is established on the basis of God’s grace. The grace that saved you is the grace that keeps you secure in the midst of opposition. God’s grace will sustain you whether you are in the valley of intense spiritual warfare or on the mountain of heavenly bliss. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Tags Devo

Devil Spiritual Warfare Victory

Persist to Resist

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV) The enemy is persistent in his pursuit of your loyalty. The devil is on a mission to neutralize your faith and to tranquillize your passion for God. Prowling around like a roaring lion, the devil seeks to distort your vision of God. If the enemy can rob you of your passion and your vision, then he has accomplished his mission. The devil cannot attack God, so he chooses to attack God’s family. As a child of God, you are on Satan’s radar. Persist to resist. You do not have to succumb to the attacks of the devil. You do not have to yield to his temptation to doubt God’s Word. You do not have to surrender to the enemy’s agenda to thwart God’s will. Remember, you are a child of the King! Jesus purchased you with His own blood. You have received the imputed righteousness of Christ. The Holy Spirit lives in you and there is no vacancy for the devil. The enemy is not welcome in your mind. The devil has no place in the landscape of your life devoted to the Lord. Stand firm in the faith. Remember the confidence you placed in the completed work of Jesus on the cross. Stand firm in the reality of your new identity in Christ. Allow the fruit of the Spirit, self-control, to be released in your life. Starve the flesh and feed the Spirit. Guard your heart. Put on the full armor of God. Be alert! Don’t drift into apathy. Don’t coast into complacency. Stand firm in the faith God has given you. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Holy Spirit Prayer Spiritual Warfare

Standing Firm in the Faith

Post author By Stephen Trammell
Post date April 5, 2014
5 Comments on Standing Firm in the Faith

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 (ESV) Spiritual warfare is a reality in the life God has for you. Get on your toes and be aware, be alert, and be armed. The devil is real. This is not a time to embrace spiritual apathy or lethargy. This is not a time to retreat. Choose to live in the opposition readiness mode. God has given you everything you need to march victoriously in this life. God has equipped you to overcome the enemy! “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” Eph. 6:18 (ESV) Get on your knees and pray. Praying is like flying; when you stop you drop! Nothing will keep you standing like kneeling before the Lord. Prayer is your lifeline. Prayer is your communication connection to the Commander-in-Chief. Stay close and clean. Strive for unbroken fellowship with God. “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Tim. 6:12 (ESV) Get on your feet and fight. Move from the posture of kneeling in prayer to that of standing to your feet to face the enemy. The armor of God will protect you. God has armed you for battle. Stand firm! Fight the good fight! You may lose some battles, but as a child of the King, you win the war! Satan has been defeated! Walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. The spiritual warfare requires spiritual power that God provides to you by the Holy Spirit living in you. You are the walking tabernacle of the Presence of God. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Devil Spiritual Warfare Victory

Persist to Resist

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV) The enemy is persistent in his pursuit of your loyalty. The devil is on a mission to neutralize your faith and to tranquillize your passion for God. Prowling around like a roaring lion, the devil seeks to distort your vision of God. If the enemy can rob you of your passion and your vision, then he has accomplished his mission. The devil cannot attack God, so he chooses to attack God’s family. As a child of God, you are on Satan’s radar. Persist to resist. You do not have to succumb to the attacks of the devil. You do not have to yield to his temptation to doubt God’s Word. You do not have to surrender to the enemy’s agenda to thwart God’s will. Remember, you are a child of the King! Jesus purchased you with His own blood. You have received the imputed righteousness of Christ. The Holy Spirit lives in you and there is no vacancy for the devil. The enemy is not welcome in your mind. The devil has no place in the landscape of your life devoted to the Lord. Stand firm in the faith. Remember the confidence you placed in the completed work of Jesus on the cross. Stand firm in the reality of your new identity in Christ. Allow the fruit of the Spirit, self-control, to be released in your life. Starve the flesh and feed the Spirit. Guard your heart. Put on the full armor of God. Be alert! Don’t drift into apathy. Don’t coast into complacency. Stand firm in the faith God has given you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Holy Spirit Prayer Spiritual Warfare

Standing Firm in the Faith

Post author By Stephen Trammell
Post date April 9, 2010
59 Comments on Standing Firm in the Faith

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.” 1 Cor 16:13 (NIV) Spiritual warfare is a reality in the life God has for you. Get on your toes and be aware, be alert, and be armed. The devil is real. This is not a time to embrace spiritual apathy or lethargy. This is not a time to retreat. Choose to live in the opposition readiness mode. God has given you everything you need to march victoriously in this life. God has equipped you to overcome the enemy! “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Eph 6:18 (NIV) Get on your knees and pray. Praying is like flying; when you stop you drop! Nothing will keep you standing like kneeling before the Lord. Prayer is your lifeline. Prayer is your communication connection to the Commander-in-Chief. Stay close and clean. Strive for unbroken fellowship with God. “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Tim 6:12 (NIV) Get on your feet and fight. Move from the posture of kneeling in prayer to that of standing to your feet to face the enemy. The armor of God will protect you. God has armed you for battle. Stand firm! Fight the good fight! You may lose some battles, but as a child of the King, you win the war! Satan has been defeated! Walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. The spiritual warfare requires spiritual power that God provides to you by the Holy Spirit living in you. You are the walking tabernacle of the Presence of God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Devil God's Provision Spiritual Warfare

Ready for Battle

Readiness Spiritual Warfare

Readiness

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:13 (NIV) We are at war. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have to confront the reality of spiritual warfare. The kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness are in opposition. As children of the light, we must combat the forces of evil. God’s agenda is our agenda. God’s mission is our mission. Loyalty to Christ will produce opposition from Satan and his demonic forces. Be proactive by preparing your mind for action. Fill your mind with the Word of God and choose to claim God’s promises. God has revealed His plan and provided His spiritual armor for the spiritual battle. Prepare your mind for the warfare of combating temptation, sin, and compromise. Be self-controlled. This is no time for apathy or lethargy. Don’t drift into complacency. Submit to the control of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to bear the fruit of self-control in you. Yield to the Spirit’s prompting for perpetual victory over sin and Satan. Where have you anchored your hope? Your life in Christ is established on the basis of God’s grace. The grace that saved you is the grace that keeps you secure in the midst of opposition. God’s grace will sustain you whether you are in the valley of intense spiritual warfare or on the mountain of heavenly bliss. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare (6)

Stand your ground. You don’t have to be a victim of spiritual warfare; you can be victorious in spiritual warfare. You don’t have to be a victim of the devil’s schemes; you can be victorious in spite of his schemes. “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Eph 6:11-13 (NIV) Take your stand! Stand your ground! In order to stand your ground you must be grounded. Are you grounded in Christ? Have you embraced your new identity in Christ? You don’t have to retreat; you can defeat the enemy. The devil has already been defeated by the cross and empty tomb. Now stand in light of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. We are fighting from victory, not for victory. “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” Eph 1:18-21 (NIV) Activate the steps to live out your positional victory in practical ways: Step #1: Stay close to Jesus. Step #2: Put on your gear. Step #3: Stand your ground. Kneeling keeps you standing! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare (5)

Put on your gear. God has provided you with everything you need to engage in the spiritual battle. You must appropriate what God has provided. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Eph 6:10-11 (NIV) How can you be strong in the Lord and be strong in His mighty power? When you take God at His Word, you receive the benefits of His promises. Put on the full armor of God. Gear up for battle. You don’t wage war with fleshly weapons. You fight spiritual battles with spiritual armor. God has provided the attire. Are you willing to put it on? “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Eph 6:13-17 (NIV) The armor of God is for your protection. The weapons are for your use. Stay connected! Stay engaged! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare (4)

Stay close to Jesus. You can live out your positional victory in Christ through practical steps. Step one is to stay close to your commander, Jesus. He is source of life and He alone is your source of victory. Jesus reigns! Does He reign in your life? “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Eph 6:18 (NIV) Spiritual warfare demands connectivity. To live in positional victory you stay close to Jesus through prayer. Prayer is communication with Jesus. Prayer is nurturing the life of Christ in you. Praying in the Spirit involves praying according to God’s will, God’s way, and God’s Word. One of the most effective ways to allow Jesus to reign in your life is by praying Scripture. Notice that Paul includes being alert and being persistent. To be alert is to be aware of your surroundings and your standing in Christ. To always keep on praying means to stay connected and stay consistent in your communication with the Lord. Your level of protection in spiritual warfare is vitally related to your daily connectivity to Christ through prayer. Are you praying? Are you staying connected to Christ and His provision? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare (3)

The devil is already defeated. “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 (NIV) Jesus lives in you. You are greater than the devil. He has nothing on you. You are a child of the King. Jesus has made your victory over sin, over Satan, and over death, a reality! The devil is already beaten! “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5 (NIV) The devil’s time is limited. He knows that his end is near. Therefore, the devil mobilizes his demonic entourage to distract and discourage believers. Remember, the penalty for your sin has been paid in full by the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. Remember, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is living in you in the Person of the Holy Spirit who lives in you. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Cor 6:19-20 (NIV) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare (2)

The devil always opposes. The devil opposes God and anything of God. Since the devil can’t attack God, he seeks to attack that which is closest to God’s heart, you! The devil attacks God’s children. The devil is the enemy! “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 (NIV) The devil seeks to steal what Jesus reveals. Jesus is the devil’s greatest threat. Jesus brings you life, meaning, and purpose. Jesus reveals His plan for your life. Jesus gives you a reason to live and a song to sing and a mission to fulfill. The devil can’t stand what Jesus has done for you. The devil can’t rest until you forsake your loyalty to Christ. The devil can’t cease agitating you and attacking you until you give up. Recognize that the devil is anti-God. Become aware of the devil’s strategy. Don’t give in to his schemes. Don’t compromise your convictions and your commitment to Christ. Let the devil know who you are and whose you are. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare (1)

The devil actually exists. A passenger on the plane noticed a pastor sitting next to him reading the Bible. The passenger quizzed the pastor about his belief in the Bible. The pastor let the passenger know that he indeed believed every word of the Bible. The passenger frustratingly asked about the pastor’s belief in Jonah actually being swallowed by a large fish. The pastor said, “Well, of course I do. In fact, when I get to Heaven, I’ll ask Jonah about it.” The passenger inquired, “What if Jonah’s not there?” The pastor responded, “Then you can ask him!” Friend, there is a Hell and the devil actually exists. The Bible affirms, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) God is for you. The devil is against you. God has an agenda for your life. The devil has an agenda for your life. God is at work. The devil is at work. There is a perpetual war going on in the spiritual realm. Are you in touch with the reality of the enemy? “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Eph 6:12 (NIV) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care