Spiritual warfare

This post is about how to use the Armor of God in Spiritual Warfare, learning what the enemy does, and how to defend against him.  We’ll also learn what God does on our behalf that we cannot do without Him.  All of this information is straight from Scripture.

What the Enemy Does

  • Blasphemes the Holy Spirit
  • Speaks against God and The Holy Spirit
  • He’s a hinderance (Jesus called him a hinderance)
  • Tries to stop us from hearing the word
  • Takes the word away as soon as we hear it, tempts us away after we hear it, and doesn’t let the word take root in our lives. When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.

This is why it’s very important before you read the Bible, to have repented and to have accepted the Holy Spirit into your life, your temple, your heart, your body.  Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.  No one repents unless they fear the Lord.  When you repent and accept the Holy Spirit, the free gift, through fear of the Lord, you receive wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to comprehend the Scriptures.  If you are born again before you start reading the Bible, the evil one cannot come snatch away what has been sown in your heart because you didn’t understand the Scriptures. 

  • Invites us to sin
  • Makes us double minded, lukewarm, one foot in – one foot out. Such as being in church on Sunday morning, but being in the bar every Friday night, OR lying, stealing, walking after the flesh, making promises to God and never keeping them, etc.
  • Demands human blood sacrifices – We see this all throughout the Old Testament and its evident still today.
  • Turn us to worshipping false idols (even inanimate objects) to lead us astray and anger God
  • Wants us to sacrifice to the dead and eat sacrifices of the dead.
  • Wants us to practice cannibalism
  • Wants us to practice homosexuality
  • Want us to provoke God to anger with our own inventions

Jesus spoke of the spirit of the antichrist.  The Pharisees were influenced by the spirit of antichrist.

1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

This is what Jesus says to the Pharisees after he cast out devils:

John 8:43-47

43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

This is a prime example of the antichrist spirit.

Our Father in heaven wants us to stay far away from the heathen who are following after the enemy.

Psalm 106:35-38

35 But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.

36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.

37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,

38 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

We are not to mingle among the heathen and learn their works.  We are a treasure, a chosen and peculiar people, a royal priesthood of God

Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

Psalm 135:4 For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

Deuteronomy 26:18 And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

We are not of this world.  We are not to be friends of this world.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Keep Your Armor Strong to be able to stand the wiles of the devil.

Ephesians 6:10-12 Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

We do not wrestle against people.  Our fight is against the demons attached to those people.  Our war is spiritual.  We walk in the Spirit and we fight in the spirit. 

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

We are not to be double minded.  It’s All in Or Nothing.

Luke 11:17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

Luke 11:21-23

21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:

22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

Put on your armor and be strong.  Jesus said you are either with Him or against Him.  Is your armor weak or strong?  There is no inbetween or gray areas.  You cannot be thinking and saying one thing, but being another, such as speaking godly, but acting worldly.  Do you study for five minutes and then do what you want for the rest of the week?  Do you show up to church, but spend the rest of your weekend in the bar?  Are you preaching to others, but hanging out at secular rock concerts?  That’s being lukewarm.  We have to live 100% in the ways of the LORD or our armor is broken.

Luke 11:43-45

43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

When this strongman from the demonic realm comes in because your armor is weak, he will bring back seven  more spirits more wicked than himself to divide up and spoil your mind, your soul, your body.  You better be all in for the LORD. 

Put on Your Whole Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-18

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

I watched a video on exorcisms not too long ago.  One thing that struck me that was said in the video was that when a Christian is walking in the Spirit, their light blinds demons.  If you are always praying and walking with the LORD in the Spirit, the demons cannot see you because of your light.  You will find tons of information available to research about how demons are always watching you to find a way in, looking for ways to trick you, and making sure you continue to keep doing the sins they want you to do.  But, when you are walking in the Spirit and praying constantly there is a light about you.  Jesus said He is the light of the world.  Jesus said you have a light, too.  He said to let your light shine.  There is a light about you so bright that it blinds demons so that they cannot see you.

I have taken all of the terrible things satan and his evil minions try to get us to do and I have put them into the Armor of God to show how our armor fights these attacks.  

Belt of Truth

Satan casts doubt, unbelief, and betrayal to God.  When you know the Truth, there is no doubt.

Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.  Satan lies.  He likes to tell you that you are singled out and suffering alone, and that is just not true. 

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.  We are to be true to one another and have fellowship with one another.

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.  When you know the Truth, you recognize those lies.

Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.  We are not to be nasty to one another like you see so many people, including Christians, being on social media.  Remember the saying, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all?”  That’s pretty much what this is saying.  How will others be lead to the knowledge of Truth when you act like a person they would never want to be like or they appall? Walk in the Spirit.  Do not start quarrels.  Teach in all gentleness.  This is how we fight the devil and bring people to Truth. 

 

Armor of God Belt of Truth

 

The whole world lies in the power of the evil one – The whole world is not only lying under the influence of the evil one, but the evil one also instigates them to lie.  He incites wars in this manner. 

Steals and Flips the Word of God to be about himself – The enemy flips Scripture on its head and puts His own name on them.  It’s crazy!  In his pride, he twists Scripture to be all about him. 

The enemy copies and imitates God.  You can plainly see this even just in the names of the Old Testament, such as Enoch from Jared and Enoch from Cain, Canaan and Cainan, Jesus and Bar-Jesus.   Whatever the Kingdom of God is doing, there is always the counterfeit from the enemy.  The enemy loves to confuse you.  This is why you must be strong and have your loins girth about with Truth. 

 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. – Jesus is the Truth.  He is the True God and Eternal Life.

We fight the enemy with our breastplate of righteousness.  These are things we do when we are righteous.

 

Breastplate of Righteousness Armor of God

 

When we are righteous, we are unashamed of the LORD.  We fear the LORD, which brings about repentance, the Holy Spirit, and produces Fruit of the Spirit.  We are humble. We pursue faith, love, peace, and a pure heart.  We feed the hungry, give drink to the thirst, clothe the naked, visit the prisoners, tend to the sick, and do what is right.  Satan wants our eyes on selfish things desired of man and not on things of God.  That is how he “gets” us.  That is why we are not to be conformed to this world. 

As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Have your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

 

Gospel of Peace on Feet

 

You are commanded to preach boldly to one another and to the lost, and to testify of His wondrous deeds.  You are also to testify that He is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.  Preach good news of peace through Jesus Christ.  Do the works of Abraham. 

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 

Ephesians 5:3-5 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.   For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Love the LORD your God with all your heart, mind, and soul.  If God is your Father, then you would love Jesus, for He came from God.

Get out there and make disciples of all nations, gathering believers.  Remember, Jesus said that whoever does not gather with Him, scatters.  It’s commanded of us to share the gospel.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.  There is a lot in this verse.  We must remove bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, unforgiveness, and thoughts of revenge.  When it comes to our brothers and sisters in Christ, we must always be forgiving, tenderhearted, and kind.  We must keep the body of Christ strong and in line with the will of God, perfect, without blemish or spot, and Holy as He is Holy.

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

 

shield of faith

 

With the Shied of Faith, we can quench all of the following fiery darts of the wicked:

Do not be tempted – If you have faith, you cannot succumb to temptation.

Do not forsake God which made you, and lightly esteem the Rock of his salvation.

When your faith is strong, there are no weak spots for satan to attack.  You will have the ability to resist the devil.  You won’t believe the lies of the enemy. 

It’s faith in our living hope, Jesus, that we receive forgiveness of sins. 

As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.  This is where your faith comes in.  If you had faith, you would have root in yourself.  When tribulation or persecution comes, you would remain faithful because you know that Jesus saves.  God is always working and He is a faithful God.

 

shield of faith armor of God

 

Satan Wants worship in exchange for earthly desires. The devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.  And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”  How many people actually fell down and worshipped him in order to receive their ruling positions?  This is why we are to pray for our leaders so that we can live peaceably.  Have you ever heard the term, “I sold my soul for rock and roll?”  It’s probably pretty close to 99% of the musicians you hear on the radio that did just that.  They are all making witchcraft music and worshipping other gods.  Look at all the terrible things coming out recently in Hollywood about actors.  This is such a sad thing.  Our lives on this Earth are only temporary.  It’s a short time compared to eternity.  Someone may be looking like they have it all right now, but they will have nothing except burning of fire and gnashing of teeth for eternity.  Wouldn’t you rather spend eternity, ETERNITY, in glory with our Father in Heaven?

They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.  17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.  18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.  19 And when the Lord saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.  20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

 

Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

 

helmet of salvation

 

Be saved by Jesus Christ and fight with the Word of God, the Sword of the Spirit.  With it, you can cast out demons in the name of Jesus.  Jesus said all authority in Heaven and Earth has been given to Him.  The Holy Spirit has been given unto you.  The apostles cast out demons in the name of Jesus.  You are able to cast out demons in the name of Jesus.  He has authority over this world now and the demons must submit to His name. 

I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.  Paul proved this when he was bit by the snake.  Everyone was waiting for him to die and he was unmoved by the incident. 

Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.  When this happened, David was not listening to The Word of God. 

The Holy Spirit helps us discern and test the spirits, knowing which ones are from God. 

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

 

praying always

 

We are to love the LORD our God with all our heart and to Love our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Do not speak evil against one another or judge one another.  Remember, we do not war after the flesh.  Our battle is spiritual.  Let only wholesome talk come from your mouths, that which is good for lifting each other up.  We are to express the gospel of peace.  We have to teach gently and endure evil patiently.  This is how we set the example and not push others away. 

Jesus let us know some devils only come out through prayer and fasting. 

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  The enemy always has a counterfeit.  Remember that.  Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. 

 

Lion Counterfeit

 

Be angry and do not sin.  When you are angry, do not give any opportunity to the devil by sinning.  A fruit of the Spirit is self control; however, we are human and we get out of control at times.  Put that anger in check. Be careful of your words and actions.  Do not go to sleep angry.  When we sleep, we open our pituitary gland and we dream.  If you are going to bed angry, you are giving an opportunity to the devil.  You are inviting the devil into your dream state.  Psalm 91 tells us that there is a terror by night and a pestilence that walks in darkness.  This is warfare!  Pray before you sleep.  Ask for forgiveness for your anger and for to forgive your brother or sister.  Ask for protection while you sleep.

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death.  We can pray over our brothers and sisters in Christ who are sinning and our prayers will lead God to give them life and the evil one will not touch them!! 

1 John 3

14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ  and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him.  And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

I feel there are things the Holy Spirit does for us that our armor cannot do.  I know we have the Sword of the Spirit which is often also referred to as the Holy Spirit, but I found many spiritual warfare items that didn’t fall under that category.  The Holy Spirit provides discernment, counseling, and the power to fight the evil one. 

Acts 13:10  You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

We had mentioned earlier about evil spirits being blind to our light!  The Holy Spirit was with the apostles and they physically blinded, unable to see the sun for a time, this sorcerer named Barjesus who obviously had a demon upon him, an enemy of all righteousness.  This happened to Saul before he became saved and renamed Paul and it is Paul speaking to Barjesus in Acts 13:10 above.

James 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands and purify your hearts. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Ephesians 4:30  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Keep the law.

James 4 11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.  The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

The law is written on our hearts and we are to keep it. 

Psalm 37:31 The law of God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.

Psalm 40:8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.

Hebrews 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

The Holy Spirit is here as the counselor and helper to help us remember everything that Jesus said. 

John 14:25-26 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

We are not to grieve the Holy Spirit.  He is the one who is going to seal us.

Revelation 7:3 Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. 

Ephesians 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The seal of the Holy Spirit is what keeps you from the day of wrath.

Matthew 13:23  As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.

You understand The Word when you have the Holy Spirit, as we discussed earlier.  When you have the Holy Spirit and you understand The Word, you will bear fruit – Fruits of the Spirit.  By living a life that produces Fruit of the Spirit, you will yield much fruit – you will lead others to Jesus by your words and actions.  You gather and don’t scatter.

Deuteronomy 32:28  For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.

The Holy Spirit is the Counselor and gives us wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, which first comes from fear of the Lord and repentance.

Matthew 10:8  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Revelation 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 

We must have discernment of spirits, which is a gift from The Holy Spirit.  How will you know that these are spirits of devils working these miracles?  Many people will be lead astray and deceives. 

Satan binds us in sin and plunders our temple.  Our temple is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.  The one sin that won’t be forgiven is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

Satan incites us to want to kill, but The Law is written on our hearts.  Thou Shalt Not Kill.  The Holy Spirit inside of us helps us as our counselor and helper. 

Satan/His Minions want to possess us, but our light blinds them.  The Holy Spirit must be in you to stop this ferocious attack!   

Satan has you murmur and hearken not unto the voice of the Lord.  This is what happened in the wilderness when some people were murmuring in their tents hearkening not to the voice of the LORD, going against Moses.

Satan incites us to covet, fight, quarrel, and murder for our own desires and wants which we do not have.  This happens when we go after Earthly things which the LORD told us not to go after.

James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.  You adulterous people!  Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Example:  Are you asking God for a salary increase so that you can help the poor or are you asking for a salary increase so that you can buy a bigger house?

Satan makes us envious, due to us wanting these earthly desires.  This jealousy and covetousness happens when you are not walking in the Spirit. 

Our God Will Fight For Us

1 Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

He will bring you out of the muddy, slimy pit and restore you because He is full of grace and by grace you are saved.

Zechariah 3:2 And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

We may have authority through the Name of Jesus on this Earth to cast out demons, but we don’t want to go starting fights with satan.  The LORD rebukes satan.  It’s important to have a personal relationship with Jesus.

Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

God takes your iniquity away from you. 

Zechariah 3:7 If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts.

Scripture says that we will judge angels.

Matthew 13:41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

God will have these demons cast out of the Earth for us.  The righteous will be left, like the Church of Philadelphia that God so loved and says He will make pillars of them in His house.  There were earthquakes going on during the time of the Church of Philadelphia and the pillars from the temples were the only thing left standing.  God is going to make you a pillar in His house.  You will be left standing and He will write His name on you. 

Proverbs 10:30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

John 13:1 Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

Jesus came in the flesh and set the perfect example of how we are to act.  He showed how we are to love and how we are to deal with the ungodly. 

Acts 10:40-41  God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.  

Jesus laid down His life for us so that He could defeat the works of the devil and so that we could have forgives our sins through our belief on Him.  By faith we are saved. 

The Father gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus said that He was going to pray the Father to give us the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth.  The Holy Spirit works through us to heal, cast out demons, pray, have faith, and discern.  We have the Law written on our Hearts. Everything Jesus said is brought to our remembrance because the Spirit bears witness to Jesus.  The Spirit gives each one of us gifts as He sees fit so we are equipped to do the work of God, bringing the ministry of reconciliation to the world.

God fights for us because we cannot do it alone.  That is clearly evident all throughout the Old Testament.  Jesus said without Him we can do nothing.  When David stood before Goliath and flung that rock, he knocked that giant down because God did it.  God fought for Him.  God fought for the Iraelites while they just sat still.  God fights for us now.

Hebrews 2

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

We can go all the way back to the garden when it was said that Eve’s seed would crush the enemy’s head.  Then, we see David crushing the head of Goliath with a Rock, through faith.  Next, we see Jesus defeated the works of the devil on the cross.  Some say Jesus was crucified where Goliath’s head was buried – Golgotha, the place of the skull. 

Not only did God send His only begotten son here to defeated the works of the devil and make a way for us to be redeemed back to Him, but also so that He could be a just judge.  Jesus is now a merciful and faithful High Priest because He came in the flesh, walked and talked in the flesh, and was tempted in the flesh just as we are.

God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.  We are repeatedly told to humble ourselves before the LORD.  We are told not to think of ourselves more highly than others, but to think of others more highly than ourselves.  He exalts those who are humble at the correct time.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

1 John 5:14-15  If we ask anything according to his will he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

He is a faithful God!

Deuteronomy 32:43 Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.

God regards your affliction, when He hears your cry.  All throughout the Bible, we read many stories where the LORD came to the aid of His people when He heard their cry.

God gathers us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.

This is a great example of what happened in Egypt.  God heard their cries.  He regarded their affliction.  He gathered them out from among the heathen to give thanks to His Holy Name.

Jesus came upon all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

Not only does He save us and pull us out from among the heathen when we cry about our afflictions, but He also physically and spiritually heals us of diseases and possession of devils.

For those worshipping devils and shedding innocent blood:

Deuteronomy 32

35 To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

36 For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.

37 And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,

38 Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.

39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

The LORD is the one who brings vengeance.  We are not to retaliate.  Vengeance and recompense belong to God.  It will come in due time to all those who are against Him.  Then, He will judge, being a fair and just judge having already come down here in the flesh and suffered with us.  These verses say there is no power in them.  The Holy Spirit is not with them.  They are trusting in other gods who ate the fat of their sacrifices – maybe human, maybe animal.  Nothing has changed.  These things are still happening right now.  The LORD will have His way with them.  YHWH is the One True God and no one can deliver out of His hand. 

Do not mingle yourself with the heathen.  Put on the whole Armor of God so you can do all to stand firm.  Fight the enemy by loving the LORD your God with all your heart, mind, and soul and by loving one another.  Repent.  Accept the Holy Spirit.  Walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.  Set your mind on heavenly things and not on earthly desires.  Fight the good fight of faith laying hold on eternal life where you are called, not only for yourself, but also for your brothers and sisters in Christ.