One of the biggest lies in the church is that once you have received Salvation, all problems will instantly cease. When in all actuality, it is just the opposite.
Before you were saved, Satan had you where he wanted you. You were on his team. By accepting Jesus into your heart, you have become a threat to the devil and to his earthly kingdom.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus was sitting down talking with the Disciples and warning them that Satan was going to do everything he could to try and destroy them.
"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Luke 22:31-32
Once you are saved, there will be an up rise in Spiritual Warfare. Your duty as stated in the above scripture of Luke..... Don’t let your faith fail you. That means that no matter what the circumstances may be, know that things are going to get better as long as you keep your eyes on God and not your physical circumstances. The battles of life are not yours. They are too big and fierce for you.
"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." Ephesians 6:12
The battle is the Lord's. Nobody can put the devil in check like God. And the devil knows this. The only thing that God asks is that you STAND STILL, HAVE FAITH, and know that he will bring you through.
How does one get faith?
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17
Everyone has been given a measure of Faith. But in order to GROW that faith, you have to get into the WORD OF GOD. You have to read your bible. You may not have understood the bible before you were saved. But now that you are saved, you have the Spirit of the Living God Literally dwelling inside of you. God's Spirit is there to give you understanding of his word. When you read and get into the Word of God, you are doing Spiritual Warfare against the devil.
The Bible says that God watches over His Word and that His Word will not return unto him without being fulfilled.
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. " Matthew 24:35
The Devil knows that God's Word will not return to him void. And so what the Devil sets out to do is to first of all see to it that you don't get the word. He'll make you stay at home when you should be in church. He'll make you turn on the TV instead of pick up your Bible. He doesn't want you to get a grasp on God's Word. Because there is nothing more dangerous than one of God's children who is holding on to the promises of their Heavenly Father.
If the Devil can't stop you from getting the Word. The next tactic he will use is to try and make you doubt the Word. He'll try and do everything he can to make you think that God doesn't love you. He'll tell you that if God actually loves you, you would not be having difficulties in life. He tries to tempt you to look at your physical circumstances. And once he succeeds in getting you to look at your physical circumstances, he knows that you'll be too overwhelmed with fear to trust God. That's why a Child of God can never ever look at their physical circumstances because when you do that...you have allowed Satan to take your eyes off of Jesus. And if you don't keep your eyes on Jesus the devil will sneak in and steal away all of the joy and peace and other wonderful things that God has JUST FOR YOU.
Another tactic that the Devil uses is to throw all sorts of temptations your way. The Devil has a file on you. He knows your weaknesses. It is his job to know your weaknesses.
What we as Christians need to know is that temptation in itself is not a sin. As long as Satan is alive and roaming this earth, there will be temptations. Satan even tempted Jesus when he was in the wilderness.
Our job as Christians is to yield NOT to that temptation. As long as we're not giving in to temptation, we'll be alright. The flesh is weak, but the Spirit of God (The very POWER of God) that now dwells on the inside of you will help you to resist yielding to temptations of the flesh.
ALWAYS remember that Peace is not the absence of storms. Peace is the presence of God in the Midst of the Storm.
I'll leave you with this poem. And if at any time, you need prayer, please feel free to leave your prayer request on our message board and we will stand in agreement with you against the devil.
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child.
And then I think of You.
You're the best Mother a motherless child can have.
And I speak from experience. I do.
I never thought of myself as a fatherless child,
for he was never there from the start.
But You--being the wonderful Father You are,
stepped in and filled that void in my heart.
A void I didn't even know was there.
But you knew.
As a Mother, you beckoned me to
"Come here child.
Come lay your head on my breast.
I know that you are burdened
and heavy laden
but come to me and I'll give you rest."
"You don't have to worry about the rigorous trials,
nor the hustle and bustle of the storms....
for I am here for you. There for you.
I love you and I care for you.
I am your Mother who sits high on a
throne."
"And in those times, when it's not a Mothers love
but a Father's strength you seek..
please know that I have all power
in the palms of my hands.
And my strength is made perfect
when you're weak."
"I am your Father."
"I'll be your Rock to lean on,
your fighter to call on,
for this battle is not yours.
It's Mine."
"I'll pick you up and carry you
when you are too weak to walk.
Not just once,
but time after time."
"I am your Father.
I am your Mother.
You are My child,
and I dearly love you.
And I never want to see you in pain."
However, pain shall come.
It's a part of life..
But I'll be your sunshine
in the midst of the rain."
