Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Conflict”
Our Bible verse for today: “For though we live in the body, we do not wage war in an unspiritual way, since the weapons of our warfare are not worldly, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Conflict is avoided and Satan is defeated when we use the right weapons.”
Continuing our study from the last three days of devotional messages we have learned first of all, that Satan is the father of conflict. We have also seen that he is a master deceiver and manipulator, and he will use unsuspecting and inattentive Christians to create conflict and then to keep it going. And finally, we have learned that there are Biblical strategies for defeating Satan as he attempts to sow the seeds of conflict and disunity among Christians. Today we want to focus on the fact that God has provided us with effective weapons to be employed in the spiritual realm, which we can use to defeat Satan.
1. First, we must recognize that since our true foe is Satan and since the real battle is waged in the spiritual realm not the physical, we need spiritual weapons to fight him with. God has provided us with those spiritual weapons and that’s the truth Paul was writing about in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.
2. Second, we do not approach Satan head-on, by ourselves. Instead, we face Him standing alongside Jesus Christ. In prayer walk up to the Throne, take your place beside Jesus, then turn around and face Satan from that perspective. (Ephesians 2:6). Then when Satan looks at you he doesn’t see you standing alone, he sees you with Jesus standing by your side.
3. Put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17).
4. Command Satan with the authority of the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17-18; Matthew 4:1-11)
5. Claim the victory through Jesus (Romans 8:31, 37)
Of course what I’ve just described is appropriate for dealing with Satan in any circumstance, but especially so when he is trying to sow the seeds of conflict among Christians. Conflict can be avoided, and Satan can be defeated, if we use the weapons God has provided us with to do so.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 