One thing is for certain- our citizenship is not here on
earth it is in heaven. We live as wise people who know that our time must be
redeemed to bring the most glory to God. We live everyday with hope of seeing
Jesus Christ face to face and his second coming again. Our mindset must be set
to use our talents, skills, resources, and all the blessings bestowed upon our
lives to influence our family, friends, close relationships, co-workers,
churches, nations, and this world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. So what
stops us?
Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus reminding them
and all of us that, “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians
6:12NKJV) In plain English, our war is spiritual! We see things happening in
the natural but our understanding must go deeper and perceive greater the
knowledge of spiritual opposition combating against our spiritual exploits for
the kingdom of God.
Spiritual opposition is very real in our lives. I want to
take a few moments and look at a few verses that will give us an outline of the
approaches of spiritual opposition that come into our daily lives. The Bible in
2 Corinthians 11:24-27 describes the forces of resistance Apostle Paul had to
face:
“From the Jews five times I
received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I
was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the
deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils
of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in
perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in
fastings often, in cold and nakedness”
Guideline of Spiritual Opposition Approaches:
1.
Sickness/Pain in the Body. “From the Jews five
times I received forty stripes minus one.”
The enemy will try with all his force to disrupt your health so you will be crippled in carrying out the work of the Lord. When you add up the amount of times Apostle Paul was given these “stripes” it accounts to 195 times! Be ready to fight the enemy in prayer for your health.
The enemy will try with all his force to disrupt your health so you will be crippled in carrying out the work of the Lord. When you add up the amount of times Apostle Paul was given these “stripes” it accounts to 195 times! Be ready to fight the enemy in prayer for your health.
2.
Crowd/Organizations silencing your voice. “Three
times I was beaten with rods”
In the days of Apostle Paul they would use rods or in another translation sticks to beat and this speaks of usually a group of people with an authoritative and prominent voice stirring up regular folks to join the campaign. They can be large in organization or small but the main agenda is to silence your voice of truth. Be ready for spiritual opposition in groups of people/organizations trying to stop your speech.
In the days of Apostle Paul they would use rods or in another translation sticks to beat and this speaks of usually a group of people with an authoritative and prominent voice stirring up regular folks to join the campaign. They can be large in organization or small but the main agenda is to silence your voice of truth. Be ready for spiritual opposition in groups of people/organizations trying to stop your speech.
3.
Religious Control. “Once I was stoned.”
The only folks who would be stoning during this time would be the Pharisees, Scribes, or religious leaders. Religion will always want to control your speech, your actions, your methods, your influence, your outreaches. They way this happens is when they “stone” you or in our modern language, when they discredit you, your ministry, and who you are. It is a form of killing away your ministry. Stay on guard.
The only folks who would be stoning during this time would be the Pharisees, Scribes, or religious leaders. Religion will always want to control your speech, your actions, your methods, your influence, your outreaches. They way this happens is when they “stone” you or in our modern language, when they discredit you, your ministry, and who you are. It is a form of killing away your ministry. Stay on guard.
4.
Loss of material goods. “Three times I was
shipwrecked”
When a shipwreck occurs and you survive you lose everything you had possessed materially. Often the enemy will try to shake the accumulated things in our homes, our possessions, and often our ministry assets to discourage us from engaging in spiritual warfare. Stay on guard!
When a shipwreck occurs and you survive you lose everything you had possessed materially. Often the enemy will try to shake the accumulated things in our homes, our possessions, and often our ministry assets to discourage us from engaging in spiritual warfare. Stay on guard!
5.
Abandonment/Disowned. “A night and a day I have
been in the deep”
This is a time when Apostle Paul was completely alone in the ocean. A time of despair, loneliness, and feelings of abandonment will creep in. It will hit you with full force trying to break your spirit and will to continue your walk of faith. But friend God never forsakes you!
This is a time when Apostle Paul was completely alone in the ocean. A time of despair, loneliness, and feelings of abandonment will creep in. It will hit you with full force trying to break your spirit and will to continue your walk of faith. But friend God never forsakes you!
6.
Disruption of Travel “In perils of waters or
rivers”
During these days the primary method of travel was boat. They used channels, river passages and seas to get to further lands. He was in danger in his travels. Many know this too well. Your car breaks down, flight gets cancelled, taxi doesn't show up, accident occurs all to position you out of your way to your intended destination. Many who travel on missions understand this too well. Stay on guard.
During these days the primary method of travel was boat. They used channels, river passages and seas to get to further lands. He was in danger in his travels. Many know this too well. Your car breaks down, flight gets cancelled, taxi doesn't show up, accident occurs all to position you out of your way to your intended destination. Many who travel on missions understand this too well. Stay on guard.
7.
Financial Fraud “In perils of robbers”
If Apostle Paul got robbed what is it to say about us. He constantly carried ministry funds from one church to another. How many ministries, churches, or outreaches get taken advantage of and blinded robbed? It’s not just greed its spiritual opposition to the work of God. The enemy will use anyone weak enough to unsettle our influence financially. Be on guard in your finances!
If Apostle Paul got robbed what is it to say about us. He constantly carried ministry funds from one church to another. How many ministries, churches, or outreaches get taken advantage of and blinded robbed? It’s not just greed its spiritual opposition to the work of God. The enemy will use anyone weak enough to unsettle our influence financially. Be on guard in your finances!
8.
Betrayal in your closest circles of
relationships “In perils of my own countrymen”
Your own family members, friends, church members, ministry partners, will be used to betray you and your influence for Christ. Just in case you forgot, not all people who call themselves Christians walk in righteousness. The last days Jesus said will be marked by betrayal even in family circles. Be on guard so your spirit is not crushed when it comes about.
Your own family members, friends, church members, ministry partners, will be used to betray you and your influence for Christ. Just in case you forgot, not all people who call themselves Christians walk in righteousness. The last days Jesus said will be marked by betrayal even in family circles. Be on guard so your spirit is not crushed when it comes about.
9.
Non-Christians will attack your name “In perils
of the Gentiles”
Gentiles were considered those who never knew Jehovah and were far from him. We see this increasing daily of how the world with the media is trying to attack and malign the name of Christians everywhere. Be persistent as Apostle Paul was and stay the course. Don’t give up! We fight not for our name but for the name of Jesus Christ. Stay vigilant.
Gentiles were considered those who never knew Jehovah and were far from him. We see this increasing daily of how the world with the media is trying to attack and malign the name of Christians everywhere. Be persistent as Apostle Paul was and stay the course. Don’t give up! We fight not for our name but for the name of Jesus Christ. Stay vigilant.
10.
Government/City laws “In perils in the city”
There were times when Apostle Paul was thrown out of cities. Remember it’s the people who run the cities and establish the laws that protect its people. People can cause harm but in these cases when laws and ordinances are established to limit, suppress, or eradicate your ability to serve God know your spiritual opposition is in full force. Continue steadfast in prayer!
There were times when Apostle Paul was thrown out of cities. Remember it’s the people who run the cities and establish the laws that protect its people. People can cause harm but in these cases when laws and ordinances are established to limit, suppress, or eradicate your ability to serve God know your spiritual opposition is in full force. Continue steadfast in prayer!
11.
Personal Struggles and Doubt “In perils in the
wilderness”
The wilderness speaks of personal temptation, personal struggles, only things that crush you internally will be exponentially put to the test. Dangers are very much there when struggling with personal issues. Find a mentor, a spiritual father or mother and have them walk it out with you. Don’t let the evil one cause you to fall and negate the name of Christ.
The wilderness speaks of personal temptation, personal struggles, only things that crush you internally will be exponentially put to the test. Dangers are very much there when struggling with personal issues. Find a mentor, a spiritual father or mother and have them walk it out with you. Don’t let the evil one cause you to fall and negate the name of Christ.
12.
Long term trips and travels. “In perils in the
sea”
The sea was a place of distant journeys. Once you hit the sea you would be traveling for a long time. The enemy will set traps in your travel overseas, in different nations, long-term assignments to cause you to be fully discouraged with finishing the work of God. Press through, continue in prayer and your heart will be renewed by the Holy Spirit. Be ready in all seasons.
The sea was a place of distant journeys. Once you hit the sea you would be traveling for a long time. The enemy will set traps in your travel overseas, in different nations, long-term assignments to cause you to be fully discouraged with finishing the work of God. Press through, continue in prayer and your heart will be renewed by the Holy Spirit. Be ready in all seasons.
13.
Pastors/Leaders who compromise sin “In perils
among false brethren”
The hardest place to be is knowing when a trusted leader or pastor has compromised his or her position in Christ. They take bribes, commit adultery, fornicate, driven by power, distant from accountability, these are true dangers. Especially when it is not always evident in the natural what is happening in their hearts. Stay on guard to keep trusting people but not letting them crush your passion for God.
The hardest place to be is knowing when a trusted leader or pastor has compromised his or her position in Christ. They take bribes, commit adultery, fornicate, driven by power, distant from accountability, these are true dangers. Especially when it is not always evident in the natural what is happening in their hearts. Stay on guard to keep trusting people but not letting them crush your passion for God.
14.
Physical Stress. “In weariness and in toil, in
sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and
nakedness.”
There is a sacrifice that must be paid for the kingdom of God to advance. It’s not five star hotel rooms, and limousine pickups, and large honorarium amounts that represent a servant of God but the inner passion despite all spiritual opposition to continue the work of Jesus Christ. Stress will have its place in our walk of faith but when we do it in the name of Jesus Christ our reward is great in heaven.
There is a sacrifice that must be paid for the kingdom of God to advance. It’s not five star hotel rooms, and limousine pickups, and large honorarium amounts that represent a servant of God but the inner passion despite all spiritual opposition to continue the work of Jesus Christ. Stress will have its place in our walk of faith but when we do it in the name of Jesus Christ our reward is great in heaven.
We understand now that the
approaches of spiritual opposition are varied and can come against us in small
and big ways. One thing we know is that our love for God and our desire to make
His name known to all nations must not be hindered by the enemy’s methods. We
already know that we have the victory in Jesus Christ so let’s begin to walk
our faith out despite the oppositions, relying on the Holy Spirit for wisdom,
strength, and love to pursue this world with hope. We are more than conquerors
in Christ Jesus!
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