15 Spiritual Warfare Scriptures..... Debbie McDaniel

15 Spiritual Warfare Scriptures

• Debbie McDaniel

15 Spiritual Warfare Scriptures for When You Face the Battle

Praying God’s words back to Him, is a powerful weapon against the forces of evil. It is Truth going out. It reminds us that God knows our way and understands what we face today. It builds our faith and our trust in God. It guards our hearts and focuses our minds back on Him. It wins the battle.

Here are 15 Spiritual Warfare Scriptures for you to Read, Pray, and Memorize...Go win the battle in the name of Jesus.

1. James 4:7

"Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."  – James 4:7

2. 1 John 4:4

"You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world."  – 1 John 4:4 

3. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  – 2 Cor 10:3-5 

4. 1 Peter 5:8-9

"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."  – 1 Pet 5:8-9 

5. Isaiah 54:17 

"No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me," declares the Lord."  – Isaiah 54:17 

6. Ephesians 6:11-17 

"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.  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 6:11-17 

7. Romans 8:37 

"In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."  – Rom 8:37 

8. 1 Corinthians 15:57 

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  – 1 Cor 15:57

9. Zechariah 4:6 

"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts."  – Zechariah 4:6 

10. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 

"But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one."  – 2 Thes 3:3 

11. Luke 10:19 

“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”  – Luke 10:19 

12. John 10:10 

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”  – John 10:10 

13. Matthew 18:18-19 

"Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven."  – Matthew 18:18-19 

14. Deuteronomy 28:7 

"The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.”  – Deuteronomy 28:7 

15. John 16:33 

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."  – John 16:33 

We are secure in God. 

When we belong to Christ, the enemy never has the final word over our lives. We are secure in God's hands.

Steams in the Desert

Steams in the Desert

Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?" (S. of Sol. 8:5).

Some one gained a good lesson from a Southern prayer meeting. A brother asked the Lord for various blessings--as you and I do, and thanked the Lord for many already received--as you and I do; but he closed with this unusual petition: "And, O Lord, support us! Yes support us Lord on every leanin' side!"

Have you any leaning sides? This humble man's prayer pictures them in a new way and shows the Great Supporter in a new light also. He is always walking by the Christian, ready to extend His mighty arm and steady the weak one on "every leanin' side."

"Child of My love, lean hard,
And let Me feel the pressure of thy care;
I know thy burden, child. I shaped it;
Poised it in Mine Own hand; made no proportion
In its weight to thine unaided strength,
For even as I laid it on, I said,
'I shall be near, and while she leans on Me,
This burden shall be Mine, not hers;
So shall I keep My child within the circling arms
Of My Own love.'
Here lay it down, nor fear
To impose it on a shoulder which upholds the government of worlds.
Yet closer come: Thou art not near enough.
I would embrace thy care;
So I might feel My child reposing on My breast.
Thou lovest Me? I knew it.
Doubt not then;
But Loving Me, lean hard."

The Judgment ..... Dr. Charles Stanley

The Judgment

Dr. Charles Stanley

2 Corinthians 5:9-10

Every Christian is answerable to Jesus for how he or she lived life. We will not stand before the Great White Throne of Revelation 20:11--that is where unbelievers will be judged. Instead, we will go before Christ's judgment seat and give an account of ourselves.

Perhaps this seems like a contradiction: Believers will not be judged but will stand before Christ's judgment seat. The Greek word that 2 Corinthians uses for "judgment seat" is bema, which means a place of accountability. So those who believe in the Savior will not be condemned to death but will live and be accountable to Him.

Do not confuse accountability with giving a defense. We won't defend our worthless actions--those things we said and did that brought no honor to the Lord or shamed His name. God likens our selfish works to wood, hay, and stubble, which are items fit only for the fire (1 Cor. 3:13). The valuable thoughts, words, and deeds that serve the Lord are exchanged for rewards in heaven.

What we'll be judged on is the quality of our work. God has given every believer an individual purpose, along with the personality, talents, and spiritual gifts needed to fulfill it. The question that will be answered at Christ's judgment seat is, Did I live out my purpose to honor and glorify God?

Standing before Christ's judgment seat is something to look forward to. We need not fear, since we are beloved co-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17, 34). Because of His sacrifice, we have a right to the treasures of heaven. He is eager to bestow them as a reward for faithfulness and obedience.

Words of Jesus Warn Us to Stay Alert in this World..... By Debbie McDaniel

Words of Jesus Warn Us to Stay Alert in this World
By Debbie McDaniel

Reading through Mark chapter 13 again late last night, have read it over and over this past year, and it's seeming more real now. In it, Jesus reminds us that when we see certain signs that indicate we are in, or are entering into the end times, we don't have to be alarmed.

Because He's told us ahead of time what to expect, we know from His Word, "such things must happen, but the end is still to come." Mark 13:7

He reminds us that we will know these are prophetic words coming to pass when we hear of "wars and rumors of wars," when we see certain events unfolding, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains." Mark 13:7-8

And also, in this one chapter where Jesus is telling us of all that's to come, signs of the end times, He says this over and over, 7 different times throughout these verses...

He warns us to stay aware.

His words are true are they are for now, right now, in this day and time, and throughout all future days until he comes again. May we be faithful, wise to listen, and may He help us to apply them to life:

- "Watch out that no one deceives you..." v. 5
- "You must be on your guard..." v. 9
- "So be on your guard, I have told you everything ahead of time." v. 23
- "Be on guard!" v. 33
- "Be alert!" v. 33
- "Therefore, keep watch..." v. 35
- "If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch!" v. 36

As believers, we have hope in Christ, we know beyond a doubt He is at work in this world and He will come again.

Let's keep working while it is still day...

Praying for His mercy through the storms and floods, through the earthquakes, through the fires, may God draw many to Himself in these days. And may we be found living as light in a world that needs His great peace.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Many around us may be feeling worried and fearful in these days. Choose to trust and believe that God is working in our world, even behind the scenes where we can’t fully see. Ask Him for His Presence of peace to fill your life today, ask for His help in staying aware and alert. Pray that God will help us all, as believers, to be a light to others who need His hope in dark times.

Further Reading:
Mark 13
Matthew 24
John 14:2-7

The Faith of Ordinary People..... by Jennifer Waddle

The Faith of Ordinary People
by Jennifer Waddle

I love how the Lord employed unlikely people to do extraordinary things. Often, the outcast was embraced, the sinner was chosen, and the “labeled” was marked by God for a divine purpose.

I find it interesting that the two Israelite spies, sent by Joshua to search out the land of Jericho, went specifically to the house of Rahab the harlot. While it made sense that they would lodge at a house located on the wall of Jericho—for strategic purposes, it doesn’t make sense that they chose to lodge with a harlot.

Against the commandments of God, a harlot would normally have been avoided at all cost.Yet, against all of our rationale, God chose Rahab to help His people, and eventually become part of the lineage of Jesus. (see Matthew 1:5)

What a beautiful testimony of God’s character! He truly sees past the physical and straight to the heart. God looks for those who will be faithful to Him, and often finds them in the most unlikely places.

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him…2 Chronicles 16:9

By faith, Rahab risked her own life to help the spies escape. It was her belief in the Lord that saved her and her whole family. Unlike the other inhabitants of Jericho, the miraculous things she had heard about God spurred her to action.

Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Joshua 2:8-11

In holy fear of the Lord, Rahab acted in faith. Instead of closing the door on the spies, she allowed her reverent fear of “God in heaven above and on earth beneath” to motivate her.

The lesson for us is to let a holy and reverent fear of the Lord motivate our service to Him; to remember what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do. God does amazing things in the lives of ordinary people. All He looks for is faith in His Son Jesus—a faith that leads us to do great things for His glory. I don’t know about you, but I want that more than anything.

A Prayer for Perspective...... By Meg Bucher

A Prayer for Perspective
By Meg Bucher

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” - Ephesians 3:20

When my little math whiz runs into a problem she can’t easily solve, it sends her little Irish temper into overdrive. Perspective, “the way you ‘see’ things as a result of who you are and what you do," drives our daily lives. If we’re operating under the wrong influence, we can travel for long distances before we run out of gas and wonder how we ended up broken down.

Sometimes, just like my little and her minor Math conundrum, we can let small detours completely derail us.

“Take your time and figure it out,”I often remind her, “you’ll figure it out …you’re really good at Math.”

She will inevitably perk up a little as my compliments and encouragement sink in, but the hole in her Math paper remains as she tries to work around it to find the answer.

When minor mistakes and frustrations threaten to launch our temperaments into extremes, we can remind ourselves of the truth of this verse from Ephesians. Surely, our great God who is capable of all things, is not going to let a small mistake or frustration hold us back from the great life He has purposed for us. Not even a hole in our paper, or our plan.

My daughter wants to change the subject and move on quickly to the next part of her day once her Math homework is complete. It’s not a bad strategy. Somethings are hard. We don’t like to face them, work through them, or talk about them afterwards.

The great purpose of our life still lies in front of us. Embracing mistakes as we work through life’s lessons help us choose to walk on a little stronger and smarter. “Immeasurably more” is not going to be stopped up by our minor mistakes. “The power at work within us,” is the Holy Spirit. We can never ask for enough of that kind of power. It’s by His strength we get stronger.

Father,

We praise You for the perspective that Your Word provides. We get caught up in our mistakes and failures so easily, giving them a foothold in the mountain of doubt that threatens to take us out and discourage us. But You don’t look at our mistakes like we do. You never give up on us, teach us how to repent and live out consequences, and keep moving us forward and into the purpose You have specifically laid out for our lives.

Thank You for the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross, making Your Word accessible daily, to encourage and teach us. The Holy Spirit guides us and reminds us. You promise never to leave us, and to protect us with Your army of angels.

Forgive us for doubting your purpose, and for confusing mistakes to be disqualifications. When we skip time with You, remind us to be refueled and rejuvenated by Your Word. We need the sustenance of Your truth to operate properly in Your will. Help stretch our time and rearrange our daily agendas to put You above all.

Bless our lives to reflect Your love, and help us to develop patience and perseverance to navigate our mistakes with grace. We want Your will and Your plan for our lives. Bless us with Your perspective.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.