How to COMBAT Warfare - pt. 1 by: Kaylania Chapman

The moment that you become a Christian...spiritual warfare has begun for you! The word says: "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 Corinthians 10:3-5.
Many may actually laugh at the notion of a person actually going through spiritual warfare. Those that do not have the mind of Christ may assume that you are just "going through the motions of life", it's Murphy's Law, bad luck, etc. You must understand that satan's tactics is not just to camouflage the TRUTH, but his main objective as stated in John 10:10 is nothing "but to steal, kill and destroy".

Some of you may who have recently given your life to Jesus Christ, or have been seasoned Christians wonder "what is the WORLD is going on in my life?". Questions that you ask yourself, your friends, or even God may go unanswered because the truth lies in YOU and is evident in the word of the Lord. The call God has on your life, and the deeper the anointing He has for you, will activate something in the spiritual realm, causing satan and his demons to attack you from every which way possible! So how do you know that you are fighting spiritual warfare? What are the most common red flags that a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, is facing a battle that may not be seen by the naked eye? Here are some of the most common manifestations of spiritual warfare:

1. Attacks on your finances and income - The moment you totally surrender and give your life to Jesus Christ, you will begin to have financial trouble and difficulties. satan knows that you were a wealthy Christian that has a HIGH calling on your life to seek God's Kingdom and bring other's out of the fire...finances are a necessity to travel, minister, etc.

2. Attacks on your children, friends,and loved ones - The devil loves to go for the jugular! The closet people to you, the enemy will attack by causing death, acts of witchcraft, sickness, fights, bitterness, anger, divorce, etc. 1 Peter 5:8 states: "Be clear-minded and alert. Your opponent, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour."

3. Attacks on your MIND! - What a better way can the spirits of darkness get you by getting into your mind? Without the mind, how can we survive? You may began to get lustful thoughts, thoughts of suicide and depression, you may feel as if no one loves you or God doesn't exist, etc. Colossians 33:2 states:"Keep your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth." Isaiah 26:3 states: ""The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You." Most things that we think are other people intentionally hurting you is actually us hurting yourself. YOU can be your own worst enemy and satan knows that. Once satan has your mind...then he has YOU.

4. Attacks on your health and body - 1 Corinthians 6:19 states: "Don't you know that your body is a temple that belongs to the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit, whom you received from God, lives in you. You don't belong to yourselves." Do not find it odd or strange that you began to get sick with things that the doctor cannot diagnose or your illness has worsened. Sickness and disease slows you down physically and emotionally therefore causing you to focus on the physical manifestations rather than what God is trying to do in YOU.

The above mentioned attacks are just a few examples of what Christians must face during spiritual warfare. So how can you combat the tactics of the enemy? Read Ephesians 6:10-16! You are a true soldier in the Lord Jesus Christ. Never let anyone or anything distract you from God's purpose! Be blessed in Jesus name!

-Kaylania Chapman