Baby It’s Cold Outside

When are we going to quit rejecting the Bible as the ultimate truth? I don’t know how many times I have heard the saying, well it was in the Old testament so that doesn’t apply today. How about the one well we don’t really have demons today like they did in Jesus’ day (New Testament). How many other things will we keep excusing from the Bible? When will we quit pick and choosing, and decide that we will live our whole life under the complete direction of the total Word of God. There is truth from every chapter, every line and even every word, that we can apply to our life. The problem is, when we do not understand something, it is easier to just dismiss it, claiming that its significance is no longer relevant to our times today.

Okay, I hope you are all still with me here. Let’s look unto the word of God for our answers.

Lord, please open our eyes, minds and hearts to the truth of Your word. In Your name we pray.

1 John 4:1-6 NLT Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.  This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God.  But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here. But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.  Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them.  But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.

I believe Jesus is the son of God. He is Christ, my Lord and Savior. I love the preceding scripture. It tells us how we can know whether or not someone is a false prophet or not. Just ask them, Do you believe that Jesus came in a real body and was sent from God. Easy. I have asked people that. Thank God, so far, everyone I have asked has said yes. We belong to God and greater is He who is in us, than he who is in the world. That is how you can recognize false teachers. Highlight that scripture.

Matthew 12:7-9 NLT Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels.  And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.

Are there demons? Satan and all one third of the  angels were thrown down to the earth. Satan goes around like a roaring lion seeking who he can devour (1 Peter 5:8). That is why we need to study the word of God. Knowledge is power.

James 2:19 NLT You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.

We need to fear God! He alone is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28) We do not need to be afraid of the devil or his demons. God has given us power over every demon in hell through Jesus.

James 4:7 NLT So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Keep our eyes on God and resist the devil. Tell him out loud to get away from you in Jesus’ name.  Can someone get possessed today? I believe, yes, they can. People can also be just tormented by demons, yet not be possessed.

Luke 8:2 NLT along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons;

We see here Mary Magdalene had seven demons cast out of her.

Luke 8:30 NLT Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons.

Ugh, many.  There are demons of false religions, the occult, witchcraft, idolatry, adultery, sexual promiscuity, hatred, depression and many others. Satan doesn’t miss an opportunity to try and trick people in any way he can (2 John 1:7). We need to hold fast to our calling in Jesus (Hebrews 10:23).

Mark 9:29 NLT Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.”

In order to defeat satan (purposely not capitalized) and his imps, we need to know  the word of God. A good soldier will put on his whole armor, to be able, having done all else, to, stand (Ephesians 6:13).

Some can only come out only by prayer and fasting.

Matthew 10:1 NLT Jesus called His twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.

Jesus sent them out. Notice here that, along with telling others about the good news of salvation, they also were given authority to cast out evil spirits. They had to share the good news, but sometimes in order to share the message of God’s love, they had to get their hands dirty, so to speak. The disciples had to roll up their sleeves and do some work.

Luke 10: 16-20 NLT Then He said to the disciples, “Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me.”  When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to Him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use Your name!”  “Yes,” He told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.  But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”

Don’t worry if people reject you, for telling the truth. It is hard, I can assure you, but I  want to stand before my Lord and Savior with nothing on my conscious. Nothing that I should have said and didn’t say. James 4:17 says to him who knows to do good, and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin. And we know that all sin separates us from God  (Romans 6:23). We have to quit being lukewarm and complacent. The time to shine for Christ is now! We are told by Jesus not to rejoice because the demons are subject to us, rather rejoice that our names are written down in Heaven.

Acts 19:13-16 NLT A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!”  Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this.  But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?”  Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.

Jesus’ name is so powerful, these men didn’t know the Lord and they tried to use His name. I believe that is blasphemy. Well, you see what happens to them here, they were violently attacked. You have to know the Lord Jesus and have the authority that He gives to His children.

Matthew 12:43-45 NLT

“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.”

When you cast a demon out, it is very important to ask the Lord to completely fill the empty spot with more of His Holy Spirit. Then also ask the Lord for a hedge of protection around yourself, or person the demon came out of. So that if that evil spirit comes back it will run the other way seeing the house is full of the Spirit of God (Ephesians 5:18, Acts 19).

Ephesians 6:10-18 NLT A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.  For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Think of it this way, a soldier that goes out to battle has to have protection, correct? Their commander puts them on the front line but, they supply the soldier with everything he needs, to fight the enemy. Every day he has a weapon, helmet, shield, and combat boots. I have never seen a soldier show up on the frontline barefooted or without his weapon, have you?

The Lord has provided us with the same things, which are our protection against the enemy of our souls. We, who are in Christ, should, every day, put on the armor of God, which the pieces are the following:

Belt of truth. Truth of the scripture. Knowledge is power! James: 4:9-12 states there is no salvation in any other name, just Jesus. 2 Peter 3:18 says to grow in His grace and knowledge.

Breastplate of Righteousness.  Righteousness of Christ our Lord and Savior. Romans 3:26 NASB for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Feet fitted with the gospel of peace. Go where the Lord leads us (Matthew 28:19-20).

Shield of faith. Knowledge that grows as we submit to Christ and read His word, what we actually know and believe to be true according to the Scriptures.

Helmet of salvation. Certainty that Jesus forgave us our sins (John 3:16).

Sword of the Spirit-The word of God. Know the truths contained therein, so you can’t be led with every wind and wave of doctrine, but will adhere to the truth (Ephesians 4:14).

Pray at all times and on every occasion, stay alert and be persistent.

This is serious business here. We have the equipment, but what good is it if we do not put it on? If we do not know God’s word? How can we put on the armor of God if we don’t know what it is? Remember we are fighting against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Pray with me please,

Dearest heavenly, wonderful and awesome, truly and holy Father,

Thank You for Your precious word, which is able to instruct us in all righteousness. Thank You for Christ, in us, the hope of Glory. He alone is our strength and help. Thank You for drawing us even closer to You in Your blessed and Holy Word, which is Truth. We acknowledge You as our Lord and Savior. Lord, help us to understand what the armor is that You have provided us with. Teach us to ask for Your protection every day by You placing Your precious armor on us every day. May we study Your word and each of us work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. You are an awesome and holy Father, let us have no sin separating us from Your presence. Teach us the how’s and when’s and also the why’s of spiritual warfare. Lord, You can let us know when there is an issue that needs to be addressed. You have done it for me and countless others. Your Holy Spirit will reveal any evil that we need to command to go. Help us to understand our rights, as Your children, to take back what the enemy has stolen from us. We are trusting wholeheartedly in Your divine guidance. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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We are instructed to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) so if there are any prayer requests feel free to leave them in the comment section. I would be honored to pray with you. If it is more private you can always contact me via email at luckd61@yahoo.com I check that every day. Blessings to you all, till we meet again, tomorrow, if the Lord is willing. Peace.

Let’s worship today with,

Our God Reigns Here by John Waller

Overdose by NF

To know Jesus more personally please read the following

https://thefathersfeet.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/you-never-let-us-go/