I went out to feed the horses early yesterday because I knew incredible weather phenomena was coming through. When I left to make the 1/8th mile trek up to the horse barn the temperature was 70 degrees with no wind. By the time I got back about twenty minutes later; the temperature was 50 degrees and the wind was blowing around 50 mph. Some twenty minutes later, the temp was down to 35 degrees and the wind was still blowing about 40 mph. In fact, I think every leaf in Kansas has blown across the state of Missouri to where we live.
Although, thankfully, there are no storms at the moment (quite unusual), this experience with an extremely strong cold front brought back memories of many pictures and videos I have seen of the storm surge that wiped out the coast of Mississippi during Katrina. Amazing video was shot from the Air Force base at Biloxi of the surge engulfing the parking lot and in a matter of minutes totally covering cars and buildings.
The Bible speaks of the enemy "coming in like a flood." When he decides to "invade", he holds nothing back. He aligns his forces to smother an area just like in a storm surge, or like the winds we are currently experiencing. He holds nothing back when he decides to put a person, place, church or city under "siege". In the Old Testament, you can see plenty of examples of physical enemies putting a city under siege. Jerusalem certainly was in this category more than once.
There is little that can be done once a full scale attack commences. The work must be done ahead of time. As the scouts motto states; "be prepared" is the only way to withstand the rushing winds or rising floods of the enemy. Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the whole armor of God, leaving nothing uncovered where a dart might get through. Once the armor is in place, the preparation stage is complete, then it says to STAND.
The hardest thing to do is STAND when facing hurricane force winds. Yet, that is one of the great keys to victory in spiritual warfare. There are certainly times to back off and there are times to retreat. But, in the heat of the battle, the need is to STAND. The victor is determined by who is left standing at the end of the battle.
The principalities and powers in high places that we war against are not to be shrugged off or treated lightly. These high ranking officers in the devil's army are powerful and crafty beyond description. They seek only the destruction of those who they feel are a threat to the devil's aims and goals. All they do is ultimately directed at those who are STANDING for God. That is where the battle rages. Between those who are attempting to be "faithful in Christ Jesus" and those who are high ranking officials in the devil's chain of command. "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities…" Ephesians 6 tells us.
I believe God lets prayer warriors know ahead of time of an impending spiritual invasion. The heaviness and oppression we feel is the way God has set up to alert His warriors as to what is COMING. Once the sign has been given, the warriors must go into battle mode and pray as never before, and they must alert others to the upcoming event so they may prepare.
Last August I was attending a conference. After the key speaker spoke one night, there was the typical prayer service common to Assemblies denomination (where the conference was taking place). Not being of that persuasion, I didn't know what was coming. The speaker requested any and all those engaged in Christian service to come forward. I did as I was told and waited for the men to make their way down the line to me.
When they started praying over me, they were praying that whoever and whatever was seeking to destroy what I was doing for God would cease. Specifics were giving as to the particular person who was spreading deceitful lies and the prayer was made to make him stop. This was all news to me. I didn't know anyone was attempting to do such a thing.
Afterwards, I met up with the gentleman and asked for further details. He told me exactly what God showed him, complete with a "tattoo" on the arm. We prayed again and as much as I would like to say I found the person and stopped him, I never did. But, whoever it was succeeded in causing me no end of trouble. I must confess it was my own fault for not investigating further as to whom this mysterious person could be, but I got distracted and never did.
The enemy can be strong and powerful as well as crafty and extremely deceitful. Either way, we need each other's prayers to help us be strong enough to spot and withstand his attacks. "Be strong in the Lord and in the Power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Ephesians 6:10 and 11 says.
The word "wiles" can be translated as "strategies". The devil and his gang operate off of strategy. They don't do what they do on a whim. They study their target, find the weak points and then arrange a strategy to attack those weak points. Wicked spirits from on high are sent in to wage spiritual warfare against a saint, a fellowship of saints, a city, a state or even a nation. The book of Daniel speaks of Michael returning from battling the enemy in a certain geographical area.
Our mission, if we decide to accept it, is to PUT ON the whole armor of God and to STAND. We listen to the prayer warriors, we put on the whole armor of God, we pray and having done all, WE STAND. That is our mission and that is our calling in times of intense spiritual warfare.
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