NEUTRALIZE THE ADVERSARY!
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds
(2 Corinthians 10:4).
Sometimes in our walk of faith, we encounter circumstances that pose some serious challenges to our faith. It could be in the area of church growth. For instance, maybe as a pastor, you’ve done everything you thought you should do and applied all the strategies you know of, yet your church is not growing. Now, you’re thinking what next to do.
At such a time, it’s important to look at things from the spiritual perspective and realize that there’s an adversary who is all out to oppose the Gospel and God’s children. Ephesians 6:10-11 says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” The wiles of the devil refer to the stratagems of the devil, the “lying in wait” of the devil.
The only way you win in this kind of battle is to do what the Word says. Resist him. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Revelation 12:11 also shows us how to resist, neutralize, and put the adversary to flight. It says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” So, no matter what the enemy throws at you, neutralize him by standing strong on your faith in the blood of Jesus and by the word of your testimony. That blood reconciled us to God, gave us life, cleanses us from all sin, and it’s on the mercy seat before God in heaven. The word of your testimony, which refers to your testimony of God, is really your faith’s proclamation of the Word at work.
Further Study:
2 Corinthians 2:11;
1 John 5:4