As a teenager, we once lived in a house with an old woman. For no reason, she would quarrel with me and even rain curses day and night. Sometimes, when people ask her what my offence was, she would reveal that I do throw stones at her in the night while she’s asleep. Her revelation taught me something about spiritual warfare.
Friend, emotionalism is an enemy of spiritual warfare. We are not fighting human beings (2 Corinthians 5:16, 10:3-6). You should know how to rebuke spirits in people, places, and things. If the devil can get you to fight with people, he has defeated you because that is his goal. Such battle is a distraction. The devil in his wiles distracts you with pseudo battles so that you won’t face the real battle (1 Samuel 17:28-29).
One of the signs of spiritual maturity is being able to decipher between the real battles and false battles (Ephesians 6:12). The devil cannot defeat you until he ‘dethrones’ you from your place. You need to constantly affirm your position in Christ over the battles of life (Nehemiah 6:1-3). In your business, career, ministry, and marriage, there is a battle to either watch things go bad or make sure that they reflect God’s will and design (Job 22:28-29, Matthew 16:19).
If you are to become your best in God, you must disturb and trouble the devil. Understand that we are not going about looking for trouble. Rather, we are going about fulfilling our destiny, and the devil is troubled by that. A life that is not confronted with challenges can be proof of a life that is not advancing to the best of God (1 Corinthians 16:9).
That you are confronted with issues is a sign of progress. When you are to make progress, challenges will come. The issue now is that when the challenge shows up, will you have been loaded enough to give the challenge the fight it deserves (2 Samuel 3:1, Proverbs 24:10)? Our weapon is not carnal (2 Corinthians 10:4). The devil will defeat you the moment he reduces your weapon to the physical.
Don’t fidget at what the enemy is bringing (Philippians 1:28). Your position in Christ is your advantage (Ephesians 2:5-6). The devil cannot come up to where you are, so he tries to ‘bring you down’ to his level so as to defeat you (Nehemiah 6:2-3). Stay where you are in Christ. Discharge your authority with all audacity. The devil is only a clown. You are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37). Go, manifest your victory in Christ. You will succeed!
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria