Posted on 09/11/2023 4:21:20 PM PDT by metmom
"Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12). Don’t confuse prisoners of war with the enemy.
Sometimes in the heat of battle we might lose perspective on who the real enemy is. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that our struggle isn't against sinful people, but against the evil system and the supernatural forces that influence their attitudes and actions.
In his assault on the kingdom of God, Satan has assembled a highly organized army of fallen angels. Paul categorized them as "rulers . . . powers . . . world forces of this darkness . . . spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12).
That isn't a detailed description of Satan's hierarchy but simply a general indication of its power and sophistication. Apparently "rulers" and "powers" are high- ranking demons. "World forces of this darkness" are possibly demons who infiltrate various political systems of the world, attempting to direct human leaders to oppose God's plans. An example is a demon called "the prince of the kingdom of Persia" in Daniel 10:13. He withstood God's angelic messenger to Daniel until Michael the archangel came to the rescue.
"Spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" perhaps refers to demons involved in the most vile and perverted kinds of sins: gross immorality, occultic practices, Satan worship, and the like.
Those who reject Christ and God are unwitting prisoners of war—captured and mobilized by the enemy to accomplish his purposes. Tragically, when he's finished with them he'll abandon them to an eternal hell.
You probably know unbelievers who enjoy ridiculing your faith and making life difficult for you. Although that is hard to take, be patient and don't become embittered toward them. Ask God to make you an instrument of His love as you reach out to them. Also pray that God will remove their spiritual blindness so they can see beyond Satan's lies and recognize their need for a Savior.
Suggestions for Prayer
Praise God for delivering you from the domain of darkness and transferring you into the kingdom of His beloved Son (Col. 1:13).
Ask Him to use you today to break through Satan's deception in someone's life.
For Further Study
Read 2 Corinthians 4:3-7, noting why people reject the gospel.
From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.
Studying God’s Word ping
>Ask Him to use you today to break through Satan’s deception in someone’s life.<
How about my own life?
I really need help. I’m 83. Husband of 67 years died June 5, this year.
I’m lost. My only reason for living is dead. I have no purpose. I can’t find God. I don’t even know how to pray. I look for a sign. I can’t help others if I can’t help myself. I know, groups, church. I don’t even know what church I would be comfortable in.
This is a good reminder to pray for our enemies. We thank you, Father God, for your grace and mercy.
Prayer For Salvation For My Enemies
Heavenly Father, You have called us to pray for our enemies and all those that seek to do us harm, and not to heap up unforgiveness or resentments in our heart, and so Lord I want to bring before You all those people in my life who have become enemies of my soul, and to ask for Your grace, favour and forgiveness to be poured out on them. Lord, I pray that You would convict each one of their need of Jesus as their Saviour.
Lord, I know that it is not Your will that anyone should perish but that all should come to salvation in Jesus Christ, and so I bring all those people in my life that have sought to do me evil or inflicted harm on me, whether intentionally or unwittingly, to Your merciful throne of grace to plead forgiveness and to ask mercy on their souls.
Lord, for Your holy names sake, I pray that You would draw close to each. Open their eyes to the truth of the gospel of grace I pray, and bring each one into a saving faith on the Lord Jesus. Draw them with Your cords of loving forgiveness into Your family. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/prayer/prayer-for-salvation-for-my-enemies-762
I’m sorry for your loss. It doesn’t sound like you are dealing with deception as much as grief which is understandable and expected considering your circumstances.
My brother just passed and my sisters and other brother and I are also having a hard time concentrating and thinking clearly. It unfortunately comes with the territory.
I wish there was something we could do to help you. What state do you live in at least? Also, pinging some others who have also been where you are.
Thank you. I’ll try.
Dear FRiend,
I am so sorry for your loss. I was widowed after 39 years of marriage...not as long as you were married, but it was still devastating.
I am not going to insult you with platitudes or “advice” but just offer you my humble and heartfelt condolences .
I found that the people on this site are very kind, but the grief is still fresh as this is very recent for you.
So even the kindest words may inflict pain, and if that has happened I apologize with all my heart.
My heart goes out to you, and I am praying for peace and comfort for your grieving heart.
Love in Christ,
Mary -Lou
I don’t know what to say except, thank you. No one knows the pain of losing a loving husband more than another widow. It’s so much different. Bless you!
Sorry to hear of your loss. If you have a religious friend that you admire, considering going to their service with them. I think you’d find most are very welcoming.
Regarding prayer, try talking to God like you would a close friend. Tell Him that your heart is hurting and you’re trying to understand His will and you need His help & guidance. It can be that simple.
Thank you for your honest transparency. I wished you lived close so we could minister to you. Your broken heart could be leading you into His kingdom
I am 85 & lost my wife of 59 years about 4 years ago & I know how difficult it can be after all that time together. I am a church member, regularly attend,plus belonging to a bible study group & that helps, but still have that emptiness in my life. I have relatives & others I can visit, but no love interests in my life. It is lonely much of the time. I think I do better than some, but there is definitely something missing in life & I can’t seem to find out just exactly what that is.
Your husband had no choice but to leave you, but whether he or you knew it or not, he did not leave you alone. Our Savior is living and substantial in the spiritual dimension right next to you, and wishes to comfort you and give you peace like no other person, not even your husband were his return at all possible.
I tell you because I have and do always experience His Presence now, and the provisions that He is continually making for my ongoing abundant terrestial life. And you will have this too, if you just now commit your whole Being totally into His care. He tells me, and promises you, "I will never leave you nor abandon you." Not now or as we pass through the door into His realm, with assurance and joy.
When you allow Him to bring your confidence in Him to the full through evidences of His Presence and Promises, you will never again fear aloneness. Moreover, the meaning of your daily life activity will go on, under His guidance.
That has been so for me for 52 years, now. lease, if you will, accept this encouragement, OK?
The Holy Scriptures show that it has five manifestations in spiritual and temporal dimensions. These adversaries are as follows:
(1) Satan, the Devil, Lucifer, the old Father of Lies, the god of this world, a spirit being.It is critical that the Spirit-born new babe in Christ be made extremely aware of the ubiquitous presence of these adversaries, both seen and unseen, and be trained to do battle with them whenever they try to disable the believer's ongoing task of administering as much as His Heavenly Father's Earthly Estate as he/she is assigned to manage as a servant and steward of it.
(2) His Demonic entities of different orders (a) principalities, (b)rulers of the darkness of this age, and (c) spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.
(3) The World System of phony religions, politics, pursuits, pleasures, purposes, people, and places where God is not wanted.
(4) The Flesh and its lusts, a foe within the believer, the Old Self that struggles with the true believer's Indwelt Holy Spirit for control of the believer's thoughts and activities.
(5) Professing but False "Believers"; intruders who join assemblies of true believers that gather together for fellowship, study, and worship; but persistently unremittingly walk and live after the flesh, walking as enemies of the Christ of the Bible and of the import of His Cross-death.
I hope so. I pray he bring me home every day. I have my husband’s ashes in a 2 compartment urn, one side for him and one side for me on his bed. We thought we would just go to sleep together, but he suffered as much as I am now. I tried to care for him but I couldn’t. I’m rattling on and crying again. I am searching for God, I just want to go home.
Thank you all for reading my words.
The Hospice reached out and if I can talk without crying, I hopefully will do something as soon as I can.
I do, but I don’t know if I am doing it right because I wasn’t raised in a church.
Thank you
Simply talk to God like you’re talking to us and pour your heart out to Him. Prayers don’t need to be formal. I think He’d rather hear an honest heart cry than a formal or canned prayer.
He wants to hear from you and will be found by those who seek Him. You will find Him if you seek Him. He did it for me when I was much younger and cried out to Him.
You’re doing it right & don’t let anyone tell you different.
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