This past week has been one of the most exciting and awe inspiring since establishing this ministry, but it’s also been necessary to remind many of the fellowship members that we are actively engaged in spiritual warfare when we stand for the restoration of our marriages, and that we CAN expect to be attacked by the devil when we are the closest to a breakthrough. Christians standing for marriage restoration know full well that it is a matter of spiritual warfare, yet that’s something we seem to forget in the heat of the battle. And that’s sad, because the Bible gives us fool-proof instructions for winning the battle if we’d just remember to DO it! 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, says For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

While a lot could be said about spiritual warfare and the weapons described in the Bible to insure victorious outcomes in every situation, I want to focus on what it means to take EVERY thought captive and MAKE it obedient to Christ, or the Word of God, because that’s got to be our FIRST line of defense. So that’s one of the most important reasons to STUDY and meditate on the Word. We can’t take our thoughts captive and make them obedient to the Word of God if we don’t know it. We have to be familiar with what God says to know how to answer the devil when he tries to tell us something contrary to what the Bible teaches us about the nature and character of God, and His will and ways.

The best example of how that works is provided by Jesus Himself and how He responded when the devil tried to tempt Him, which we see in Matthew 4:1-11. And if we want the devil to leave us as he did Jesus, we need to learn to do what Jesus did, and we obviously have to KNOW what is written to tell the devil what is written!

And it’s very important to note that Jesus did not engage in unnecessary conversation with the devil. He didn’t argue with him or try to reason with him or to understand what he was offering. He IMMEDIATELY refuted him with the Word. Unfortunately, when the devil comes calling on us most of the time, instead of sending him away with the Word, we entertain his temptation by wondering what it means and what the possible ramifications are. But by doing that, we give him power and credibility in our lives and circumstances, and we give him a place at the table. And once we start considering his proposals and all they entail, it doesn’t take long before we’re riding them right down the path to doubt, discouragement and disobedience!

And most of the time, the temptations Satan puts in front of us are not new. He likes to come back with the same issues over and over again, which means he knows the areas or issues of greatest vulnerability to us…probably because we’ve SAID it to someone as we often do, without realizing that Satan is right there waiting to hear what it will take to discourage us or make us give up! That’s why it’s SO important NOT to say “If so and so happens…that’s it.” Or even “I just couldn’t take that.” When we speak or think things like that, we are setting ourselves up for trouble, because we’re NOT taking every thought captive, since Philippians 4:13 tells us that we can do ALL things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens us, and 1 Corinthians 10:13 says No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. And then there’s Philippians 4:19, which says And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. HE WILL MEET ALL OF OUR NEEDS! That’ means there are NO exceptions. And then there’s no way we can ignore Romans 8:28, which says And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. And if those don’t cover the situation at hand, which they more than likely do, then find a verse or two of scripture that directly and specifically deals with the area of vulnerability in your situation and memorize them. And the next time Satan comes back with the same temptation or weapon, you will be prepared to send him packing!

So when we are under attack, we need to determine the source, and most of the time it’s pretty easy to decide if it’s coming from the Lord or the devil. If it’s causing confusion, anger and other negative emotions, it’s more than likely from the devil. So that’s when we need to make sure our thoughts, emotions and actions line up with the Word of God. And the best way to overcome it IS with the word of our testimony. In other words, who and what will we choose to magnify and glorify with our thoughts and words in that moment; who and what will we surrender our peace, power, and authority to. Don’t forget, Satan only comes to steal, kill and destroy, so that’s the purpose of EVERY attack he brings against us. And if we give way to his will and way, it will be the restoration of our marriages and families that he steals, kills and destroys.

It breaks my heart, but I have witnessed standers giving way to Satan’s plans when I had no doubt there could have been a different outcome if they had chosen to stand strongly on the Word and promises of God instead. And ALMOST ALWAYS, the weapon of choice for Satan is PRIDE, usually manifested in the form of self defense and self protection mechanisms! That’s the poison pill he loves to pull out of his bag of tricks and it’s sad to see how often it very effectively delivers the knock-out punch to so many men and women standing for the restoration of their marriages.

And even though the fellowship members MUST get tired of hearing me say it, the most effective defense against failure to take every thought captive is found in Proverbs 3:5-6, which says Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. So when we catch ourselves trying to understand or make sense of things we don’t understand or that don’t make sense, we’re leaning on our own understanding rather than trust what we DON’T know or understand to the loving hand and power of Almighty God. And when we give way to fear or dread of what we don’t know or understand, or even of something we’re pretty sure will happen, we’re NOT trusting God with ALL of our hearts. In fact, WE are then the ones setting up an argument or pretension against the knowledge of God and exalting it over what we SHOULD know about Him and His will and ways, according to His written Word.

If we all find the specific Bible verses that most help us take EVERY thought captive and make them obedient to Jesus Christ and His Word, we’ll all be blessed and encouraged beyond belief, and we will tear down the strongholds of every argument and pretension that has set itself up against the knowledge of God and the sanctity and one flesh covenant of our marriages!

Posted Friday, May 4th, 2007 at 8:23 pm in Seeds Of Faith.