Tag: Spiritual Warfare

The focus is understanding spiritual warfare as warring between two laws: natural law and spiritual law. Exploring the contrast of visible and invisible dominions in the earth and in heaven that begins and ends under the control of God. Travel through the journey with the author and readers sharing as a global community. Subscribe to Servant Leadership Now platform for updates. You can also share via Social Media platforms. Welcome to a place of support with bulluckg.com

Understanding Spiritual Warfare: Embracing God’s Sovereignty

Person standing on rocky terrain under dramatic clouds with beams of light shining on the word TRUTH

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

 Sovereignty of Spiritual Warfare

Short audio about dealing with sin Spiritual Warfare

Let me begin by saying that, as an encourager, “Do not be afraid.” God is the ‘lifeblood’ for dealing with spiritual things. He is the consuming fire. You, on the other hand, are a warrior because you have chosen the Lord God as your Savior; thus, Satan is against you. While this may be problematic; it is a winnable fight. So, let us start in remembering that God is Sovereign; He reigns Supreme.

Visible and Invisible Created Worlds

First, God is the ‘ethos of the spiritual and physical world.’ What does this mean? Ethos is a Greek word which means “custom” or habitual practice. From nothingness, God created. He is the creator of all things, visible and invisible (Colossians 1:16). The spirit world belongs to God. God is a Spirit. Angels are spirits. Satan is a fallen spirit. The spiritual battle between God’s warring angels and those angels who opposed the Sovereign God, was fought. Satan and his angels lost the battle (Revelation 12:7-9).

Second, God is in control of the physical world as well. He is the designer; the Creator. All other theories are scientifically proven to be false, i.e., evolution, big bang, etc. Even by intellectual thinking, it still stands that the one who creates is the one who best understands His creation.

Laws of God

Third, the laws of God are in effect; both in the physical and spiritual world, and God’s laws reign supreme. Scientifically, humans use intellect in an attempt to explain the unexplainable. For instance, there is the ‘law of uniformity.’ The Law of Uniformity states that events and processes in nature tend to occur in a consistent and predictable manner under the same conditions (Philosophy terms). For instance, the daily motion of the sun from east to west is caused by Earth’s rotation from west to east on its axis (Science News Today). Another example, in the physical world, are ocean’s high tides and low tides (processes in nature). These are examples of the laws of God which cannot be altered by human beings nor spiritual beings. In this, our Sovereign God’s commands for operating in these two realms (physical and spiritual) are conditional, laws of uniformity, for our victory.

Uncompromising Conditions of God

Holiness and obedience to God are uncompromising conditions. Because of disobedience, the human condition changed; but not the desire for relationship. He desires the human being to be holy because He is holy (Revelation 4:8; 1 Peter 15-16). He desires the human being to place this faith in Him.

Human beings are a special creation of God. God chose to create the human being, a free act of his will. Unlike animals, human beings have a personal and spiritual relationship with God. That relationship is restorable. Living in a physical and demoralizing, fleshly world requires God’s intervening for your spiritual victory.

Allegiance to God

Morally, we are to reflect that image. The Holy Spirit, as a part of the Trinity of God, is sent for our success (Matthew 28:16-20). Just like the natural laws of God’s processes cannot be altered, neither can the conditions of holiness and obedience be altered.

Check the camp! Who is your allegiance to? God wants us to be victorious in operating in both worlds (physical and spirit). His will is that we operate as warriors with the Holy Spirit for our success. Pledging allegiance to other ‘gods’ can be unintentional or intentional. Because God is Sovereign, we must seek Him for help in all areas of our lives. We are not perfect, but He is. God knows the allegiance of the heart. Who do we truly serve?

The problem of Achan and his family was a divided worship. He had hidden treasures that he valued more than God (Joshua 7:19-26). That cost them their lives.

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Understanding Spiritual Warfare: A Guide for Believers

Fighting through the Storm of Life

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Click to listen to audio version of this blog post.

What is Spiritual Warfare?

You are feeling a tug, a pull on your inner parts. Physically, you cannot see what is pushing against you. If you could only view it (the strongman) with your eyes! Why the tussle with an enemy that opposes your every move? Take heart. This struggle did not begin with you. In fact, the strongman ‘s first fight began with spiritual angels (Revelation 12:3–4; 7-9). Yes, spiritual warfare began that far back. What’s his name? Who is this strongman? Satan, of course, is his name and he is against God’s creation. Because “By Him all things were created that are in heaven, and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16). This spiritual warfare will continue until a new earth and new heaven.

Understanding Spiritual Warfare of Faith

In the Christian faith, one of the most important things you can do to support your call is to understand spiritual warfare. What is that understanding?

First, spiritual warfare, starts with the knowledge that there are two laws: a natural law and a spiritual law. As previously stated, there are visible and invisible dominions or domains in the earth and in heaven. God controls them all.

Natural law is a support system for the well-being of humans as a society. For example, laws governing the sciences. From the beginning, God gave natural laws to Adam, i.e., “Multiply (Genesis 1:28). Take care of the Garden (Genesis 2:15). Respect life, Genesis 9:5-6. The preservation of our Earth is a commandment of God.

Spiritual law governs spiritual things. God is Spirit; He is the Holy Spirit and moved over the earth from the beginning (Genesis 1:1-2). Paul addresses the two laws in Romans 7:22-23, as a war between what is spiritual and what is fleshly. The flesh requires certain things in nature, i.e., air, water. God creatively provides. The flesh decays. On the other hand, in the Christian faith, believers equate the spirit as having residence with God or with the evil one (Revelation 20:13-15).

Biblical Foundations of Spiritual Warfare

Romans 8:5 states that those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

The Greek word for Spirit is Pneuma. When a person accepts Christ as Savior through repentance, the Holy Spirit comes in and lives in that person to govern. Freewill of a person is not taken away. But the individual begins a pneuma walk, that is, the fight of a warrior (1 Timothy 6:12). Second Corinthians 10: 3-5, references the walk as, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh (lusty sinning). For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (flesh), but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.

The Holy Spirit is practical. He knows, as believers, that we differ in our experiences and levels of thinking. As a human being, every action begins with a thought. And because of the choice of new life for the soul, a warring takes place between the old you and the new you. It is now spiritual warfare between the fleshly nature and the Spirit (Romans 7:22-23; Galatians 5:17).

Examples of Spiritual Battles

One of the most profound scriptures concerning spiritual warfare is Ephesians 6: 10-17, The Armor of God. As a guide, these verses detail the actions and responses of walking in the Spirit. Jesus is the ultimate example of having the power of the Spirit and exercising the authority using the Word. A warring believer has that power and authority, given for the journey. Exercise it by reading, studying, speaking and listening to the Spirit. The Spirit knows the mind of God; He knows what pleases God.

Key Takeaways

  • Spiritual warfare involves a struggle against unseen spiritual forces, primarily led by Satan, that oppose God’s creation.
  • Understanding spiritual warfare requires recognizing the dual laws of natural and spiritual that govern our existence.
  • Biblical foundations of spiritual warfare emphasize living in accordance with the Spirit, rather than the flesh, as highlighted in Romans 8:5.
  • The Holy Spirit empowers believers, guiding them in spiritual battles and transforming their moral character as they seek holiness.
  • Future blog posts will provide tools, prayers, and concepts for applying the ‘Armor of God’ in everyday life.

When the Holy Spirit comes in, we are able to reflect more light than darkness. The moral characteristics (Galatians 5: 23-24) will reflect a new soul, different from the old soul. Then, the natural human being is becoming, transforming into who God wants – holiness.

In our upcoming blog posts, we expect to share tools and prayers for spiritual readiness and introduce concepts for applying the “Armor of God.” For now, we suggest the following blog posts for your calling:

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Understanding God’s Calling: A Reflective Journey for Servants

Man kneeling on grassy hill with hands slightly raised, facing sunrise over foggy mountains
Winding dirt trail through grassy hills with sunset and mountains in background

Why has God called you to this winding road of roughness?

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

The Nature of God’s Calling

Yes, God interrupted your plan. A calling from God is a disruptive and self-surrendering plan for His purpose. It is the personal acceptance of God’s assignment for your life. Jesus is the supreme example of self-surrender to God’s plan. His prayer is an example of a willingness to submit to God’s will above his own. “Father [Jesus prayed], everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine (Mark 14:36).” Thus, surrendering to God’s calling is not for cowardly or robotic persons.

Personally, I did not want to accept the challenge of my calling from God. Truthfully, I thought about what others might think. To me, my rational points made sense i.e., lack of knowledge concerning much of the scriptures was a great argument. After more than a year, my senseless arguments to God did not let me “off the hook.” In the very moment that I let go, and said, “Yes,” God’s response was, “Now, I will send you where you need to go. They will know that I sent you.” With that acceptance, my bed became a place that I could finally sleep peacefully. No more sleepless nights about that matter. Surrendering to your calling from God is obedience.

Reflective Practices for Understanding Your Calling

Again, Jesus is the supreme model for walking in obedience in your calling. To understand the blessing of surrendering, you must maintain practices for strengthening and developing your trust in God. The following are just a few examples:

  • (1) Prayer Life – Your prayer life is not a public performance for displaying how well you pray. Jesus condemned prayers given to make you appear spiritual. Rather, the prayer life that Jesus desires for us is to bring salvation – one more for Jesus. The focus of your prayer life relevant to your calling is salvation, Luke 10:2; 1 Timothy 2:3-5.
  • (2) Meditation on God’s Word – Meditation is the powerful connection of God’s word. God sheds light on your situation when you meditate on the Word. This connection builds your personal relationship with Him for walking in your calling. In examining things that are happening in this world, God’s Word brings clarity to daily situations. Meditation supercharges you and builds your faith in a confused world. The reality is that life has its problems, but God has the answer in the Word because He is the Word. Give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6). Therefore, we must daily turn our focus on what God says. We must reiterate that God is in control and we can rest in him. For the believer, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law, he meditates day and night,” Psalm 1:2.
  • (3) Journaling – Journaling is therapeutic. Writing or drawing our feelings and thoughts reduces anxiety. We can express ourselves in a creative way to God. I have several different types of journals, including a praise journal. We are individuals. Each person gets to choose what is best for that individual. The way you choose to journal is a personal choice. It is the expression of your heart to God; your pondering (Psalm 111:2). How ever you choose, the focus is to optimize your optimize mental health and spend time with God.

Challenges in Discernment

Quite often, others share with me the feelings of being challenged while seeking to understand their calling. These challenges are often the result of tradition, busyness, past life, and lack of preparedness in theology. As previously stated, accepting the calling from God is not for the coward. Nothing surprises God. He is aware of common place challenges in people. It is where God chooses. He will equip you with what is needed to accomplish His work (Ephesians 3:20). To overcome the doubts and fears related to God’s calling is to be obedient. Being a people-pleaser will hinder your calling from God. Although your call is to the people, it is to please and follow God. You will not be able to serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). A surrendered heart to God means to please God (Galatians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4).

Fulfilling Your Purpose through Service

Fulfilling your purpose through service can be uncomfortable. This is because we often think in terms or short-term goals. On the other hand, a view of long-term eternal gain is our reward. Jesus said, “I come to serve.” The scripture of Matthew 20:26- 28 is one example of how we are to serve. In other words, serve with humility. A servant leader must possess humility. A servant is not greater than the master (John 13:16). We are not greater than the One who called us into this ministry. In fact, we are the least among God’s children. We do not deserve this type of mercy and compassion from God. Remember that Jesus humbled himself on the cross and submitted his will to save us. Every sin that you and I are guilty of, Jesus gave his life for it. With compassion and humility, we are to serve others.

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A Mind to Fight and Win: The Power of Perseverance

A picture of a person standing at the top of a hill with hands raised up in victory

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

You Will Deliver

You are in a fight to win. What does it mean for a servant of God to fight when you want to quit? What happens when you feel a sense of loss and abandonment? You may even question if this is your fight. Imagine approaching a river, only to find another dry resource. Or opening a cupboard and it is bare. These are examples that can make anyone feel empty like the riverbed and cupboard. The answer is – you cannot quit. Why? A servant leader’s fight is not his own. As my friend, Stacey, so often remind us, “It is challenging, but it is durable.”

Chosen Vessels For the Win

Jeremiah, as a young boy, is one example of being selected for a particular fight at a specific season for a particular people. Although young and inexperienced for this task, God chose Jeremiah before he was in the belly of his mother (Jeremiah 1:4-5). God set Jeremiah apart. He set you apart too. You are not a Mistake: God Made You to Win.

The journey as a servant of God is not a comfortable one. Yet, as a chosen vessel, you must walk by faith. Why? Chosen people realize that they are in need of a greater power. For example, you can be thrown into the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:17-19); cast into the lion’s den (Daniel 6:9-17); and bruised unjustly (Isaiah 53:4-5). It takes faith in the Creator who knew you before you were placed in your mother’s womb. He is the One to bring you through the fire and out of the lion’s den.

A Winning Circle

It is an incredible circle of people. God’s purpose to use people in extreme circumstances is more about building up. Tearing down, plucking out, and destroying yokes will test you. Yet, it is not impossible. God is able to bring you out with more. God will do more than you can imagine. He spoke to Abram in a dream.

“As the sun was going down, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a terrifying darkness came down over him. Then the Lord said to Abram, “You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. But I will punish the nation that enslaves them, and in the end, they will come away with great wealth.”

At the time that God spoke these words to Abram, he was in a strange land, with only his faith in God and a promise of God’s blessing (Genesis 15:6). God is bigger than your problem too. God said to Abram, “Abram…This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. I will make you extremely fruitful.”

Expect the Promise of Winning

The key to your success is to keep your focus on the Promise Keeper – Creator of the heavens and earth. God’s blessing on your life will bless others. His purposeful blessing for you will bring others to Christ. God is your Provider; He is the bread of life. and the resurrection. What seems dead, will live with Him. He will not neglect the needs and favor of His chosen people.

The Promise Keeper is in the circle with you. He surrounds you. Yes, the Great and Good Shepherd, feeds His sheep. So, it is in the darkest times that our faith is the most challenging. The enemy is against you because of your faith in God. In the end, your challenge will propel you -not sink you into that river.

Isaish 43:1-3a, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the water, I will be with you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned.” For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world (John 6:33).

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). Expect a shift in your circumstance by God because of your faith. For more blogs like this one, we suggest:

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Understanding Prayer: Control and Blessings

Prayer Group

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Prayer is a strong weapon of control and blessing in the lives of believers. However, forcing people to pray is not what Jesus modeled. There are states and countries in this modern world that meet with opposition and challenges in their effort to enforce prayer. As it was in ancient days, so it is still today. No matter how well-meaning intentions are, God wants us to pray because of our love for Him and belief in Him. This blog post is to support believers and encourage prayer as a weapon in your life. This battle is not new. Therefore, even though there are political and societal demands about prayer, there is not reason for the believer to not give more attention to prayer and the scriptures. Personally, I am thankful for my 6:00 A.M. prayer group of 23 years and counting.

There are amazing stories from ordinary people who willingly pray. Surveys show that churchgoers, physicians, children, and countless others have positive results because of their prayer life. Still, what happens when you feel a prayer was not answered according to your desire? How often does this happen? For some people, unfortunately, these thoughts keep them from praying. So, what are we to do?

Prayers of Control and Blessing

The Bible records some of the most powerful prayers. For example, the teaching of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4); Jesus’ agonizing prayer in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46), and Jesus’ prayer for all believers (John 17:1-26). Another example, is the prayer of Apostle Paul for spiritual growth (Ephesians 3:14-21).

King David’s prayer of repentance was the result of his adulterous affair with Bathsheba; his was a request for a clean heart (Psalm 51). The prayers of Jeremiah for the nation of Israel were raw and emotional. His raw emotion shows the deep love for Israel and vindication against persecutors (Jeremiah 15:15-21). Like Jeremiah, we ask God why is it that the wicked prosper (Jeremiah 12). Jeremiah’s questions to God reflect sincere raw emotion, lamenting suffering while trusting God’s sovereignty. His asked for mercy in the midst of qualified judgment (Jeremiah 10:23-25). All of these prayers are examples of control and blessings. The question is, “Who do you rely upon for control and blessing?”

Formula of Prayer

People seek formulas of prayer; yet, the Lord’s prayer is the example. This idea comes from the thought of “If I do not ask the” “right way” then I will not receive my blessing.” Contrary, the scripture says what God wants is a broken and contrite heart. Psalm 51:17 AMP, My [only] sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart [broken with sorrow for sin, thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise. God knows our hearts.

That is why God said of David, that he was a man after His (God) own heart. God sees your heart. The sorrow for sin means more to God than a long, scripted prayer formula, that is not from your heart. God’s place of blessing is a place of repentance (forgiveness) for restoring us. Giving God control and allowing Him to bless in the way that He knows what is best for us is prayer. Admittedly, it can be difficult. However, the more you ask that your will be His Will, life becomes easier as part of your servant’s journey. He is the One who knows all things. He wants our trust, love and obedience. This gives Him the formula (the permission) to fully operate in our lives. That was the prayer power that David had. He learned to walk in God’s power and give Him control, even when he expressed to God his personal desires.

What Happens to Our Desires

It is true that I did not wish for certain challenges, pain, and losses. Who enjoys pain? But, our desires should align with God’s Will. God’s way is to test and grow our faith in Him. For every test will make you stronger and build your faith in Him. God already knows our heart desires. The scripture, Psalm 37:4 NIV  states, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” What this verse resonates to us is that God’s delight is more than our worldly desires. Moreover, Psalm 20:4 affirms success: “May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. We can trust that it gives Him pleasure to bless us. We will have joy and peace when our desires align with His Will.

Again, today, I pray that from the scripture of Ezekiel also bless you: “I declare that God will breathe life into “dead” situations for my growth in Him. He is the Lord of my life (Ezekiel 37:5-6).”

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Crashing Out and Faith: Overcoming Adversity

Faith in Crisis

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Crashing, threatening and crushing waves – Are you crashing out in the midst of faith and resilience? The definition of “crashing out” first a became a part of the African American Vernacular English. Black Twitter (now X) is given credit for “crashing out” as a term going viral (2013). Even now, the GEN Z population continues to redefine its definition and associates the term with describing the usual reactions and behaviors of Hollywood stars. But emotional reactions, i.e., outbursts, are applicable to anyone. And if the outbursts, lashing out, and unsettling behaviors linger over a period, the term crashing out is also used. In terms of faith and resilience, what is the message in this post?

Therapeutic Process

Without hesitation, we stress in this blog that the principles of therapy are rooted from the Word of God. Whether the therapist identifies as a #Christian Therapist or not the teaching of the mind and behaviors from colleges and universities, are that of biblical principles. For example, research supports that the tools of prayer, meditation, reading the Word, and positive relationships, are great tools for healing. Afterall, who knows more about the mind, behaviors, and companions than the Creator.

The Weight is Overpowering

Biblically, you may hear “crashing out” defined as ” the weight of the world is on my shoulders.” It is estimated that there are over 8 billion people in this world (Worldometer). It is biblically factual that every person goes through struggles. For any imaginable or real situation, someone is going through suffering. However, this statement does not minimize your pain. On the contrary, it is to agree that your struggle is real. Divinely, therapy is the work you do for healing.

Self-Evaluation

Begin with self-evaluation. What are your true feelings? Abandonment? Senseless? Non-caring? Shame? Anger? Bewilderment? Loss? Or all of the above. Inhale and slowly breathe out. Inhale and slowly breathe out, again. First, recognize that you did not enter this world with the expectation of traumatizing pain. Second, as a baby, you were lucky enough to have a responsible caregiver who attended to your wants and needs. Even if this is not your case, as an adult, the weight and response is yours. Powerful, is your response. God’s way of healing translates into interdependence that forms true partnerships and resources to lift the weight in support of each other.

Resilience

Troubles exist in this space if time that we term “Life.” In the study of psychology, resilience is the capacity to make or adapt in the face of adversity, trauma, or high levels of stress. It is to allow a person to recover from personal setbacks and emerge as a stronger individual. Being able to implement coping systems and strategies is the means to building resilience (American Psychological Association). Another tool that builds our response to situations i.e., grief, sorrows, depression, violence, etc. is faith.

Faith

Fundamentally, we can assert that crushing waves not only happen in oceans, but it also happens to individuals. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith and it is a requirement to please God (Hebrew 11:6). Faith is God’s gift to the believer. Jesus said that the smallest amount of your faith in God can move mountains (Luke 17:6). When the mountain does not move as people desire, in so many situations, God gets the blame. Why did God allow this, people question or Why did God do this? The truth is evil is the root of darkness. Human failures happen because we have imperfections. Even if humans do not lay the blame where it belongs, our God is faithful. God can handle blame for human tragedies and suffering, which are wrongly placed. He is God and has 20//20 vision. We do not.

Still, it is in times of crashing out, that God’s love, compassion and faithfulness is still available. For the believer of mustard seed faith, God is still working in your favor. Moreover, it is the promise of God that He will never leave nor forsake you, even if you feel abandoned. The Holy Spirit who lives within the believer will do the work. Contrary to your thoughts, for believers, suffering works out for our good. Faithfulness is the character of God. God has an arsenal, a host at His command, that works on the behalf of His imperfect children. #believe #faith #servantLeader

If I Sit Here

The story of four lepers living in the land of Israel comes to my mind. In that day, no person of a contagious skin disease (leprous) could mingle and live among others. Though labeled as unclean, not only is there physical pain, but the isolation of the disease was mentally traumatizing.

During a time of war between the Arameans and Israel, these four leprous men sitting at the entrance of the city’s gates, began a serious conversation about their situation. If they went into the city of Israel, they would die because the people had the right to stone them to death. If they continue to stay in the same position, sitting at the city gates, for sure, they will eventually die from hunger. The choice to them became clearer. Perhaps in surrendering to the Arameans, they might live. Even if the Arameans choose to kill them, the other possibilities meant death for certain (2 Kings 7:3-10). What of an example in movement of mustard faith. The Lord turned a situation around for their good and others.

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