This is an open letter to any professing Christian who reads this blog.

I begin with Ephesians 6:11-12, out of the Amplified Bible:

Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

I’ve struggled with this thought myself but today I came to a realization that I haven’t had in a few years.

The Christian life is not simply a life where we live blessed day by day, grow in God’s Word, fellowship with others and keep in communication with God and other Christians.

There is a dark aspect to it, one that is very real and quite frankly one that many people, many churches, many friends of mine shy away from.

It’s called spiritual warfare.

Simply put, we’re in a daily fight against the devil. Not just a fight where we pray to God and continue to hope that things in our lives get better when we are attacked by evil thoughts and actions, but a fight in which we must exercise spiritual authority given to us by God, by Jesus and the Holy Spirit — and psychologically, verbally and spiritually rebuke the devil in the name of Jesus.

Every day there is evil all around us. Sure, there’s a lot of good, but there’s evil. It can be found in the poorest, most destitute neighborhoods of America. It can be found in the actions of someone when they do something against God’s Word. It can also be found, oddly enough, sitting next to you at church on Sunday morning.

Friends, the Bible says that Satan is real but God is greater. Any time you deal with thoughts and actions that are not of God, it is part of a greater spiritual battle of Satan warring against God.

Do I sound crazy?

Let me put it this way. There is a litmus test to all that is Godly, and Paul describes it accurately in Philippians 4:8.

For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

Even better, let’s take a look at the differentiation between what the Word describes as evil and good (from Galatians 5):

Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency,

Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [[f]that can bring a charge].

The list from evil acts ranges as something as simple as anger to something as huge as idolatry, sorcery and so forth.

Maybe, just maybe, for those of us Christians that struggle all too often with our imperfections, with thoughts, deeds, actions that meet the criteria listed above as being of the flesh, it’s time to stop praying to God for help because He’s already given it to you.

Take authority over the devil. This is what the Word says again in James 4:7, the Message translation:

So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper.

Two parts there. Submit, and let God work His will. That must be done before anything else. That’s your empowerment to do the second part, which is yell a loud no to the devil…doesn’t have to be physically loud of course but verbally command Satan to loosen his grip on you! You’re a child of God and you don’t have to take anything Satan throws your way. Live in Jesus’ word and the newness of life He provides through his Son, Jesus Christ.

I have a message as well to those who are riding the fence, or worse yet involved with Christianity as well as other religions and ideologies at the same time — wicca, the occult, etc.

You are in massive spiritual danger. For your own good, forsake your false religions, false pretenses and turn over to Jesus. Jesus said in His Word that you cannot drink from the cup of Christ and the cup of demons as well. No one can serve two masters! You’ll end up loving one more than the other. What better time than right now to accept Jesus into your life and ask him to forgive your sins and be 100% of everything you need in life.

Jesus didn’t come into this world to judge anyone. He came to offer salvation from sins, love, peace, joy and a right way of living.

Satan offers the exact opposite and it is a dog fight day by day to get him to leave us alone, and not take anything he tries to spiritually feed us.

Let’s all wake up, and I pray in the name of Jesus we all open our spiritual eyes, dig deeper in our spiritual walks with Christ and exercise our God-given power to resist Satan along the way.