An enemy scheme to wear you out

Several conversations that I’ve had recently and an impression that I saw, made me aware of an age-old enemy strategy at play on a broad scale yet again to exhaust believers. Again and again his plan A seems to be to attack the root of faith in us because if our faith is shaken then he gains territory, but plan B seems to be if they don’t stop believing then attack their strength and wear them out. I got an impression this morning of Christians bent over and being pummeled from different sides. The “pummeling” came in the form of disappointments and of feeling overwhelmed by the needs around them, their family’s problems, the country’s problems, and of fears concerning safely, health and provision. If the demonic can systematically sap your strength then you won’t easily resist it and it can gain territory.

So I’m writing this blog for the following reasons:

1. I feel God wants us to be urgently reminded of this scheme so that we can do something about it.

“…in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” 2 Cor 2:11 NIV

To the degree that we are unaware of his schemes, he who comes to kill, steal and destroy begins to defraud us of what is ours.

2. We need the truth to sink down from our heads to our hearts that we, as believers, are not victims of the enemy’s strategies but that God has fully empowered us to enforce victory. Jesus took back the keys from the enemy and has fully re-instated us back into power and authority.

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 2:6 NIV

And in case we need a reminder about exactly what that means, “…his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Ephesians 1:15-23 NIV

3. We need to build up our Spirit man so that we are alert and understand the times instead of being blinded by the mist of fatigue, so that we are not weighed down when it is time to stand up, and so that we can resist the enemy so he can flee.

If our spirit man is strong then the soul (mind, will and emotions) as well as the body will follow its lead. If our spirit man is weak then our body which is easily wearied, or our emotions which are easily overwhelmed, will lead instead and we will be unable to stand our ground. God has created us to be spirit, soul and body with the spirit leading, therefore strengthening our spirit is key. Just like the body and the mind need feeding and strengthening so too does our spirit man and this requires deliberate action.

When our spirit man is strong then even if the battle persists, we, having done everything, can continue to stand (Ephesians 6:13). And instead of being wearied and worn out by the enemy we will wear him out.

4. Understand that God believes in you. It may sound weird but He does, He believes that you can do this. He believes that you can kill giants. He believes that you can resist the enemy. He believes that you can exercise your authority as an heir of the Kingdom for yourself, your family, your sphere of influence, your city/ nation and generation. He believes that in Him, you have got this. You are a Kingdom bringer.

How can you strengthen your Spirit man?

Here are a few ways worth reminding yourself of:

a) Read the Word. The Word washes, renews, feeds and strengthens us. If you are bored of the Word you are perhaps not really approaching it right. It is alive and relevant. Ask Holy Spirit to give you a new hunger for the Word. That is a prayer I have prayed many times and it works every time. Holy Spirit loves to awaken us to the Word. Investing in a new translation of the Bible which you read alongside your usual trusted version also helps to see the Word in a new way. The English language does not fully grasp the meaning of the original texts, so a few translations make the experience richer. Try the amplified Bible, the Passion translation or the Message as examples. Listening to someone else’s preach and revelation, as good as it is, just isn’t enough. If that is all the Word you are getting in, your spirit man is probably starved.

b) Keep the full armour of God on and keep perspective:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For 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. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Ephesians 6:10-11

c) Pray in tongues. This is also referred to as your spirit-language, heavenly-language or love-language with God. If you have never been baptised in Holy Spirit, now would be a good time to approach a trusted Christian friend, leader or pastor and ask them to pray for you to be baptised in Holy Spirit. If you have been baptised in Holy Spirit but do not yet pray in tongues ask God to unlock this gift in you and step out in faith- if you need to get more teaching on it or to read up on it then do! Baptism in the Holy Spirit fills you with the power you need and praying in tongues strengthens your spirit man.

“Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves” I Corinthians14:4 NIV

“A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally” I Corinthians 14:4 NLT

d) Fasting is an amazing way to focus on strengthening the spirit man as you feast on the Word and the Presence of God.

e) Worship is also a beautiful way to strengthen you spirit man because when you behold who God truly is, then strength seeps into you as you become what you behold.

f) Learn the bliss of resting in the finished work of the Cross. When we rest in God and operate from the revelation of “It is finished” our spirit man more fully engages with God and entwines with His nature, resulting in the joy of the Lord becoming our strength.

These are not just spiritual disciplines or foundational elements that we graduate from, they are sources of power that must keep fueling our spirit man as long as we are on earth.

I declare over you today grace to hear the voice of the Lord, and a silencing of every other voice. I declare a revival in your spirit, a renewed hunger for the Word and the Presence of God. I declare every lie about your identity and authority to be exposed by the truth and love of God so that you can see clearly who you are and the authority you have been given. I declare grace to engage with being seated in heavenly places, grace for perspective and grace to do what you need to do to strengthen your spirit man. I declare that as you speak over your life and family that the words would ring out and shape a new reality in line with the will of God. And finally I declare courage to resist, courage to stand, courage to advance. A Lion-of-Judah, roaring, kind-of-courage that is contagious and affects everyone around you!

Amen.