We Wrestle With Not Flesh and Blood Part 4

We have been learning that satan leverages all your bad experiences in this physical life to destroy any chance you may have at experiencing God's presence, power, glory, and healing. The devil's goal is for you to be with him in the spiritual realm of evil, suffering, and punishment. satan hates you because you remind him of God. he doesn't want you to believe in the bible, know the heart of God, obey His commands, follow Jesus' example, or have a relationship with the Holy Spirit.

When you are in a bad place mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually because of something terrible that happened to you, don't be led or ruled by your heart, emotions, or feelings. They will lead you astray.

“GUARD YOUR HEART (and MIND) above all else, for IT DETERMINES THE COURSE of your life.” - Proverbs 4 : 23

“The heart is DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS. And it is extremely sick; Who can understand it fully and know its SECRET MOTIVES?” - Jeremiah 17 : 9

Those verses are proof that satan uses our affections, feelings, emotions, and thoughts as a vehicle against us to destroy us. He is deceiving our minds. Distracting us with feelings, and emotions. The next time that your feelings are hurt, instead of instantly being offended, running away, quitting, slandering, or getting even, why not pause for a minute and get your emotions and feelings under control. Keep your thoughts and reactions in check. Think to yourself; what is the enemy up to here?

This is why the ‘Helmet of Salvation’ is crucial to have and keep on. We have to do a better job at protecting our minds. When life gets difficult, we have to protect what we believe and know is true.

Matthew 16 : 17 – 19; 23

17  “God has blessed you, Simon, son of Jonah,” Jesus said, “for my Father in heaven has personally revealed this to you — this is not from any human source.

18  YOU are PETER, a STONE; and UPON THIS ROCK I will build MY CHURCH; AND ALL THE POWERS OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT.

19  And I will give YOU the KEYS of the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; whatever doors YOU LOCK on earth SHALL BE LOCKED in heaven; and whatever doors YOU OPEN on earth SHALL BE OPEN in heaven!”

23  But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! YOU ARE AN OFFENSE TO ME,…”

satan’s  LIES  about ourselves and our situations should be offensive to us. Peter in this scripture is struggling with his current situation. He doesn't understand it - it is way too hard to wrap his HUMAN mind around it. This is why having the Helmet of Salvation on is crucial to protect our minds when we are going through difficult seasons. What is your mind full of?
You need to protect what you believe and know is true about God and His Word.

Remember that God is building you through your suffering and difficult seasons. Don't panic because the gates of hell will not prevail against you.

If you are wondering how to recognize a lie from satan, first, take that negative thought captive immediately as it enters your mind, then hold that thought up against the word of God. If God doesn't say that about you or your situation then it is a lie. That is why it is so important to LEARN and KNOW His word by reading your bible and spending intimate time with the Lord so you will know the truth of God versus the lies of the enemy.