We Wrestle With Not Flesh & Blood part 7

5 SIGNS that the enemy is PRESENT in Your Life:

1.  You’re  being  ‘DIVISIVE’

Galatians 5… “…that anyone living that sort of life WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”

We cause division through our actions and with our words. If you are a real Christian or true follower of Jesus, you will not participate in tearing people down ever. No matter what they've actually done, no matter what they've been accused of doing.

2. You’re  Growing  ‘ARROGANT’

Arrogance can easily creep into your garden (life) if we are not looking out for it... especially anyone who holds an earthly title, such as leader, pastor, CEO, boss, etc.

I am not saying that you shouldn't be changed by your titles, degrees, or postitions. They will change you, but hopefully for the GOOD of others.

Arrogance is the opposite of humility. Humility means a modest or low view of one's own importance. One signs of arrogance is a high focus of self-importance.

The fruits of the Spirit will protect you from being lured into arrogance. Love makes you humble. Knowledge makes you arrogant.

1  “…knowledge PUFFS UP while love BUILDS UP.”
2  Those who THINK they know something DO NOT yet know as they ought to know.
1 Corinthians 8 : 1 – 2

Followers of Christ need to walk in a healthy mindset that 'I know nothing'. We are NOT to allow or use our knowledge to make others feel less than.

2 Primary Ways Christians are Tempted with Arrogance:
a)  SUCCESS
b)  False Definition of  ‘MATURITY’

“The most challenging test of character is not failure. It’s SUCCESS. Here’s why. It’s pretty easy to be humble when you’re FAILING. It’s just far to easy to TAKE ALL THE CREDIT when things go well.”
Carey Nieuwhof

“The LORD DETESTS (hates, is disgusted, offended by) the proud; they will surely be punished.”
Proverbs 16 : 5  

I’ve been telling you this entire Series that you do not need to fear satan or death but pride is something you do need to fear. You need to fear thinking more highly of yourself than you ought. The moment you think you know better than God, you are in a heap of trouble.

“Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall.”
Proverbs 16 : 18

“Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
Proverbs 11 : 2


2 Timothy 3 : 1 – 5

1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.

2  For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.

Unfortunately nothing is sacred or reverent anymore in our society except for 'me'.  

3  They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.

4  They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.

5  They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

Sadly, most believers are afraid of the devil, death, earthly sufferings, sickness, lack of finances, but not even worried about pride in their hearts.

3. You’re  Starting  to  BLUR  ‘MORAL  LINES’

“The safest road to hell is the GRADUAL ONE – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, and without signposts.”
C.S. Lewis

Christians don’t usually move from deep obedience to an extraordinary moral failure overnight. We start compromising on the 'small' things like not reading the bible, praying, and attending church. Compromising on the 'small' things leads you to blur God's truth, principles, standards, and morals for His children living on planet earth.

Luke 16 : 10 – 11

10  “If you are faithful in LITTLE THINGS, you will be faithful in LARGE ONES. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

11  And if you are UNTRUSTWORTHY about worldly wealth, WHO WILL TRUST YOU with the TRUE RICHES OF HEAVEN?

“Obedience may seem boring or inconvenient in the SHORT TERM, but it’s richly and deeply satisfying in the LONG TERM.
If you REFUSE to compromise NOW, it becomes MUCH EASIER to RESIST compromise in the FUTURE.”
Carey Nieuwhof

4. You’re  ‘DISCOURAGED’

The first three things that we discussed were sins that are committed through thought, word, or deed. They're acts done either intentionally or unintentionally, but most of them are planned.

This one however may be not planned, but it is still one of the devil's favorite weapons.
Why? Because if you are discouraged, how do you live out Matthew 5? How are you a light of the world. How do you let your light shine before others and glorify your Father in heaven? What testimony do you have of trust and faith in God to the world?

What does Discouragement SOUND LIKE?
•‘What’s the point?’
•‘I might as well give up’
•‘No one loves me’
•‘God doesn’t care about me’

NONE OF THOSE MESSAGES ARE FROM ‘GOD’

Put 'me' or your name in the blanks as you read the following to remind yourself of who you are in Christ.

“Even before He made the world, GOD LOVED  ________  and CHOSE  ________  in Christ to be HOLY and WITHOUT FAULT in His eyes.
God decided in advance to ADOPT  ________  into His own family by BRINGING  ________  to himself THROUGH Jesus Christ.

This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him GREAT PLEASURE.

The best antidote to a lie is the truth. That is why it is so important for you to KNOW the Word of God because you cannot combat the lies of your enemy with world views.

When you are feeling discouraged, read and believe what God says about you and stop waiting for someone else to lift you out of your discouragement.

5. You’re  FULL  of  ‘SELF – PITY’

If Discouragement is left unchecked it grows into self-pity. Self-pity is discouragement on steroids. Self pity tells you that there is no way out and that this is the way it will always be. Self-pity will scream that 'its all your fault' and at the same time 'none of it is your fault'.

“Living in a state of self-pity means you don’t need anyone to ‘take you out of the game’ because YOU’VE TAKEN YOURSELF OUT.”
Carey Nieuwhof

To combat self-pity, first you have to know what it is. Self-Pity is basically a confession without repentance and forgiveness. Someone who is wallowing in self-pity will acknowledge that there is a big problem in their life, but they won't own it, move forward, and grow. Self-Pity is acknowledging sin without claiming hope.

You can encourage a person wallowing in self pity and give them advice, but if they don't want to come out of the miry clay, they won't. It doesn't matter if you hand them the answeres to their problems. They are set in a mindset to feed their self-centered self.

Knowing what these 5 signs are is only half of the battle and if you don't recognize satan's strategies and schemes, it is hard to defeat them. But once you see them and hold them up to the light, they lose their power. Remember the position you are truely in.
DIVISION / PRIDE / IMMORALITY / DISCOURAGEMENT/SELF-PITY cannot have their being in you!

Acts Chapter 17

25  “…GOD himself gives everyone LIFE and BREATH
and EVERYTHING ELSE.”

28  ‘For IN HIM we LIVE and MOVE and HAVE OUR BEING.’

Read, know, and believe what God has spoken over you.

You are more than.
You are a child of God - we are His offspring.
You are the church.
And the powers of hell shall not prevail against you. They cannot win, triumph, overpower, rule, or reign over you!

Christ is Holy. He is Joy. Truth. Love. Pure. And as His child, that is who YOU are too.