Know How to Recognize Them

welcome everyone today we are going to explore a crucial topic spiritual attacks and how to identify and combat them often these attacks begin subtly with the loss of spiritual desire and the Resurgence of old iniquities but their consequences can deeply Veer us off the path that God has planned for us armed with the wisdom of the Bible and insights from CS Lewis we will discover how to keep our faith unwavering and our hearts steadfast in Jesus even in the most challenging battles get ready to strengthen your Spiritual armor and face these challenges with courage and

conviction the objective of any spiritual attack is to pull you away from what Jesus wants to do in your life therefore the first warning sign of an attack is the loss of spiritual desire amidst life storms there are moments when we feel surrounded by invisible forces trying to divert Us From the Path illuminated by Jesus it is in these moments that we may feel the cold breath of a spiritual attack signaled by the loss of our fervent desire for the things of God we do not live by feelings alone but there is a difference between

doing something merely out of obligation and doing something because you Delight in it Lewis writes you can't go back and change the beginning but you can start where you are and change the ending even when our spiritual flame seems to flicker we have the chance to reignite the passion that connects us to the Divine true peace and happiness as Lewis reminds us can only be found in God there is no substitute for the joy that comes from delighting in the Lord for it is a joy that transcends all understanding resisting the devil is an act

of courage and Faith submit yourselves then to God resist the devil and he will flee from you James tells us by submitting to God we find the strength to repel the Shadows that surround us and when we Face difficulties we must remember that difficulty often prepares an ordinary person for an extraordinary Destiny every challenge is an opportunity for us to grow stronger in our faith Ephesians equips us for Spiritual battle instructing us to put on the full armor of God with truth righteousness Readiness from the gospel of peace Faith salvation and the word of God

we are prepared to face any adversity when you Delight in the Lord nothing else Compares someone passionate about about Jesus Christ finds pleasure in the things of God physical fatigue serves as a warning sign a precursor to a possible spiritual attack we are intrinsically Triune beings Spirit soul and body and it is crucial to understand that the weakness of the body has a domino effect affecting our soul mind and making our spirit vulnerable in moments like these it is essential to remember Lewis's wise words life with God is Not immunity to difficulties but peace in

difficulties in 2 Corinthians 129 the Apostle Paul brings us a divine revelation saying my grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness if you find yourself in a moment of difficulty know that God is with you it is in your weakness that you become strong it is in your difficulty that your faith strengthens and then you can say that you are a child of God amidst fatigue it is essential to seek restoration not only physically but Also spiritually and emotionally in Psalms 23 the Lord is my shepherd I shall not

want he makes me lie down in Green Pastures he leads me beside Still Waters he restores my soul he leads me in Paths of righteousness for his name's sake even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me your rod and your staff they comfort me you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies you anoint my head with oil my cup overflows surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the

house of the Lord forever our Lord gives rest to the troubled mind and the exhausted body and he brings us Comfort God Specializes in turning desert Landscapes into beautiful Green Fields he can calm storms and rough Seas turning them into Waters of rest trust that the Lord is merciful and sustains the basic needs of of his people with Grace Christ satisfies all who believe in his love the third sign that you are under attack is what we can call the attack of lack there are moments in our lives when it seems like all our resources

are simultaneously depleted the enemy uses this strategy to divert our attention from Jesus and focus it on material concerns if he can make you worry instead of worship you will begin to make decisions based on opportunities rather than anointing it is crucial to remember that there are two moments in your life when you are especially vulnerable to Temptations when you have nothing and when you have everything stay close to Jesus Christ in both good and bad times this teaching is echoed in the scriptures which encourage us to set our eyes not on Earthly riches but

on Eternal Treasures Matthew 6:33 guides us clearly but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you our priority should be our relationship with God and he will take care of our material needs only God is good and all good and kindness come from him the mercy of the Lord is the manifestation of his love and kindness toward us God spares us not giving us all that we deserve he is good and forgiving he not only is present but also lovingly follows us just as a mother's

watchful eyes follow her little child's steps just as The Cloud of Glory followed the people in the desert so too God's goodness and mercy follow believers it is important to cultivate an attitude of gratitude and worship regardless of external circumstances as Paul teaches us in Philippians 4:12 I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger abundance and need this spiritual flexibility allows us to remain steadfast and focused on God no matter the external fluctuations of our situation

the fourth sign that you may may be under a spiritual attack is a decrease in the intensity and frequency of your prayer life when Jesus found his disciples sleeping in the Garden of Gethsemane he questioned them could you not watch with me one hour Matthew 26:40 following this questioning he advised Watch and Pray so that you will not fall into temptation the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak Matthew 26:41 this passage highlights an eternal truth about human nature and the vital importance of prayer it is striking how much Jesus desired human company he

took the disciples with him to the Garden he asked the three closest ones to accompany him further now he rebuked Peter for abandoning him for sleep although Jesus Is God he understands the deepest human feelings when we are feeling lonely or isolated Jesus understands do you have someone with whom you can share your deepest distress if Jesus needed it imagine us in times of physical or spiritual weakness it can be tempting to relax our spiritual disciplines including prayer however it is precisely in these moments that we most need to strengthen our communication with God prayer

is the lifeline that connects us to the Divine providing strength wisdom and protection against temptations that may come with states of vulnerability reinforcing the prayer life is essential because through it we express our dependence on God and our trust in his power and love as Paul exhorts in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing this is not just a call to pray frequently but an invitation to live in a continuous state of God Consciousness seeking his guidance in every aspect of Our Lives feeling surrounded by adversities as if trapped within a circle of challenges with issues

in finances family and work can quickly lead us to despair it is crucial to remember the words in Proverbs 13:12 hope deferred makes the heart sick when our hopes are constantly deferred our spirit can weaken in the screw tape letters screw tape strategically advises wormwood to guide the human eye toward mundane and immediate things in order to divert us from God's path demons are instructed to exploit human weaknesses such as fear Pride or insecurity for example in the case of financial difficulties wormwood could make the human Focus exclusively on making money leading them to questionable

moral and spiritual compromises Lewis explores how distractions and difficulties can be manipulated to steer Christians away from their spiritual path he advises that instead of succumbing to despair we should use these moments as an opportunity to strengthen our dependence on God learning to see beyond immediate appearances but the Bible also offers us a powerful antidote to this heart sickness in Hebrews 11 one now Faith is the Assurance of things hoped for the conviction of Things Not Seen maintain Faith even when you cannot see an immediate solution to your problems Faith invites us to trust in

God in his perfect timing sustaining Our Hope Against All Odds the sixth sign that you are under spiritual attack is the Resurgence of old iniquities in your life iniquities as some consider are old habits on which your soul tends to rely when things are not going well habits that indulge the flesh if this starts happening do not ignore the alert conviction of the Holy Spirit iniquities can be deeply rooted behaviors or thoughts that were dominant in our lives previously but were subdued through spiritual growth and repentance they are personal weaknesses or Tendencies towards certain sins

that may have been confessed and forgiven but still lurk ready to resurface when we are vulnerable in Romans 7:19 25 it says for I do not do the good I want to do but but the evil I do not want to do this I keep on doing now if I do what I do not want to do it is no longer I who do it but it is sin living in me that does it so I find this law at work although I want to do good evil is right there with me for in my

inner being I Delight in God's law but I see another law at work in me Waging War against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me what a Wretched Man I am who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death thanks be to God who delivers me through Jesus Christ Our Lord so then I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin in Mere Christianity Lewis discusses how old

habits and behaviors can reemerge even after we believe they have been overcome when old iniquities start tempting you the next sign of spiritual attack is sure to follow pulling away from Godly relationships look around have you pulled out of relationships with people at church or with people in your small group are more and more of your friends carnally minded rather than spiritually minded if so you are stumbling around the Battleground and the enemy has a Target on your head in Hebrews 10:24 25 and let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love

and Good Deeds not giving up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day approach Ing we need each other we cannot do it alone God calls us to gather regularly to encourage and motivate one another to live vibrant lives of service and Faith with the day of Christ's return and our final victory in view we should be even more motivated to help and encourage one another in Proverbs 27:17 as iron sharpens iron so one person sharpens another fellowship with Believers is

one of the fundamental pillars of the Christian Life God created us to live in relationship with one another strengthening each other in faith and love the text from Hebrews urges us to consider one another and to Spur each other on toward love and Good Deeds this reminds us of the importance of being together gathered as a church to encourage one another fellowship goes beyond just attending services or meetings it involves sharing our lives Mutual edification and spiritual support it is in Fellowship that we find encouragement comfort efort exhortation and brotherly love it is an environment

where we can be authentic vulnerable and find people who support us in our spiritual Journeys however in a world marked by individualism and isolation it is common to see people drifting away from fellowship the text from Hebrews warns us not to forsake the habit of gathering together as a Church Fellowship is vital for our spiritual growth and strengthening in faith When We Gather we have the opportunity to encourage one another share experiences learn together and walk in unity to break the enemy's attack once you've taken a stand against the enemy's attack here are five do

Nots you must remember do not forget who created you always remember that you were created by God with every storm in mind he has equipped you with everything necessary to overcome adversities this realization should bring deep security and confidence in your identity as a creation of God made with purpose and strength regardless of circumstances you were made to Triumph through the power and love of God therefore in times of difficulty reflect on Psalm 139 131 14 where it is affirmed that God carefully formed Us in the womb of our mothers do not abandon prayer time

and place establishing a specific time and place for prayer is vital to maintain a successful prayer life as Jesus exemplified by with drawing to isolated places to pray Mark 135 we too should create a space dedicated to prayer that allows constant and uninterrupted communion with God this not only strengthens our relationship with him but also better equips us to face daily challenges do not neglect the power of partnership being surrounded by people who have more experience and wisdom is an invaluable resource Ecclesiastes 49 10 speaks of how two are better than one for for they

have a better return for their labor and can help each other in times of need seek mentors and prayer Partners who can offer wise counsel and support on your spiritual journey arm yourself with the word of God scripture is your primary defense tool against the enemy's attacks Ephesians 6:17 instructs us to take the sword of the spirit which is the word of God make daily Bible reading and meditation a priority to strengthen your faith and renew your mind allowing you to identify and combat the lies and deceptions of the enemy equip yourself to fight and

win in addition to the word of God equip yourself with all the other pieces of the armor of God described in Ephesians 61018 this includes truth righteousness Readiness of the gospel of peace Faith salvation in incessant prayer these tools are essential for maintaining your spiritual integrity and for resisting and overcoming the enemy's tactics