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| Ready for Battle |
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Where hatred resides,
Let love prevail.
When hatred prevails,
Have love reside. I awoke to the Lord speaking those words to my spirit one morning. It seems there is so much hatred in the world today, whether it is one race against another, one religion against another, one denomination against another or one believer against another. Even in our own personal life it is so difficult not to respond to hatred with hatred. Our nature wants validation for the injustice we think has been imposed upon us. As if hating them back somehow childishly takes the pain away or evens the score. We need to realize our battle is not against one another...
"12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Ephesians 6:12-13
Our battle is against the powers of the dark world and and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Let us not allow the evil forces to use us as pawns in their battle plans. Instead let us get ready for the real battle. Are you ready for battle?
"to prepare for battle" we need to put to death our earthly nature.
"5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." Colossians 3:5
"to dress for battle" we need to clothe ourselves in what...compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
"12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12
"to go to battle" we need to walk in love...before you ever walk out the door or open you mouth or hit send!
"14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:14
Above all be covered with the aroma of Christ...which is love. "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." (2 Corinthians 2:14-15)
To respond in love to people who have offended you is difficult merely in the fact that it is a choice, a choice contrary to our nature, contrary to our desires, contrary to our logic. It is however, the very nature of God. So where does that leave us? To choose God is to choose love. Only when we allow God to transform our nature can we truly respond in love. We need to let love prevail and reside in our lives. I believe that love is the most powerful weapon we have against the powers of darkness...Let Love Prevail!
Getting Ready for Battle
1. Take a bath - Colossians 3:5
2. Get dress - Colossians 3:12
3. Wear your armor - Ephesians 6:13
4. Put on your cologne - Colossians 3:14
Ready for Battle
~by bren
I thought that I was ready,
I went marching off to war.
To challenge the mighty serpent,
It was time to even the score. I thought that I could conquer,
the might of the evil one.
But, my power wasn't strong enough,
I called out for the CHOSEN one. Then I heard the trumpets calling,
The KING of kings is here.
His left hand held a scepter, the right a mighty sword.
He came in all his glory, to take away my fear. He said "it's time for battle,"
Your strength is in the sword.
Just ask and you'll receive it,
Put on the whole armor of the Lord. For those with ears to hear Him,
Let them call upon His name.
He'll give you strength and power,
And take away your fear and shame. Are you ready for the battle,
To go marching off to war?
We'll challenge the mighty serpent,
With the power to even the score. |
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| To add a comment to "Ready for Battle" |
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| October 04, 2008 |
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The Kingdom of Heaven is Taken by Force.....[violence]...[turbulence]...This is turbulence that stirs things
up so much like in thunder storm weather....where tornado's form.....The Hot & the Cold air come together
both with their forces.....Now the Kingdom of Heaven has Forces...& The Kingdom of Darkness also.....
The Church MUST...be AWARE....of Advancing Forces of Darkness....& Take Actions of Greater Force
as to Extinguish..those Dark Forces......So The Kingdom of GOD..as it Advances will always encounter Turbulence....This passage is to be looked at as a.... Tug of War....Meaning The Kingdom of God can
possibly Gain or Loose ground.....So The Church needs to on the offensive...Advancing, moving in such a way as to Gain Victory...Gain Ground....Proof would be to Get Prayer back in Schools, The 10 Commandments
back in Court Rooms in America,....Outlaw Abortion.....Those 3 examples are those of Lost Ground...
Were The Kingdom of Darkness...with forces Took some of those Freedoms away & weakened The Church,
HURT the Lords...Kingdom.......So What should the Church do about this become VIOLENT ???
NO.....Not The Kind on Violence as in the Flesh.....rather in the Spirit.....Where the Real POWER is.
Turbulence is the much more or Proper Term....Such a Stirring that brings about CHANGE.
We ...The Church Needs to Monitor the Success of the Advances of Our God's Kingdom.....
& if we do not see advancement but rather a Decay of God's Kingdom...We MUST Crank it up a Notch !!
Not to Settle for....Satan's Kingdom advance....But we must make Satan Pay....Restitution...
What He Took...He must give back Treble Damages. |
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| October 04, 2008 |
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| ...Bren, I love your spirit....thx for the post |
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| October 04, 2008 |
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Michael, Thanks for that word...let's get ready for battle! Mike, Thank you...I love your spirit also! |
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| October 04, 2008 |
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Always Be Prepared to Fight the Good Fight......& Defend The Gospel !!
Discover The Perfect Accuracy....of The Word....The Word without Contradiction. |
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| October 04, 2008 |
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Good to be Ready for Anything & Everything......Great to be Ready!!
Thanks & Great Advice ! |
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| October 04, 2008 |
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Linda, yes...we need to always be prepared to fight and defend the gospel...good word. David, Thanks...let's all be ready! |
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| October 04, 2008 |
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| Thank you Preston...we must have posted at the same time. |
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| October 04, 2008 |
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Against the "world, the flesh, and the devil" He and His Word (which is from Him and another word for Him) is my only defense! Thank you, Bren. It is people like you who make MC worth the while.
Love, T. |
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| October 04, 2008 |
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awe...Thank you Tonya...love you! |
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| October 04, 2008 |
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| This is so good! Thanks for sharing it with us! |
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| October 04, 2008 |
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| I enjoyed this my sister...Ready for Battle...In these last days we better be ready for battle, or we are going to get killed...Good word....Good word ;o) |
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| October 05, 2008 |
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| Amen! And you are a wonderful poet! |
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| October 06, 2008 |
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Grammy, Thank you and thanks for all you have shared with us Mar Jay, Thank you...amen...I have been wounded enough...
...NOT going to let the enemy kill me!
...not only do we need to get ready for battle, but we have to stand together or the enemy has us before we ever take the first step. Lee, Thanks for the compliment, but I just write what the Lord gives me. Without the Holy Spirit I struggle to put any words together. |
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| October 06, 2008 |
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| You are so right on! The battle is in the spirit realm, and those are spiritual weapons to fight with. Thank you, Kelley |
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| October 06, 2008 |
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| You are welcomed...Thank you Kelley...you are right...we need to keep our eyes on the real battle! |
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| October 27, 2008 |
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you are absolutly right. our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this world.
when my husband and i first got married we fought all the time. i couldn't understand it because we both were serving god. my pastor explained that scripture to me and it made me think. my battle wasn't against my husband, but i was sure allowing myself to be used by the prince of this world. i started waking up. |
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| October 27, 2008 |
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| Bren, This Blog was so good... I had to come back. A decorated soldier with 23 years service, in both the Army and Air Force... Now, a soldier of Christ... I get charged up by the verses you use in this Blog. But JacquiJ is right in her comment and this is where the Lord was stern with me in the beginning. With my millitary training and my "still sinfull" nature I was often ready to charge out on my own. There is only ONE HERO in this battle. I had to get use to waiting on orders from the Holy Spirit in this war. My mind would say, "lets get some laws passed to stop my daughters schoolmates from aborting children". But the Holy Spirit would say, No, you need to reach out to these young people... Help them to see the truth, IN LOVE, commit to help them in any way you can in doing the right thing. In the Spirit, I could see they had made bad choices, but saw no other way out. It was different kinds of tactics than those that I might think up on my own and it meant leaning on the Spirit for when to move out and when to duck down. In my mind I might try to figure out how someone could have gotten the promotion that I thought was mine... But the Spirit would urge me to congratulate the person and to be happy for them. The enemy is ever vigilant and sometimes within... Thanks for reminding us that it is a real battle and what our weapons are. Awesome.
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| October 30, 2008 |
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Thank you Jacqui. Yes. the battle belongs to the Lord, but we are his foot soldiers and too many are getting wounded in the process. I have had my share of injuries and been fodder for the devil. The poem I wrote " Ready for Battle" was based on my experience of being attacked by the enemy. In a vision, I was battling the serpent and all I had was the sword. The serpent just kept getting bigger and bigger and I was standing there unprotected holding him off with my sword knowing my defeat was eminent and I called out for the Lord. Then I saw Jesus coming down from heaven sitting on His throne and dressed in royal garb. He took his sword and anointed me with armor and said now go and fight...it's time for battle. I immediately turned and was able to slice the serpent into pieces. So what does this mean...without God's armor on "the serpent" is going to have you for lunch. It would be nice if Jesus would come down and tap us all and poof we had armor. I know some people will repeatedly quote Ephesians 6:13 as if that is going to protect them. God's word is to be applied ...that means we have to take action...that it is our responsibility to put the armor on. We are in the battle and we need to have the Lord's protection and be prepared.
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| October 30, 2008 |
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| Crystal - Thank you for your insights. One of the enemies primary targets is to destroy marriage since it is representative of the Bride of Christ. When we battle with our mouth "curses" instead of with our spirit "in prayer" we allow the prince of this world to use us. |
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| October 30, 2008 |
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Preston - Thank you for your service as a soldier for our country and Christ. I agree those are powerful verses for understanding what we need to do to prepare...not just for battle, but our life in Christ. I believe most of us need to learn to wait upon the Lord and not walk out in our flesh. When I "thought" that I was ready, my sin was the big "I"...how easy it is to overlook the sin of foolish pride...especially if you believe you doing something for the kingdom. Thank you for sharing your testimony. We all need to see the truth and respond in love. |
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| December 07, 2008 |
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| Thank you for sharing. This is a blessing to the body of Christ. |
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| December 08, 2008 |
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| Thank you Angie...I have been blessed by your kind words. |
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| January 29, 2009 |
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| Sorry about this reposting. When I got the address to link it to my recent post I noticed several typos and corrected them. I didn’t think an edit would cause it to repost |
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| February 01, 2009 |
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| Amen & amen. |
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| February 01, 2009 |
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| Pandabear – Thank you so much for all of your encouraging words. I have been following you around my blogs. I am honored that you have taken the time to go through them. |
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| February 02, 2009 |
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The Lord showed me a vision once of an army of saints, wearing white and His glory was glowing from them. They were waving red banners, singing and praising HIim. Each banner raised and waving had a fruit of the Spirit written on it in white. The army of saints were marching under banners of the fruit of the Spirit.
This is how you win them... |
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| February 03, 2009 |
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| Lions of Christ – Thank you for sharing your vision. Yes, you need to be walking in the fruit of the spirit…“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:21-23 |
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| February 03, 2009 |
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| Excellent word Bren! |
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| February 03, 2009 |
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| Thank you Deb. |
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