Spiritual Warfare (Part I)

But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with.
Matthew 20:22-23 (KJV)

Well, I guess it's time for me to get into the even deeper spiritual stuff. Many will not accept what I have been instructed to teach, but that's okay because I am posting it for the sake of those who are in serious spiritual battle and desperately need to know these things.

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2 Timothy 3:10-12 (KJV)

Before I get into what I need to say let me tell you this; most Christians are simply not cut out for this work. There is no glory in it on this side of eternity, and it involves a great deal of suffering and persecution. Are you willing to suffer for Christ, I mean, really suffer? Suffer in your health, finances, emotionally or any other way that God chooses?

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1 (KJV)

For many years God has been both preparing and training me for direct battle in the spirit world against the forces of Hell. To some that may sound like really far out nonsense, and perhaps to others that I have an inflated opinion of myself. I don't know that I could even explain to you how I know that this is my calling; there are dozens of incidents throughout my life that God has allowed, things that are now coming together like a jigsaw puzzle without the benefit of the cover photo. It is only as God has assembled the pieces that the picture is now taking shape. His ways are higher than ours.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Psalms 126:5-6 (KJV)

God has told me He is going to use me mightily to set captives free; even so I have been warned that most will not heed the call to repentance. But the Lord requires that they be warned anyway, even if they don't heed the call (Ezekiel 3:20 KJV). It is a grim task that we are called to do.

I was attacked in my health recently; When the doctors told me what the MRI showed I knew it was true because God told me exactly what the cause was beforehand. I had three people tell me afterwards that the Holy Spirit told them I was being attacked because of my stand for Christ, one of them was a former Illuminati that I have been ministering with and learning from. This all occurred on the last full moon, a high Satanic holiday.

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
2 Corinthians 11:23-29 (KJV)

Next time you see some fool telling you that God wants you to be rich and comfortable remember these words from Paul. Is his the kind of life you want to live? I know I don't, yet if this is the cup Christ has chosen for me I am willing to drink of it, for His glory. The day I made my total commitment to Christ as Master of my life, no matter what the cost is the day I really became a Christian. As I wrote in "What Price Salvation" I lost everything as a result of that commitment, yet I got the best of the bargain!

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 2:10 (KJV)

So now that you know that ours is not a life of material luxury and ease I must ask you; are you willing to drink from the cup?

GO TO PART II