Awakening to the Reality of Spiritual Warfare

By Dennis Petersen

More and more people in our country and the world are awakening to the reality that we are all on the stage of the greatest spiritual battleground imaginable.  As the darkness of evil becomes increasingly invasive, the brightness of the Light of God’s Truth and Righteousness becomes all the more apparent to those with eyes to see. Unfortunately, we realize from recent history that people who have been pickled in mass-media deception and coddled by a public indoctrination mindset that coddles the stubbornness to cling to their self-serving idolatry and wicked passions, are often too hardened to hear God’s invitation to repent and receive the peace of eternal life.

I’m reminded of one of the great confrontations to which God brought His people – through the calling to confident faith upon His servant, Elijah. It’s ironic that, similar to the spiritual dynamic of our present age, the wicked king Ahab operated under the seductive evil spirit of Jezebel. That spirit mesmerized the people of Israel to the many vile lusts of carnally-minded, man-pleasers. But God still had His faithful remnant of seven thousand prophetic witnesses secreted in the idolatrous nation.

Elijah said to king Ahab and his Israelite subjects at Mount Carmel: “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word (1 Kings 18:21).

After the 850 prophets of Baal revealed the utter powerlessness of their false idolatry, God used His faithful prophet Elijah to dramatically show a taste of the consuming power of YAHweh (The LORD). And then Elijah ordered the seizure and execution of swift judgment upon the demonically sold-out spokesmen of their wicked false god. There’s a pattern here for us to see. It’s a principle of God’s character. And His character does not change. He’s the same yesterday, and today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

We should all realize that God does not love America more than any other nation or people. There are evil idolatrous people infesting every corner of this fallen world. God’s passion is to have America restored and led by a government of God-fearing law that does not openly oppose Him. The good, humanitarian, and gospel outreach to people in darkness in the far reaches of the world by past generations of Americans, has been eclipsed by the vile wickedness exported by our recent generations. But millions of God-fearing honest citizens of America are now poised by almighty God to reclaim this nation’s legacy of goodness because of God’s love for people in all nations.

As a listener to this radio station, you are probably far more spiritually mature than 90% of our fellow Americans who attend weekly church services. You understand the imperative of Romans 12:2. We’re commanded to “not be conformed to this world (or the ways of this present age), but be transformed” – and that doesn’t just mean converted to Christianity. Paul is speaking to believers here. And that transformation happens “by the renewing of your mind.” That takes a commitment to a life-long process of studying God’s word – thinking and meditating about it with your full mental engagement. Why? So, “that you may prove what the will of God is – and that is always “good and acceptable and perfect.”

Part of that will of God is to know that our heavenly Father’s will for His disciples is to have peace. Romans 8:6 convinces us that confusion in believers has a clear cause. “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” Why? Verse 7 tells us. “Because the mind set on the flesh (meaning carnal thinking) is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so.” This is not the path for a Christ-follower. That’s why Paul continues in verse 9 saying, “However, you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he doesn’t (even) belong to Him.”

Ephesians 4:15 urges us all to “speak the truth in love.” Why? So, that we “may grow up in all things into Him who is the head, even Christ.”

It seems that all too many congregations of Christian churches in America are sadly like the people Paul addressed in 1 Corinthians 3:1. “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.”

Does that remind you of that passage in Hebrews 5:12? “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.”

Let’s recognize one of the first priorities for a spiritually mature assembly of Christ’s followers when they meet for public worship. Along with entering God’s “courts with thanksgiving in our hearts and songs of praise to Him on our lips,” we’re clearly urged to do something so that we can have a peaceful and productive life on this earth. What’s that?

1 Timothy 2:1 tells us: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”

In Bible times, common people had no option to participate in what we call “politics.” They were all subjects to a king with complete sovereignty over their lives. They were essentially like slaves to the crown. America was established on the principle that “we the people” are the sovereigns who choose honorable magistrates to represent our interests on local, regional and national levels. That constitutionally agreed upon republic can only be maintained by a God-fearing and law-abiding citizenry that is personally involved in the day-to-day processes of governance.

As America has prospered because of its founding on Biblical principles, it has taken over a century for all but a remnant of the Christian patriots in this country to abdicate their responsibility to be the salt and light in every area of our society. Thanks to the lack of perceptive spiritual leadership in our churches, it got to the point in recent decades where less than half the Christian population even voted in a general election. Now, because of the clear and present danger of the imminent loss of our personal liberties, that remnant is awakening. God, in His mercy, is granting His Ekklesia – His true family of Christ-followers – a chance to “grow up” – to do all the things that Christ commanded His disciples to do and to teach. The ‘dualism’ and ‘pietism’ that has ruled the thinking of many modern preachers is being revealed for the hypocrisy that it is.

America’s mission from her birth is to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom of Christ to the ends of the earth. Nothing has ever changed that. As Abraham was blessed to be a blessing, God’s signal blessings on America are a vivid testimony of our legacy to bless the entire world. We’re part of God’s providential strategy to redeem our sin-sick planet. Abraham’s righteous descendants gave us the Messiah, who redeemed us all by God’s grace. America’s calling is to advance the good news of our Messiah’s finished work to the forgotten people groups throughout the world. Nothing is hated by the Devil and hell’s demons more that this.  Only the children of Israel are loathed so intensely by God’s enemies, including corrupted people who’ve sold their souls to the demonic spiritual principalities of the deep state. … They will lose. As God gave seasons of restoration to Judah under good, God-fearing Kings like Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah and Josiah, God, today,   is hearing the humble intercession of tens of millions of God-fearing patriots who love their country and are praying that He will mercifully restore and reestablish America as the resounding voice of His kingdom. There is no evil force that can stop that.

Pastor Dutch Sheets of Texas has been offering a daily recorded prayer guide on GiveHim15.com. since the November election. It has blessed many people worldwide as all of us have been increasingly discovering the high level, widespread acts of corruption to swindle the American people from our freedoms. His January 18, 2021 episode is titled “My Anchor Holds” – providing much of the content I share with you now.

Pastor Dutch begins by sharing thoughts from a friend named Jacquie, to which I’m taking the liberty to add a few personal thoughts that I trust will be insightful and encouraging.

“The apprehension and heartache that many of us are feeling over our nation has many causes:

  • Gross social division in our nation on many fronts – mostly aggravated by the MSM.
  • Gross ignorance of our history, our Bible and what our grandparents called ‘common-sense.’
  • Vehement Hatred of God and His values in the halls of government and in the streets;
  • Hypocrisy and duplicity demonstrated by governmental leaders, who excused and protected violence in the streets for months, then condemned and blamed President Trump and conservatives for the premeditated violence at the Capitol (PLEASE understand that all of us praying patriots have nothing to do with criminal and seditious violence. We only speak of the hypocrisy demonstrated by outspoken leftist traitors of America’s Constitution of God-fearing law).
  • Vilification and demonization of anyone who doesn’t agree with the leftist, liberal agenda;
  • Consternation and irritation over the division and delusion among some believers who think supporting and voting for officials promoting anti-God and immoral policies is somehow ok.

“Our support of the truly elected President should have nothing to do with an illusion that President Trump is flawless or a perfect president. We all know he is not perfect and that God is our only true hope for salvation and deliverance. We have only one Savior and Deliverer, and that is Jesus Christ. There is no other!

“The burdens, grief, and passion of intercession we feel for our nation is an expression of several things.

  • Our love for the Lord and His desires for our nation stirs us to intercede for Americans to live in the fulfillment of His Biblical intention for us.
  • We love our nation because of our passion to see the freedoms we have enjoyed secured for our children, our children’s children, and all those who come after us. It is about securing our nation from the tyrannies of anti-American sentiments, agendas, and actions that would strip us of our fundamental, God-given freedoms.
  • We are committed to live fully for the Lord during our short time on the earth. We pursue greater and greater measures of the culture of the Kingdom of God ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’

“Our passion and pursuit of God’s purposes for this nation will never change. Our intercession and the work God has called us to, will continue.”

As we launch into what is already becoming some of the most historic and hectic weeks of our history, a great hymn I often sang as a child comes to mind. “On Christ the solid Rock, I stand. All other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.” This is the chorus from the popular hymn written by Rev. Edward Mote in 1834. It comes from the parable Jesus told in Matthew 7:24-27. He compares our ability or inability to receive His Words by faith and find our life’s stability in them. The song says:

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain:

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; in every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood support me in the whelming flood; when all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.

As we move into the coming weeks of potential turmoil, we must hold fast to Jesus, just as this hymn reminds us. We must fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. We must stir ourselves up in our most holy faith and believe that evil will not ultimately prevail.

In 1 Kings 18, we see the famous challenge between Elijah and the corrupt and immoral prophets of Baal. In the story, God uses Elijah to show Israel He is their true God. Yahweh’s tremendous love for Israel and a firm commitment to the covenant He made with them, moves Him to display His justice with miraculous power to make it clear that He is the only true God desiring His people’s full allegiance. Immediately afterward, Elijah, no doubt drained by the confrontation, falls into a deep depression, running away from wicked Queen Jezebel’s threat to take his life.

The Lord sends an angel to feed him and lovingly calls Elijah to Himself. When Elijah gets to the place of meeting with God, the Lord says to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah whines back his answer to God, telling Him about the challenges he is facing because of carrying out His will.

The Lord answers Elijah in a profound display of His power and glory, then asks again, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Pastor Dutch believes God was really asking Elijah, “Have you, yourself, already forgotten Who I Am?” Elijah is helped by the visitation, but his faith was still not fully revived. The battle against Jezebel is fierce. It caused even a prophet of Elijah’s standing to waver. But we are an army. And we have the power of the Holy Spirit in us to fill our hearts with faith, and He fills our mouths with His anointed and empowered decrees.

Do not let your faith waver now. Stand firm on the Rock that is Jesus Himself. See yourself covered in His precious blood, carrying righteousness and justice. No matter the storminess of the gale this week, our hope and anchor will hold. It is firm in the Rock of our relationship and covenant in Him. We must not stop making the decrees He has given us to decree over this great nation. We must not lose our hope in Him.

“All who listen to my instructions and follow them are wise, like a man who builds his house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents, and the floods rise and the storm winds beat against his house, it won’t collapse, for it is built on rock. But those who hear my instructions and ignore them are foolish, like a man who builds his house on sand. For when the rains and floods come, and storm winds beat against his house, it will fall with a mighty crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27; TLB)

Pastor Dutch received a text message last weekend from a friend who lives and ministers in Israel. He told the story with a prayer that they were instructed to pray in a desperate situation in Israel. I believe we should learn from their experience and pray this prayer.

“Here in Jerusalem in 2004, after four years of suicide bombings, killing hundreds of innocent victims, we were crying out to God, that he would bring injustice to an end. He revealed that we should pray for the occult shield of protection to be taken away from the main Islamic leader who was calling for the suicide bombings.

“After a dramatic answer to prayer, the voice of that Islamic terrorist leader was silenced. There were no more successful suicide bus bombings after that day. Here is the prayer, adapted to our current situation:

“So, Lord God Almighty, the Lord of the Armies of Heaven, I thank you for the power of the blood of Yeshua, Jesus, over all witchcraft and occult. We come before You now covered by the blood of Jesus and proclaim over the worldwide systems of evil seeking to take control in America and in the nations.

“Let the occult shields of protection be taken away from everyone involved in theft, fraud, and corruption. May their occult shields of protection no longer be able to hide them from being exposed by the light.

“Let witchcraft manipulation be brought to an end in and over the Congress, Senate, the White House, the Supreme Court, the FBI, the CIA, the Department of Justice, and over the state executives, courts and legislatures, and over election integrity.

As Joshua and Caleb proclaimed to the Hebrews who were intimidated by the giants, we say to all who are intimidated by today’s giants,

‘…do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them…their protection is gone…their protection is gone…their protection is gone…but the Lord is with us…Do not be afraid of them.’ (Numbers 14:9)

We proclaim this in the mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.

1 Chronicles 28:9 is an admonition to young king Solomon. It applies to us today.

“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.”

You’re probably familiar with Psalm 37. “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” But the rest of the passage is worth meditating on.

Verses 7 – 11 advises us to “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land. Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there. But the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

Going on from verse 12, we’re told… “The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, For He sees his day is coming. The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow to cast down the afflicted and the needy, to slay those who are upright in conduct. Their sword will enter their own heart, and their bows will be broken.

Better is the little of the righteous Than the abundance of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked will be broken, But the LORD sustains the righteous. The LORD knows the days of the blameless, And their inheritance will be forever. They will not be ashamed in the time of evil, And in the days of famine, they will have abundance.

You can count on that. It’s God’s word to us and a promise that we can very much apply to the time that we’re living in. As we collectively seek God with all of our heart, seek His face. Seek His presence.  He’s a very present help in time of need (Psalm 46).

Bonus segment 

You’ve probably noticed, with all the uncertainty and confusion caused by the many powers that be in our world, that people everywhere are more apt to take their life more seriously than before. Those whom the Holy Spirit is drawing to Christ are even willing to hear godly insight found in the Bible.  They’re curious. Followers of Jesus are showing the desire to serve our Savior much more wholeheartedly than when our day-to-day life was easily more stable and predictable.

The enemy is succeeding in causing many to bow to Fear, but God is sovereignly orchestrating a much more fruitful endeavor as He inspires His children to intercede for their communities, their people, their nations.  “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth, as it is in heaven.”  That’s why we all have to be careful to avoid listening to the disturbing distractions and non-stop narratives that feed the ‘scamdemic’ of fear.  If we take the time to study ‘the rest of the story’ hidden from the non-discerning sheep being led to the slaughter, we’ll focus on Jesus, in whom we have the true hope of victory.  We’ll focus on His Word. It always generates life, and peace, and hope.

Psalm 25 from David says, “Good and upright is the LORD; therefore, He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way. All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. For Thy name’s sake O LORD, pardon my iniquity, for it is great. Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. His soul will abide in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the earth/land.  The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant. My eyes are continually toward the LORD, for He will pluck my feet out of the net.” Psalm 25:8-15.

When we speak the Word of God out loud for others to hear, not only are they inspired to have hope, they are empowered to take action. The Holy Spirit uses our proclamation of His Word to breathe prophetic life into those who have ears to hear.

Our collective prayers in thanksgiving and intercession to Almighty God, together with God’s gracious enablement through His servant-hearted children, will be used by God to accomplish His victory, despite any of our anxieties and inadequacies.

Why did Egypt have the ability to sell grain to the sons of Israel during an extended global famine?

The precise Biblical answer is twofold.  God providentially guided Joseph through a series of challenging circumstances into a position of influence.  God also gave Joseph divine wisdom to advise and assist a pagan tyrant with practical strategies that led to the preservation of God’s chosen children of Abraham.  Through it all, even with the disappointing failure of many of the human characters in the timeline, God was glorified.  His Word was fulfilled, and ultimately, He made it possible for all of us to receive the eternal redemption of His merciful grace through the manifestation of His Son, Jesus the Messiah.

It is becoming increasingly known that all of us are looking at as much as a 50% increase in the cost of food products in the coming year of 2022.

Are you prepared for extended food shortages in the very near future?

See a very informative article with many important links by Brian Shilhavy of Health Impact News, at: this link.

In another pivotal report, I learned from Brian about Unmasking the Global Food Cartel, which makes sense how the globalists can actually engineer worldwide Starvation and Population Reduction.  See it at: this link.

…and be sure not to miss the important report that exposes the next move of the global food cartel. It’s  linked in that article at: https://healthimpactnews.com/2021/unmasking-the-global-food-cartel-is-massive-starvation-and-population-reduction-their-next-move/

Whatever you do, don’t be intimidated by the many voices promoting fear, to bow to the demands of the enemies of God and His righteous cause.  “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2Co 3:17

Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.

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2 thoughts on “Awakening to the Reality of Spiritual Warfare

  1. The Left understands where the Culture War frontline is located!
    The battle front is for the hearts and minds of our children.
    Atheists don’t send their children to an evangelical Christian Sunday School one hour per week, but Christians send their children to the atheist public schools 30 hours per week. I am a retired teacher and unequivocally proclaim that there is no hope for America as long as Christians and conservatives allow their children to be indoctrinated in the public schools. We must rescue our children!

  2. Another excellent and very timely message that will be broadly shared. God bless you richly for your encouragement and voice of hope to endure these perilous times! Looking forward to seeing you and Vi next month.