“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” John‬ ‭8:44‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

As much as I wanted to get around it, as much as I wanted to avoid it, I couldn’t. We have to engage in spiritual warfare. We really don’t have a choice. We were born into a war. The devil commands one army, and Jesus the other. The battleground is the mind. If the enemy can get the mind of a person, he can operate from that person. “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Many people (and I am not wrong by saying most people) are believing the lies of the enemy. Those lies are like the bread and butter of living on this planet.

REPENT!

This word has really gotten a bad rap, it’s probably one of the most beautiful words in the Bible. Let me show you why. First of all, the word repent means “to change the way you think”. Now obviously, there will be corresponding actions to your repentance, but it starts at you changing your mind. If the battleground is the mind, isn’t it any wonder that the first thing Jesus says when He shows up as the Messiah is “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!” This is not something you can just work up however. Like anything eternal, it has to be given to you by God. Here’s my example verse:

“When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭11:18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Repentance is a gift! Many Christians are stuck believing the lies of the enemy. It breaks my heart to see so many pure hearted people believing lies, and that being the only thing that’s stopping them. Paul makes it very clear in Romans chapter 8 that NOTHING can separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, but many Christians do not regularly experience the love of God.

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans‬ ‭8:38-39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

What are the two things not mentioned on that list? You, and your past. Many Christians can’t get over their past, even though it has been dealt with by the blood of Jesus, and sometimes the devil uses evil spirits to secure that stronghold in their mind. If the devil has no power to separate you from the love of God, then how does he do it? He gets you to agree with a lie. I’m telling you the truth here, THE DEVIL IS A LIAR. If you aren’t experiencing the love of God, and you’re a believer, ask God to reveal to you what lie you are believing.

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”” John‬ ‭8:32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Be brave and fight

Now that we’ve established what I’m talking about here in the mind, now we have to get to the warfare piece. It’s really quite simple, Jesus gave you authority over all of the power of the enemy. Crush the head of those snakes trying to bite you.

“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭10:19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Use your authority. Not someone else’s. I understand that sometimes we need the help of our fellow believers, but please understand, Jesus gave YOU authority. Use your words, and speak OUT LOUD. Tell that evil spirit bothering you what it should do.

One time I was believing the lie that I was going to mess up a relationship with my friend. The whole time I was believing it, I felt so depressed. I was under a spirit of heaviness. Once I asked God what was wrong and He revealed to me the lie, I repented (changed my mind) and told that spirit of heaviness to leave me. Immediately I felt better. I started laughing and shouting,

“THE DEVIL IS A LIAR!”

I hope this has blessed and encouraged you.

Thanks for reading!