Shiloh Place Ministries
Seeing The World Experience the Father's Healing Love
Through the Hearts of the Leaders
www.shilohplace.org

Spiritual Attack: Meant For Evil, Turned To Good
Part 1

At our summer conference, I asked 700 people, "How many of you feel that, within the last year, you've been through the most intense spiritual warfare youπve ever experienced?" Almost the entire congregation raised their hands. At SPM, we have had many of the ministers with whom we communicate tell us that they have never been through such a difficult time in their ministries and families. It is as if the enemy knows that his time is short and he is coming against the people of God with great intensity. (Revelation 12:12)

Therefore, Trisha and I think it is very important to share with you how to recognize when you are drifting off center of faith in the Father's love and His ability to protect and secure you. The enemy's goal is to deceive and distract you from any movement forward into the revelation of the Father's love, and then to hinder you from being a carrier of love to your family, ministry, and the world. We share this not to invoke fear or a victim mentality, but that you may be wise to the schemes of the enemy and to build faith in God's presence and protection over your life. (Ephesians 6:10-19)

There certainly are commonly known areas of unconfessed sin that open doors to increased spiritual attack, such as pride, unresolved conflicts in relationships, ungodly beliefs, jealousies, aggressive striving, doubt and unbelief, the lack of communion with God, and other areas of darkness in our thought life that we do not want brought to the light. While we do not desire to address these more familiar issues at this time, Trisha and I want to share some basic principles of spiritual warfare that we have learned in the past few years. (We wish that space allowed us to amplify each point more fully, but an audiotape on this is available from SPM. Ordering information is provided at the end of this article.)

(1) One of the greatest reasons you may sense an increase in spiritual warfare is that, when increased trials come to your life, it becomes very easy to focus more upon the enemyπs ability to curse you than upon Godπs ability to bless you. We may do this if we give too much credit to the enemy for the problems through which we are going. It then becomes very easy to focus more upon casting out the darkness than dwelling in the light of the Fatherπs love. It takes no striving or anxiety for light and love to dispel darkness and fear. (1 John 1:7, 4:18; Matthew 7:7-11)

(2) New levels, new devils! With each new depth of healing or experience in Godπs loving nature, there may be increased attacks against you to test your faith. The enemy wants to steal the seed before it can take root and you become a carrier of the Fatherπs love to others. (Matthew 13:19-23)

(3) With each new expansion of Godly influence and ministry to others, spiritual attacks often seem to increase. Increased troubles may be a sign of unconfessed sin, but often it is a counter-attack from the enemy, because you are beginning to do increased damage to his kingdom. (Mark 1:12, 13)

(4) The weeks prior to and following major ministry events, or times when you are about to receive personal ministry, may bring increased warfare over you, your family, or primary relationships. The enemy wants to distract you and diminish the anointing upon you to give or receive ministry. (Matthew 16:13-23)

(5) Stepping into a realm of ministry or authority in which you did not seek Godπs direction or were not called may increase the sense of attack. You have stepped outside of Godπs grace for your life. To do so is often rooted in pride and spiritual ambition. (Ephesians 4:7)

(6) Have you been praying against principalities or strongholds over your city without the churches coming together in unity against these things? We learned over the years through men like Frances Frangipane not to assault these strongholds without the churches in the city coming together in unity. Until citywide unity is established, it is often best to focus your prayer and intercession life within the realm of light and love – resting in the Fatherπs love, hearing His voice, and speaking His words. (John 17:21-26)

(7) Are you in right relationship with spiritual authority (spiritual mothers and fathers)? Can they think of you with joy in their hearts? Are your thoughts toward them full of honor, respect, and a desire to get behind them and make them successful? (Hebrews 13:17; Romans 13:1-5) Negative responses to any of these questions may open the door to increased spiritual attack. (See our audiotapes on ≥From Slavery to Sonship≤ and ≥The Salt of the Covenant.≤)

(8) If you are a leader in ministry or at work, is your staff or team in unity with you and your vision? Do their attitudes, words, and actions reflect honor, respect, and submission (sonship) toward you in all ways? If not, this can diminish the rest in which you walk and increase the possibility of spiritual attack against you. Love and loyalty from your team protects you as a leader and covers your faults and weaknesses as they stand in the gap for you. (1 Peter 4:8; Exodus 17:8-13) If not, their attitudes can open doors to darkness. This can also apply to your family relationships. (Luke 22:47-53)

Next issue we will look at ways the enemy can deceive and distract us.

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Conway, SC 29528, USA
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