“Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand." Matthew 12:25
The best way to describe it is a restlessness within my spirit. A severe awareness of some enormous spiritual warfare taking place in our homes. Right under our own roofs.
We MUST do something.
Do you know that the enemy's plan is to divide and conquer? Do you know that the best way that the enemy can spread evil and his plan is by first getting a foothold into our families? Once he divides us, he is more easily able to conquer us.
Think about something for a minute...
Are there family members in your life that you do not speak to? Is there division of any kind in your family? Do you see the enemy's tactic here? Divide and destroy.
Jesus tells us this:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
We must not be deceived any longer! We must open our eyes to the enemy's tactics and LIES. He is a thief. He is a liar. He is a destroyer.
There's a war raging around us. A battle for our hearts! A battle for our loyalties! A battle of our marriages! A battle for our children! A battle for our families! We think the battle is overseas, so we worry, we pray, we fear the enemy coming here.
The evil is here. Fighting to get into our homes. Dividing us even on spiritual issues. Dividing us on every level. How can we show love to a dying world when we cannot show love to those living under our own roofs? How can we show love to a dying world when we hate our neighbors?
The greatest tool we have to fight evil is to LOVE like Christ. It starts here. In our houses. In our neighborhoods. In our churches. If we are not loving those around us, how can we ever love the world?
I think we get it backwards sometimes. We want world peace, yet we live at war with our spouses, our children, our family members, our neighbors. This is contrary to God's will for us.
There is a lack of love going on. We are becoming immune to our fellow brothers and sisters. We want to be right. At the expense of showing the love of Christ. If we are not careful we become Pharisees. Knowing the law, quoting the law, but forgetting the greatest command of all....to Love.
Are we heeding this call?
Or are we letting our flesh and pride win these battles. All the while the enemy takes on another win--another family.
Another way the enemy wins is by distracting us. Distracting us from our marriages, our children, our homes. We are lured away, just like our sister Eve. The enemy uses different tactics to lure. He watches us to see what will draw our hearts away from home. Be sure that he knows you. He watches you, and he is always waiting for an opportunity to lure you away from your home.
We must know what our children are up to. What are they doing in their rooms? Who are their friends? Who are they talking to and texting with day after day? The enemy is subtle. He will come in ways that we never expect. We must be watchful.
If the enemy cannot get a foothold into our marriages, he will go straight for our children.
We must stand strong. Be present. Be diligent and wide-eyed about the battle for our family.
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13
If you don't think the enemy is after your family, think again. He is out to destroy you.
What do we do?
Jesus tells us this:
"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
Pray like Jesus.
Love like Jesus.
Speak Truth like Jesus.
Love is only powerful and effective when combined with Truth. Jesus was the perfect combination of love and truth. The Pharisees before him were bent on law, not love. Jesus came to fulfill the law with LOVE and TRUTH.
We are not loving like Jesus if we are not speaking truth to those around us. Not the world's kind of truth either. Not truth's based on our opinions or on pop culture.
God warns us in Revelation 3:16:
So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
Aren't we being luke warm when we insist on love without truth? Aren't we avoiding the truth to make a more comfortable path for us and them?
God's Word is the only truth. Our opinions mean nothing. It's His Word that stands True. The only rock that holds. We must stop [myself included in a HUGE way], reading people's opinions and thought online. These words have the power to infuriate us or appease us. We must read what God says. What does God say about this? We are seriously misled when we jump on a bandwagon of hatred. This is not right, y'all. This grieves the Holy Spirit.
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37-39
Pretty simple here: Love God. Love your neighbor.
We cannot sit idly by and water down His Word thinking we are showing love. This is not Christ-like Love.
Are we loving each other enough speak truth? Or are we walking on egg shells around hard issues because we don't want to come across as judgemental.
We are not the judge. God is the only Judge.
God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor? James 4:12
Our job is to love like Jesus. Speak Truth like Jesus.
People want to hear truth. Our spirits were designed for God's Truth to resonate.
Be clear that the enemy has all of our families on his target. He is out to divide and conquer. With lies. Big, seething lies.
The good news is that
"He who lives within us is greater than he that is within the world!"1 John 4:4
Love until it hurts. Speak the truth of His Word even when it's uncomfortable. They are not our words anyway, they are His. His Words will never return void.
The battle belongs to the Lord.
We can rest in that.
