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January, 2002

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WAKE UP THE MIGHTY MEN!
BY MARILYN CONRAD

In John 10:10 we find the devil's job description: he comes to "steal, kill and to destroy." Although we need to understand Satan's tactics (2 Corinthians 2:11) we need not be afraid of him. 2 Timothy 1:7 teaches us that "…God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

According to Colossians 2:15, Jesus "…disarmed principalities and powers, and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them." Because of this we are "more than conquerors through Him that loved us." (Romans 8:37)

Even though the victory is already won through Jesus Christ, we must learn to appropriate by prayer what is already accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection. The Lord desires to teach us spiritual warfare. "Blessed be the Lord my strength, who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight." (Psalm 144:1)

According to Jeremiah 51:20 we are God's battle ax and weapons of war against the enemy. Psalm 18:34 states, "He teaches my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms."

The Full Armor

We are at war, but many Christians do not know this. However, because the Christian life is a warfare, a spiritual conflict, we are told, first of all, to put on the full armor of God so that we "…may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil." (Ephesians 6:11)

We put on the armor because we are in a real battle against a real enemy. Spiritual warfare is serious business, and the Lord does not want us to be defeated. Trying to fight life's daily battles without putting on the full armor of God will bring about defeat and discouragement in our lives. We will not last long in the battle.

Ephesians 6:14-18 shows us that we are to "…gird our loins about with truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, take up the shield of faith; take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, and pray at all times in the Spirit."

Without God's armor we will be defeated and unsuccessful in causing salvation and deliverance to come to our loved ones and all those for whom God has called us to intercede.

The Enemy

It is important to understand who is our enemy. It is not our mate or someone with whom they are having an affair; our enemy is spiritual. These spirits (rulers, powers, and spiritual forces) construct strongholds over our loved ones and others we pray for which put them into bondage. Behind all evil there are evil spirits operating. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood (our mates) but against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)

The main purpose of this article is to help people understand that we are not fighting against people (flesh and blood). When first standing for my marriage, I was warned not to pray against people because this could actually be the same as witchcraft.

However, as I read and reread the Psalms, I saw that David was a man of war, and he would often call down the wrath of God against his enemies. I have come to understand that David's natural enemies represent our spiritual enemies. The Old Testament saints were under the law and in the flesh. Because we are under grace and not the law, and because we have a new and better covenant, we have the ability to walk in the Spirit and battle in the Spirit.

Push Back Darkness

Whenever a problem confronts me, I first pray the following warfare scriptures and push back the darkness over the situation; then I find I can clearly hear from the Lord how to pray specifically and which spirits to bind. Remember, our job is to do warfare against Satan and his demons, not against a person.

Listed below are warfare scriptures you can pray against Satan and his forces of darkness. "Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked of the land; I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the Lord." (Psalm 101:8) There many additional scriptures in Psalms and Job you can pray. Ask the Lord to enlighten you and give you revelation about which scriptures to pray.

Warfare Scriptures

We do not want to waste time dealing with symptoms. Our goal is to get to the root of the problem. Matthew 12:29 says, "How can one enter into a strongman's house and spoil his goods unless he first binds the strongman?" Ask God to give you the name of the strongman over your area, city, and family.

Bind the Strongman

Psalm 76:12: "He shall cut off the spirit of princes; he is terrible to the kings of the earth."

Psalm 83:11-17: "Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah and as Zalmunna who said, 'Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.' O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. As a fire burns a wood, and as the flame sets the mountains on fire, so persecute them with your tempest, and make afraid with your storm. Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek your name, O Lord. Let them be confounded and troubled forever; let them be put to shame and perish."

Loose Confusion on the Enemy

Confusion paralyzes the enemy. "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every house divided against itself shall not stand." (Matthew 12:25) When we pray, the Lord sends confusion into the camp of the enemy (Judges 7:21-22). Remember, a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Our purpose in spiritual warfare is to destroy the kingdom of darkness over our families, our cities, and our nation.

Psalm 55:9: Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city."

Psalm 70:2-3: Let them be ashamed and confounded who seek after my (____________'s) soul: let them be put to confusion who desire my (______________'s) hurt. Let them be turned back for a reward of shame who say, 'Aha, aha.'"

Psalm 109:29: "Let my adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle."

Loosing the Whirlwind of the Lord Upon Demons

Jeremiah 23:19: "Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in a fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked."

Nahum 1:3: "The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not acquit the wicked: the Lord has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet."

Isaiah 40:24: "Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown; yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble."

Isaiah 41:16: "You shall fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and you shall rejoice in the Lord, and shall glory in the Holy One of Israel."

Army of God

Covenant Keepers has become an army across our nation and around the world, fighting real battles against real enemies: "The evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world, and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world." (Ephesians 6:12 TLB) God has given us His armor to wear and the sword of the spirit which is His Word. Therefore, "…be strong and let not your hands be weak; for your work shall be rewarded...." (2 Chronicles 15:7) "Prepare for war, wake up the mighty men." (Joel 3:9)

Recommended for Further Study

Book: Strongman's His Name…What's His Game? by Carol and Jerry Robeson

Six Tape Set: Spiritual Warfare by Louis and Carol Gordon

Available through Covenant Keepers (see product page).

BALANCE
BY JOHN AND MERILYN KELLY

Paul addressed the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:4) and said, "I thank my God at all times for you because of the grace (the favor and spiritual blessing) of God which was bestowed on you in Christ Jesus." AMP

As we traveled to meet with Covenant Keeper groups in all parts of the country from Pennsylvania to California and from Texas to Washington, covenant keepers everywhere blessed us so that we can echo Paul's words. We believe the Lord provided those opportunities to allow us to minister to group members, hopefully to bring encouragement and, in the process, to teach many things about the way Covenant Keepers can bring standers the help they need.

Stronger Convictions Confirmed

Healing in marriages and families is at the very heart of God's desire for His people. We can say that with no hesitation because, as we watched people come into the groups with such fresh and deep hurts, so open to whatever the Lord had for them to bring some comfort and strength, we witnessed the evidence of these same people getting ahold of the real basics: love, forgiveness, and compassion. As they learned to pray and get deep into the Word of God, they discovered how to turn over to the Lord the excess baggage of anger, resentment, and bitterness that blocks healing.

God's desire is to be first place in our lives. It is really something to watch covenant keepers move from the point of just wanting their marriages put back together to the realization that putting their relationship with Christ Jesus together is even more important. What a restored bond with the Savior will work in our relationships—not only with our mates, but with our children and everyone else—is nothing short of miraculous.

A Word Of Caution

Perhaps the strongest lesson we gleaned from our visits to these many groups is that it is good for a covenant keeper to keep a good balance in his or her walk. We see balance as essential to promoting healing in marriages and families. Yes, people need to have quality time both in prayer and in the Word. Absolutely, standers need to be in a church body which will keep them fed and encouraged. In addition to these two important areas, covenant keepers should not cut themselves off from activities and people outside their church and Covenant Keepers group.

People will not hinder their walk with the Lord if they watch the news, attend a football game, view a decent movie, or take part in other wholesome activities. Realize that becoming a balanced, well-rounded stander not only makes your witness and walk healthier, but it also makes it much easier for your mate (and your children, friends, and co-workers) to relate to you.

Guard against the temptation to believe that you compromise your spiritual walk if you take part in wholesome activities.

Reach Out

We learned to appreciate the steadfastness we saw, not only in the group leadership, but in everyone who continued to draw closer to the Lord in obedience, and also reached out to others who needed help and encouragement. By growing in the Lord and extending compassion and a helping hand to others, you will continue to grow.

John and Merilyn Kelly served as the advisor couple for a Covenant Keepers group in the Kansas City area. They also traveled to meet with many Covenant Keepers groups across the nation to share their testimony and minister. The Kellys are retired now.

God Will Make A Way For You In 2002!