Kick the devil out of your Marriage

Some of us are used to chaos in our marriages. It is normal to fight daily and to struggle with communicating regularly. For many, the enemy has a space in your bed, a seat in your car and is welcomed into your home by way of several types of media. The devil is that third person in some relationships and we do not even recognize him. Well, I do not know about you, but I do not want him anywhere close to me or my marriage! The good news is that if we have a relationship with Jesus Christ, we have authority over the enemy even in our marriages.

We need to kick the devil out! Our weapons against the enemy are clearly delineated in scripture. Contrary to popular opinion within and without the church, counseling is not a cure. More money will not bring more peace. Another spouse is not the answer either. You will face the same battles with any person with which you align yourself in matrimony. In Ephesians 6, we see all the pieces of the armor:

The Helmet of Salvation
The Sword of the Spirit
The Breastplate of Righteousness
The Girdle of Truth
Feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace
The Shield of Faith
and
Prayer !!

These are God-given weapons or resources. We have these resources, this currency, in the spirit that we may not be using.

You can be a christian and not be using all the resources that God has put at your disposal in your marriage. 

You may have to exchange your old ways of handling these battles with God's way, just like a currency exchange in world markets. You cannot keep using the same old ways of managing life or you will keep getting the same results, right? Our old weapons (yelling, deception, stealing, the silent treatment, bribery) do not deter the forces of evil at work in your house. Try something different with a guaranteed outcome and a bonafide victory.

Prayer
In Matthew 21:13, Jesus says that His house will be called a house of prayer. If you are a child of God, and all that you have is His, then your house is His house. Prayer is one of the first lines of defense against the enemy in your home. It is literally how you put on the rest of the armor. Renounce and repent of your old sins and ask the Lord to show you how to arm yourself and your marriage with His weapontry. You will need spiritual eyes and ears to "see" and "hear" in the spirit. It is not spooky, it is actually more real than you can imagine.

Shield of Faith
The Word of God has power to change your marriage. We do not use it because we do not believe it. We do not ask, seek and knock because we can trust God with smaller things than our relationships sometimes. It may seem too big. It's been too long. It has always been this way and we have no hope for change. Well, that my friend is a lack of faith! The reason that faith is a shield is because it guards you from fear of the past, present or future status of your marriage.

The enemy loves to tempts people with worry and stress. Faith speaks life instead. The enemy loves to get you with that guard down so that he can insert apathy - when you just don't care anymore. We encourage you to hold up the shield of faith again. Know who your God is and that His Word is quick and powerful in your marriage. Just because you do not see the enemy's arrows or how the Lord quenches them does not mean that it is not happening! Where is your shield? Where is your faith? Even a mustard seed of faith will do.

Gospel Shoes
You will need gospel footwear to kick the enemy back to where the sun don't shine. The power of the gospel has a tremendous affect on your marriage. You may not have thought of this before. We named this blog "Walking Together Towards God" with this in mind. We are to walk out, live out and be an example of, Jesus and His Church to the world. Our lasting relationships speak loudly of the love that God has for the world (John 3:16, kjv). When we allow the enemy to come between us, we distort that beautiful picture. It warps God's masterpiece. We should never be fighting against each other, but with each other. Run quickly to maintain peace in your relationship! Resolve disagreements as soon as possible. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, leave peaceably with all men (Romans 12:18, kjv).


Girdle of Truth
The truth will always set you free. When we have invited the enemy in, we have to be the ones to kick him out. Nothing works better than the truth. For every lie your or your spouse have spoken, you can use a scripture to combat it. Post them over your bed. Put the Word on your desk at work. Play music with scripture that is tailored to combat the lies that you tell yourself. We are quick to believe in what is false. Train yourself in using this piece of armor. Whatsoever things are true...think on these things (Philippians 4:8, kjv).

Breastplate of Righteousness
There is a big difference between what is right and what is wrong. Unfortunately, our hearts cannot discern this well for us because they are deceitfully wicked. This is what the breastplate is for. This armor covers our vital organs and does not leave our unrighteousness exposed to the elements. This right standing with God is ours when we receive Jesus as Lord. The enemy loves to tell us how wrong we are. That is called condemnation. He may tell you that your bad marriage is your fault. "You caused your spouse to act like this". "You are the reason that the love is gone". Refuse to allow him to blame you, remind you of your sin or make you feel insignificant.

The blood of Jesus covers all of our shame and replaces our unrighteousness with His perfect righteousness. That is the power of the cross!

Of course we should repent of any sin that we are aware of immediately, but do not allow the battle of guilt to continue in your mind. Set your mind on things above and walk in victory.

Sword of the Spirit
Whether you are ignorant of satan's tactics or you, conversely, blame him for everything, you still need a good offense against him in your marriage once you recognize that this is not a physical battle. Flesh can fight flesh, but spirit needs to fight spirit. You cannot fight spirit in the flesh. It is a losing battle. The Bible tells us that the sword of the spirit is the Word of God. It is the Lord's very words that chase the devil out of your marriage. Stop using your words and start rehearsing His! Here are just a few verses that you can use:

But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:14,15, kjv)

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosperk (Isaiah 54:17, kjv)

Submit yourselves therefore unto God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7, kjv)


Helmet of Salvation
The last piece of armor is what you have to put on first. Salvation is for those who agree with God that they are sinners in need of saving. They accept the abundant life that Jesus offers through his substitutionary death on their behalf. They know that the battle in their marriage is real. Your marriage can be saved, but God will have to do it. Our thoughts are not His thoughts. We need a changed mind and heart in order to tap into the victory of overcoming the enemy of our souls and our relationships.

A helmet covers the major senses (sight, hearing, smell, and taste) while the remainder of the armor covers what you feel. We have to learn to sense God. See Him. Hear Him. Smell when things are different and taste and see that the Lord is good. Marriage is not about how you feel, it is a relationship that represents Christ and His Church. The enemy is relentless to destroy it. It is the most attacked union on earth.

Kicking the devil out of your marriage is a must.  He will attack you. He will attempt to make you weary, bitter, doubtful of God's direction and apathetic to the whole thing. BUT, the victory is won and we really just need to suit up and let God fight this battle for us. Perhaps you feel alone in the fight. We would suggest that you gather others who are fighting the same fight. Stand together. Believe together. Kick the devil out together. Remember, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4, kjv).

Atlanta Summit - Part 4

                                                                   

                                                                              Sunday

The Lord certainly did not mean for this to be just any typical Sunday. It was the last day of the conference and God confirmed in multiple ways through multiple people that we were to go out into the city. 

After breakfast, the Lord led us to pray over the entire church building from the outside. We carried our anointing oil and as the spirit of God directed us, we were able to identify some strongholds in Atlanta in the spirit. Over the next several hours we took authority over the idolatry, prostitution, corrupt governmental systems and other sin that was identified. 

Just as the disciples were sent out to various places, as WE go, we are to also pray for God's Kingdom to come and for God's will to be done. We are Ambassadors in the spirit and we all have the ministry of reconciliation. Sometimes we may have to circle our Jericho until the walls bow down to God's rule. Discipleship is work and some things come only through prayer and fasting. 

I am expecting the Hindu temple there to come down in one way shape form or another. It will be demolished in Jesus name. Satan will not occupy a place that God says is ours. The houses and lands that God showed to us is our possession and it will not be demolished by unjust judges in Jesus name! We decreed and declared, we rebuked, claimed, anointed and took authority. We spoke, sang, prayed, whispered and hollered. 

If you have never prayer walked or spoken the word of God over a place I am here to tell you that it is a powerful thing. The enemy does not appreciate us boldly standing in opposition to what he is trying to establish in the city. God's Church cannot be afraid to battle in enemy terrritory. We are the church, God's remnant warriors. Spiritual warfare is real and a lot happens on a Sunday morning outside of the four church walls. We were not afraid to declare Jesus Christ as King of Atlanta! There were more with us than there were with our enemy. We praise God in advance for the revival to come!

                                                                             Monday

Guess what God showed me today??? I was on the plane coming home from Atlanta and I "saw" a picture in the spirit. It was two rings, but they were two eyes. One was the husband's,  the other the wife's. God spoke to my heart and said that if we lift up our eyes (become proud, haughty, independent), the sight will be off, cross-eyed, not focused. Only when a couple looks in the same direction will there be a unified vision.

We walk towards what we focus on. But if we are looking in opposite directions, there is no vision and the marriage will perish. So I pray for focus, oneness and clarity of vision in all of our marriages ladies. Two eyes, not one big "I". Two eyes headed in the same direction with the same goal & focused on Christ, our Head!

As we move as led by the Holy Spirit, we will find ourselves going places we have not been to before. Your view on marriage will change, your job, business, school and ministry will be impacted. Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit is a matter of tapping into your spiritual senses. I have learned so much on the trip, but my biggest takeaway is being led by the Holy Spirit and putting that into practice. Learning spiritual sight has changed my walk with Christ forever! 

Warfare is Real

In the book of Ephesians tells us to put on our spiritual armor. It consists of the sword of the Spirit, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation the girdle of truth and our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Why do we need all of these things? What purposes do they serve? Doesn't God fight our battles so we don't have to?

I am finding that the more purposeful I am in discipling and mentoring and bringing people to Christ that the devil does not like me very much. Someone just told me that all of the armor of God is the Word of God. This actually makes a lot of sense. We apply certain parts of the Word of God to our situation as needed but the Word of God clearly applicable in many ways. The Bible is an offensive sword, our protective cover and what we stand on. It holds all pieces of our armor together like a buckler or belt. Without it, we have nothing!

The devil is intimidated by true followers of God. If you are not a threat to his kingdom you are just where he wants you to be. Quiet, passive, relaxed and unassuming. The devil does not mind those kinds of believers. Heck, HE'S A BELIEVER! The enemy trembles however if we mention Jesus. If we start fervently praying for God's kingdom to come, for the church to grow, for salvation and God's glory to be revealed, then confrontation is inevitable! This is War!