By Zethu Zwane
There’s a big misconception that I and many Christians fall trap; that after submitting your life to Christ, you’ll never suffer. And I absolutely understand why. This past season I faced malicious circumstances and God fought for me. I would praise and sing while it looked like God shifted mountains. I want to tell you even when someone tried to destroy and they couldn’t, they stood there perplexed at why.
It’s difficult to witness such landslide victories and then death falls on you. I remember fasting and praying on the floor. I laid flat on the floor begging God for this life, and He didn’t let it live. Such a moment is heartbreaking because you’ll wonder why God shielded you from the thief, and countless of them, but not death.
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Then I experienced His Holy presence come to comfort me in the midst of my grief. I was told of gne death early morning; told not to look. I’ve never cried so hard, yet I can’t deny His comfort was all around me. This is why I wrote the blog on the next day; learning how to sleep and rest in His presence while grieving.
Putting on the Armour at all times is to counter the devil and know God’s there
I had to rest in His presence because while I was grieving the enemy came to me around midnight and said If I stopped blogging all these malicious attacks would stop. What rubbish! I immediately stood up from my bed and replied to God; Lord I’ve seen too much of You to Quit my love for you, so even in pain, sorrow, grief and joy I know the Lord God is with me.
Before that pervasive thought attacked me, God said He’s the Alpha and Omega, meaning He knew this death could come. He knew it would be the most painful death, but He wouldn’t allow it to destroy me. Although fasting is not included in putting on His armour, it’s the most powerful weapon you have. It will deepen your experience with Christ Jesus like it has done for me.
Even when it’s a natural suffering be careful how the devil capitalizes on your suffering
So you put on the full Armour of God to withstand the enemy. Death is natural, but why did the devil have to say it would all go away if I stopped Blogging for Christ? I’m certain you’ll all have this moment when a great grief floods at your door, and the enemy will see a footing to blame God or move you from God.
so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11 NIV
It’s my prayer today that you’ll recognize this moment even in agonising pain and cling to the Father. Take these verses below and turn them into battle prayers for your family, community and church. Take these bible verses and turn them into weapons against principalities in heaven and earth. Use them no matter in joy or grief. Know them, so that you’ll begin to see the schemes of the enemy, and learn to stand your ground.
Your war is not against flesh but against principalities
- For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12 NIV - How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Matthew 16:11 NIV - For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
Galatians 5:17 NIV - having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. [15] And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Colossians 2:14-15 NIV - Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
1 Peter 2:11 NIV - For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
2 Corinthians 10:3 NIV - We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
Stand firm and hold your ground
- So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
2 Thessalonians 2:15 NIV - It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 NIV - You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’ ”
2 Chronicles 20:17 NIV - And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Mark 11:25 NIV - Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV - Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. [14] Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV - Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. [14] The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Exodus 14:13-14 NIV
Put on the Breast Plate of truth
- Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [7] If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
John 14:6-7 NIV - But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
John 16:13 NIV - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:16 NIV - Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Ephesians 6:14 NIV - Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:32 NIV - Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
John 17:17 NIV - Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Ephesians 4:25 NIV
Breast plate of righteousness
- Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Ephesians 6:14 NIV - The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.
Isaiah 32:17 NIV - Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.
Proverbs 14:34 NIV - But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. [18] Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
James 3:17-18 NIV - For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Romans 1:17 NIV - Righteousness guards the person of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
Proverbs 13:6 NIV - Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.
Hosea 10:12 NIV
Position your feet for the gospel of Peace
- and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:15 NIV - You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
Acts 10:36 NIV - Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15 NIV - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6 NIV - And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 NIV - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NIV - Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV
Take up the shield of faith
- For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 NIV - In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Ephesians 6:16 NIV - So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV - And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 NIV - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
Ephesians 2:8 NIV - By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.
Hebrews 11:7 NIV - Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.
Matthew 21:21 NIV
Take the helmet of Salvation
- Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:17 NIV - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 NIV - If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9 NIV - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 3:23 NIV - For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:17 NIV - Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ [12] Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:11-12 NIV - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 NIV
Pray in the Spirit
- And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Ephesians 6:18 NIV - This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
1 John 4:2 NIV - God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
John 4:24 NIV - But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
Jude 1:20 NIV - In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
Romans 8:26 NIV - But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:6 NIV - Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:24-25 NIV
Finally keep praying for all the Lord’s people
- When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened
Luke 3:21 NIV - While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill—
Daniel 9:20 NIV - And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt?
2 Samuel 7:23 NIV - I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.
John 17:9 NIV - So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
Acts 12:5 NIV - let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.
Nehemiah 1:6 NIV - When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.
Acts 12:12 NIV
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