“The Battles Within!” Author and Writer Ronald Nelson

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12

ENCOURAGING WORD:

We all need to understand the verse above and how it will impact our lives, if you are a true born again Christian. I say, true born again Christian, because if you are not sincere in following Jesus Christ and have not been born again into the Holy Spirit, then you are not saved, and the verse above will have no bearing on your life. If you say that you are a Christian and your cruising through life with very little turmoil, then you better re-evaluate your relationship with Jesus. Satans priority is to attack those that are of the Body of Jesus Christ. That doesn’t mean you won’t have bad things happen to you if you are not a believer, because Satan hates everybody, whether you are a follower of Jesus Christ or not, but his main focus is on those that have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and have become born again. The reason that you go through trials will vary depending on your relationship with Jesus. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you may have noticed that most of your trials come from within. They are emotional, spiritual and not so much physical. Satan’s easiest target is our minds. We get to involved with things that allows Satan to penetrate our mind. We may be attacked physically as well, but for the most part there are cures for those issues. Satan attacks the weakest part of our being and that is our mind. Let me ask you a question, how many people do you know that are on some kind of medication for emotion issues such as depression and anxiety. Not everybody will admit it, but there are more than you can imagine that are going through some kind of depression or confusion within their own minds. I believe that these kind of attacks are more damaging to the Christian than those that aren't believers. I know of some born again Christians that have committed suicide. I can honestly see why.

Now, let me share with you how my life has been for the last few years. Let me start out by saying that as long as I am in the Word of God, reading, listening or serving Jesus, I feel a comfort level that only comes from the Holy Spirit and these are the times that I feel most protected. Here is where the attacks come in. When I step out into the world, I feel as if I had just been dropped down into the jungles of Viet Nam during the war. I can't say for certian how that must have felt, but I know it was worse than any of us that didn't have to serve could really imagine. Out in the world I feel the enemy all around me. When I am out in the world, I have a target on my back from the demonic forces of evil that are in the unseen realm of existence. If you don’t believe that they exist, try to oppose them. The attacks that I am feeling most of the time are those that come from the spiritual world. See, I can still take care of myself in the flesh if I have to, but I have no weapon of my own where I can fight the spiritual entities.

Here is a verse that we all need to know, if you think you can defeat the principalities of all the evil that surrounds us.

Ephesians 6:10-18; “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

The Armor that is being referred to here is your Spiritual Armor. No physical armor can defend you from the principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this age, spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Let me explain what the full armor of God means. Pay attention because this is your only defense against the evil that lurks within.

#1 Belt of Truth;

A soldier is only ready for battle when he is girded with his belt. A Roman soldier’s belt was made of metal and thick heavy leather and was the carrying place for his sword. It also had a protective piece that hung down in the front. His belt held all other pieces of his armor together.

To be fitted with his belt, meant he was ready to face action.

Truth is the belt that holds the believers’ armor together as well. Ultimate Truth can be found in God’s Word and in the person of Jesus Christ. John 14:6; “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” We must know this Truth in order to protect ourselves against the flesh, the world, and the father of Lies (Satan). Truth grounds us and reminds us of our identity in Christ.

How to Use the Belt of Truth;

Start your day in the Word. How you start your day is vital to winning the daily battles that you will inevitably face. When you wake up, be sure to set aside at least 10 minutes to begin your day in the Word. It is important that you are able to immerse yourself in scripture without distraction. The best way to do this is to get a good daily devotional written by a true messenger of God or read a chapter a day from the Bible. I would suggest starting in the book of Matthew and going through it until you get to the end of Revelation, then start again. 10- 15 minutes a day is not going to hurt you, it will most likely be the best few minutes of your day.

End your day in the Word.

In a quiet place before you lay down, dedicate 20 minutes to studying the word.

The Bible is the guide book for life, which was written by our Creator. No matter what you are struggling with, there is scripture to point you in the right direction. Do a Google search for “Bible verses on ____” to find a verse that speaks directly to your heart. Then memorize it and speak it aloud whenever Satan attacks you. Believe me, if you end your day reading the Bible, you will sleep much better through the night.

#2 Breastplate of Righteousness;

The Roman soldier was always equipped with a breastplate. This piece of armor protected his vital organs in the heat of the battle – when he wasn’t quick enough to take up his shield. The breastplate was for the quick and unexpected advances of the enemy.

As believers, we have no righteousness apart from that which has been given us by Christ. Our breastplate is His righteousness. His righteousness will never fail. Though we have no righteousness of our own, we must still, by His power, chose to do what is right. Living a pure life, rooted in God’s Word is powerful in protecting our heart, killing our flesh, and defeating the enemy.

How to Use the Breastplate of Righteousness

Identify righteous activities in your life that strengthen you. This may be as simple as having an occasional conversation with a homeless person and getting to know them by their name. When helping someone else, it will give you a feeling of comfort knowing you brought a caring heart to someone else that really needed it. The simplest things in life have the most value.

Identify unrighteous activities in your life that weaken you. For each of us, this is going to be unique. We find that we are consistently watching movies and TV shows that are not in line with our beliefs. By intentionally exposing ourselves to immoral behavior, We are allowing Satan to weaken the walls that Christ had built around us. A good example is the movie call “The Exorcist” I would not recommend watching it, but for those that have, you know exactly what I’m talking about. That movie was based on an actual event. I truly believe that there are many that are possessed by demonic entities today, but just not as severe as the movie that I just mentioned. I can pick these people out as to who they are after speaking with them for a short time. All I have to do is to start talking about Jesus and I’ll know immediately where they stand on spiritual matters. If they turn away from ymy conversation, then to me, it is obvious that there is a demon hidden somewhere with in their body. I can see the demons turn on me like a monkey on a banana. I feel the hate and the animosity immediately. Sadly, this is the majority of people, whether you choose to believe it or not. I remember talking to a group of maybe ten people and within a few minutes it was down to two or three. Satan hates Jesus and he will turn you away from every conversation about Jesus in a heart beat if you have a demon.

#3 Sandals with the Gospel of Peace;

Roman soldier’s feet were fitted with sandals called caligae. These sandals were made to help protect soldier’s feet during their long marches into battle. They had extremely thick soles and wrapped perfectly around their ankles in a way that protected against blistering. Caligae also had spikes on the bottom to help them stand firm as they traveled. This helped them have a firm foundation.

Believers also have a firm foundation in the Gospel. As believers, we have peace in knowing we are secure in what Jesus has done for us.

How to Use the Gospel of Peace

Preach the Gospel to yourself daily. Remind yourself of the hope that you have in Jesus Christ. Because of His sacrifice and your belief in Him, you shall not perish, but have eternal life. Do not wait until the hardship to remind yourself of this. Build your foundation on a daily reminder of this hope, and you will be able to get through anything.

Share your testimonies with others.The easiest and most effective way to share the Gospel with others is to tell your story of how Jesus changed your life. I love sharing my story because to me it was very powerful and easy to share.

Be a living example.The way you walk through life will be seen by many. When you carry yourself with the fruit of the spirt, people will stop and take notice. This is so huge. Because most people do not have the gift of speaking or teaching, they can always witness by the way they walk and how they treat others. In many cases, that may be more powerful than speaking. There is an old saying, “If you can’t witness with your talk, then witness with your walk.

#4 Shield of Faith;

The Roman soldier’s shield was a complex piece of armor. The shield, also called a scutum, (a bony, spiky, or chitinous plate) was a soldier’s primary defensive weapon. It was made of impenetrable wood, leather, canvas, and metal and could be doused in water to extinguish the fiery arrows of the enemy.

Faith is the shield of the believer. Trusting in God’s power and protection is imperative in remaining steadfast. When the battle rages, we must remember that God works all things out for good. He is always true to His promises as we continue to read in the following Bible verse. Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” This applies to every true child of God.

How to Use the Shield of Faith

Take time to remember the promises of God. There are thousands! When fiery darts try to impact your heart, extinguish them with reminders of God’s goodness over your circumstance. Here are some of His promises…

He will never forsake you Deuteronomy 31:6; “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

He will meet all your needs Phil 4:19; “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Call on Him and He will answer Psalm 50:10; “For every beast of the forest is Mine,And the cattle on a thousand hills.”

He will make your path straight Proverbs 3:5-6; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

A soldier’s shield was strongest when linked with another. Band together with other believers in the fight of faith. The best way to band together is through the closeness of a small group. This is how the church began in the first century, and this is where the strongest bonds are made today.

Recount God’s past victories in your life. In the movie "The War Room," Miss Clara had a framed plaque on her wall with all of her answered prayers. Make a list of all the ways God has come through for you in the past. Whenever your faith waivers, recite this list and remember in detail how God made a way.

#5 Helmet of Salvation;

The Soldier’s head is one of his most vulnerable areas. Without his helmet, one blow to the head would prove fatal. His helmet covered his entire head, facial area, and between the eyes. His armor would prove useless if he wasn’t equipped with his helmet.

The believer’s helmet of salvation is the most crucial piece of armor for the Christian. Without the indwelling Holy Spirit that enters a believer at the moment of salvation, all other armor is useless. Salvation empowers believers to fight. It protects us in our weaknesses. Without salvation, there is no victory. Imagine an NFL football player without a helmet, how many would make it through the game without a serious injury. Same applies to those of us that are faithful to Jesus Christ and born again.

How to Use the Helmet of Salvation

Stand on the conviction of your salvation. When you know without a doubt that you are going to heaven because of what Christ did for you on the cross, nothing can defeat you. We will all face extremely dark times. In these times, our salvation will light the way and carry us home.

Placing your thoughts on things above by listening to sermons via podcast by good reputable messengers of God. Beware of all the false prophets, especially those behind the pulpits of America. If you know a man or women that you know without a doubt is a true Christian, ask him or her who they would recommend listening to. If you want to know who I would recommend, please send me a personal message and I can help you find the best servants of God.

Be intentional about feeding your mind with spiritual food throughout the day. Load up your podcast with sermons from the greatest preachers in the world. Play those podcasts every single day on the way to and from work.

#6 Sword of the Spirit;

All other pieces of the soldier’s arsenal are defensive weapons, but not His sword. The sword, a gladius, was a deadly weapon. In the hands of a skilled warrior, he could pierce through even the strongest armor.

Our sword is the Word of God, (The Bible) both the written and the incarnate Word. Every other piece of armor protects us against attacks. With God’s Word, we are truly able to fight and defeat all enemies. Christ used Scripture to defeat Satan when He was tempted in the desert. We must do the same. Use the Word of God to fight your battles.

How to Use the Sword of the Spirit

Arm yourself. Be intentional about reading scripture. As I mentioned earlier, find a time that you can dedicate reading and studying the Word of God where you are free of distractions.

When attacked, fight back with the Word of God. When Satan attacked Christ in the desert he told him, “No….for it is written…” Use Christ’s example when Satan tries to come after you. Know your scriptures so you can battle the enemy with truth.

When beaten down, immerse yourself in the Bible. Even those with great faith are going to have days when they feel like they are barely hanging on. On these days, ten minutes of time in the Word is just not enough. Take a sick day and immerse yourself in His Word for the entire day. Read, study, pray, and repeat.

#7  Prayer

In prayer, we show our reliance upon God to act and move. Our entire armor is rooted in His strength. Without His presence, we are powerless in the fight. We must fight on our knees. The One who has won the war is with us in the battle. We will see a victory when we fight using Jesus's power.

How to Use Prayer

Pray when your eyes open every morning. Before you do anything else, go straight into prayer. I start every day asking God for the wisdom to make good decisions, the discipline to stay true to His word, and the vision to hear His voice for direction.

Pray impulsively throughout the day. Sometimes we can get caught up in saying the same prayer over and over again. This can lead us to be in autopilot when we are speaking to our Father. You can break through the repetition by impulsively praying throughout the day. Pray for the people you encounter. Pray for the people you read about. Pray for the wonders and beauty of God’s creations.

Have a conversation with God on your knees before you go to sleep.There is just something powerful about getting on your knees to honor the King of Kings. The creator of it all is omnipresent and available to talk to you at all times. Tell Him what you are thankful for and talk with Him about whatever is on your mind. He is always near you and He is always listening to you.

Although the war has been won, the daily battles must be fought. Thankfully, we know with every fight we face, that we have the armor and weapons to help us defeat the enemy.

With all this wisdom, many of Gods prophets warned us about what it would be like if you choose to serve Jesus Christ. The following verses are verses that I have to meditate on almost daily.

John 15:18-21; “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”

These verses way heavy on my heart because I feel that hatred every day. What hurts the most, is that most of my old friends, if not all of them, will have nothing to do with me. As much as it hurts. I know where they are going to spend eternity, if they don't repent, and I don’t wish that on anybody. Actually, when I look back at my younger days, I don’t know if I ever really had a good friend that I could rely on to be there when I really needed someone. Sure, I was pretty popular, but did anybody really care for me or was it just because of what I could do for them. If you knew me back in the 70’s and 80’s you know what I’m taking about.

The price that I paid for giving my life to Jesus Christ was the best thing that I ever did. I just wish I could reach those that need help and bring them to Jesus Christ. Just so you understand, I can’t save anybody, only Jesus can save us. I can bring people to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, but those that hear the truth of the scriptures need to make their own decision as to whether or not they will to serve Jesus or reject Jesus. There is no sitting on the fence on this one. When you reach out to Jesus in sincerity, He will reach right back out to you. After all, He loves you so much that He willfully went to the cross and died the most painful death known to man so you could spend eternity with Him. Thats love! It’s your choice, He died for you, but you have to receive the free gift of grace. If you don’t receive this wonderful gift, you will remain in your sins and if you die in your sins, you will be sentenced to eternity in the "Lake of Burning Fire" forever. Whether you believe it or not, does not change the truth.

You may say, “ I would like to be saved, but I’m just not ready yet.” What if you set a date to give your life to Jesus a week from now and Jesus came back today, what a shame that would be! The reality is, that Jesus could come back at any time, and the way prophecy is being fulfilled, Jesus is  knocking at the door. You have to let Him in, He is not going to break the door down to save you. He wants love, not slavery. 

With all this being said, I want to reach out to all those that I met on Facebook that followed me and supported me with encouraging words. If I had to rely on personal friendships to encourage me, I probably would have given up long time ago. Hopefully you know who you are that I am referring to. Those of you that knew me all my life and can’t accept me being a messenger of God, then find someone that you can accept to feed you with the Word of God. One verse that rings heavy on my heart is the following,

Mark 6:4-6; “But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.”

This is telling me that those that are closet to be will not accept me as a messenger of God, so I understand. I don’t hold you accountable. God said it would happen, and it did. Even though it is biblical, it still hurts, but for those of you that read this and have a hard time accepting me as a messenger of God, know this, I still love you. I can only hope and pray that somebody that you trust reaches you, and I’m not taking about pastors and priests. I’m taking about someone who knows the Bible, not someone who teaches religion. There is a huge difference, and it is up to you to know what those difference are.

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, But the Word of our God stands forever.”