BBD 09.11.04 Your War Zone
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
country's flag on the map and leave a message. You can find it on the front
page at http://www.theburningbush.org
The Burning Bush Devotional
(Over 13,000 subscribers in 75 countries)
09.11.04
Your War Zone
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. -
Ephesians 6:10-18.
Today is a date that has been etched into our memories and hearts never to
be forgotten. Three years ago on September 11, 2001, we experienced a
devastating attack in the United States. In the days following the 911
attack, we who are a peaceful people went to war and we are still in a war.
In fact, we are living in a war zone knowing the enemy may very well attack
inside our country once again. Many people, however, are living in a state
of denial pretending that we are at peace and that life should go on as it
did before 911.
Just because someone wants to deny the reality of the state of war in which
we live does not change the fact that we are still at war. We may not have a
suicide bomber blow up the convenience store down at the corner or the local
bar. There may not be a car bomb explode outside of our school but we are
still at war. Why? Because when the terrorists attacked our country, they
attacked us who are a part of this country. We will continue to be at war
until all Americans are again safe from terrorist attacks.
There is another war that is also going on at the same time. It is the war
that is the underlying cause of the terror attacks and the war in Iraq. What
you may ask is this war? Why haven’t we heard anything about this? The war I
speak of is a spiritual war between the forces of good and the forces of
evil. This war rages all around you wherever you live. Life may seem
peaceful but the reality is that we are living in a spiritual war zone and
the enemy is constantly looking for an opening through which to attack us.
Just as many would like to deny the terror war in which we live and go on
living as they did before 911 - there are many who want to deny the
existence of a spiritual war and go on living as they always have. However,
just because you do not want to believe there is a war does not mean that it
does not exist and that it will affect your life. Just because you want to
hide your head in the sand does not mean that the war is not raging all
around and casualties are being taken.
>From the time I wake up in the morning until my head hits the pillow late at
night, I am in engaged in combat-in a war hard fought and not easily won. It
is a war in which the casualty count can include every person I come in
contact with day in, day out. And it is the same for you. You live in a war
zone. Your life is a battlefield. Every moment throughout the day there are
things happening around you that cannot be seen with the natural eye, but
are, still, all too real. I'm not talking about a make believe world. No, I
am talking about what the apostle Paul describes, which is spiritual
warfare.
To the extent that we are faithful in waging our own little spiritual war,
it impacts positively the physical reality around us and across the world.
We may not be able to fight in Afghanistan or Iraq or in some other war, the
enemy is waging across this world. But we will hinder the enemy whenever we
wage spiritual war in the place we live.
It is time for the army of God to put on the armor of God and make a stand.
Are you in God’s army? Are you a child of God? Then, it is time to raise the
Sword of the Spirit and fight the enemy of our souls. How you fight your
battle will make a difference in the lives of all of us. How I fight my
battle will make a difference as well. Let us rise up, resist and overcome
our enemy. “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because
He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).”
Copyright © 2004. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. On June 8, 1998 the email
version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
Prayer Requests: Please pray for my aunt, Fern Turner, who has been in the
hospital for over a week. Pray for my aunt, Dorthy Wrather, who has had a
stroke and pray for the family of my aunt, Mary Ruth Trissell, who passed
away last Monday morning. Pray for my parents who are in poor health.
Please pray for our revival with Clint Sinclair that begins Sept 19 and for
all that is involved in this. Please pray for me that I will be able to
resume writing the devotionals on a regular basis. Thank you for your
prayers and support!!
Ed Wrather is available for revivals, conferences, and other speaking and
ministry opportunities as the Lord leads. More information about Ed may be
found at http://www.theburningbush.org/28.html.
The Crossmap Christian Search and Portal is a wonderful resource. I would
like to encourage you to visit this great site at http://www.crossmap.com. Crossmap
has recently added the Burning Bush Devotionals to their site. You may visit
Crossmap’s sister website, the online version of the Christian Post at
http://www.christianpost.com.
If you have a Christian website you are invited to add the link to my free
links at the Burning Bush website. The Bravenet free links is near the
bottom of the front page http://www.theburningbush.org.
If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may
subscribe by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-subscribe@welovegod.org
Streaming Videos of our services including my sermons are posted at:
http://www.theburningbush.org/fbcswvideo.html
There is now a webpage available at associate.com where the devotionals are
archived associate.com/groups/burningbushdevo. There is a complete
archive at the Burning Bush website and the address for the archive is
http://www.theburningbush.org/33.html.
You may subscribe to the pure text group by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-subscribe@welovegod.org and you can unsubscribe by sending a
blank email to burningbushdevo-unsubscribe@welovegod.org
You may subscribe to the html text group by sending a blank email to
burningbushhtml-subscribe@welovegod.org and you may unsubscribe by sending a
blank email to burningbushhtml-unsubscribe@welovegod.org
Subscribe to the Burning Bush Prayer Group. Send and receive prayer requests
to over 300 members. Send a blank email to: BBPG-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe to the Burning Bush Inspirational Group. Send and receive
inspirational material to over 100 members. Send a blank email to:
bbinspire-subscribe@welovegod.org
Subscribe to the Burning Bush Restoration and Recovery Group for those with
addictions or recovering from addictions. Receive devotionals and
inspirational material directed toward those with addictions. Send and
receive prayer requests. Over 200 members. Send a blank email to:
tbbrr-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe to the Intercede Life Group and pray for and help in practical
ways those who need help. To subscribe send a blank email to
interclife-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. A closely related website is
Peoplefaces which seeks to help those in need
peoplefaces.ohzone.net/index2.htm