Have you ever felt like everything was going wrong with those that you love and that Satan was coming against your family, trying to destroy it? This topic has been coming up alot lately. I'm sure we have all experienced this in one way or another, whether it was our marriage, our children, or even extended family members. I don't know about you, but when this is happening, I want to do something to stop it! I want to tell Satan to get back! I want to fight for my family. We want to do whatever it takes to keep Satan from destroying our family. The Bible tells us that Satan is like a lion, seeking to devour us. Have you ever tried to go to the person, with the best intentions and talk with them about what is happening, only to find yourself in an argument and leaving angry and frustrated?
How exactly do we fight for our family?
Well, first, let's look up the word fight.
1. To engage in a quarrel
2. To attempt to harm or gain power over an adversary by blows or with weapons.
3. To strive vigorously and resolutely
4. A discussion, often heated, in which a difference of opinion is expressed.
5. The power or will to fight.
Look at the synonyms for Fight: argue, bicker, contend, dispute, spat, war,debate,disagreement
I would say that the word "fight" might not be what we want for our family! We don't want to argue, dispute and be at war with the people we love. Look at the antonyms for the same word.
peace, retreat, agree, surrender, believe, support, yield
That's more like it! I think we all want peace in our homes and in our lives.
So, what do we do? Do we sit back and let Satan have his way with our family?
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says:
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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.
The weapons we fight with, have the divine power, to demolish strongholds, arguments, and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God!
One thing I believe will help us, is to remember what Ephesians 6 10-20 says, I'm not going to put all the of those scriptures in here. But here are some key statements:
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.
We do not fight with the people we love. We wage war against Satan himself. Love the person, hate the sin. What weapons do we fight with?
Well, the rest of those verses tell us exactly that.
belt of truth buckled around your waist
breastplate of righteousness in place
you feet fitted with he readiness that comes from the gospel of peace
shield of faith (extinguishes the arrows from the evil one)
helmet of salvation
sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God)
PRAY on all occasions
and again, Keep on praying
Remember this as well, the battle belongs to the Lord! He fights our battles for us!
Worldly fighting produces arguments, heated discussions, debates, war
Godly fighting produces belief in God and in the person, agreements, surrender, yielding, and peace.
May we all stand firm against the devil's schemes, with our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace and allow God guide us to the path of peace.
