Engaging in Spiritual Warfare for High Places

Devotional

Day 1: Discern the Spiritual Season You Are In

Understanding the times and seasons is crucial for spiritual warfare. Just as the Sons of Issachar had discernment, believers today must be aware of the spiritual season they are in. This awareness guides actions and helps in knowing what to do during spiritual battles. Recognizing the current season as one of spiritual warfare, it is important to understand that battles are not just physical but deeply spiritual, manifesting in the natural world through various crises and conflicts. This discernment allows believers to align their strategies with God's timing and purposes. [49:33]

1 Chronicles 12:32 (ESV): "Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command."

Reflection: What spiritual season do you believe you are currently in, and how can you align your actions with God's purposes during this time?

Day 2: Conquer the High Place of Your Mind

The mind is a significant battleground in spiritual warfare. It is the highest point of the body and must be aligned with the mind of Christ to overcome daily lies and deceptions. This alignment empowers believers to take on greater spiritual battles. By focusing on renewing the mind and filling it with God's truth, believers can resist negative thoughts and influences that seek to derail their spiritual journey. The battle of the mind is ongoing, requiring vigilance and intentionality in thought life. [59:33]

2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV): "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."

Reflection: What negative thought patterns do you need to take captive today, and how can you replace them with the truth of God's Word?

Day 3: Fight for Your Family's Spiritual Legacy

Families are spiritual battlegrounds where generational strongholds can exist. Believers are called to fight for their families, establishing godly altars and breaking any inherited patterns that oppose their faith. This involves intentional prayer, teaching, and living out a godly example for future generations. By doing so, believers can create a legacy of faith that impacts not only their immediate family but also future generations. The spiritual health of a family is crucial in the larger battle for high places. [01:02:57]

Joshua 24:15 (ESV): "And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to establish a godly legacy in your family, and how can you address any generational patterns that need breaking?

Day 4: Influence Society with Kingdom Values

Believers are called to impact the high places of society with the kingdom of God. This involves engaging with cultural spheres such as education, government, and the arts, bringing the light of the gospel into these areas. By doing so, believers can influence societal structures and norms, promoting justice, truth, and righteousness. This calling requires courage and wisdom, as believers navigate complex systems and seek to bring about positive change in alignment with God's kingdom values. [01:09:34]

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV): "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Reflection: In what specific area of society can you bring the light of the gospel today, and what practical steps can you take to influence it with kingdom values?

Day 5: Unite with the Body of Christ in Battle

Spiritual warfare is not a solitary endeavor. Being connected to the body of Christ provides strength and protection. Together, believers can support one another, ensuring that no one fights alone. This unity is vital in overcoming spiritual battles, as the collective strength and prayers of the community can bring about significant breakthroughs. By fostering relationships within the church and engaging in communal prayer and worship, believers can stand firm against spiritual opposition. [01:22:54]

Ephesians 4:16 (ESV): "From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

Reflection: How can you strengthen your connection with the body of Christ today, and who can you reach out to for mutual support in your spiritual journey?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the theme of "Battling for the High Places," focusing on the spiritual warfare that believers are called to engage in. We began by acknowledging the importance of understanding the times and seasons, as highlighted in Ecclesiastes and the example of the Sons of Issachar. Recognizing the current season as one of spiritual warfare, we are reminded that our battles are not just physical but deeply spiritual, manifesting in the natural world through various crises and conflicts.

We delved into the significance of high places, both in the spiritual realm and in our personal lives. These high places include our minds, family structures, and societal influences. The mind, being the highest point of our body, is a critical battleground where we must align our thoughts with the mind of Christ. Family structures are another high place where spiritual altars and strongholds can exist, requiring us to fight for our families and establish godly legacies. On a broader scale, we are called to influence the high places of society, such as government, education, and culture, with the kingdom of God.

The sermon emphasized the need for spiritual warfare to be conducted with divine grace and bold declarations. We are encouraged to speak and declare God's word over our lives and circumstances, understanding that our words have the power to open doors and bring about change. Additionally, being connected to the body of Christ is crucial, as no one fights alone. We are part of a larger community, and our collective strength and unity are vital in overcoming spiritual battles.

Key Takeaways

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2. The Battle of the Mind: The mind is a high place that must be conquered. Aligning our thoughts with the mind of Christ is essential for overcoming the lies and deceptions that bombard us daily. This alignment empowers us to take on greater spiritual battles.

3. Family as a High Place: Our families are spiritual battlegrounds where generational strongholds can exist. We must fight for our families, establishing godly altars and breaking any inherited patterns that oppose our faith.

4. Influencing Society: We are called to impact the high places of society with the kingdom of God. This involves engaging with cultural spheres such as education, government, and the arts, bringing the light of the gospel into these areas.

5. Unity in the Body of Christ: Spiritual warfare is not a solitary endeavor. Being connected to the body of Christ provides strength and protection. Together, we can support one another, ensuring that no one fights alone. [49:33]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[41:22] - Greetings and Announcements
[42:17] - Church Camp Registration
[43:17] - Honoring Volunteers
[44:41] - Giving and Offerings
[45:08] - Prayer for Offerings
[47:35] - Introduction to the Word
[48:32] - Battling for the High Places
[49:20] - Understanding the Times
[50:08] - Season of Spiritual Warfare
[51:15] - Year of the Lion of Judah
[52:36] - The Necessity of Battle
[54:18] - Increasing Internal Capacities
[56:07] - Rise Up and Pray
[57:12] - Spiritual High Places
[59:04] - The Mind as a High Place
[61:32] - Family Structures
[63:38] - The Importance of Family
[68:23] - Nations and Societal Influence
[71:25] - Dominion and Authority
[74:35] - Governing with Kingdom Authority
[77:35] - Grace to War
[78:43] - Bold Declarations
[81:10] - Clearing the Land
[82:51] - Connection to the Body of Christ
[87:10] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Sermon Clips

In Ecclesiastes chapter 3: 1 to8 the Bible says that to everything there is a season a Time for every purpose under Heaven a time to be born a time to die a time to plant a time to pluck out what is planted A Time to Kill a time to heal. [00:48:32]

The Sons of Issachar had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do. Their chiefs were 200 and their Brethren were at their command. Because of this unction that was resting upon the sons of Issachar, they had great prophetic insights into the time, the hour, and the season of the Lord. [00:49:20]

I feel as if like we're stepping into this season of an intensity of a Warfare. It is a season of war and because we know that it's time to war, we know what we ought to do. We ought to stand in our places of position and to fight. [00:50:08]

The mind, the high place of your mind, in a very physical way, the highest point of your body is the mind. If you can't overcome the high place of your mind, forget about conquering high places of society. There is a very real battle with the mind today. [00:59:04]

There is a fight against the Mind: voices and opinions, lies and deception. It's against and just coming against our minds every day. If we're going to overcome, then we've got to overcome first our minds. It's got to be brought under the subjection to the mind of Christ. [00:59:33]

Family structure, this is the high place. These are family altars, we're talking altars, we're talking strongholds here that many of us perhaps are not very aware of. Ask yourself this question: who has the high places in your family? Because it may not be you. [01:01:32]

The first institution that God established on Earth is the family. It is without question the most important to God and it is the most hated by Satan. That's why there is a diabolical attack right now on the family structures. Demonic forces have been released through deception and temptation. [01:03:38]

We are not called to coexist with Darkness; we're called to occupy. And of course, you've heard of The Seven Mountains of society, you have of culture, you have the business Mountain, the education, religion, family, arts and entertainment, science and medicine, the government mountain. [01:09:34]

The original mandate that was given to Mankind through Adam and Eve was one of governance, was one of taking Dominion. Genesis 1:26 God said let us make men in our image according to our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, birds of the air, cattle of the Earth. [01:11:25]

The main purpose of Jesus dying on the cross was not just so that you and I can go to heaven. The main purpose of his death was so that his kingdom can be established in us. We carry the kingdom of God and so that as a result, we can exercise Kingdom Authority here on Earth. [01:14:35]

The way we're going to take high places is by being connected to the body of Christ. If you look at the armor of Christ, there's an interesting piece of the armor which is the breastplate of righteousness. Do you know that the breastplate only protects your front chest but it leaves your back vulnerable? [01:22:51]

In spiritual warfare, no man fights alone. The Lone Ranger is the first one to get killed. The Lone Ranger is an easy target. We've got to be joined, we've got to be connected to the body of Christ. I'm not just talking about coming to service every Sunday and that's about it. [01:22:54]

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