The recent tragedy in Las Vegas hits home for so many of us. With this evil act of darkness, many are left sad and angry, asking 2 questions: What is going on? And, is there anything we can do to stop it?
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON? When you add terrorism, the killings we see every week in places like Chicago, along with the escalating racial tensions, you have to wonder: Where is all this coming from? And where is God in the midst of all this? Has God changed? Is He judging America? Is He judging you or me?
NO. NO. NO!
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12.
It’s pretty easy to figure out where ‘evil’ comes from: just put a “d” in front of the word, and you get your answer. Evil comes from the ‘d-evil’. And while people are often the vessels of evil, there can be no doubt where their inspiration comes from. When “dusting for prints” in the face of evil acts, all evidence points to the devil’s fingerprints & DNA!
- Jesus called the devil a thief, who came to steal, KILL and destroy.
- The father of lies to deceive many. John 8.
- The serpent who misleads. Genesis 3:1.
- The Murderer who kills. John 8:44.
- The Ruler of darkness in this world. Eph. 6:12.
- The spirit that works in the children of disobedience. Eph. 2:2.
- The man of wickedness in 2 Thess.2:3.
- The accuser who condemns and divides us. Revelation 12:10.
There can be no doubt that the devil is at the root of all evil.
And we can’t merely pluck fruit off the tree. We must get to the root of it. We have to cut off the serpent’s head! Now the devil uses many ways to manipulate the minds of people, to carry out evil. He capitalizes on our guilt, weaknesses, sins, mistakes—but he rides into the world through our thought lives.
Ephesians 6:11 says, we can know the schemes of the devil and stand against them. The word: “schemes” is the word for “method” and “road”. Simply put, his method is to build a roadway into this world through our thought life. When a person’s mind is filled with thoughts that exalt themselves against the Word of God, then Satan builds a roadway into a person’s life and into the world.
This is why God empowers us to pull down strongholds, cast down imaginations, and take EVERY thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
This is spiritual warfare.
I am convinced that a systematic way of taking our thoughts captive, not only causes us to prevail in spiritual warfare, but it heals imbalances in our minds, our brains, our emotions and even our bodies. (This is what our Fast From Wrong Thinking System is all about).
That’s how we deal with our personal lives, but what about the evil in this world brought through others?
Is there anything we can do about the evil in the world?
When the “roadway” has already been paved in other people’s minds and lives, what do we do then?
This is where the power of prayer comes into play.
Jesus said, whatever we bind on earth is bound in heaven… (Matthew 18:18). Jesus gave US the power to bind and cast out the forces of the devil and darkness (Mark 16:18). He went on to say in Luke 10:19 “Behold I give you authority to trample upon serpents and scorpions and over ALL The power of the enemy!”
Praying God’s promises and exercising our authority over our spiritual enemy is the most powerful weapon God has given us to overcome evil in this world.
Prayer is more powerful than dynamite, guns, bombs or nuclear energy! No matter how hard the world or the devil try, prayer can’t be stopped! It has the power to change nations, governments, cities, families and hearts!
No wonder Satan doesn’t want you to know the authority you have in Christ to walk in this supernatural power!
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours. And he prayed that it would not rain for 3 and a half years. And then he prayed again, and it rained. (James 5:17-18) That’s power this world can’t give you! But God HAS given it to us, in Christ.
We must stop listening to that lie—the devil’s lie—that says we aren’t good enough to pray or aren’t powerful enough to make a difference. He’s only saying that because he knows exactly how powerful prayer really is! He’s scared of it!
Can we stop the “rain” of violence, killing, terror? Yes! But we must tap into: THE MIRACULOUS POWER OF PRAYER!
But where does that power come from? James 5:16 says, “The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous, avails MUCH!”
In the Old Testament, men attempted to be “righteous” by their outward actions.
But Jesus changed all that forever through HIS ACTIONS ALONE!
“Now, He who knew no sin was made to be sin for us that we would be made the righteousness of God in Him.” —2 Corinthians 5:21
Why is that so important?
Because when it comes time for you to pray, the devil says, Well, now, look at how you screwed up yesterday! You are not worthy to go to God or get your prayers answered!
Religion always gets you focused on what you’ve done wrong. BUT GOD focuses on what Jesus did right! And through His act of righteousness, you are now made righteous. That means you have the power to pray just like Elijah prayed, to bind evil, and stop the “rain” just like Jesus said you could.
Embrace God’s gift of righteousness TODAY and pray with that kind of authority about anything evil around you. As each of us learn to do that, we will begin to see the waves & storms of evil in this world subside, and good prevail!
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