7.
Winning the war
versus winning a battle

By now you know how vitally important it is for you to begin today to break through and press on to victory. In fact, as soon as you finished reading this series you may run right out and win your very first battle against fear, and be shouting "Hallelujah! - It works!"

But don't be deceived. Winning one battle does not mean you've won the war. Until you win your personal battles against fear and any other demon spirits, you're in no shape to get into the real war for other souls.
Wars are made up of many battles. After your first battle is won, you can expect satan to try to reclaim lost territory by attacking you in three vital areas: your mind, your emotions, and your will.

Remember that satan is the father of lies. Soon after the victory, he will try to tell you that you were never delivered in the first place. He will try to deceive you by counterfeiting your past symptoms of fear. He will most certainly try to tempt you with the "easy way out" the next time fear comes along. What do you do?

The Apostle James instructs us,

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7, AV).

Now most of us are pretty good at the submission part, and you can submit all you want. But until you fully determine to also resist satan, there is no fight; and when there is no fight, he automatically wins.

However, the moment you choose to stand and resist, you establish a turning point in the war. No longer are you merely satan's pawn to push around; you are someone to contend with. As soon as you prove to the devil that you mean business, the battle is on.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13-14, AV)

Therefore, put on God's complete armor that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day (on the day of danger), and having done all (what the crisis demands), to stand (firmly in your place). Stand therefore - hold your ground".

Study the entire sixth chapter of the book of Ephesians for yourself. It holds many keys to spiritual warfare, including the "armor" you must put on for any offensive encounter with the enemy. (For any time you stand facing him, holding firm, and exposing the spirit of fear by calling him by name, you are on the offensive!) Of course, you know by now that this kind of warfare is never easy.

Jesus battled so hard in the Garden of Gethsemane that His sweat fell from Him like drops of blood. And if it wasn't easy for Jesus, it won't be easy for you either. The price of not fighting is perpetual immaturity and spiritual stagnation. The writer of Hebrews warned of this when he admonished believers who were falling behind: "You have not yet struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out your (own) blood".

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. (Hebrews 12:4, AV).

After many years of spiritual warfare, I can tell you that it is at the point when you literally feel (in the spirit) that your own blood is about to be poured out, that God's power sweeps into your being like a flood, and the enemy is gone!

Will your war against fear be pretty? No.
Is spiritual warfare pretty? No. Pretty warfare does NOT exist!
Do you want to grow up and be useful to God? Yes!
Since you do, God has equipped you with all you need to do it.

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

Again, casting down every wayward, rebellious, or errant, imagination and bringing every fearful thought to the obedience of Christ will be agonizing at first... but you are not alone. It is all a part of qualifying for God's Army! The Apostle Peter described a blow-by-blow account of these spiritual battles (and their outcomes) when he said:

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a (in fierce hunger) roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith (against him), knowing that the same (identical) afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (1Peter 5:8-11)

7.2. GET READY
FOR SPLIT-SECOND DECISIONS

Especially during the years of the cold war the United States had an advanced military warning system which warned them if missiles would be fired from Russia. If Russia would have attacked they would have only ten minutes to wage a counter-offensive attack.

Well, I've got news for you. When that demon spirit of fear launches one of his "fear missiles" at your mind, you don't have ten minutes to wait. You only have one split second in which to decide to counterattack. This decision takes advance preparation. You must be prepared to instantly choose for the Lord and not against Him. What do I mean?

I mean that it is possible to have all the knowledge of what to do, all the grace of God to do it, all the forces of heaven standing by to help you overcome fear; and still, in that last split second when the enemy roars, decide to deny God's power and once again go down to defeat. The choice is yours.

What can you do to get ready to choose Christ in an instant? Have your sword ready!

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand (Psalm 149:6, AV).

Have scriptures that banish fear, and praises of your Lord ready in your heart and on your tongue. Your sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, fueled by your love for Him. When the enemy looms on the horizon, use your weapons! Speak them. Bind the enemy and defeat him with the Word. Let Christ arise within you. Let His enemies be scattered! You are the victorious one.

Decide right now to put on a new mental attitude toward the battles ahead. Put on a spirit of fierce determination, and make up your mind that you will choose to press through every time. The Apostle Paul expressed this same valiant determination when be said:

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14, AV).

Then Paul went on to say,

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. (Philippians 3:15).

Beloved, one day each one of us, like the servants in the book of Matthew, will stand before our Master and account for every talent He has given us. But also appearing before the throne of God will be countless souls of our generation crying out to the Father,

The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. (Jeremiah 8:20).

Each year over 120 million people are added to the world's population - un-reached and unsaved. How can any one of us, knowing what and Whom we have been given, stand by and let any demon spirit of fear hold us back while millions face eternal death?

The summer is almost over. The end-time harvest is near. Countless souls still have not heard. When you are called to work in His vineyard, you are accountable for them.
Can you hear God's battle cry in your heart? He is calling to you now, saying:

Have not I commanded thee? Take heart and be strong; have no fear and do not be troubled; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9, BBE).

Wherever you go, break through and press on in the mighty name of Jesus.
You are free from fear!