Tag Archives: spiritual warfare

Never say ”I’ve Lost my Peace.”

Posted on 02/21/2025 | Comments Off on Never say ”I’ve Lost my Peace.”

Have you ever heard or used the phrase “I have lost my peace?” I have, and I have used it many times, but recently, the Lord corrected me in prayer about it.

I was feeling a little uncomfortable about a decision I had made, I had that yucky, scratchy, agitated feeling in my Spirit that I recognized from past experiences. I brought it to the Lord and said, Father, I think I made a bad decision here, I have lost my peace about it so what would you have me do?

The first thing He said was “Stop saying “I lost my Peace.” That uneasy feeling you are experiencing is My Peace communicating to with you and guiding you into right decisions, keeping you on the path of life.”

I was shocked because I had been speaking and praying this way for years. I was reminded of John 14.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Peace isn’t something we can lose if we are a disciple of Christ. Peace is to be our arbitrator in our decision-making process.  

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Where I missed it, and why I felt like I had lost my Peace is because I didn’t pray about it beforehand. I didn’t ask the Lord for directions or permission; I simply made the decision on my own and that was a huge mistake. I was stuck with my decision because it involved commitment to other people, so I had to follow through and keep my word. Keeping that commitment took months to fulfill and I was miserable the whole time. There was no grace, no lasting fruit, and seemingly no anointing the whole time I was faithful to my commitment. Boy, did I learn my lesson!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

If we are not our own, then every decision we make must be cleared with the One who owns us. He paid for that right by the precious blood of Christ. I never want to be involved in or committed to anything that God has not called me to and led me to.

On another note, I have found that many decisions we bring before the Lord, He tells us to make the choice because He enjoys walking out those decisions with us in relationship. However, if we don’t ask Him beforehand, we could make a wrong choice that costs us dearly.

We have a wonderful promise in the book of Philippians that teaches us much about maintaining Peace and keeping our purity before the Lord.

Philippians 4:6-9 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

If we practice this one passage of scripture, we will avoid many unnecessary mistakes, avoid bad decisions, and increase God’s involvement and ministering angel’s involvement in our lives.

Immersing ourselves in prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving, we open our hearts and minds to the divine wisdom that surpasses all earthly understanding. As we meditate on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report, we cultivate a life that is not only pleasing to God but also filled with His Spirit. We glorify God when we pray and ask before reacting and making decisions. In doing so, we will experience the fullness of His Peace, presence, and purpose in our lives.

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The Truth about Fasting

Posted on 06/26/2023 | Comments Off on The Truth about Fasting
  • I see people fasting for many different reasons. Still, when you boil it down, there is only one primary reason for fasting. To break through the veil of carnal flesh so the Spirit can find its highest expression in our lives. Fasting is not very popular among Christians because it requires discipline and self-denial. Some fast for the wrong reasons with little understanding and have little results.
  • What did Jesus say about fasting?

Mark 2:18-22 (NKJV) The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”

  • Jesus is using old and new wineskins, and old and new cloth, as an analogy of our old and new natures. We are born into the old carnal nature under Adam, (Our old wineskin) and born again with the new nature of God (New wineskin), received by the Holy Spirit at our new birth in Christ.
  • So, what significance does fasting have in the context of this parable? Jesus was explaining to them the purpose and importance of fasting.
  • We live in this incredible paradox of having two natures constantly warring against each other. Jesus tells us that fasting is how we fight and win the war. Let’s look at Isaiah 58 and see the purpose of fasting.

Isaiah 58:6-9 (NKJV)“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? 7Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

  • There is much more to this chapter, and I highly recommend reading the whole thing. Still, the point is that biblical fasting is not just about denying our physical bodies food but reaching out and helping others while denying ourselves.
  • There is something supernatural about the combination of denying ourselves while tending to the needs of others that brings powerful breakthroughs in our lives. It frees us from bondage, breaks yokes of unbelief, brings healing to our bodies, and sets us free from things holding us back in our relationship with the Lord.
  • A biblical fast is not just denying the physical body but the soul, mind, and will. Fasting should include denying every part of our being that is touched by the fall of man. Bringing our whole being into subjection, so our light shines brighter and ultimately gives God more glory.
  • We all desire to be filled with the new wine, but God’s mercy withholds it. If He filled our old wineskin with the fullness of the Spirit it would destroy us.
  • The fasting that Isaiah describes creates a new wineskin to contain that new wine. It increases our capacity in the Spirit and empowers us to live a sustained life of power and demonstration of the kingdom of God.
  • Let’s look at Luke’s account because he brings out a fascinating point that Matthew and Mark do not address.

Luke 5:33-39 (NKJV) Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?”

34 And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.” 36 Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise, the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. 39 And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.”

  • Look at verse 39. Luke recorded Jesus as saying, “No one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’”
  • Jesus tells us that our flesh will resist the change brought about by fasting. We are not going to desire to live by the Spirit immediately. Our flesh will always argue that the old way is better, leave things as they are, the old wine is good enough, and fasting is unnecessary.
  • When things didn’t always go smoothly for the Israelites, they started complaining and desired to return to Egypt. Even after seeing the daily provision of manna, a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night, they still desired the old way, the way of bondage, the old wine.
  • Fasting will not be easy for anyone, but there would be no significant rewards if it were easy. The promises we see in Isaiah 58 are mind-blowing. We desire and pray for new wine, but we ask God to put it in our old wineskin. It isn’t going to happen! He loves us too much!
  • Because of our fallen, broken nature, we seek more of God without making the necessary sacrifices to receive more. We desire the new wine but don’t want to release the old. We are craving change yet allowing things to remain and stagnate.

Thank you for visiting Truth Pressure Ministries. I hope this has been a blessing to you.

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Stop Playing Show and Tell with the Devil

Posted on 06/17/2023 | Comments Off on Stop Playing Show and Tell with the Devil

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

           Most Christians are familiar with this passage of scripture. It is important however that we understand exactly what this means, and how this plays out in our lives.

          So, how does he determine whom he may devour? By playing “Show and Tell.” For example, if we have been hurt by someone, even if we have forgiven them, Satan will relentlessly tempt us with thoughts of bitterness, anger, and resentment. If these thoughts are not taken captive, eventually we will say or do something to acknowledge that these thoughts are effective, thereby telling the devil that his lies are being entertained. In this way, we Show the Devil our weakness and Tell him how we may be devoured.

          The unrenewed mind is Satan’s favorite place to prowl and roar. Without a renewed mind, taking thoughts captive can be next to impossible.

Jesus shows us how to take thoughts captive.

          When the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, we see Jesus taking those thoughts captive by speaking the truth, letting the devil know He recognized the deception and was not moved by it. Satan left Him for a more opportune time when he saw that Jesus was not volunteering to be devoured.

When Peter was being used by the devil to speak against Jesus’ destiny, Jesus rebuked Peter sharply, letting Peter know he was being used by the enemy.

Satan can inject thoughts into our heads by speaking to our spirit directly, but his preferred method is to use well-meaning brothers and sisters to speak for him.

          When we respond to negative thoughts by speaking or acting in agreement with them, we invite the enemy into our lives to bring us into captivity. We become a landing strip for demonic activity and evil influence.

          When thoughts come that are clearly not of God, understand there is another person behind them. A person that hates us and the God we serve. We should not be ignorant of the enemy’s deceptions, but many are because the written word of God does not have its proper place in their lives.

          If we flood our hearts and minds with truth (the Bible) we render Satan virtually powerless to deceive us. Diminishing the importance of daily exposure and intake of God’s written word may be Satan’s greatest deception.

          Remember that Satan cannot defile you. He can only deceive you into defiling yourself. The only thing that defiles a person is what comes out of their mouth.

Matthew 15:16-20a And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person.

          Satan can put thoughts in our minds, but he is not a mind reader. He only knows his tactics are working when we show and tell him.

          To guard our mouth is to guard our heart. Being slow to speak and giving our heart time to tell our mouths what to say increases our discernment in these areas and helps us identify the stumbling blocks Satan puts in our path.

Thank you for visiting Truth Pressure Ministries. I hope this has been a blessing to you.

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Witchcraft in Christianity

Posted on 06/16/2023 | Comments Off on Witchcraft in Christianity

          It is disturbing to me how many professing Christians ignorantly engage in witchcraft and sorcery. I am talking about people I know. Right now, classes are offered at the community center to engage in this foolishness!

The Bible gives clear instructions to LEAVE IT ALONE! DON’T TOUCH IT!

          Witchcraft and Sorcery are broad terms so let me help define some of them.

YOGA, CRYSTALS, MANIFESTING, TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION, PSYCHICS, TAROT CARDS, RUNES, MEDIUMS, THIRD EYE AWAKENING, WICCA, IDOL WORSHIP, SPIRITUALISM, and SCIENTOLOGY, are all forms of witchcraft. They are an abomination to the LORD and open you up to demonic influence.

Thank you for visiting truthpressure.com. I hope this has been a blessing to you.

JC

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