Changing The Battlegrounds

“The Eagle does not fight the snake on the ground. It picks it up into the sky and changes the battle ground, and then it releases the snake into the sky.

The snake has no stamina, no power and no balance in the air. It is useless, weak and vulnerable unlike on the ground where it is powerful, wise and deadly.

Take your fight into the spiritual realm by praying, and when you are in the spiritual realm, God takes over your battles.

Don't fight the enemy in his comfort zone, change the battlegrounds like the Eagle and let God take charge through your earnest prayer and worship! You'll be assured of clean victory.”

- Michael D. Parks

I had the privilege of teaching at our church this past Sunday from 1 Peter 5:6-9, where Peter writes,

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

I asked our congregation to look at the four tasks, or challenges, that Peter gives us (1. Humbles ourselves, 2. Cast all your cares on Jesus, 3. Be alert and sober-minded, and 4. Resist the devil and stand firm in the faith), and to ask themselves, “Which one or two of these do I most sense God wanting to do a work in my life?”

I know for me it is the fourth, as I know I am not as intentional as I need to be in putting on the full armor of God every day of my life in order to stand firm against the devil’s schemes.

I need to be better prepared for the fight and make sure that it takes place in God’s realm, rather than the realm of the evil one.

Michael Parks reminds us, “We cannot fight the enemy in his comfort zone; we must change the battlegrounds and let God take charge.”

As you look at the four tasks/challenges Peter gave us, which one or two do you sense God saying to you, “I want to do a work in this area of your life?”

When we open ourselves up to the work being done, and then submit and surrender to the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish that work, we become agents of change and an unstoppable force for Jesus.

Pastor Ken

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