.

.

Daily Devotional, Year 3 – May 9

.

.

.

.

We Wrestle Not Against Flesh & Blood!

.

Part 2,

“Dealing With Defiant Children!”

To read part 1, go here…JANUARY 15 (We Wrestle Not Against Flesh & Blood!)

.

.

.

.

.

.

“Wherein in time past ye walked

according to the course of this world,

according to the prince of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”

Ephesians 2:2

.

.

.

.

.

This above verse from Ephesians 2:2 is perhaps one of the most incredible, and yet despised verses in the Bible!

.

Yes, this verse is a stinging condemnation of the entire world! Because it reveals just what power is working in the inhabitants of the world!

.

The “Prince of the Power of the Air”!

.

Obviously this is speaking of that wily old serpent, the Devil and Satan!

.

Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

“EVEN NOW ARE THERE MANY ANTICHRISTS!”

1st John 2:18

.

This spirit is also called the spirit of Antichrist, even as is written…“They (Antichrists) are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.” 1st John 4:5

.

An Antichrist is nothing more than a worldly-minded person. He may be a fireman, or a doctor, or a field worker or a schoolteacher…or even a pastor.

.

In other words, an Antichrist is merely any unsaved person in this fallen world.

.

People on Times Square – cropped photo – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

.

.

.

.

.

“THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH”

John 4:16, 17

.

But those who have truly forsaken the selfish pleasures and proud and ambitious pursuits of this lost world, to follow Jesus, are now indwelt by another Spirit, the Holy Spirit!

.

And now, that true worshiper of God has embarked upon a Heavenward sojourn.

.

And even though they still must be employed in the workforce, and live in a house, go to school, and may even be a member of a family, the world is no longer in their heart.

.

No, but rather, Heaven and Heaven’s Jesus now holds the #1 place in their heart!

.

Family Prayer Before Meal – Wikimedia – US-Govt. – Public-Domain

.

.

.

.

.

OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT THE PROBLEM!

.

But what does all this have to do with raising children, and attempting to deal with defiant children?

.

Well, just listen again to Paul’s letter to the churches in Ephesus 6:12… “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

.

Here we see that our great strivings and struggles are not with mere humans, but are actually with the unseen forces of evil!

. 

Christian and Apollyon – Pilgrim’s Progress – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

.

CHILDREN ARE BORN IN SIN

.

And so, Christian parents must study the Bible until they fully realize this profound truth!

.

Children are just as likely to be filled with the wrong spirit as are adults!

.

Listen to Isaiah…“The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.” Psalm 58:3

.

Here is revealed that children go astray as soon as they are born!

. 

Baby crying – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

.

.

.

.

.

“THAT SPIRIT WHICH NOW WORKS IN THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE”

.

But since we cannot see these invisible fallen angels, we do not realize to what extent they are causing defiant behavior in adults and children.

.

But we must remember that the Bible says that Satan is, “that spirit which NOW works in the children of disobedience”.

.

So he is “NOW” working in the children of disobedience.

.

Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

SATAN: THE GOD OF THIS WORLD

2nd Corinthians 4:4

.

Of course, this Bible truth goes against all the conventional thinking of this fallen world.

.

But we must keep in mind that this world is under the control of, “the god of this world”, the Devil. (2nd Corinthians 4:4)

.

And the last thing that Satan wants, is for the true extent of his workings in the lives of people to be revealed. That would cause pandemic alarm!

.

And so, Satan fills up the television and self-help books with all sorts of godless, “psychological” half-truths and out-and-out lies, pointing us away from the spiritual battle being waged all around us!

.

Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

“WE ARE NOT IGNORANT OF HIS DEVICES”

2nd Corinthians 2:11

.

What must be kept in mind is, Satan fully understands that he is most successful when he works in the shadows.

.

Normally, he doesn’t want to needlessly alarm the general public by exposing his presence.

.

And so, Satan and his unseen armies of evil angels try to cause trouble under the cover of natural occurrences. Maybe somebody had an extremely hard day. Maybe some unfortunate accident occurred. Or any number of other upsetting incidents. Well, Satan will often use these moments to cause that troubled person to lose their temper, lash out in revenge, etc….

.

Job (oil on canvas) by Bonnat, Leon Joseph Florentin (1833-1922) – Wikimedia – Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SATAN ACCESS INTO CHRISTIAN HOMES?

.

But why would God allow the Devil such access into Christian homes? Isn’t the Christian home sanctified by the believing parent?

.

Well yes, the Christian parent does enjoy the sanctification of his household…to a certain extent.

.

But what we need to realize is, God also allows conflicts in the Christian home, just as Jesus foretold in Matthew 10:34-36…“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.”

.

The Spanking – Conrad, Giorgio (1827-1889) Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”

Ephesians 6:4  

.

One very great means of counteracting the great overflowing tide of evil in this fallen world is for the parents to make every effort to reflect the loving ways of Jesus to our children.

.

In simpler terms, we must plead daily with God to give us the grace to live with our family in such a way as to show them that Heaven is a place of joy!

.

And the parents need to show much heavenly love for our children. Whether engaging them in their little games and sports, or hugging them often, or just making life in the home nice and breezy.

.

This is an integral part of what it means to “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”

.

The Christian parents must, kindly, patiently, and gently, guide our children through their childhood in such a way which will cause them to desire, yes, even yearn, to walk side-by-side with us along the joy-filled highways and byways of eternity!  

.

Family eating meal – Wikipedia – Public Domain

Family Portrait – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

.

.

.

.

.

DYING TO SELF, THAT CHRIST MAY REIGN

.

And truth-be-told, God will use all these many various daily situations in the home, to work together to ultimately purge out our hidden, inward wickedness.

.

And there is nothing like a defiant child (or even a defiant spouse) to require us to exercise great patience, understanding, Christlike love, and even prudent silence when dealing with them.

. 

And these fiery trials will invariably cause us to spend much time in our prayer closet, pleading, for grace, mercy, and strength to deal with these situations.

.

And ultimately, all these various trials will eventually cause us to die-to-self, so that finally, Christ can freely live out His holy life in us and through us!

.

This is God’s ultimate goal in our lives.

.

Father & Son – Wikimedia – Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS, ARMOR UP!

.

And so, let’s no longer suppose that our struggle is against mere humans.

.

People are not the true source of our problems.

.

No, but we must realize that we have been chosen to be soldiers in the cosmic battle between the forces of good and evil!

.

Therefore, we must put on “the armor of God” that we can stand strong against the unseen forces of darkness which often come against us through various people of the world (or visa-versa)!

.

And even if we are absent from our family, we can still protect them and bless them, as we draw closer and closer to Jesus in His Heavenly sanctuary, praying for them in that secret place of prayer.

.

ABOVE PICTURE: soldiers of the cross – armor up! – Orion & The Revelation 12 Dragon constellation (comprised of Hyades & Pleiades and other constellations) – www.signsofheaven.org

.

.

.

.

.

TO READ PART 3, GO HERE…

May 16 (We Wrestle Not Against Flesh & Blood! Part 3, “Political Correctness: Satan’s Righteousness!”)

No Political Correctness.svg – Wikimedia – Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me great insight and wisdom and patience in raising my children…

Girl Praying – Wikimedia – Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… December 29th (Why Don’t Kids Come With Instructions?) or you can also read… OCTOBER 24 (Taking Back This Nation For God! Part 3: A Hedge With A Swinging Gate!)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

.

.

.

.

THE END

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

.

.

SIGN IN HEAVEN

.

Well, If you look up and lift up your head, you just might see a wonderful sign, which God spoke about in Revelation 12. It is a constellation of a woman. The ancients only saw it as a great bear. It is commonly known as Ursa Major . It is also known as the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper), but with the addition of various other stars.

.

But with the eye of faith, it actually appears as the Revelation 12 Woman. You see, God has placed in the heavens, the symbol of His bride, the Church-Faithful.

.

Listen… “And there appeared a great wonder (sign) in heaven; a woman…And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered…And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place… from the face of the serpent.” Revelation 12:1, 2, 14.

.

ABOVE STAR-CHART: Ursa Major – IAU.svg – Star-Chart – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

.

.

.

.

.

.

TRAVAILING IN SUMMER, FLEEING IN WINTER

.

In the summer night-sky, Just as this passage says, she appears as the woman-in-travail. But in the winter, she flips upside-down, to appear as the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12, just as this passage states.

.

But whether this Virtuous Woman is in labor pains, or fleeing to the mountains, she is the heavenly icon of God’s bride, His Church.

.

And now we need to explore how this fleeing woman in the heavens relates to us, the Church. Just like this fleeing woman, we too, need to flee from the wrath to come.

.

But how do we flee? And where do we flee to?

.

Well just read this article and you will find out exactly what the Bible has to say about all this.

.

Ursa Major Star-Chart (with Bible constellation drawn in by this website) – Wikipedia – share-alike license

.

.

.

.

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

.

.

.

.

.

.

TOMORROW…

May 10 (Come Out of Her, My People! Part 44: “This World: Love It Or Leave It!”)

Picture – Lot Escapes – www.thebiblerevival.com offers free Bible clipart – Public Domain.

.

.

.

.

.

Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing details & tags, and all other necessary information on any particular photo.

.