Tag Archives: spiritual warfare

52 Weeks of Gratefulness #19 – The Victory That Christ Provides

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - 52 Weeks of Gratefulness #19 – The Victory That Christ Provides

I was overwhelmed.
I found strength in the presence of Christ’s people who were gathered in His name.

So, in Week 19 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for the victory that Christ provides.

I’ll repeat this nugget from Alan Hawkins again:

“Victory is in the Lord’s communion.”

When faced with challenges, sometimes all we need is to get in formation -we need to run to the Lord’s communion, that is, the fellowship with others in Christ, especially over a meal.

Sometimes, we don’t even have to share our problems or solve that of others.

There’s a transmission happening just being in the midst of Christ’s people who are being attentive to His Spirit.

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”
—2 Corinthians 2:14

But the greater the intimacy, the greater the power.

“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
— Matthew 18:20

So, there’s even more strength to be had if we do share our problems with those we discern love God, love us and have His Spirit.

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
— James 5:16

Are you a believer that’s struggling? Burdened? Overwhelmed?

“Victory is in the Lord’s communion.”

I’m grateful.

#52WoG

Victory In The Lord’s Communion

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - Victory In The Lord's Communion

Something that’s still rippling through my heart is a word imparted by Alan Hawkins that I heard at New Horizons,

“The way of escape is the Lord’s communion.” 1 Corinthians 10:1-21

This coincides with something else burning on my heart: we NEED each other.

It is not enough to have weapons or to even know how to use them, I need HELP!

I need my fellow soldiers because the war we fight is multifaceted and I wasn’t given all the gifts.

I was intentionally given a subset of the gifts; 1. for specialization and 2. so I’d have to depend on my fellow beloved to avert pride -one of the deadliest of Satan’s weapons!

To go into this war alone is unwise.

“A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.”
— Proverbs 18:1

It doesn’t take many but it definitely takes more than me.

“Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight;
your enemies shall fall by the sword before you.”
— Leviticus 26:8

There are many challenges on this battlefield that different members of the body are especially equipped to handle. Despite personality differences or how I might feel about them, I cannot afford to be separated from these resources.

Did you know that disruption of logistics is a common military tactic?

The way to victory is the Lord’s communion!

But we’ve been disrupted!

Our primary objective as believers today should overcoming the divisions that have cut us off from each other.

We should be laying aside anything that separates us and fight toward each other!

Victory is in the Lord’s communion!

When we are together in Christ, then we can bind the strong man and plunder his goods, taking back from Satan all that he’s taken in deceit. (Mark 3:24-27)

Wake up church! We can win: our marriages, families, communities and the redemption of all things!

God has given us victory in the Lord’s communion.

We need each other.

Love.

#spiritualwarfare #perfectourlove

Always Winning

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - Always Winning

When we misunderstand what Christianity really is and the desire of our hearts are amiss, we can often think and feel that we’re losing when we’re actually winning.

In the biblical account of Acts 16 we observe how Paul and Silas have devoted themselves to the work of the Lord. There is no question that they are where God would have them to be, doing what God would have them to do.

Yet, by verse 22 of the same chapter, they find themselves having their backs beaten open, their feet shackled and being thrown in a dark jail cell.

Admittedly, were it me, I would have thought,

“What have I done wrong?”

“I’m trying to do the right things.”

“Then, why is this happening to me?!” as though obedience and living for Christ should only result in pleasant things and a life of ease without hardship.

But where did that idea come from? Jesus certainly did not teach that.

By the Spirit of God the Apostle Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:12,
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

This, I believe, was born out of Jesus’s own words in John 16:33,
“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Obedience and living for Christ as a means of gain, attaining worldly pleasure and a life of ease without hardship is an insidious deception that Satan harvests from our own unregenerate, fleshly hearts so he can inoculate us with it later, a deception that can be reintroduced casually, subtly and imperceptibly –even from the pulpit as preachers tickle our itching ears with what we want, which infects our heart and causes our desire to be amiss.

It’s a Christianity that makes God merely a means to an end (“the good life”), when He should be everything.

This is why it is imperative to stay immersed in the Word, to submit to the Word, to stand on the Word and watch, guarding against my own heart because it is deceitfully wicked. His heart should be the pursuit and the Word is the seed of His heart being formed in me by the work of the Holy Spirit.

So, I repent.

The true aim of Christianity is TO BE WITH GOD.

That results in us:
Going where God goes,
Doing what God does,
Loving who God loves,
Wanting what God wants.

Where does God go? Everywhere. (Psalm 19:1-4, Matthew 24:14, Mark 16:15 )

What does God do? Making Himself known and giving life by doing so. (Isaiah 11:6-9, Habakkuk 2:14, John 17:3)

Who does God love? The world, especially those who love Him. (Exodus 20:5-6, 33:19, John 3:16)

What does God want? His creation redeemed, all things reconciled to Himself, Us conformed to the image of His Son, His children to be part of His work. (Genesis 12:3, 2 Corinthians 5:18‭-‬20, 2 Peter 3:9, Ephesians 2:10)

He did that.

All that He desires, He has done. (Isaiah 55:11)

Jesus’s last words from the cross, “It is [was/is/shall be] finished” recorded in John 19:30 was the cry of victory.

God has won.

And it is this reality and Jesus’s words in the latter part of John 16:33 that I believe Paul and Silas have confidence in and that allow them to respond to tribulation in the manner that they did -“praying and singing hymns to God” (Acts 16:25). Again, those words from Jesus were,

“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33

“I have overcome the world.”

The hearts of Paul and Silas were not amiss. Their desire was not for a nice house, a successful career or easy going. Like Jesus, their heart was to be with God, to the extent that they WANTED to share in Christ’s sufferings to be with Him and to see God’s will done –a will they were confident was being accomplished even in the midst of what appeared to be a setback.

And, God’s will was being accomplished.

“Then he [the jailer] called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'” -Acts 16:29-‬30

That night, the entire prison was witnessed to, the jailer and his entire household (which may have extended well beyond his immediate family, potentially including servants and their families, etc.) were saved and baptized.

Hallelujah.

Would this have occurred if Paul and Silas were sulking, crying, complaining and begrudging their circumstances?

No.

But Paul and Silas were operating from a position of winning.

Their example in Acts 16 encapsulates Romans 8:28-29,

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

“We KNOW…”

Paul and Silas were confident in the victory of Jesus Christ and they knew that even their imprisonment would work together for good.

And, what was that good?

That “whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Said another way, Paul and Silas knew that the good that would come of a seemingly bad situation was that either they (or another) would be made to look more like Christ (“conformed to the image of His Son”) and/or the family of God would grow (“that He might be the firstborn among many brethren”) which pleased God and therefore pleased them.

The Apostle Paul writes victoriously,

“So [at the end of the day] when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:

‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’
‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
-1 Corinthians 15:54-58

When my heart is amiss, it can feel like I’m losing even when I’m winning.

But when I center my hope and expectation in Christ, seeking those things which are above and eternal such as being with Him and being like Him, rather than seeking those things below and temporary such as worldly goods and pleasure, I can live joyfully in any circumstance to His praise and glory, knowing because He’s won, I’m always winning.

What do you see?

A prison cell to complain about or a platform to glorify Christ and secure a crown?

For those of us in Christ, everything is an opportunity “for we know ALL things work together for good to those who love God.”

Whether we seize it, depends on how we see it.

Delight yourself in the Lord, make Him alone the desire of your heart and you will see

Because He’s won, I’m always winning

Resulting in growth and life in Christ.

#perfectourlove #winning

The True Goal Of Faith In Christ

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - The Aim And Prize Of Faith In Christ

The aim, goal, pursuit, final destination and prize of the upward call of faith in Christ is:

to be with God.

Love is the way. ¹

Love is being consumed with God. ²

Love is doing the things that please God: obedience that flows from a heart given by Him and burning for Him. ³

Loving obedience is abiding. Abiding is being with God. ⁴

Love is how I experience God. ⁵

Love is how I be with God. ⁶

God is love, therefore Love is the ends and the means -the “Alpha and Omega” as Revelation 22:13 puts it.

This is the whole aim, to be with God. ⁷

He is the true riches. ⁸

This is why I believe Jesus says in John 4:34,

“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me”

And, now I begin to grasp John 14:28 when Jesus says,

“If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.”

I also see why Jesus was so forceful with Peter when, out of seemingly sincere concern for Jesus, Peter tried to dissuade Jesus from the path God purposed for Him to suffer. Jesus replies to Peter, “Get behind me Satan, you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” – Mark 8:33

Peter, though well meaning was still worldly and was unwittingly tempting Jesus into the comfort of the world rather than the companionship of obedience to God through taking up His cross -an implement of preparatory difficulty, suffering and death. But, above all, Jesus wanted and choose to be with the Father.

This same spirit of the rebuke of Peter is found in 1 Timothy 6:5,

“Those who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.”

We are to avoid those who make faith about being “blessed” with health, wealth and “leveling up” in this life, who would coax us into the comfort of the world and away from the companionship of obedience to God with Christ by taking up our cross.

Shortly after Jesus’s rebuke of Peter in Mark 8:33, in verse 8:36 Jesus continues, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and lose his own soul?”

Profit.

The end result.

What does the Apostle and sanctified Peter say in 1 Peter 1:9 that the whole conclusion and the end result of our faith is?

Does he say it’s houses, cars, money, clothes or popularity?

No.

What does he say?

“receiving the end of your faith –the salvation of your souls.” – 1 Peter 1:9

And what is our salvation?

Not what, but who –Jesus Christ, God with us, who makes The Way, and who Shepherds us into fellowship with God. ⁹

The aim of Christianity is singular: to be with God.

Being with God is everything Jesus is and everything Jesus does.

So, every day and every moment of every day, the goal, pursuit, destination, aim, prize and ultimate desire is

to be with God.

Love, with God’s heart for the world, is the way. ¹⁰

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” …now through you.

Let’s set out to give Jesus through the same loving obedience that we observed in Him. In doing so we are more able to be with God.

¹ 1 Corinthians 12:31 – 13:10
² Deuteronomy 6:5, Mark 12:29-31, Psalms 69:9, John 2:17
³ Ezekiel 36:26-27, John 8:29
⁴ John 15:4-10, 1 John 2:5, 1 John 4:12
⁵ 1 John 4:13
⁶ John 15:10, 1 John 4:12
⁷ John 10:10
⁸ Genesis 15:1, Psalms 62:4-8, 84:10
⁹ John 10:7-18
¹⁰ John 3:16-17

#perfectourlove

Breath Prayers

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - Breath Prayers

“God is always good and is always faithful. I’m maintaining an attitude and making moves based on and that reflect confidence in that truth.”

“Not because of what I feel, but because I choose Your will.”

“This is going to hurt.”

“Lord, if You’ll go with me…”

“Thank you Father, for the opportunity.”

“Make me immovable.”

Christian Imposters

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - Christian Imposters

I know may people and churches claim to be Christian but we do not all serve the same God. Some worship demons and are actually members of the church of Satan.

Test whether you are really in the faith by how well you love.

If you have a hard time sharing space in America, making peace with your neighbors or being able to go and come with different types of believers, you’re going to have a hell of a time when Jesus returns.

As far as I’m aware, there are no subdivisions or suburbs in His Kingdom now or in heaven later.

Believers, as differing parts of the same whole –Christ, are getting it right only when we can move in and between each other’s spaces (in service, in preaching, in teaching, in leadership –in worship) effortlessly, like Jesus walked through walls after His resurrection.

If we’re born again, we can do likewise.

Whatever is between us, preventing the flow of the love of Christ, forsake it, cast it down.

That is what our weapons are for.

We must fight toward each other.

Repent and forgive (both, not just one or the other).

Love by any means necessary.

Love as God loves.

How you love is the proof of what you truly believe.

#perfectourlove

We Get To Fight

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - We Get To Fight

God merely needs to think it,
the war would be won,
His kingdom established.

But God has ordained the struggle,
He is giving us an opportunity to fight,
to grant us a part in His kingdom.

As descendants of the second Adam, proven by war, we will not sell our birthright and just hand over what we’ve fought for unlike what the first Adam did with a kingdom that was just given.

God gives us the ability to take it
and keep it.

I don’t have to fight.
I get to.
Rejoice.

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
-Luke 12:32

Expectation Versus Reality

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - Expectation Versus Reality

Many people’s faith has failed because they had their faith in a lie.

I get it, you thought you were signing up for the good life and find yourself in a war zone.

The mortars are blasting, bullets are whizzing by your head, the carnage is unimaginable and you’re thinking, “I didn’t sign up for this $#*+!”

But I’ve got news for you, this life has always been a war zone since the fall and the battle will continue to rage until the last enemy breathes his last.

There’s fellowship, joy, peace, gladness and many good things to be had now, but Paradise comes later.

The only choice any of us have right now, is which side we’re going to live and die for.

There are only two –for Christ or not.

Get your mind right, Christian.

52 Weeks of Gratefulness #1 2023 – Fellowship With Brothers And Sisters In Christ

Do you remember when I said I was going through a rough patch a while back?

It was a season that started much earlier than the day I finally mustered the courage to admit it and ask for help.

It started around the time the 52 Weeks of Gratefulness posts stopped.

One of the first things Satan attacked was my thankfulness. There was a campaign to maximize self by emphasizing my trouble and minimizing the triumph I have in Christ.

Earlier last year, I was in a very dark place. I came to a point where after over 20 years preaching the gospel I was ready to walk away from God. Some people who have heard that thought I was overstating the case, that I was exaggerating or that I’m being dramatic. But, no. I began to doubt the very existence of God. I started questioning the reality of His person, His power and His presence based on what I thought should (or shouldn’t) be happening in my life.

There were a lot of things that led to that moment, aging loved ones, difficulty in my marriage, financial troubles, but it came to a head during a really rough summer for my business. It was worse than it had been in a long time. I was finding it difficult to cover basic expenses. It just felt like I had been struggling forever. Here I am following God, trying to honor Him, but there just doesn’t seem to be any relief or breakthrough, and for all I’ve done, I’m still a failure.

But, thanks be to God that even though I was ready to walk away, I found that I wasn’t holding on to God, God was holding on to me! His Word came to me as gentle as a whisper “Where are you?” When God asks a question, it’s not because He needs information but because He is trying to show us something. His question began a dialog called prayer where I confessed my anger, my frustration and how I just don’t feel God anymore.

God gave me one verse. He brought to remembrance one line and made it burn on my heart (this is why it is vital to get the Word in you.) That verse was Proverbs 18:1 “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.”

The idea was that part of my problem was that I was focused on myself. I had allowed a root of bitterness to spring up in me and I went into myself, crawling into the dungeon of my heart to nurse and steep in that bitterness. In doing that I had cut myself off. But God gave me a Word that prompted me to seek His face in the presence of His people.

So, I stepped out on that Word and that led to me attending the Men’s luncheon that they host at New Horizons here in Starkville, and that led to me engaging with Brian Spencer at the gym, and that led to me attending my first Man Church and that led to me developing new relationships and my wife and I started hosting a marriage ministry in our home and you know what I found? The Word of God is true! I found revival in the presence of His people.

Look, I have long considered myself a rabid introvert. I am not fond of being around people. I like being by myself, I’d rather be by myself. Being around a lot of people was torture and zapped all the strength out of me. When I’m around people for an extended amount of time, I go home and just collapse and sleep for the rest of the day because of how much it takes out of me.

But now since I’ve tasted the sweet communion of being in the presence of God with other believers, since I’ve experienced Christ where two or three are gathered in His name, I’ve been going out, seeking Him out almost every day.

I’m not talking about “going to church”. I’m talking about seeking to live and function along with other members of the Body of Christ and being the church.

Thankfulness is not just something you should remember to do occasionally, thankfulness should be developed and practiced as a discipline. “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” -1 Thessalonians 5:18

Thankfulness is a practical and important tactical maneuver in spiritual warfare.

So, in Week 1 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ. It saved my life.

If you prayed for me, thank you. The prayers were effective.

I’m thankful. #52wog

Pictured is a regular get together with other members of a marriage ministry Melissa Luckett and I attended that was hosted by Pearson & Pepper Liddell. It was the first place we encountered authentic church.

Originally posted by Paul Luckett to Facebook here.

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We Must Always Fight

I believed this just a few days ago, but I grew up.

I felt that I shouldn’t have to fight for what belongs to me, like love from my wife for example. But the Spirit revealed that would be true were it not for the enemy.

Because of our enemy, Satan, who lives to divide, steal, kill and destroy, we must ALWAYS fight for EVERYTHING.

In fact, to have ANYTHING good, EVEN FREE things such as the Love of God, I MUST FIGHT to receive it and fight to keep it because Satan opposes me and raises all kinds of Hell to get between me and good.

That is why it is written, “The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force.” -Matthew 11:12

Have I then made grace works? Certainly not!

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9

Faith is the key but even belief does not come without opposition.

“Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.”
Luke 8:12

In short, a reality of this life is that I MUST ALWAYS FIGHT.

That is one of the things that makes the promise of heaven so sweet. There will be no enemy and I will have to war no more.

But until then, I MUST FIGHT for all the good God offers.

And this is the fight, to stand in the light, to keep all that I am and bring all that I have into the light where darkness cannot dwell. Jesus is the Light. (John 8:12)

“Jesus answered, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.'”
John 6:28-29

Plot twist:

God allows Satan’s interference.

Why?

There are reasons unknown to me but I believe two are:

1. It makes me stronger and molds me to the image of His Son, Jesus.

2. We’re not as quick to hand over what we’ve fought for unlike what Adam did with a kingdom that was just given.

God uses the fight to perfect us to rule with Him.

Therefore, I will FIGHT with joy!

Originally posted by Paul Luckett to Facebook here.

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