Week 20
Day 134
Praying for the Lost: Principles of Spiritual Warfare

Colossians 1:13-14

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

2 Corinthians 5:19b-20a

“And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”

I have placed the above Scriptures in a particular order so that it would be easy to grasp the truths behind who we are in the world and what our calling is in regard to those outside of Christ. To congeal the truths above, let’s state the obvious. First, we once belonged to Satan, the prince of this world, the ruler of darkness. But God rescued us from a meaningless life and separation, and brought us into relationship with Him, and His Body, the Church. He took away the guilt and shame of our former life, having forgiven it by paying for it through the sacrifice of Himself. Now, brought into a new kingdom – one of light instead of darkness, we find ourselves involved in what God is involved with – namely the rescue of those still trapped in satanic darkness. God invites us into partnership with Him by encouraging us to pray strategically and specifically for those whose mind is still trapped in error and lies. He’s actually given us the ability to pray against satanic mindsets, deceptions and lies that exist around us, and to understand and pray truth into those dark crevasses. As promised by Christ in Matthew 16, the leadership (gates) of Hell cannot stand against the advancement of truth just as darkness can’t overcome light. As light intensifies, darkness by its nature must retreat. He has put us into a unique position on this earth – to represent Him and to be a conduit for Him to live and speak through. This rescue operation is our calling, our life, our reason for being left here on this earth – God making His appeal through us! 

Do you think it is possible to humanly argue anyone into the kingdom of God?

If you had to put a percentage on each of these responsibilities, what percent of the work that goes into rescuing people from darkness into God’s kingdom are God’s energy & responsibility, and what is from us?

________ God’s %  + ________ Our %=   100%   Total Responsibility & Energy Used to Rescue 1 person from darkness.

Who are we fighting against?

What are we fighting for?

Under whose authority are we fighting?

Why are guns, tanks, political debate, popularity and public opinion actually weak and worthless weapons when it comes to the type of warfare we have been called into?

Memory Verses
Primary Verse:

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, …

1 Peter 3:15
Secondary Verse:

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
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