104th BDS – 10/19/2023

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 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.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I know that you have read this verse, heard it preached, recited it in the mirror and have used it personally many times over.. for some reading this right now, maybe not. But, have you and/or can you truly grasp that your struggles, fights, disagreements, arguments and altercations with other human beings, and vice versa are not truly what you think they are? I heard a preacher speaking about others taking out their inner frustrations and grievances on other people to cover up for their own inhibitions and I asked GOD to speak to my heart, to search it and to show me why that didn’t sound like it was totally the case. And then, He did just that by pointing me to this often quoted but misunderstood verse.. but, He didn’t stop there! We as human beings naturally want to make sense of everything with our own rationale, missing the curve ball that boomerangs from our own hearts and comes back at us like a slow sinking pitch. Swing.. miss!!! Next batter up!!! So let’s dive in!!!

Job 1:6-7 / John 8:44 / Matthew 4:1 / 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 / John 10:10 / 1 Peter 5:6-8

The preacher was right about one thing, as human beings we have a natural tendency to direct our own self-complications towards others in fits of rage. However, there is an unseen enemy that is behind it all. No wonder the Scriptures warn us:

“To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Final Thought: Listen, blaming others is so easy to do, my gracious.. the “blame game” started in the Garden of Eden with the first 2 human beings that GOD created, Adam (GOD’s first son) and Eve his wife. 

“And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

However, the culprit that started it all was none other than that “old serpent”! You see we are at war with an enemy you will never see but man, he and all his fellow fallen angels are working hard behind the scenes to destroy everything that GOD loves.. yes, including you!!! Blaming others comes naturally, not particularly liking others comes naturally, but acting on those emotions is anchored by the presence of the prince of air.

“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: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But, thanks be to Our GOD who through the death of His Second Son JESUS CHRIST, has given us through His HOLY SPIRIT the power to not only defeat our enemy, but also to ask for and then use discernment (to understand or know something through the power of the HOLY GHOST.. which includes perceiving the true character of other people [even yourself] and the source behind those puzzling characteristics) in knowing that our true enemy doesn’t look like us, dress like us, and isn’t made of skin/tissue, muscles, cartilage or bone!!! But, one thing is for sure.. he does exist and we must be equipped with JESUS on the inside of us in order to even have a chance at winning eternal life in the end.

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

-Minister Marchand, Founder and Pastor of JESUS IS GLOBAL MINISTRIES-JIGM and JESUS IS GLOBAL MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY-JIGMIA