Becoming a Next-Level BelieverПримерок

Wars and Warriors

Jesus is committed to building His Church, the Warrior Bride. If you and I don’t understand that we are called to rule with Christ, we will remain passive and ineffective in this great spiritual war of the ages. Too many believers are under the impression that the Church no longer needs to engage in spiritual warfare. The fact is, as citizens of God’s Kingdom we are engaged in a constant battle against the kingdom of darkness. This battle does not take place in natural theaters of war—the conflict the Church faces is not a conflict between flesh and blood. Our fight is not a conflict between nations, tribes, governments, gender or ethnicities, although we can see the effects of the battle in these and other areas. The battle you and I are engaged in is spiritual and takes place in the invisible realm, between two spiritual kingdoms: the kingdom of Satan and the Kingdom of God.

All of us are residents of one of these two kingdoms. Satan rules the kingdom of darkness, which consists of demons and all the people who live in sin and rebellion to God’s Word. God rules the Kingdom of heaven, which consists of God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, as well as angels and all the people who live in righteous obedience to God’s Word. As next-level believers, we who live in that righteous obedience are called to influence those who live in disobedience to God’s Word. You and I must use our influence to overturn the darkness. Don’t allow yourself to become captured by and acculturated into the world’s system. Rather, use your influence to compel men and women to come into God’s Kingdom.

The Kingdom of God exists individually within every man, woman, boy or girl who has received Jesus by faith and has become its citizen. The Kingdom is expressed communally in the true Church, which is not limited to physical buildings or gathering places, but exists wherever God’s people are. When the Church assembles, the Kingdom of God is expressed through righteousness, joy, peace, acts of kindness and demonstrations of God’s power.

Next-level believers must gain insight, revelation and understanding about the operations of the spiritual battle taking place between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. This knowledge will result in victories rather than defeats. You and I are anointed to fight, war and win in this battle!