When Spiritual Warfare Strikes

 

I had told myself that I would only do one blog post a week, but I’ve had something that has really been stirring in my soul this week. It involves standing up for what my core principles and values are in my life and to not let someone feel they have the right to try and sway what I hold true to myself.

I’m very open to what my belief system is and I don’t impose those beliefs on anyone unless they want to engage in conversation with me about them. But there is one thing I will definitely not tolerate. When you have a difference of opinion with someone and you see it going that direction, you immediately change the subject or ask the person to cease to talk about it as we can agree to disagree, but then when they continue droning on about what they think and trying to convince you to set aside your values and then get personal, because you don’t want to engage in what they have to say anymore it becomes offensive.

This week I had to stand up for my faith. It’s no secret that I’ve chosen to follow Harvest Christian Fellowship and their teachings that for the most part go along with what I believe to be true and have applied the teachings to my life. I also have known of Pastor Greg Laurie and have respected everything about what he has accomplished as a vessel of Christ since I was around 12 years old. This man to me is truly anointed by God and exerts Holy Spirit counsel in everything he speaks and how he has lived his life consistently under his dedicated ministry. He has shared his testimony and I saw for myself the power of God in his life and in his family’s lives.

Because I was under the jurisdiction of my parent’s household until I was 18 years old, I was told what religion I had to follow — however, my opinion was changed when my senior boyfriend took me to Calvary Chapel of Riverside and Pastor Greg Laurie was speaking. I knew there was another way of living my life in accordance to the bible that was more about relationship with God than religious legalism. I had always felt as a child growing up that Jesus wasn’t going to judge me on what I ate, that I liked makeup and dressing nice (not provocative at all) or that I liked to wear earrings and necklaces. Because of my difference of opinion with my family, I was often deemed as worldly and going against God’s ordinances, which was as far from the truth as one can get. In fact, I’ve talked to Jesus since I was four years old. I learned there was a God at that age and never turned my back on knowing that the Godhead was in control of my life. I’ve written in my blog how special a relationship I feel that I had an opportunity to share with my creator since that age. I had recognized that He was actually who has protected me during times of childhood trauma. That’s not to say that I’m perfect at all, because I did have my years of being a bit on the rebellious side and trying to take control of my life, instead of heeding to the path that God had tried His hardest to guide me.

So back to having to stand up for my beliefs. Lately I knew that God was preparing me for a big letdown in my life, because of the scriptures that I had recently been learning about. Currently, I am studying the books of Acts, but previous to that was Colossians and Philippians. Many of the devotionals and resources I had been reading were leading me to a place where I was reading about suffering for righteousness. I kept thinking to myself, am I about to lose a bunch of friends because of my beliefs, because I had thought that my friends and family were clear as to what my beliefs were. In my retirement since 2014, I’ve taken the time to reestablish my relationship with Jesus and I thought to myself, am I changing that much that at some point I’m going to be tried? Especially like I said, I don’t impose my beliefs on anyone unless the Holy Spirit guides someone my way or that it organically seems to occur that someone has questions regarding my faith. Well this week I learned and it was unfortunate that it permanently changed a relationship, because the opposer hit on a sacred area of my life. 

Again, I will see people through Jesus’s eyes who for many people may seem controversial to other’s who have their set values. I’m someone who likes to buy resources so I can learn about these individuals first hand and you know what, because of what I read about them it opens my mind to what their thought processes were first hand rather than listening to the noise of the media and/or world. It usually is my policy not to talk about politics and religion — especially these days as it seems that the two tend to be brought up together and right now we are living in a time where there is a huge difference of opinion. I’ll be honest, I’m a middle of the road person (not lukewarm in my beliefs), but when it comes to human interaction and know how heated people can get with their belief and political grounds, so I tend to not put myself in those conversations. HOWEVER, when someone broaches the subject and asks my opinion, I will engage for a short period, until I see it being a bone of contention. They started in about Charlie Kirk. I asked them if they had read his new book — they responded never. I told them that I bought it and was looking forward to reading it and learning more about him. Again, negative exchange, so I told them they needed to quit engaging on this sensitive topic once and for all. Well this week, it happened and instead of setting it aside like I had asked, this individual proceeded to talk about the body of Christ and hypocrisy within the churches across America. This person started to talk about Mega Churches and evangelists and I knew through my discernment where they where heading in this conversation. I told them that even though they are leaders within the body of Christ it doesn’t make them infallible and that there are in fact some at this level who are righteous in my eyes. I also told him that I would leave the harsh judgment to God, because its not for us to judge or speculate as to their motives as to why they serve in such a high capacity. I had a feeling they weren’t going to leave this topic alone and the next thing I know they posted a horrible article which I had previously read (unbeknownst to him) about a controversial legal issue involving an affiliate of Harvest Christian Fellowship and MY Pastor. And that is where the boundary was crossed. The words they wrote below it were, “Let’s see how this pans out!” — So I responded, “Stand thee behind me!” and I informed them that they were blocked. There comes a time when I recognize spiritual warfare and this situation became that. It was no longer a difference of opinion, it was someone attacking my most sacred inner core values and I was not going to stand for it nor the blatant opposition.

There comes a time when a choice is made between a person who doesn’t respect boundaries and God. In my life, God will always prevail. I thanked God for giving me the words I needed at a time when the spiritual warfare started between me and this individual. It all started with the words obtaining eternal life. I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to say — “Eternal life through Jesus Christ.” That morning and every morning I always pray first for God to use me for His purpose and I prepare myself by putting on the armor of God before I start my day. It’s unfortunate that I had seen this relationship changing for over a year now, so when this happened at this time, I wasn’t sad or remorseful. I’m at a point in my life where I choose to be around positive people who are a light in my life and for the most part like minded. I understand there are differences of opinions and I can mutually respect that about the people I meet on my journey. God will always be first in my life and I will not allow individuals to tear into my core value about anything opposing His existence and those He uses for His purpose.