SPIRITUAL WARFARE: Feeling beaten up, bloodied and fighting blindfolded.

How can you fight a winning battle if your comms with HQ are patchy and often silent??

God I’m feeling a bit anxious, worried about a few things, not sure why.

You’re getting beaten up.

Really God?

Really.

Why?

Because you’re human.

What’s that got to do with anything?

He hates you humans and picks on you.

Why?

Because you carry the promise - you’re what creation is all about. And yes Mark you’re hearing me.

God this sounds horribly religious – much too Churchy for me. I hope you don’t mind me saying but I get a bit uncomfortable when Christians carry on about the devil and how he’s causing them this problem and that. I’m not sure they really have any idea what they’re talking about. I could be wrong, but that’s just how I think somehow.

Many of them don’t really understand what they’re saying Mark. Some do, but many don’t. Most fight blind. They make assumptions about what the enemy is up to, but they don’t ask me for specific detail. That sort of approach is dangerous when dealing with an enemy who is committed to your destruction.

So why are you are talking like them God? Why say I’m being beaten up by Satan?

Because you are. There are billions of demons Mark and everyone, Christian or not, is constantly being influenced, herded and sometimes even controlled by them. I want you to see a picture Mark – it’s a picture of all of humanity, whatever they do or don’t believe, you’re all like prisoners in a massive prison camp. Can you see the picture Mark??

All of us God?? Are you sure? There are Christians who’ll want to stone me for saying I heard you say that!!

Hear me out Mark.

Ok alright. So we’re all getting beaten up? Really??

Really, but some of you a LOT more than others. Some are just herded along in the general direction your enemy wants you to go.

So God why are some getting beaten up, some of them quite viciously, and others just herded?

Mark I want you to look at the picture again. See how all of humanity is being herded along in a great throng? See them Mark, see every single human, no matter what they believe, herded along in a great wailing, groaning throng.

Ok I can see it, but it’s not going to be very politically correct in Christian circles God!?!

Of course not. Now tell me why do the invisible guards in the picture pick on certain prisoners and just herd the rest along?

Well I’m guessing God but I think there are number of reasons?

What are the reasons?

Well if they make an example of some of the prisoners by beating them brutally then the rest will be too afraid to rebel, they’ll stay submissive and easier to manage?

Yes you’re right so far, what else?

Well I think it looks as though sometimes the guards brutalise a prisoner just because they are so consumed by hate that they strike out in hate and anger at whoever attracts their attention or annoys them, even if it’s just a child. Man God!! Is this really for real? Is this really happening??

Yes and there’s another even more obvious reason, it’s not so common but it’s the one that provokes the invisible guards to their greatest heights of cruelty. What is it Mark?

God I think you’re saying it’s when a prisoner wilfully stands up and refuses to be herded along with all the others. The prisoners who get the most vicious attacks are those who stand and shout ‘NO!’ and refuse to go along with what the guards want. Those prisoners, the ones who revolt are the ones the guards punish and kill?

That’s exactly what I’m saying Mark. I have another question for you Mark.

Ok God what is it?

What have I told you about the devil and his plans for people who decide they want a conversation with me?

They incite him to great anger God. He hates them with a passion, he singles them out for the most ferocious attacks.

Exactly. When you choose a conversation with me you turn and walk against the tide of all humanity Mark. All of humanity, no matter what they believe, are walking in a similar direction.

Christians won’t like you saying that God.

You need to get over yourselves and stop being so precious. So you have faults! I defy any Christian to hear me say otherwise. All of humanity, no matter what their beliefs, are walking in a direction that says that God does not often speak. I defy them to look at normal born again Christianity and tell me that it’s the norm to hear from me regularly, day in day out. Everyone knows it’s not. So when any person decides to try a back and forth conversation with me they immediately attract the brutal anger of Satan. He MUST stop you and shut you down before others see what you’re doing and try it too.

So what shall I do God?

First I want you to see what’s going on here Mark. If you try a conversation with me you will reap the rewards of doing so.

Did you say the good rewards AND the bad rewards?

That’s what I said. Anyone who wants an actual back and forth conversation with me, not just prayer, WILL ALWAYS be under attack, more vicious than most suffer. But you will also have more strength, more ability to hear me and see me explain how to fight so that you see each battle coming and you are able to win it.

I have promised I won’t let you suffer an attack stronger than you are capable of fighting. That works both ways Mark. The stronger you get the stronger the attack I will allow to come your way. Are you up for this Mark?

I can’t see a lot of choice in the matter God.

Ignore what he says Mark. He’s just showing off. Ignore him you’re just fine. Tell others that too. If they try a conversation with me they will attract his anger, but they will also, if they continue the conversation, be able to see what he’s up to and know how to fight effectively. Just carry on with your life and the things you and I are doing. Carry on and ignore him. You’ll become very practised at shutting out his rubbish.

Ok so what do I do about getting beaten up?

Don’t be.

Don’t be what?

Don’t be beaten up.

But how can I avoid it God? I thought it was unavoidable. I thought he’s always picking on us?

He is, but you don’t have to put up with it. Mark the problem is that you don’t do anything until after you’ve been attacked. You don’t get started fighting until after he’s beaten you up. You Christians are too precious and nice when it comes to your enemy. Even when you do see him coming, which isn’t often, you fight a defensive battle. But you need to start running at him. If you want to do that you’ll have to be watching for him. Constantly.

The reason you get so bruised and beaten is that you’re not even aware anything’s wrong until you’re already in the thick of the battle, or worse, until after the battle is over and you’re wounded and staggering. It’s only then that you come to me for help. You realise you’re feeling out of sorts, anxious, worried, a little fearful. You’re unsure why, so you ask me, and I tell you that you’ve been attacked.

It’s not the way you should be acting. It is not the way of a seasoned soldier to be taken by surprise. If a soldier spends most of his time fighting his way out of ambushes, or even worse if he only starts fighting after the ambush is over then he will always be fighting at his weakest and getting weaker.

So what do I do God? How can I be ready? How can I see it coming?

It’s always coming Mark. It is ALWAYS COMING! He is constantly engaged in your demise, always involved in diminishing your confidence. He hates you remember. He is committed to this battle, constantly conscious that you’re there and extremely dangerous to him. He’s always looking for ways to trip you up. A word here, a worry there and he’s got you. Got you stumbling backwards, tripping over the things and the people you love. He NEVER lets up Mark, absolutely never. He has billions of soldiers, more than you do, there are more invisible soldiers of darkness than there are humans. And each of them is actively and consciously engaged in your destruction – yours and everything you love.

Then how come we’re not all dead?

Because you are incredibly powerful, much more powerful than you think.

God if we’re so powerful how come we don’t just win the fight?

Because you’re not fighting. Your power is accidental and unfocused. You don’t even realise you have it so you don’t use it to your advantage. He has you all running around worried you’re too sinful to fight him. It’s a brilliant strategy - for the most part you don’t even try and fight. Be honest with yourselves Mark, for the most part, on a day to day basis, you Christians don’t even know you’re in a fight.

That’s a bit tough God!! I’ve heard lots of Christians say things like ‘fight the good fight’ and talk about how we’re in a battle.

Yes you all do that. You know the theory, but you don’t see how the battle is being waged in your own day to day lives. You have believed his propaganda. He lies to you that his main attack is to tempt you to commit naughty sins. If only it was that simple Mark! He is far more subtle than that. He’s not focused on getting you to commit sins, he’s much more interested in convincing you that you’re already sinful.

But we are God!!

Mark read the story of Zacheaus and the woman who washed my feet. So few of you understand my true nature. He convinces you that you will never amount to much, that you’ve lost your focus, that you won’t succeed like others do, that you’re not very loveable etc etc. He spends a lot more time telling you that you’re sinful than he does tempting you to sin. He doesn’t really care too much about your actions, he’s MUCH MORE interested in the way you think about yourself. He has convinced you that your thoughts about others are the key, but actually it’s your negative thinking about yourself that controls you and for that reason he is constantly telling you what’s wrong with you.

Ok so I give up, what should we do? How do we fight this??

Don’t give up!! The way to fight him is simple - don’t give up. The problem is that you’re either not aware that you’re fighting, or you’re wanting to give up. But he’s neither. He’s very aware, always involved, always looking for a way to destroy you, and he will NEVER give up. He’s weaker than you, but you make him more powerful because you fight blindfolded.

REALLY GOD? What do you mean we fight blindfolded?

You are not looking, not watching, not opening your ears and eyes to what’s going on around you in the unseen world. You live in the seen world and you choose to ignore the day to day unseen world happening around you.

First and foremost you Christians don’t know how to hear from me constantly. You hear in fits and starts. You hear impressions and feelings, a word here, an impression there. You spend your time trying to join up the ‘dots’ of communication from me and make sense of it. Imagine if you had to communicate with your friends and family like that! It wouldn’t make for very satisfying relationships would it? Which is why your relationships with me aren’t very satisfying either.

A relationship is not a relationship without conversation Mark. And all that’s required for back and forward conversation with me is to do it. That’s all it takes! You don’t have to be a better person first. Just ask questions and expect and articulate (write down or speak out) my responses.

You mean start writing, singing, thinking, speaking, drawing your responses before they come?

Yes. You know this. Write my answers, think them, speak them, sing them in faith and they will come attracted to your expectation of receiving them. Simple as that. You know that’s true. It’s mystic and yet realistic.

Why realistic? Some say it’s not.

Tell them to try it Mark. It’s realistic because it works. It really works. You know it does and thousands of others do too. That’s realistic Mark.

So God you’re saying that the conversation with you is the first step to fighting and beating the enemy.

Of course. Others will say it’s not, they’ll say it can’t be because they’ve never done it and they think they’ve been fighting for years. They have, they’ve been fighting blindfolded for generations and it has to stop.  Mark use your brains. How can you possibly fight a winning battle if your comms with HQ are patchy and often completely silent? It can’t be done. It’s a pointless and dangerous exercise.