New Level. New Devil.

There is a war being waged in the heavens. The angels of God are fighting against the rulers of darkness. This war is going on but there are no news broadcasts to announce it or cover the story.

However, I am sure that you can go to talk to one of your brothers and sisters in the Lord and they can share with you the battle they are going through right now. And share with you the wounds that they have received.

The Lord has spoke and told the church that miracles are coming. This has built up our faith and hope in the Lord (I know it has mine). Looking forward to the blessings of God and hopes that lives are forever changed and souls are saved. This is good news for us who have been praying, fasting, and seeking for a move of God. But for the devil and his evil kingdom this has set him in a rage. He knows that he cannot stop a move of God. What God has spoken will come to pass. His Word will not and cannot return unto Him void. His Words will be fulfilled. And although Satan can't stop a move of God, he can try to hinder one. And he will come up with anything and everything he can to do it.

As Christians and children of God, we start out as babies. And as babies we fight in little battles and we overcome the enemies tactics and devices at the baby stage. But as we grow we will face a new devil with each new level. The enemy will continue to use his same tactics and devices as long as he knows they are working. If you know something is working why change it? But when he sees his tricks are not working he comes up with bigger and new things to try. That is usually where we as Christians get threw for a loop when we enter into a situation that we have never encountered before. Something that hits us hard and at the time we cannot see any way out. Or the situation looks hopeless.

In a game of basketball the object of the game is to keep your opponent from making a basket. You'll notice that the opponent is not interested in their side of the court when you have the ball. The opponent is already moved into position on your side of the court. Plotting,planning, and waiting for you so they can trip you up and make you lose the ball.

That is exactly what the plans of the enemy are. He knows that when we see God move in our circumstances and the things and people in our lives we have prayed for, when our prayers are answered our faith will rise and then not only can we speak that we have the victory but we will see victory.

The job of the devil is to wear us all out and to make us weary.

Daniel 7:25 says

And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

We are going to suffer persecution as Christians in many ways. The devil will come at us with everything he has. But we should keep in mind "this too shall pass."

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:17

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Paul said, "our light affliction." Paul was a man who went through and had endured many things.

In 2 Corinthians 11:23 Paul talks about how he was, "in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft." Then verses 24-27 he goes on describing other things he had went through. But even though he went through all that he did, he still called them light afflictions.

And in 2 Timothy 3:11 he says, "....what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me." Hallelujah!!!!

Circumstances and situations will arise in our life but as long as we are walking with the Lord, He will help us through them all.

Proverbs 3:5,6 says

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all they ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

I love that word shall. Shall is a future tense word. It means will or it will be done. So not only has God directed me on the paths I've walked in the past, I have the promise of my future paths being directed by Him also.

With Jesus leading and guiding us we do not have to fear about whether we are on the right path. I know that when things arise and come at us we begin to wonder if we did something wrong or if we are in the Lord's will or not. That is when our faith and trust must really kick into gear. Paul said the Lord had delivered him from all persecutions. He didn't say the Lord had delivered him from all tribulations, trials, or testings.

We have to remember God will not allow us to be tempted or tested more than we are able to go through. And He will always provide a way of escape that we can bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13). We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37). We are mighty and victorious through Him.

The devil and his imps want us to become burdened down and weary. He would love for nothing more than for each of us to throw our hands up and say, "I QUIT." But praise be to God we have a Comforter and Helper who is always there. In the darkest of nights we always hear that small still voice saying to not give up and not to lose hope. Help is coming, it is on the way.

It may look like we are surrounded by the army of the enemy. It may look like he has us out numbered 2 to 1. But I just want to say that God says we have more for us than those that are against us.

In 2 King 6:16 Elisha and his servant were encamped about by the enemy. Elisha prayed that the servants eyes be opened. It says in verse 17 when God opened his eyes he saw, "the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."

My prayer for each child of God is to have our spiritual eyes and ears opened. For us to look past the pain, hurt, offense, trials, disappointments, abandonment, abuse, rage, bitterness, and any other feeling we may have. To look past it and see Jesus. To see that just as Elisha was surrounded by horses and chariots of fire, we too are surrounded. Only we are surrounded by the arms of God. The Lord has us covered and He will never allow us to fall as long as we are serving and walking with Him. Yes, we may stumble at times but Jesus is there to catch us and pick us up and straighten us out again. We will really never fall from His grace. For His grace is sufficient. (2 Cor. 12:9).

I pray we can hear the Words of God telling us to grow not weary in well doing for we shall reap in our due season only if we persevere and faint not (Gal. 6:9).

Now is the time if ever there has been for the children of God to rise up against the enemy. To rise up and fight even with busted noses, broken arms, and bloody knuckles. To know that it is time to fight or be killed. The devil will show no mercy and this "game of life" is no fair.

We need to suit up with the FULL armor of God (Eph. 6:11) and endure hardness as a good soldier (2 Tim. 2:3). So that we can withstand evil having done all to stand! (Eph. 6:13).