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Equipping people worldwide to learn, apply, and teach God's financial principles so they may know Christ more intimately, be free to serve Him, and help fund the Great Commission.
Today on MoneyLife
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Chuck Bentley: Fighting Spiritual Warfare
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Tell us what we can do to help you. We love interacting with listeners and being on this journey with you. Chuck reads an email from a listener who recently became debt-free, has now lost income, and is getting along by trusting God. The listener is praying for Crown Financial Ministries. Chuck says today's teaching is about spiritual warfare. You’ll experience it if you’re walking with Christ and seeking to live by His financial principles. Chuck believes the days are coming when Christians will have to suffer for their faith, and will have to make sacrifices to live according to God’s financial principles. See 2 Kings 18. After the break, Chuck teaches on spiritual warfare. He says there are 5 Key Forms of Spiritual Attack by Satan on individuals and nations. D during this season of prayer and fasting, we’re praying for God to intervene in the economic crisis we’re in, speak to our hearts, strengthen us for the days ahead, repent of our sins, bring us back to Him. Chuck has been fasting and going back to key Scripture passages that have meant so much to him. Many people don’t understand spiritual warfare and how it relates to finances. It seems mysterious but the Bible helps us see spiritual warfare clearly. It happens in your mind – the battle is between truth and lies. Chuck uses the example of King Hezekiah. When Hezekiah was 25 years old he became king. He loved the Lord, and did good work for God’s kingdom. If you’re experiencing joy in your Christian life and seeing great things happen, expect spiritual warfare. You’re a big target as King Hezekiah was a big target. The king of Assyria attacked Judah when Hezekiah was 39. The first spiritual attack is always to weaken your faith in God. Satan wants you to doubt God and make you feel that God doesn’t care about your finances and won’t help you. The second spiritual attack is to compromise, instead of trusting God you trust the alternative solution Satan is offering. Hezekiah was offered 2,000 horses to compromise and accept false security. When times are tough, Satan tries to convince you that you have to find a way out, usually by risky, unethical, or immoral actions. Satan will pursue you until he takes you captive, he wants you off course, confused, and discouraged. The third spiritual attack is when Satan masquerades as a messenger from God. He pretends to be telling you things from God. See these critical verses: Anytime someone comes to you “in the name of the Lord,” compare what they say to the truth of God’s Word. God came to build us up and to set us free. We must identify false teaching. The fourth form of spiritual attack is fear and doubt in your own voice. Satan will get inside your head, confuse you, focus your thoughts on your mistakes. You may have made a mistake, but Satan uses it to erode your confidence in God. The fifth form of spiritual attack is the false promise of peace and prosperity. This is the form he uses most in individual lives and will use against America in the coming days. Most people desperately want those things and it gives Satan an opportunity to deceive them. Chuck says he believes Satan will take the most captives with this attack. We must be prepared to stand against these attacks. See these critical verses: Hezekiah responded to the attacks he came under. He tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and went into the temple. He got rid of a “princely façade.” He humbled himself and sought the Lord. God spoke to Hezekiah through Isaiah. You can put Satan on the run and win a spiritual battle with the Word of God. Hezekiah prayed and God answered. By a miracle, 185,000 men in the Assyrian army died. This demonstrated the power of truth was greater than the power of a lie and that God was victorious. Chuck hopes this has encouraged you to fight the spiritual battle by taking it to the Lord and trusting in HIm. See these critical verses: |
Knowing God's WillMany believers desire to do God’s will, but struggle because they don’t know what God’s will is for their lives. |
Finances and Your Relationship with GodThis generation’s greatest need is for God’s Word to be taught clearly and undiluted. The next greatest is for Christians to demonstrate that it works. |
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Primary PurposeIn reality, we have only one purpose for anything we do in this life—to glorify God in all that we are and do. |
God and MoneyOnce we understand how God uses money and why He chooses to use it in a particular way, we can better understand His directives regarding finances. |
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Other Resources: |
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Chuck begins today's broadcast by telling listners he likes to hear from them. He's encouraged to know what’s on your mind, how you’re doing with your walk with the Lord, how you’re doing with your finances. Your feedback makes us sharper.
