Field Guide

Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them.  Nothing will injure you. (Luke 10: 19)

Yesterday we spoke about the reality of the spiritual warfare you are in.  Today we wanted to show you just a snip-it of the field guide (AKA - the Bible) and how you can use the Word to combat the enemy.  Remember, this is a battle in your mind.  Satan is a manipulator and will slowly erode your faith with lies and partial truths.  This started back in the garden of Eden when he spoke to Eve, "Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?" (Genesis 3:1b).  Unfortunately for Eve, she did not remember God's actual words, "You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden - except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die." (Genesis 2:16b-17)

Today, let's peek into the field guide, and see how God's Word can address some of the lies we face today.

LIE:  I cannot be loved by God.  I am a sinner.  My sin is too big to look past.

• TRUTH:  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

• And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (Ephesians 3:18-19)

LIE:  No matter what I do, I cannot break free from this debt.  I just have to accept that some of us were made to be poor.

• TRUTH:  Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!  Wealth is a crown for the wise; the effort of fools yields only foolishness. (Proverbs 14: 23-24)

• Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8)

LIE: I am not good enough. I am unattractive, too heavy, too thin, too tall, too short...

• TRUTH:  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14) 

• TRUTH: For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

LIE:   I am too good to be doing this job - I deserve better than this.  I deserve promotion or more responsibility.  It isn't fair that he got the promotion instead.

• TRUTH:  Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matthew 25:21 NIV)

LIE:  I will never get anywhere in life.  I am a failure.  I have no future.

• TRUTH: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

This is such a small sampling.  There are over 3000 truths and promises in the Word of God, but the only way to discover them is to sit down each day and read.  As you begin to find and speak these truths into your own life, it may feel strange.  You might not actually believe what you are saying.  But remember, God's Word is a sword.  He has given you authority over the enemy, and in speaking His truth, your are beginning the process of changing your thought patterns and discovering victory over the lies.