Spiritual Warfare 3-16-25

One of our tenants passed and I went to the first floor to take care of things before attending her funeral service. I asked someone in the lobby to take a picture of me; this happens often because the photos are for my ministry.

The person took some pictures and when I looked at them later, the keys were still on me (hanging around my neck). He asked me if I wanted to stand by the snake plant, and I said “Yes” I saw a message in the picture, and my thoughts were the was meant to be for a reason; nothing happens by accident.

When I am moving around in the building the keys are on a lanyard that’s around my neck. However, I usually remember and ask the person who takes the picture to wait until I take the keys off.

This is the message: to me the snake plant is symbolic of the devil; and the keys represent authority. And we who belong the kingdom of God have been given power (authority) over the demons. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you (Luke 10:19). Now that Jesus is no longer on the earth, the Holy Spirit empowers us.

Although the Kingdom of God suffers violence, the violent ( that's us) take by force (Matthew 11:12). We are in spiritual warfare and we should stay fully prepared for the battle and remember who it’s against.

Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles [tricks] of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 

 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—  and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Notice that the Word to put on the whole (full) armor.

You can’t be half stepping with the devil and his demons; they will rip you apart and  make a laughingstock out of you. The Whole Armor of God-each peace is important, that’s the reason we need all of the armor. The natural analogy is similar to what the Roman soldiers wore for protection from the weapons their enemies used against them.

This is what happens to people who are not equipped: Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying,  “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.”  Also, there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.

And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you? Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded (Act 19:13-16). Although the sons of Sceva were not saved, the principle is the same.

I don’t know about you, but I got my war clothes, regardless of the type of outfit, I do my best to stay ready for battle!

His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org