Everywhere I go there has been this ad running in the background on the TV for a Spiritual Warfare Kit. I have no idea if it’s good or bad or even who puts it out. All I know is that it costs 39.95.
For that much money you would think it would come with a light saber and a ninja mask? That is what I have often wanted, a mask and a weapon. I get it, you put on the armor of God and pick up the Sword of Truth, but just the same, I would like to have a light saber and a ninja suit, too. An asbestos ninja suit.
I jest here, but actually spiritual warfare is some really serious business, which leads to my first complaint or concern. The spiel in the ad is all about what YOU can do, as in, you will gain the power to defeat the enemy. No. Actually, that’s really dangerous. YOU will simply be flattened out like Wiley Coyote in a Road Runner cartoon. YOU haven’t got the power. YOU alone just aren’t big and bad enough. Know your own limitations.
This kind of thing actually scares me, first because it’s bad theology, so it’s like sending someone into a gunfight armed with blanks. Jude is a good place to start if you want some biblical precedent for that truth, “But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
Michael is a pretty powerful angel and yet he did not dare, but instead said the magic words, “The Lord rebuke you!”
It’s an issue that really bothers me, I guess because it’s such a recipe for disaster and it really underestimates the power of darkness. There is no competition there, no fair fight. Without Jesus Christ we are simply toast. Road kill. Flat squirrels.
There’s another ninja trick we can learn from Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Power in weakness. If you are like me it is very counter intuitive to surrender all and call on the name of the Lord when you are under attack. It’s often our natural instinct to fight, resist, struggle, and that’s all well and good in the physical world, but remember Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
For goodness sakes people, don’t go into battle alone, and don’t go into it with a kit you bought for 39.95, even if it does come with a light saber.
~M said:
Lol…. well said…. 😉
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soulxray said:
*sends a high five through the net* Lol
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Lorra B. said:
HAHAHA! So true and well said!
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gmgoetz said:
Great post again Sister IB, based on God’s Word, as always.
I put those ads in the same category as a ” Christian Preacher” advertising that
if persons send him “X” number of dollars, they will receive a healing
prayer cloth and all they lay this cloth on will be healed.
God’s Blessings. George
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Julie (aka Cookie) said:
wow, really??? a spiritual warfare kit–advertised on television???? Cable no doubt…as I don’t think the major networks understand the concept of spirituality…not that the cable companies do either…obviously…
However a light saber would be pretty cool.
As would sitting at the knee of Master Yoda…..
but I’ll take sitting at the knee of Jesus any day over Yoda 🙂
And you are 100% correct to say that spiritual warfare is not a laughing matter whatsoever….nor is it anything to dabble with or to be taken lightly
I believe very strongly in the war that rages all around us—and I put nothing past our ancient adversary….and he just loves our naiveté and sheer stupidity…over spending $39.95 on a kit in which we can go out and do battle…against him….
I will leave that daily business to Michael and ultimately to Jesus who will vanquish this foe of ours forever….
It is neither a laughing matter nor one to be taken flippantly by the curious, naive or the plain stupid…it might be more wise to take that money and invest in a nice bible—the warriors manual….
thanks IB—always honest
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MJThompson said:
I know you don’t seek any recognition – but I give you an “A+” in Demonology 101! The idea that WE can overcome the spiritual forces of darkness (the enemy) by equipping ourselves with the ‘proper’ training, or arming ourselves with the $39.95 Kit – is naive and equally DANGEROUS. You are right in quoting those appropriate scriptural reminders and acknowledging that ONLY God has the power and authority to wage such warfare. “Then all shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” -1Sam. 17:47.
The merchandising of the gospel has long been one of my pet peeves. I understand the author of a religious commentary receiving a proper monetary compensation for time and materials – but marketing ‘gimmicks’ and paraphernalia such as religious talismans disguised as ‘jewelry’, ‘prayer-clothes’, ‘holy water’, etc. THAT makes me want to chase out the money changers and expose them as the frauds they are. NO real GIFT of God has a price tag. We cannot ‘buy’ spiritual favor or power.
God’s remedy is so simple. Jesus declared, “How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” Mt. 23:37. Peace and blessings to you, sister!
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Pastor Randy said:
Very perceptive! When thinking about our warfare, I am reminded of my favorite 20th Century philosopher, Harry Callahan (a.k.a. Clint Eastwood), “A man’s got to know his limitations.”
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MJThompson said:
But ya gotta ask yourself, “am I filled with the Spirit or not”? [is my ‘Magnum’ loaded?]
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J.J Sylvester said:
Well said, so true.
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Shattered in Him said:
I love, love, love your blog. And, I loved this!
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Shattered in Him said:
Also, I had to go look this up because I just CANNOT even believe this. But, there is a warfare kit for $89.99. Wow.
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insanitybytes22 said:
Ha! That must the new and improved version! Spiritual warfare on a budget only costs 39.95. 🙂
Thanks for reading and for your kind words. They are much appreciated.
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DebbieLynne said:
I asked my husband to get me one for Christmas. He just laughed.
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insanitybytes22 said:
Ha! Well, maybe he’ll just get you a lightsaber and a ninja mask. 🙂
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Rebecca LuElla Miller said:
Serious business indeed. You reminded me of the seven sons of Sceva who tried to take down demons on their own. The response? Paul we recognize, Jesus we know, but who are you?! They apparently paid dearly.
I wanted to stop reading when you said the kit cost $39.95, as if we’d have to pay for what Christ already paid for! That just irritates me because someone is trying to get rich on the fears and hopes and spiritual ignorance of others. It’s shameful, and I hate it.
I haven’t seen that ad, but I have see the one for the Bethlehem cross–it has a stone from the very place where Jesus was born embedded in the cross. And then the testimonies of how much closer to God this person feels, how it helps them pray. ??? O-kaaayy. But really, it makes me angry because those people too are trying to get rich while promising spiritual things they can’t deliver and have no right to promise.
I wonder if the sons of Sceva were charging for their attempted exorcism.
Becky
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MJThompson said:
Maybe, but scripture clearly indicates that Simon the Magician was indeed.
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SLIMJIM said:
You been bombarded with ads as of late it seems! People promising love, romance, peace and now spiritual warfare! LOL!
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J.J Sylvester said:
HA!HAAAA! That’s funny, the spiritual warfare kit. Absolutely ludicrous. I’ve always quoted that same scripture in Jude, which speaks of people that that says foul things of the devil out of ignorance. The devil is not a cartoon, if you are in a war and he hasn’t noticed you, and you run up and hit im from behind, guess what, you’re gonna get hit back and NOTICED.
This is why people with flaky, shaky prayer lives should NEVER go into that kind of warfare. If you have never fasted and gone into extended prayer, or don’t know how, you are NOT ready regardless of what some silly AD and they free giveaways for a financial love gift has to say.
Remember ACTS 19:11-20 where the evil spirit said, ‘Jesus i know and I know of paul.’
Remember the spirit even said the Lord’s name, showing you that there is more to warfare than just casting out demons in his name, there’s a life and a discipline behind it.
If you weren’t happy with your life, marriage, job, kids, and so on, BEFORE you started warfare, the devil has a way of showing you that you actually forgotten that you were happy and he will remind you of that, when you start having issues in finances, marriage, children, jobs, friends, relationships, family gossip.
And, the worse part is, when you get discourage and stop praying, the devil’s attention is still on you and he keeps on going, because he is not flesh and does not get tired, he must be bounded, not worn out from multiple soft strikes from a single person.
However, in the same breath, spiritual warfare of the right kind is very and extremely profitable and I can go on about that.
This was a brilliant and life saving post. It is a well filled with water in the huge desert of misinformation,
You are so right, never do this alone. We are a team we are a body. We do this together.
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