We Need to Listen to People to Hear the Spiritual Battle They Are Fighting—R Fritz
My job as a Chaplain is to listen to people, sometimes that is all I do because that is all people want. It does not mean I am not listening to spiritual things going on, as I am listening. Most people do not see the spiritual side of the battle they are waging. We only see the trouble people around us are causing. People sometimes do some things we consider dumb, as we all have done them. When we see people doing things that are out of the ordinary, we should start asking questions as to why they are doing certain things. It is then that we ask the Holy Spirit what is really happening spiritually. We must remember we are not fighting people, we are fighting the spirit they possess or are listening to. Most people will never see what I see spiritually, and then the answers I hear from the Holy Spirit in the moment of battle. Ephesians 6:10-12 says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (schemes)of the devil. 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. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” We must understand from this day forward who our enemy is if you want to help or have a relationship with people around us, because we are not fighting flesh and blood (humans) we are fighting spirits, either they possess or spirits around them that are manipulating them through their thoughts. This is the first verse God gave me to deal with people around me. The negative, nasty things family and people are speaking around us are not necessarily them; it is spirits. People get fearful when I speak of spirits; we do not accept fear it is a lie from Satan. With truth and love there is no fear and we can defeat spirits and evil.
I have been battling spirits for almost twenty-five years, even when I did not know how to fight in the spirit at first. Those who have the Holy Spirit have the authority to use the name of Jesus because we have Jesus’s spirit. John 14:12, 17 says with Jesus’ speaking,“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” The authority comes from the Holy Spirit that resides in us. That is why we can do the works Jesus did, plus do greater works. We also will do greater works than we thought because the Holy Spirit will make sure we do.
I was talking with a couple this week where I had seen and been close to somebody personally close to them, where witchcraft was involved. I said to them that I did not see signs, even spiritually, of witchcraft. They told me the black clothes had been changed before I saw this person. I said to them, I usually notice things and see the small details that most people do not. It really surprised me, as many things were going on that if I had known, I could have helped. I learned as they told me what happened that in this case, somebody else will have a hand in this, as they are telling me the rest of the story. I also knew what my part in this story was to pray against that spirit of witchcraft. My prayer could change the attitude of the person with this couple, so when this other person God sent is involved, they will succeed. 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5 says, “But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. Thank God that somebody else gets to be used for God’s glory,y as my part is just as important as the bigger part. I learned almost twenty-five years ago that every part of God’s plan is important, as it takes all of us to complete what God’s plan calls for. It matters what we say and do. It is easy to follow the world, following Jesus is a different story,y where we might be the only one in a group that chooses to do so or only to follow when nobody is watching.
We must be leaders because we have too many followers who are afraid to lead. Who makes leaders, God does. God takes people who, on the surface, look like the opposite of what God is looking for. People who are quiet, fearful, with little confidence and changes them into fearless, confident, courageous and obedient people. How does God do that? God knows who we were meant to be and what it takes to get there. The Holy Spirit teaches and pushes us to become that person. How do I know about who God chooses? That is what happened to me, where the Holy Spirit pushed so hard that I said, “Stop pushing,” because I felt the push, and the Holy Spirit backed off for a while. Remember, I am being changed on God’s time to become somebody completely different from who I was. Leaders are not born, they are made or formed by an incredible teacher through experiences and wisdom. When we have the greatest teacher man ever knew, the Holy Spirit, we learn every day and trust him with our lives. I was looking for somebody I could believe in; it was God. Places and different circumstances that come before us are given wisdom to change somebody else and their thought process into God’s truth. When we learn to love somebody so much as we go through our experiences, we will do anything for them, even when it is something we do not want to do, it is out of our comfort zone, and we learn what love is from God firsthand. We need something to force us to do the things we cannot do for ourselves, that is, God. It is to help other people to fight and get through the battles I have been through with that same love God showed me and will show us. God’s love is that force to change us. God Bless.
