Proficiency 3: Spiritual House Cleaning

Written by Lady Monique Jordan, Tacoma, Washington (Dual State West)

As promised, I am coming to you this week with information, a few questions, and a task. Your Proficiency Goal (should you choose to accept it) is as follows:

Use GODLY TOOLS WHEN ENGAGED IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE!

Before beginning this lesson, let us look at a useful and familiar method as a reflection for processing our spiritual experience.  Many of us unconsciously employ this reflection when organizing our physical lives. Let’s call it:

SPIRITUAL HOUSE CLEANING

Let’s consider three decision points in our spiritual lives. Men might ask: “What am I going to keep, give away, and throw away?  Women might ask: “What am I going to embrace, share, and discard?”

AS I REVIEW THE LESSON THIS WEEK

Some choices might include:

1.  I will KEEP/and continually embrace:  

• Worship, Praise, Bible Study, Prayer and Meditation      
• Learning Who God is and What God has for my life. 
• My restored/renewed spirit (Ye that are spiritual)
• A love based decision making mindset;  (…Faith hope love, the greatest of these is love;)
• The Fresh Fruit of the Spirit (…love, joy, peace, gentleness…)

2. I will Give Away/Share: the overflow of my fresh fruit of the Spirit

• My Testimonies (they overcame by the word of their testimonies)
• My Faith in God  (go into all the world and preach the Gospel)   

3. I will Throw Away/Discard: My old unproductive ways/habits (Lay aside every weight and the sin that does so easily beset us)

• My Unforgiving Mindset
• My Hatefulness
• My Shame
• My Abusive Nature

Questions I can ask myself when considering whether the Holy Spirit is prompting me to engage in this lesson!

• Do I privately and publicly say, “The devil is running havoc in my life?”
• Do I often feel defeated when fighting against the enemy?
• Am I often constantly worried about what might happen next? 
• Am I regularly expressing feelings of anger, or shame in an unproductive way?
• Do I find myself blaming others and/or the devil for my current circumstances?
• If I answered yes to any of these questions, then I should keep reading!
• Prayerful Reflection: While engaging in this lesson, what does “RIGHT” look likes when it comes to spiritual warfare?

CONSIDER THIS RESPONSE:

Exceeding Standards in Spiritual Warfare Means: I know how to dress for battle; (Excellence in Preparation) I know how to engage in warfare; (Excellence in Process) and I know what winning looks like, (Excellence in Outcome).

This MIGHT mean:  Among the many things I will need to be competent in knowing what to fight with, when to fight, how to fight, who to fight, where to fight, what to fight for, and when to stop fighting.

Scriptural References 2nd Corinthians 10:3-6

• 1st Truth: I cannot use the Devil’s tools in Spiritual Warfare!
  • Verse 3: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.
• 2nd Truth: I must BELIEVE that our God given tools are powerful and WILL WORK!
  • Verse 4: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God
• 3rd Truth: God’s has specific purposes designed for each battle I fight:
  • Verse 4 continued: To the pulling down of strong holds; Verse 5: Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
• 4th Truth: The fight begins within our my mind first!
  • Verse 5 continued and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
• 5th Truth:  I must KNOW AND OBEY GOD”S VOICE in these battles if I expect to win against my adversary!  AMEN!
  • Verse 6: And having a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
• 6th Truth: If I really expect daily victories, then I need to use these God-Endorsed, well defined, saint tested, preparation worthy, tools mentioned below everyday!

Ephesians 6:10-18

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.11 Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints

Also I need a  BALANCE OF TRUTH AND GRACE IN MIND!

• Truth: The enemy doesn’t like you, and has the capacity to take you out!
• Grace: The battle does not belong to you it is the Lord's.
• Truth: God needs bold Soldiers with no shame or fear.
• Grace: God is faithful to offer a plethora of training sessions to help you reach proficiency. J
• Truth: YOU WILL FIGHT EVERY DAY!
• Grace: Much of your spiritual battle will be done on your knees and walked out in person.

FINAL DAILY REMINDERS

• Since my fight is with the Devil, I will avoid FIRING WEAPONS on: friends, family members, coworkers, church members, neighbors, and I will stop beating myself up.
• One of the most powerful weapons in MY MARRIAGE is OUR ability to join forces with the Holy Spirit against the enemy instead of against each other.
• One of the best advantages I HAVE as a single person has is MY partner is JESUS. Jesus does not mistake ME for the enemy. 
• A Spiritual friend is INVALUABLE against Satan. (When two or three are gathered together in my name, there will I be in the midst.)
• The devil is not God and should not be honored or put in a place of reverence above God in any circumstance.  Therefore, No matter how devil acts out in my life, I CANNOT place him above God or God’s ability to handle my life because then my devil became MY idol.
• The devil made me do it is a misconception.  I always have a choice!
• I USE MY Spiritual weapons AND MY Bible knowledge FOR others and FOR myself, NOT against others or myself!  
• I need to know/remember who I am, and who I belong to.
• Sometimes the enemy is in-a-me!

Look for Proficiency #4, "We've Got Time!?