Empty Praise and Spiritual Warfare

When you are in a conversation on spiritual matters especially one that borders on evangelism or might call the other person to repentance beware of praise. It has been my experience that 'empty' praise is a defense mechanism. It is orchestrated by the enemy in the situation to set you back and slow you down. If you glance over it and do not give the glory to God you look petty and as if the conversation is somehow about how neat you are. If you give the glory to God at every empty praise then you will slow the conversation down and perhaps be distracted or the person you are talking with will be distracted. It feels good to be praised by those we are talking to but better we put a stop to it and stay focused on what we are about. Remember Peter imploring Jesus. He told Jesus how awesome He was and that it should never be allowed that HE would be sent to die. Jesus answered, 'Get thee behind me Satan.' Bottom line is, if you need praise, you aren't ready for evangelism or at least you have forgotten what evangelism is about. If you love the Lord an allow Him to use you there will come a time when the enemy tries to use praise to slow you down. Do not allow it. Pastor Daniel Stevenson New Heights Life Station Toledo

Evil spirits

Life is not safe. Stuff happens that is completely outside our control. God is sovereign and has authority to do whatever He pleases. Man has free-will and so can decide to do whatever he pleases. Man's free will breaks down at the place where he submits it to others.



An example: When a person joins the military. Military personnel had better submit some or all of their free will to their commanding officer or otherwise someone may wind up dead.



In non-military society persons must submit their free will to laws made for the greater good and social laws (which actually appear to be getting fewer.) But, there is much greater danger in submitting one's free will to something non-human in design. People are flawed but most realize it and know that ultimately their authority breaks down-thus they do not (where good will and reason exists) try to run you into the ground. Not so when it comes to evil spirits. Mad at God and mad at humans for being made in God's image they want to bring humans to their knees.



Evil spirits: I'll not name any and I'll not say that they are strong. In reality I think they have no power that is not gifted them by humans. They try to influence people and they can act but for a person who has submitted themselves to Jesus Christ there is always a better option-submission to Christ.



Evil spirits: Sometimes I wonder just how far this goes. I don't blieve they have any authority to stand in the face of determined faith. One said, paul I know, and Christ I know, but who are you?! Book of Acts-Bible...

Evil spirits: Still, they have a sort of supernatural qulality about them that is somehow enticing to mankind and our inherent desire to uncover the mysteries of the universe. This desire was of course given us to inspire our pursuit of God and the testimonies of God that the universe gives. Misused, we are enticed by their oddity and we are led into a trap.

So, the moral of the story is don't dabble. Don't glamoraize evil or think that the enemy has gotten one up on God. He never has and never will. Stand strong with the God of the universe, move when and only when He tells you to and don't sample the whares of evil. All who have have gotten caught up in the pull of such things and lost their standing in rightness until they have nothing of eternal value. And there-in lay the goal of those who eternally stand against and without God to get others trapped in the same state.

Evil Spirits:

Don't dabble.