Armor Up: Engaging in Spiritual Warfare for Kingdom Impact

Have you ever felt like you're in a battle you can't see? Like there are forces working against you, trying to derail your purpose and steal your joy? You're not alone. As believers, we're called to engage in spiritual warfare, but many of us don't fully understand what that means or how to do it effectively. Today, let's dive into this crucial topic and discover how we can armor up for the battles ahead.

The Reality of Spiritual Warfare

As I stood before the congregation, I felt a sense of urgency to address this often-overlooked aspect of our faith. "We don't want to perish," I emphasized, referencing Hosea 4:6, which warns, "My people perish for lack of knowledge." It's time we open our eyes to the reality of spiritual warfare.

Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." This isn't just ancient rhetoric – it's a present-day reality we must confront.

The Weapons of Our Warfare

So how do we engage in this unseen battle? Paul outlines our spiritual armor in Ephesians 6:14-17:

1. The Belt of Truth
2. The Breastplate of Righteousness
3. Feet Fitted with the Readiness of the Gospel of Peace
4. The Shield of Faith
5. The Helmet of Salvation
6. The Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God)

But our arsenal doesn't stop there. We also have powerful offensive weapons:

- Prayer
- Praise and worship
- Giving
- Forgiveness
- Generosity
- Rest

"Whatever the enemy brings against you is most likely the breakthrough that is needed," I shared. "That is why the enemy is so coming against it." When faced with spiritual attacks, we must respond with the opposite spirit. Don't want to give? Give until it hurts. Struggling to forgive? Serve the person who hurt you.

The Power of Discernment

In this battle, discernment is crucial. We must be able to recognize the enemy's tactics and not be deceived by appearances. I shared a dream God gave me about a beautiful woman who came into the church but had the Mark of Satan on her. This vision emphasized the importance of spiritual discernment in our warfare.

"We don't want to admit that the devil exists," I noted. "They don't want to talk about it because they think it takes away their authority." But the truth is, we can't defeat an enemy we refuse to acknowledge. We must be alert and aware of the spiritual realm around us.

A Call to Action

As I wrapped up my message, I felt a burning urgency to challenge the church. "We were never meant to sit here and come every single Sunday just to work on our own selves," I declared. "He said feed my sheep. Don't just sit there and feed yourself."

I shared a vision God gave me for our church, The Citadel, to be at the heart of Tucson, holding keys of access to various spheres of influence in the city. But to see this vision realized, we must engage in spiritual warfare and be willing to step out of our comfort zones.

"God is looking for faithful servants that do not care about position, that do not care about jealousy, that do not care to be easily offended," I emphasized. It's time for us to rise up, put on our spiritual armor, and fight for the souls in our city.

Life Application: Putting It Into Practice

1. Daily Armor Up: Make it a habit to mentally put on your spiritual armor each morning. Pray through each piece, asking God to equip you for the day ahead.

2. Practice Discernment: Ask God to sharpen your spiritual senses. When you encounter situations or people, take a moment to seek God's wisdom and discernment.

3. Respond with the Opposite Spirit: When faced with challenges, intentionally choose to respond in a way that counters the enemy's tactics. If tempted to be selfish, choose generosity. If tempted to harbor unforgiveness, choose to bless and serve.

4. Engage in Offensive Prayer: Set aside time each day to pray offensively for your family, church, and city. Declare God's promises and speak life over these areas.

5. Step Out in Faith: Look for opportunities to serve outside the church walls. Ask God to show you where you can make a difference in your community.

Remember, we're in this battle together. As we arm ourselves with God's truth and power, we can stand firm against the enemy's schemes and advance God's kingdom in our lives and communities. Let's rise up, Citadel, and engage in spiritual warfare for the glory of God and the transformation of Tucson!

Sarah McFarland is a member of the Citadel Church in Tucson

Sarah McFarland is a mother, a wife, an author, a speaker, and a female entrepreneur, with a passion for lifting up women and children in need. Sarah has an extensive background in building businesses and creative concepts. Sarah also has a passion for philanthropic endeavors at both a national and international level. While doing so has led her to be recognized for her humanitarian efforts at both a state and congressional level. Sarah is also the founder of “Let Love be Greater,” a 501c3 organization that focuses on providing aid and scholarship opportunities for women and children in need.

Breaking Free: Weapons for Spiritual Warfare

Have you ever felt stuck, like there's an invisible force holding you back from experiencing God's best for your life? You're not alone. As believers, we're engaged in a spiritual battle against strongholds that can keep us captive. But take heart - God has given us powerful weapons to break free and claim victory!

In a recent message, I shared some key insights about spiritual warfare and how we can overcome opposition through the power of Christ. Let me break it down for you.

Understanding Strongholds

The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 10:4, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds." Strongholds are areas where the enemy has gained a foothold in our lives or communities. They can manifest as persistent sin, negative thought patterns, or oppressive circumstances.

But here's the good news - we don't have to stay stuck! God has equipped us with spiritual weapons that are far more powerful than any worldly tactics. As Paul says, our weapons are "mighty in God" for demolishing these strongholds.

Three Weapons for Spiritual Battle

So what are these mighty weapons? I believe there are three key weapons we need to wield in spiritual warfare:

1. Love
The Bible tells us that "love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8). When we respond to hatred with love, to cruelty with kindness, we disarm the enemy's tactics. Love is patient and kind, not boastful or proud. It's a powerful force that can break down walls and soften hearts.

2. Humility
Jesus "made Himself of no reputation" and humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross (Philippians 2:7-8). His humility defeated the powers of darkness and redeemed mankind. When we walk in humility, we position ourselves to receive God's grace and favor.

3. Giving
Generosity is a often-overlooked weapon in spiritual warfare. When we give sacrificially, we break the spirit of poverty and lack over our lives. Just like Hannah's vow to give her son to the Lord opened her womb (1 Samuel 1:11), our giving can open doors of blessing and breakthrough.

Pulling Down Arguments

Paul goes on to say we must be "casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God" (2 Corinthians 10:5). What does this mean practically?

It means we have to guard our minds and take every thought captive. Don't let your thoughts run wild - capture them and make them obedient to Christ. Any idea or desire that tries to exalt itself above God needs to be torn down.

This takes daily discipline. We have to constantly evaluate our thoughts and attitudes, rejecting anything that contradicts God's truth. It's a battle, but one worth fighting!

Approaching Opposition with Humility

When dealing with those who oppose us, Paul gives Timothy some wise counsel: "in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will" (2 Timothy 2:25-26).

The key here is approaching opposition with humility, not arrogance or a know-it-all attitude. Our goal should be to speak the truth in love, hoping to spark repentance and freedom in others. A humble approach can actually bring people to their senses and help them escape the enemy's traps.

Putting It Into Practice

So how can we apply these truths in our daily lives? Here are some practical next steps:

1. Identify any strongholds in your life. Ask God to reveal areas where the enemy may have gained a foothold.

2. Put on the weapons of love, humility and giving. Look for opportunities to respond with love, walk in humility, and give generously.

3. Take your thoughts captive. When negative or ungodly thoughts arise, reject them and replace them with God's truth.

4. Approach disagreements with humility. Seek to understand others and speak truth in love, rather than just proving your point.

5. Pray for those trapped in the enemy's snares. Ask God to open their eyes and set them free.

Remember, we don't fight in our own strength. Our weapons are "mighty in God" to pull down strongholds. As you put these principles into practice, expect to see breakthroughs in your life and the lives of those around you. The strongholds are coming down!

The Power of Faith: Unlocking God's Authority in Your Life

Have you ever felt like your faith was too small to make a difference? Or wondered what it would take to see real miracles happen in your life and community? As I stood before the congregation at New Life Church this Sunday, I was reminded of the incredible power of faith - not just any faith, but the kind that amazes even God Himself.

The Centurion's Faith: A Model for Us All

In Luke chapter 7, we encounter a Roman centurion whose faith astonished Jesus. This man, an outsider to the Jewish faith, understood something profound about authority that many of us still struggle with today.

"For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." (Luke 7:8)

The centurion recognized that Jesus had an authority greater than any earthly power. He believed that just as he could command his soldiers, Jesus could command sickness to leave with a mere word. This faith amazed Jesus, prompting Him to say, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." (Luke 7:9)

Recognizing God's Supreme Authority

Do we truly recognize the authority of Jesus in our lives? As I preached, I felt compelled to remind the congregation:

"Do you realize that he has more authority than the Supreme Court? He has more authority than the Oroville Police Department. He has more authority than the governor of California. He has more authority than a world globalist billionaire."

When we grasp the full extent of Christ's authority, it changes how we approach every challenge in our lives. Sickness, financial struggles, relational issues - all of these must bow to the name of Jesus when we exercise our faith.

Faith That Moves Mountains

Throughout the Gospels, we see examples of faith that moved Jesus to action. The woman with the issue of blood, blind Bartimaeus, the four friends who lowered the paralytic through the roof - all of these demonstrate the power of persistent, audacious faith.

I shared a personal story about my wife's healing from cancer:

"My wife had cancer last year. Guess what? She doesn't have cancer no more. You know why? Because we pray. Because if I pray for people, that's showing that I highly value them, which means I don't take on the theology that said, 'Well, if it's God's will, he'll heal her.' No, it is God's will to heal."

Building Your Faith

So how do we develop this kind of mountain-moving faith? Here are a few key principles:

1. Immerse yourself in God's Word
2. Surround yourself with people of faith
3. Step out in obedience, even when it's uncomfortable
4. Celebrate and remember past victories
5. Persist in prayer, even when you don't see immediate results

A Call to Action: Become a House of Miracles

As I concluded the sermon, I felt a stirring in my spirit for what God wants to do in Oroville and beyond. I challenged the congregation:

"I believe this house is a house of miracles. I believe this is a house of healing. I don't think that God caused Pastor Ken Malone to put all the resources and energy and many of you in this room as well, to build this church so that we would not see signs, wonders and miracles."

What if we dared to believe for more? What if our cities became known not for their problems, but for the miraculous power of God at work through His people?

I encourage you, wherever you are, to step out in faith this week. Bring someone who needs a miracle to church. Pray boldly for the impossible. Let's become a people whose faith amazes even God Himself.

Next Steps:
1. Identify an area in your life where you need to exercise greater faith
2. Commit to praying specifically and persistently for a breakthrough
3. Find a prayer partner to stand with you in faith
4. Attend our miracle service this Tuesday and bring someone who needs a touch from God

Remember, your faith has the power to change not just your life, but your entire community. Let's believe God for great things!

When Prophecy Connects with your Expectations

In Ruth 3 we read the story between Ruth and Boaz when he tells her that there is someone ahead of him to redeem her. What I love about this is that when Boaz said, "If he doesn't want to take you, I'll take you."  (Ruth 3:13) What we see here is that,  even though there's an obstacle, Boaz is completely occupied with Ruth's future. We have to realize that in applying it to our lives, Jesus is completely occupied with our future. 

He's the Redeemer.

He wouldn't have come down to the earth and redeemed humanity if He wasn't occupied with all of humanity's future. It’s predominant in His heart and because of that, prophecy connects us to our future when we don't fully comprehend the Lord's ways. I could imagine that Ruth did not comprehend everything. "What do you mean someone's ahead of him? He's been so kind, he's in love with me..." I'm sure in that moment of not really understanding what's going on, one hasn't had a moment of questioning, "Well, wait, God, I don't understand what you're doing."

But what prophecy does, is it connects and reconnects us to our future.

This is what I love about the prophetic. It reconnects me to my purpose. It reconnects me to where I'm going. I can steer off the path or get off the course a little bit and it puts me right back on that course. It communicates how the Lord wants to please us. Isn't that amazing?

The Lord wants to please His people.

There’s something I love to do when I’m with my grandchildren. Although I’m usually busy ministering, when I have the opportunity to spend time with all five of them, I usually end up taking them to the grocery store and let them fill the cart with whatever their hearts desire. I get so much joy watching them walk down the aisles, skipping and hopping, grabbing things that mom and dad don’t usually buy for them. It’s not about the doughnuts, or the chocolate milk. But the joy of seeing their little faces light up. You see, when God prophesies over you, He's communicating His desire to want to please you. That's what's so beautiful about the prophetic. 

If you continue reading Ruth 3, towards the end of that chapter you see that Ruth returns to Naomi and tells her what Boaz has done for her. What we read next is Naomi prophesying and decreeing, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.” (Ruth 3:18)

When Naomi prophesied “He’ll take care of the matter today,” it put the expectation back into Ruth and it became the fuel for her to be able to wait. This is a perfect example of what the prophetic does, it reignites the expectation in our hearts, that while in the midst of waiting, “I know God's going to take care of this”.

Jesus is concerned about what matters to you and I, and He can fix it. He's concerned about America. He's concerned about the nations of the earth. Which means that God is committed to settle the things that matter to you. Just as Naomi prophesied to Ruth, He'll take care of this matter today. If it matters to you, because He's in love with you, He's going to take care of it today, and not leave you hanging, not leave you in suspense. He didn't come to leave us in suspense. He came to redeem us. 

Blessings,

John Harke Team

Reigning as Kings and Queens

It seems we can easily forget what Christ has purchased for us. So we begin to live a much lower standard than what Jesus has called us to live. To reign as kings and queens means much more than monetary success, public recognition and thousands of likes on Facebook. To reign as kings means to not come up short from the image of God. It’s finding victory on the inside, where our emotions are, to have control over our own spirit. It doesn’t mean that we are completely free from crisis, but it means we are seated above it. We tap into divine wisdom and we prophesy to the situations that don’t represent the beauty of God.

God has a goal for us individually and corporately, and that is to form us into a prophetic voice on the earth, prophesying liberty from bondage and decay. Creation is yearning for sons and daughters to speak what the Lord is speaking! In an atmosphere of repentance, respect, honor, and love, our identities flourish and our roles become clearly defined. When this is properly modeled, that Kingdom of God is authentically demonstrated.

4 “Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.” (Ezekiel 37: 4-7)

By prophesying His heart, we come into agreement with what God sees, for He sees beauty in the midst of our deformity. When Ezekiel found himself in a valley, he wasn’t told to pray about the spiritual conditions — he was told to prophesy to them. His words began to transform the people.

• Will we do the same in our time?

• Will we prophesy the wonderful grace upon the slain that are on the battlefield of life?

Without the wealth of grace there isn’t any true wealth in the soul. The wealth of grace allows us to rule with the knowledge of the Kingdom and not rule as those who haven’t been regenerated. We reign from a place of intimacy, not from a place of legality. Life becomes more of a joy because we witness supernatural interventions in our spiritual lives, relationships and finances. We live the way Jesus lived when He was on the earth: reigning over sickness, demonic attacks, and economic lack. We become yoked to His peace, free from the yoke of anxiety and fear.

The body of believers who reign as kings will repair the wrongs in society and restore human dignity by bringing the knowledge of the truth to every sphere. Living like kings means thinking and speaking like kings, weighing out our words because they declare who we really are. The words we speak build the kind of kingdom we live in. And through the gift of righteousness we can rule with the same heart of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sincerely,

John Harke Team

Prophetic Word: Treasure Hunting Season

I wanted to take a moment to encourage you with what God has been speaking to me about the current season we are walking in right now. What we have discovered as the months have continued onward is that we are in a prolonged season that does not have a clear and definite end in sight. When God chooses to hide the end of a thing even from His prophets, it is because there is something within the expanse of the current season that is of incredibly tremendous value.

This lack of clarity speaks of how good God is to us. What!? Yes, really. By closing off the exits and cancelling the timelines that so many are fixated on, it is a demonstration of His mercy and His help. This runs contrary to conventional understanding. When things go unclear, when we can't see ten steps ahead, there are many that see this as a confirmation of their rebellion, inadequacy or even twist their perception of the goodness of God and His desire to prosper them in their lives. Nothing could be further from the truth.

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

Proverbs 25:2 (NASB)

If things seem concealed from you in this season, take joy, it means God considers you to be a king! What a huge promotion for many of us especially in our own minds. God is calling us to several things in order to partner with this new, unknown place many of us find ourselves in.

1. Take a Royal Perspective

- Slaves fret and walk in constant fear, Kings sit in the confidence of wise council. It is time to confront every slavery mindset and though about ourselves with the reality of our royalty and that we sit in the council of the Holy Spirit.

2. The Treasure Lies in the Valley of the Now

- Fascination with the future and what is yet to come can point to something within us that desires to escape God's dealings and hand which is present in the realm of right now.

- Settle in, embrace your current season, place your face within His hands and there you will find a habitation of His presence that will fill you to overflowing.

- When we allow ourselves to be filled in this way, His Spirit will illuminate the treasure that lies within the ground of our season

3. Treasure Reveals Itself In Pieces, But is Brought Together By the Embrace of Your Entire Heart

- Like roots of a tree that are buried, treasure may not reveal itself in its entirety at once.

- Don't overlook it just because it seems unexpected.

- God will reveal treasure and what He has to us in sections and pieces so that we treasure each portion and give it the attention it deserves.

- Take the treasure, embrace it and hold it dear. Allow gratitude to wash over it.

- God will reveal to you how these pieces fit together.

The treasure that God has hidden for you in your current season is of far greater value than trying to get out of it. If you feel like you've been in a holding pattern, I encourage you to consider that it is because there is something in your current season you have yet to uncover. God cares too much about you to let you walk by it and not be blessed by it. The good news is that we don't have to search alone. One of the strongest prayers we can pray in this season is, "God I cannot see, please help me to see".

In Jesus' name, I declare that this prolonged season will reap a treasure that will exceed every expectation or limitation. I speak to your eyes and ears to be sensitive to discern God's voice to uncover what He has prepared for you.

Best,

David