Post-Deliverance Warfare

“ Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.”” – Act 28:3-6

So many times, in life when we are under attack other people seem to think they know the reason. When they are under attack, they are clueless but when you are under attack, everyone has their opinion. People tend to gossip and jump to conclusions as they did here in the text with Paul. Paul was attacked by the enemy and people called him a murderer. Opinions are like feet, everyone has them and sometimes, they stink.

Immediately Paul shook the snake off then opinions changed. People’s opinions change so quickly. I believe that just like Apostle Paul, you are not going to be defined by your attack or the challenges you are going through; you are going to shake things off and you will suffer no harm.

The Devil Doesn’t Need A Reason To Attack You

The devil loves to attack you and does not need any open doors in your life. In this scripture, Paul was just there when the attack occurred.

God will not remove what you refuse to resist. Share on X

Don’t Look For Snakes, Gather Sticks

There are some people that go through deliverance and after a period of time feel like a continual deliverance is needed. There is no need to continually dig up items that have been dealt with by God.

Our focus is to be looking for the face of God, not looking for open doors to the demonic in our lives. Plant yourself in a church and read God’s Word. That is how you gather sticks. If it’s not fixed, gather sticks.

When you can’t find an open door, look for an open Heaven; look for God’s presence.   Share on X

Snakes Will Not Stay In A Place Where There Is Fire  

If you gather sticks through reading God’s Word and attending church, He will reveal things to you. Until that day, your eyes need to be focused on being a disciple of Jesus. 

The enemy can attack through open doors gained by ancestry, abuse, and access through the occult or wilful sin, but when he is on the outside, he needs agreement. Just as a snake’s venom spreads through a bite, Satan gains access when we agree with his lies.

The Snake’s Deception

Satan masquerades as our own thoughts in our minds with fiery darts. These fiery darts can lead us to believe this is our thought when it is not. We must be alert and not come into agreement with those thoughts.

Snakes do not have arms or legs, but their power is contained within their venom.Satan’s venom consists of lies, accusation, fear, confusion, panic, bitterness, offense, unforgiveness, pride, rebellion, control, and manipulation. Satan will try and sabotage your life with these things; we must reject these thoughts in Jesus’ name.

You Can’t Overcome The Devil The Way You Overcome Life’s Hardships.

You can’t overcome the devil the way you overcome life’s hardships – storms we survive; snakes we shake.   Share on X

The Bible says, submit to God and resist the devil, and he will flee from you. God will not remove what you refuse to resist. We are called to:

• Submit to God and resist the devil (James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8-9)
• Stand firm against the devil’s schemes by putting on the armor of God (Ephesians :11, 13)
• Don’t give the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:27)
• Overcome him by the blood of Jesus and your testimony (Revelation 12:11)
• Use the word of God as a weapon (Matthew 4:4)
• Walk in the light (1 John 1:7)

Though the Bible does state the battle is the Lords, but we still must get up and go into battle.  We must stand on our ground and rebuke the devil; he is a bully. If you don’t not put up a fight, the devil will not leave. Shake him off. 

Remember, during the storms of life, Jesus is right there with us. But with a snake, Jesus tells us we have authority not to endure snakes, but to trample them. This is how we mature in our faith. God will allow snakes in your life for you to trample and shake off. We need to mature to become a warrior in the army of God.

Be A Warrior For Christ

When the enemy gets you down, get up.  The enemy cannot destroy you when you get up; keep fighting and get up!

The output in our lives is also very important.  As the old saying goes, if you have nothing nice to say, keep your mouth shut. The output in our lives must be the Word of God and worship.  

We control our inputs and outputs, then the snake will die, and man’s opinions will change.  Speak the truth of God’s Word in your life.

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