Satan is real! Angels, demons and spiritual warfare all exist. Yet, one doesn't have to live in fear of the supernatural. God had given us powerful weapons against temptations, attacks and accusations from the enemy. He has given us His word, the Bible, to remind us of who He is, who we are and what is the truth.

The Holy Spirit brings God's promises to mind when we need them the most. We can have victory over Satan's schemes by filling our mind with the truth of the Bible.

Remember this as you face the battles ahead.

Ephesians 6:10-11 "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 you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

2 Corinthians 10: 4-5; 1 Peter 5: 8-9;

James 4:7

We must continually allow ourselves to be strengthened by God's power through the Holy Spirit. We must continue to cultivate our relationship with God in such a way that we remain yielded to him so he can empower us to stand. James calls us to "summit yourselves then God. resist the devil, and he will flee from you"

Ultimately spiritual warfare is not about a technique to defeat satan and/or demons. It’s all about a heart that walks closely with God—where God is the first and foremost in our lives. Spiritual warfare is, very real, part of Christian life, but should not be an opportunity for either fear or pride. Instead, the reality of Satan and his evil forces, should cause us to draw near to God all the more, realizing His power can conquer any foe we may encounter.

Scriptures do not command us to fast. God does not demand it of us. At the same time, the Bible presents fasting as something that is good, profitable and beneficial. The book of Acts records believers fasting and praying before they made important decisions (Acts 13:2; 14:23). Fasting and prayer are often linked together (Luke 2:37; 5:33).

Poeple tend to limit "fasting" to abstaining from food. Instead, the purpose of fasting should be to intentionally shift one’s focus from things of this world to God.

Fasting and praying is a way of demonstrating to God and ourselves, that we are serious about our relationship with Him. It helps in gaining a new perspective and a renewed reliance upon God.

Spending time in prayer and fasting with the aim of just getting our desires fulfilled is not effective. God promises to answer our prayers only when we ask according to His will.

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us."

And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him (1 John 5:14-15 NKJV). God detests an external show of fasting and prayer without the right attitude (Isaiah 58: 5-9).

Fasting will help you develop a more intimate relationship with Christ. It will enable you to overcome sin, bad habits and open your eyes to things in your life that are displeasing to God. Fasting and prayer is a time of separate separation/detachment from your regular routine intentionally focusing on God.

Reflection

Rather than wondering whether or not to pray and fast, one should wonder if it is worth missing out on the blessings of a having a deeper relationship and more intimate time with God - devoted to Him alone.

Money, or the lack of, it can be a stressful part of life. The anxiety of not having enough to provide for one’s family or to pay the bills intensifies this stress. It is important that we remember to first seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all that is needed will be added.

Additionally, it is wise to not have a greedy obsession with money, putting love of money before our love for God. Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.

For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5).

According to scriptures, God created Earth for mankind and we are now stewards of His creation. This means, it is our responsibility, to look after and take care of this world. We should accept this responsibility of being caretakers of the creation around us.

Taking care of the environment, plant and animal life as well as our families and communities are all part of this responsibility.

As believers, we ought to display good stewardship of our treasures, time, and talents. This happens when we place importance on sharing with others what God has given us, for their benefit. This creates a fertile relationship to share the message of Christ.

Using our time wisely, along with judicious management of our treasures and talents, demonstrates to God, our love for him (2 Timothy 2 : 1-10; 1 John 4: 19).

Our words can direct us into the right or wrong path (Proverbs 18:21). Beware of idle words, questionable stories, half truths and outright lies. All these could change the course of a life and lead to destruction. On the other hand, the right word may direct someone out of sin into salvation. How we need the LORD to control our tongues!

The tongue, in fact, is one of the smallest members of the body but it can cause great destruction. What the tongue says comes from the heart (Matthew 12:35-36).

A tiny spark can set a whole forest on fire; and the tongue is like a small flame (Proverbs 16:27). An evil tongue can also spread poison. On the other hand a spiritual tongue is like medicine bringing healing not hurt (Proverbs 12:18).

The tongue has the power of delight. It is impossible for a spring to produce both freshwater and saltwater at the same time.

In the same way, the tongue cannot speak blessings and cursing (Proverbs 18:4). A tree can't bear two kinds of fruit (Proverbs 18:20-21)

Right use of the tongue and words:

To praise God (James 3:9 NIV)

To pray to God (James 1: 5-6 NIV)

To witness for the LORD Psalm (107:2) Acts 1:8

And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple

(Luke 14:27NIV).

You see, Jesus doesn't simply call us to believe that He existed, or even to believe that He can save us. He calls on us to commit our whole lives to Him to trust Him alone for our salvation, and then to follow Him as His disciples.

Jesus took the cross by obedience. He did it humbly, gladly and put God's will and his love for God's people above himself. That's an example we can follow.

“Take up your cross and follow me." Jesus was giving a word picture of the concept of "death to self," which originates in another saying of Jesus, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:23-25 NIV). The idea is this: nothing in this life is worth keeping if it means losing eternal life—not a job, not a family, not a group of friends, not even our very identity. This call is tough but the eternal rewards are well worth the temporary pain.

Questions to ask ourselves

Is Christ master of our lives ?

What does the idea of taking up our cross mean to us today?

Abortion is the ending of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. It is the intentional killing of an innocent human life before it is born. Basic understanding of science tells us that the foetus is a human being as the heart starts to beat at 3 weeks. But, even before this, right at conception, human life begins when a single cell zygote also called embryo, is formed.

Abortion is murder and the Bible forbids murder (Ex 20.13), especially of the innocent.

Exodus 21.22-25 This scripture shows how God was zealous even when an unborn child is harmed “accidently” .i.e whatever damage happened to the baby must be borne equally by the accused.

If men strive and strike a pregnant woman, so that her child comes out, and there is no injury, he shall surely be punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him. And he shall pay as the judges say.

Exo 21:23 And if any injury occurs, then you shall give life for life, Exo 21:24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Exo 21:25 burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

Scriptures that show human life is precious to God before birth: Psalm 139: 13 & 16 For You have possessed my inward parts; You have covered me in my mother's womb. Your eyes saw my embryo; and in Your book all my members were written, the days they were formed, and not one was among them.

Jeremiah 1.5 Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I consecrated you, and I ordained you a prophet to the nations

(emphasis added)

Just like all sexual sin such as adultery, fornication, incest, bestiality etc, homosexuality is also a sexual sin according to the Bible (Lev 18.22).

Moreover we see that in whichever cities sexual perversion reached its peak and homosexuality was widely practised and accepted, God’s wrath was invoked (Romans 1: 24-27). Eg. Sodom, Gomorrah, Canaanites, Gibeah.

The Bible mentions people who wouldn’t inherit the kingdom. The list includes

“sodomites,” which in modern day English means homosexuals. 1Cor 6:9: Do you

not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor abusers, nor homosexuals. (also see 1 Tim 1: 10)

The bible does not directly address the topic of adoption but there are several

instances of adoption in the Bible which gives us an idea about what the Christian stand on it should be.

There are 3 people in the Bible who stopped the annihilation of the Jews all of whom were adopted:

Moses We read that Moses was adopted into Pharaoh's household by one of his daughters. (Exodus 2.10). Moses was the man God chose to save his people out of slavery and out of Egypt.

Esther Esther was not Mordeccai’s daughter, rather his niece. He had adopted her as his own daughter after her parents died. It was due to Esther, who boldly faced the king to plead for her people, that the Jews were stopped from being subject to a mass genocide.

Jesus Our Saviour and Lord Himself was an adopted son to Joseph as He was the Son of God. Joseph, despite the shame and stigma of that time did not hesitate to receive Jesus as his son gladly.

Most Societies look upon adoptive children as inferior to biological children. Many-a-times adoptive parents choose adoption only because they’re infertile. However, the Bible presents a completely different picture, elevating their positions to heroes of their stories.

At the end of the day we must remember that God the Father really had only one Son—Jesus Christ. We are all adopted into God’s kingdom as His children.

(Eph 1:5)

Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.

Adoption is God’s heart!

In Jesus “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, ... [we] are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

Jesus even allowed a small group of women to travel with Him and His disciples

(Luke8:1–3), an unprecedented happening at that time. After His resurrection,

Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene and sent her to announce His resurrection to the disciples (John 20:1–18), despite the fact that women were not allowed to be witnesses in Jewish courts because they were considered liars.

Women as Apostles Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was - Romans 16:7 Junia was a woman.

Women as Evangelists I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to think the same thing in the Lord. Indeed, I ask you, my true companion [or, yokefellow], to help them—these women who have contended together with me in [the cause of] the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.- Philippians 4:2-3

Women as Prophets In Acts 21:9 - Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. we are told that Philip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

Women as Pastors and Teachers Acts 18:24–26 24 Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus and they began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

1 Corinthians 16:19 19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

Romans 16:3-5 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first ...

Paul addresses both Prisca and Aquila as fellow workers Prisca [Priscilla] is not the only woman associated with house church leadership. A surprising number of women are mentioned in this role. . . . In Acts we see Mark’s mother providing a home for the Christians to assemble (Acts 12:12) and at Philippi we hear of believers meeting in the home of Lydia (Acts 16:14-15, 40). Writing to the Colossians, Paul greets “Nympha and the church in her house” (Col. 4:15). Perhaps Chloe is also the host of a home-church (1 Cor. 1:11), as may have been some of the other women Paul greets in the last chapter of Romans.

Lydia of Philippi is an example of a household manager who held a significant position in her church. Lydia was one of the first to respond to the gospel in Philippi. When Lydia was converted, her household, which would have included family members, domestic slaves, and slaves working in her purple fabric business, were also baptised with her.

She would have exerted influence over a large group of clients and friends. She was able to give Paul a place to live for some time while he was in Philippi. Lydia’s household was the start of the church at Philippi.

When God created humanity he created "adam," which is the word used for human. In Genesis 2:18 the NIV translation reads, "It is not good for the man (adam) to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

The words, "helper suitable" come from the Hebrew words "ezer kenegdo." The English translation of "helper suitable" downplays the original Hebrew which basically means "of a strength equal to" man.

We see Deborah who was a Judge over Israel. Judges 4:4 Now Deborah, a prophet,the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. 5 She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided.

The only other person in the Bible who was said to be both prophet and judge was Samuel. Deborah is the only female judge mentioned in the Bible.Women who were Prophetesses Miriam

Exodus 15:20-21

20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the

women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the

LORD, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.”

She was a prophetess as well as a worship leader.

Huldah 2 Kings 22:14 Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.

Esther who was a queen who saved her people Esther 4:14

14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther saved the Jews from Annihilation.

So much more can be said about women in the Old testament; other examples include Ruth, Rahab etc.

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