The Subject of overcoming and over-comers have been a persistent thought in my mind, slipping out from time to time in different prophetic discourses that the Lord has released within our congregation recently. And because I do believe it is an imperative subject for our congregation at this time, I took up the task of addressing it in written letters. And as He has said that our faith would be tried this season and some would fall away as others would be strengthened, some would prove to be over-comers, while others would be overcome. We have seen both according to the Lord’s words. And I am persuaded, that you have the choice to stand. Stand with me! Stand with the congregation! And, stand with the Lord!
I write to encourage you in that I am proud of everyone that has reached within him or her self at this time, to draw on that unseen power of the spirit of faith to accomplish great feats of faith in overcoming the temptations and traps of this season (the traps of the enemy that would spoil our faith). And to you, who have gone beyond yourself to reach out at this time to save a comrade on the brink of destruction (though they may not have known it), I salute you with the most heartfelt salutations.
The degree to which the body of Christ is ignorant regarding Spiritual warfare and overcoming has been made clearer to me in this season than at any other time. It seems that we have assumptions and presumptions about the area of spiritual warfare that are not scriptural or accurate to the reality that we face. It’s as though we think it only transpires on Sunday or our designated day of worship. We think often of creatures under our beds, disturbing dreams, or visits from the boogey man, in the middle of the night. Or even the assumption that spiritual warfare is predominantly casting devils out of demonically infested individuals. Which is only a small portion of this vast world of warfare.
The misconceptions of the mind regarding spiritual warfare have done great damage in regards to blinding us from the true war that is being waged against our minds daily. It hasn’t helped us to take care and protect what the devil is really after: The reigns of our heart! Your heart is the control center of your body and mind. It inspires what you say and do. The scripture says that we ought to guard our hearts, for out of it flow the issues of life. If Satan controls your heart, he controls your life. But when the Spirit of God comes into the heart, he desires to take up permanent residence and control. The battle ensues as the enemy (the domination of darkness) begins to lose ground to the kingdom of the approaching light.
Well ‘how is the battle waged?’ some would ask. Circumstances! Situations arising within a persons life, manipulated by the hand of the ruler of this present darkness to influence us toward ungodly desires and tempting us to venture away from the truths that God has established in our mind.
The enemy’s strategy is first distraction from our devotion to God and His will as our primary objective in life. Secondly, he draws you away offering a tantalizing temptation of the flesh or soul. Something gratifying that you want and have a hankering for, he convinces you that you deserve it and should have it NOW! Thirdly, he propels you into obsession. You begin to obsess over that person, place, or thing to the degree that all other things begin to become less important and all other responsibilities and devotions are placed on the back burner as that object of devotion takes precedence in your heart, becoming an idol. Last but not least is possession! The evil spirit that lured you away waits until God is not your central devotion and your heart is pulled completely out of Godly alignment, then he takes God’s place and grabs the reigns of your heart, and under the identity and guise of the worshipped object he takes you for a ride into a territory called Harms Way!
There is a broad battlefield. But the battlefield is always in the terrains of the mind! We fight the enemy! We bust up the concentrated camps of the enemy underground, where he hides the development of weapons of mass destruction- IN THE MIND! We climb the highest mountains and battle in the air! We shoot down and tear down the strong holds of pride and rebellion, anti-authority and fear, of self-righteous judgments and witchcraft- IN THE MIND! We blast the enemy on subterranean levels and by the sea! We torpedo him on the ocean floor! We annihilate depression and self-pity, condemnation, and bitterness, deep hatred and malice, of offense and, un-forgiveness- IN THE MIND! We scour the plains and penetrate enemy bunkers. We fight lies and deceptions, envy, covetousness and strife. We fight selfish lusts of excess and perversion. We assault him in the woodlands and in the trees! We combat him in the fields! We fight with guerilla warfare tactics! We organize militias! We send in spies to gather information! We plant bombs! We build blockades! We defend bridges. We protect rivers and streams! We save children. We protect the weak. We rescue the wounded! We treat the infirmed! IN THE MIND!!! IN THE MIND!!! THIS ALL HAPPENS IN THE MIND!!!
To be an over-comer you must address and defeat the enemies of the mind. These are demonic persons that desire to manipulate your free will by strong spiritual forces and to move you by adverse winds of thought out of your God-given seat in His house. Like a mountain you must climb over it. Adverse thoughts of defiance against God’s revealed will and authority must be captured and beheaded. Stop it in the name of Jesus! If those illicit feelings and thoughts come strong and in a bullish overpowering way don’t be intimidated, stand strong! If they come in a subtle serpentine or seductive way identify those enemies and expose them. If you have already fallen for one of his tricks or traps, and you are already down, get up by faith of Jesus’ name, get back in line, and start marching forward again. Learn your lesson! Stop lusting for the ungodly thing and don’t let it happen again.
It’s time for you to overcome! It’s time for you to win! It’s time that the score was settled! It’s time to quiet an old relic and build on its ashes! You must keep your bearing. You must hold your ground. You must see and know your purpose. You must maintain your devotion to the Lord’s will. You must remember the liberating message of Christ. You must not freak out and allow fear to take you from behind! You must never give up! You must stay in fellowship and prayer. You must identify the enemy! You must realize that it won’t always be easy or feel easy! It will be hard, but you will win! You must realize, that God will not allow you to be tempted beyond your ability to withstand! You can stand, and you must stand!
I believe that the power of the armor of light which is not just knowing, but walking in the knowledge of revealed truth, is all we need to apprehend our victory time and time again from the gruesome, mis-shapen fingers of the adversary. I believe through my experience in battle, that it is extremely difficult for the enemy to gain ground if he is clearly seen. He needs darkness to thrive! He desires to distort and distract you from the truth of the Spirit of Christ in regard to his tricks and tactics. His strategy always involves overwhelming emotional and physiological obstacles! He desires I say, to sway you through deception from your God given purpose and destiny! He wants to lay hold of your natural and carnal desires, feelings, perspectives, and opinions thrusting you into error! Not only does he want to detour you from the higher way (in Christ) but will also attempt to frustrate the very faith of God that resides within our hearts. God gives us light to enlighten and illuminate our minds, bringing us first to the revelation of the tactics of the adversary, which would steal your heart away from simple devotion to the words of Christ. And secondly to bring you into the realization that God has forever settled your victory through Christ Jesus and has established your position eternally in heavenly places. He has determined that you wouldn’t be stopped by the simple strategies of darkness but that you would prove in the end to be an OVER-COMER! Believe it! See it! And prepare yourself for war!
Your Servant,
Dr. Nathaniel Duffey III
