Spiritual Warfare

Breaking Free: Weapons for Spiritual Warfare

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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?

Spiritual Warfare

2 Corinthians 10:4, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.” 

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!

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Faith That Amazes God: Unleashing Miracles in Your Life

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Faith That Amazes God: Unleashing Miracles in Your Life

Have you ever wondered what it takes to see real miracles happen in your life? 

Faith Luke 7

“I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”

Luke 7:9

Faith That Amazes God: Unleashing Miracles in Your Life

Have you ever wondered what it takes to see real miracles happen in your life? To witness healing, breakthrough, and the impossible becoming possible? The answer might surprise you – it’s not about how “good” you are or how long you’ve been a Christian. It’s about faith. But not just any faith – the kind of faith that amazes even God Himself.

In a recent powerful sermon, Prophet John Harke shared incredible insights on faith that can revolutionize your spiritual life and open the door to miracles. Let’s dive in and discover how we can cultivate this amazing faith.

The Centurion’s Faith: A Model for Us All

One of the most striking examples of faith in the Bible is found in Luke 7:1-10 – the story of the centurion whose servant was healed. What made this man’s faith so remarkable?

Prophet Harke explained:

“This centurion is not a Jew, he’s not a Hebrew. He’s actually from Rome, and he’s actually the enemy. The Romans had come over and occupied the nation of Israel. And so he was a foreign intruder that was occupying that nation.”

Despite being an outsider, this Roman soldier understood something crucial about Jesus’ authority. He said to Jesus:

“I myself am a man under authority with soldiers under me. I tell this one to go and he goes and I say, that one come and he comes and I say to my servant, do this. And he does it.”

Prophet Harke broke down what the centurion meant:

“This is exactly what he was saying. Your authority is greater than mine. Your authority is greater than the Roman government and your authority is greater than cancer. Your authority is greater than the sickness that my servant is dying from.”

This recognition of Jesus’ supreme authority, combined with the centurion’s humble faith, amazed Jesus. He declared, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel” (Luke 7:9).

Faith That Changes the Subject

Another powerful example comes from the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25-34). Prophet Harke pointed out:

“She was subject to bleeding for twelve years… Everything was about her bleeding. That’s what revolves around her whole life.”

But here’s the key – she didn’t stay focused on her problem. Instead:

“Faith changes the subject. Because right now, unfortunately, I mean, unfortunately, Christians are worried. Instead of decreeing in faith, worry is not faith. Worry eventually could cripple you and paralyze you and lock you into a cave.”

The woman with the issue of blood chose to focus on Jesus instead of her condition. She said, “If I just touch the hem of his garment, I will be made well” (Mark 5:28). Her faith-filled words and actions led to her miraculous healing.

Your Faith Can Impact Others

It’s not just about having faith for yourself. Your faith can create breakthrough for others too. Prophet Harke shared the story from Mark 2 of the paralyzed man whose friends lowered him through the roof to get him to Jesus:

“That man had no faith. And what happened? They grabbed the man, they put him on a stretcher, they take him to the church… They can’t go through the window, they can’t go the door, they can’t go the back door. The only way is go through the roof.”

Their persistent faith resulted in their friend’s healing. Prophet Harke challenged us:

“I hope he tells you… Because of your faith, I’m going to heal America. Because you opened heaven. You didn’t just come to church because of your faith.”

Putting It Into Practice: Building Your Faith

So how can we develop this kind of faith that amazes God and unleashes miracles? Here are some practical steps:

1. Immerse yourself in God’s Word: Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

2. Speak faith-filled words: Like the woman with the issue of blood, declare God’s promises over your situation.

3. Act on your faith: Don’t just believe – take bold action like the friends who broke through the roof.

4. Persist in prayer: Keep pressing in, even when circumstances don’t change immediately.

5. Surround yourself with faith-filled believers: Join a community that encourages and strengthens your faith.

Prophet Harke concluded with this powerful challenge:

“I want God to tell me… Because of your faith, I’m going to heal America. Because you opened heaven. You didn’t just come to church because of your faith.”

Are you ready to cultivate the kind of faith that amazes God? The kind that moves mountains, opens doors, and releases miracles? It starts with a decision to trust God’s Word more than your circumstances. Take that step today, and watch as God does the impossible in and through your life.

Confronting Spiritual Toxicity: A Call to Destroy Destructive Influences

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Confronting Spiritual Toxicity: A Call to Destroy Destructive Influences

Have you ever felt like something unseen was wreaking havoc in your life or relationships?

Spiritual Warfare, Armor of God

 “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion”  

Proverbs 28:1

Have you ever felt like something unseen was wreaking havoc in your life or relationships?

Maybe you’ve experienced unexplained conflict, twisted words, or a struggle for control. As believers, we must be aware of destructive spiritual influences that can poison our walk with God and others. Let me share some critical insights I’ve gained about confronting these toxic forces head-on.

The Sneaky Serpent: Recognizing the Leviathan Spirit

The Bible warns us about a spirit called Leviathan, which comes from a Hebrew word meaning “connected to” or “joined together.” This spirit operates through:

– Chaos
– Gossip
– Twisted words
– Breaking covenants

Genesis 3:1 shows us how the serpent twisted God’s words in the Garden of Eden: “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, “You shall not eat of every tree of the garden”?'”

We must be vigilant against this spirit’s attempts to distort truth and sow division. When you notice someone twisting words or spreading gossip, don’t attack the person. Remember, “we are not wrestling against flesh and blood, we are wrestling against spirits” (Ephesians 6:12). Instead, pray and cast out that destructive influence.

The Control Freak: Confronting the Jezebel Spirit

Another toxic influence we must confront is the Jezebel spirit, characterized by an obsession with control. We see this in 1 Kings 19:2, where Jezebel threatens the prophet Elijah: “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”

This controlling spirit can manifest in various ways:

– Manipulation
– Intimidation
– Immorality
– False teaching

We cannot tolerate this spirit in the church. As Revelation 2:20-21 warns: “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.”

The Passive Enabler: Addressing the Ahab Spirit

Alongside Jezebel, we find the Ahab spirit – a passive force that enables and supports sin. King Ahab married Jezebel and joined her in idol worship, setting up altars throughout Israel. This spirit manifests as:

– Tolerating sin
– Compromising God’s standards
– Passive leadership

We must be careful not to fall into this trap of passive acceptance. God calls us to actively confront and destroy these destructive influences in our lives and communities.

Destroying Destructive Influences: Our Responsibility

So how do we confront these toxic spiritual forces? We take our cue from Jehu in 2 Kings 9:30-33. When faced with Jezebel’s manipulative tactics, he commanded, “Throw her down.” We must take decisive action to throw down and destroy these influences in our lives.

Remember, “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1). When we know who we are in Christ and live in His presence, we have the authority and courage to confront these destructive spirits.

Living in God’s Presence: Our Ultimate Protection

The key to overcoming these toxic influences is to live continually in God’s presence. As Jesus said in John 8:29, “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”

When we abide in God’s presence and obey His Word, we find the strength to resist temptation and confront destructive forces. It’s only when we step out of His presence that we become vulnerable to sin and deception.

Putting It Into Practice: Next Steps

1. Examine your life for any signs of these destructive influences (Leviathan, Jezebel, or Ahab spirits).

2. Pray for God’s discernment to recognize these spirits in yourself and others.

3. Take decisive action to “throw down” and destroy these influences through prayer, repentance, and obedience to God’s Word.

4. Cultivate a lifestyle of living in God’s presence through regular prayer, worship, and meditation on Scripture.

5. Speak the truth in love to confront destructive influences in your church and community, always remembering to attack the spirit, not the person.

As we commit to destroying these toxic spiritual influences and living in God’s presence, we’ll experience greater freedom, unity, and power in our walk with Christ. Let’s stand firm against the enemy’s schemes and walk boldly in the authority God has given us!

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Contentment

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FINDING CONTENTMENT

What we are filling our hearts with and what we are conceiving in our hearts, are the two most important questions we could ask.

Finding Contentment Blog

“We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1:19)

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FINDING CONTENTMENT

What we are filling our hearts with and what we are conceiving in our hearts, are the two most important questions we could ask. Because what we conceive in our hearts forms behaviors. This is why contentment is so vital to our emotional and spiritual livelihood. Contentment is when we tell Jesus that His presence is enough to meet our every need. It’s a sign of spiritual maturity, it isn’t being complacent with the ordinary because there isn’t anything ordinary about Jesus. It’s the call to be completely absorbed in a vision much higher than ourselves. This narrative is where He lives in absolute contentment, and the greatest news is that our Lord has given us an invitation to never thirst again. For in that place we discover what Jesus has a passion for.

Let’s take the Apostle Peter for example, he felt very discontented when he was disconnected to Christ in his denial. Yet more alive than ever when reconnected with Christ on the shores of Galilee. Peter learned to trust the Lord with his heart and it created in him a peace that was supernatural. This made a lifestyle of contentment the very way Peter led his life from that point on. His agenda changed from one of discontentment to one of grace and power. Peter was no longer crippled by his mistakes, and now Jesus has complete access to this his affections. Peter wants what the Lord wants, he burns for what the Lord burns for. That’s contentment.

His self worth has been reinstated in the presence of Christ. While some find self worth in performance and possessions, Peter discovers self worth in his relationship with the Son of God. That’s why it’s so crucial that we know the source of what we believe. Because in the society that we live in there are those that make personal opinions the reliable source of truth. Whenever those feelings begin to develop we tend to miss a continuous comprehensive revelation of Christ. The results of this is that our self worth gets constructed by the wrong builder.

Lets take this example, I believe that one of the greatest obstacles is being able to resist opportunity for personal advancement at the expense of others. Although opportunities are wonderful, do they bring the emotional contentment that you and I long for, or do opportunities add more pressure and fracture the most important relationships? Because without contentment we have absolutely no buffer against any bitterness towards our own shortcomings. This in turn erects a discontentment that doesn’t just bring punishment upon others but upon ourselves. With it, brings the absence of self worth, debt, inappropriate desires for things we don’t need in our lives and a restlessness that seems to never be satisfied. Who would really want that?

 

In Peter’s second epistle it says: “We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1:19)

 

Beloved you and I have been give a better opportunity, because spiritual growth happens when our hearts and minds connect daily to what is completely reliable. Peter discovered that the only individual that was completely reliable, was our Lord Jesus and in our Lord’s will was the wellspring of contentment.

 

Sincerely,

John Harke Team

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WE ALL HAVE FILTERS THAT INTERPRET OUR EXPERIENCES, BUT WHAT IF THOSE FILTERS ARE INACCURATE?

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WE ALL HAVE FILTERS THAT INTERPRET OUR EXPERIENCES

BUT WHAT IF THOSE FILTERS ARE INACCURATE?

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Prophetic, Leadership, Identity

The Hebrew prophets confronted the priests because the priests were dedicated to their ceremonies more than an inner attachment to the Lord. These leaders did not resolve to honor the Lord in their hearts. I believe that they fell into the trap of pleasing powerful people instead of pleasing the all powerful Lord. That is why the Lord began to speak through His servants. Because Israel needed individuals who ascended to the hill of Lord. God’s people needed the kind of prophets who would chose a pure heart over a successful ministry. Prophets who gave more thought about the love God felt for His people than a greater platform or more economic blessing. What set theses men and women apart was that they made mention what the Lord was in love with more than the religious agenda of the priests and politicians. They understood that the Spirit was able to beat the swords of men into plow-shears and give them the peace they longed for. Therefore, their message wasn’t just about punishment because punishment isn’t the greatest deterrent for humanity. They preached that if people saw the beauty of what was promised, then they would turn towards a loving God.

So then why were their hearts so hard, why didn’t they fear the Lord? Why didn’t they feel the burden of their guilt? One reason is because of the abuse of power from those who were in a position of leadership exploited others through their lust for personal ambition. A heart filled with arrogance and pride doesn’t fear the Lord nor does it feel guilty. The Lords response is by sending a man or women of God to awaken a sense of justice, a sense of righteousness. A submitted vessel who possesses an inner identification with God’s will and a concern for the safety of others. For within the inner heart of these prophets they have to warn us because of what they’re seeing. Not to prove how right they are, but to protect the people God loves.

To the prophet, the Lord isn’t an idea to be discussed, but a King to be praised. Their message is to see what the Lord sees and to feel what the Lord feels. Nothing proves the sincerity of the prophet’s beliefs like their willingness to suffer for them. That is the reason why every prophet suffered for what they believed about God and humanity. Prophets suffer because men and women are held hostage by deception and pride. You see, the prophet is a man or woman who burns with eternal love, a love which has been imparted by the heart of the Father. They have traded in any respectability, for spiritual wisdom and revelation. The stigma that comes from walking in the supernatural doesn’t faze them because of their personal bond with the everlasting God.

I believe in this generation we are going to witness an awakening of the “prophetic conscience” men and women who share within their inner selves the same burden and passion of the Hebrew prophets.

 

Sincerely,

John Harke Team

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Activating Your Prophetic Word

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Activating Your Prophetic Word

There is tremendous power in your words.

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Proverbs 18:21 (KJVA) Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Prophetic Identity

There is tremendous power in your words. Many scriptures speak of the power of the tongue and it’s for good reason. Your words are powerful because they have in it a capacity to build the future that you will live in. That’s why in this moment in time, it seems harder and harder to open your mouth and speak and I don’t mean words that others expect you to say or that prevent you from rocking the boat, I mean the words that are inside of you that speak to the purpose that is shouting inside of you to make an appearance into the reality of your surroundings.

 

Those are the words that God is after and those are the words that if left unspoken, could meet the tragedy of never coming into existence. That is why the prophetic is so valuable. They help provide a language and an awareness of that very thing inside of you that needs to come out. Words spoken over you in prophecy are vital. They not only illuminate your future and the potential that you carry but also give you weapons to war with to achieve the victory of your purpose.

 

When we pair the prophetic word over our lives with the words that come out of our own mouths, it’s a prophetic physical action that we can take to lay hold and take claim of our promise that God has released for us to walk in. This is not something very hard to do and it does not take a lot of time.

 

HERE IS A PRACTICAL PROCESS YOU CAN USE TO BEGIN TURNING YOUR PROPHETIC WORDS INTO A WEAPON OF WAR:

  1. Listen or read back the prophetic words that have been spoken over your life

  2. Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate to you the parts of the word that He wants to activate in your life now

  3. Turn those prophetic words into declarations

  4. For example, if the prophecy states that you have a mantle to affect and bless nations, turn it into a declaration that reads something like “In the name of Jesus, I declare that I walk in a mantle that blesses the nations of this world. I declare that my feet will tread on many nations and that the gospel of the Kingdom will come from my mouth over people of every culture, language and location throughout the earth….”

    1. I want to speak to this a little more, don’t be surprised that when you start declaring the prophetic word that you don’t also begin to get into a prophetic flow of prophesying and prophetically declaring and expounding on the word. Allow the Holy Spirit to prophecy through you as well!

  5. Place Passion and Intensity Behind Your Prophetic Declarations

  6. When you really honestly and truly believe something, when it is something that you are passionate about, your body reflects that belief. Hence we should declare loudly, with authority and with passion.

  7. Do this 3 times a day for at least 3 days and see what happens!

 

 

Sincerely,

John Harke Team

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    Identity, Leadership, Prophetic, Freedom

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    FINDING YOUR IDENTITY THROUGH PROPHETIC PERSPECTIVE

    Identity, Leadership, Prophetic, Freedom

    Finding your identity through prophetic perspective
    “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

    — Acts 2:17

    Identity, Leadership, Prophetic, Freedom

    Fear, doubt and unbelief produce horrible things. They can wreak havoc on our minds, emotions and, if allowed to fester unopposed, can derail our destiny and leave our potential undiscovered. We have to wage war against these things so that we can fully express who we were created to be and operate. The good news is that God doesn’t want us to have any of this in our lives. In fact, He has given us every tool imaginable to make sure that we can walk in total and complete victory.

     

    One tool He has given us is the capacity to see as He sees. We see Jesus demonstrate this when after the healing at the pool of Bethesda, He declares that He does what He sees His Father doing. This speaks of divine perspective and the capacity that God’s children have to access and walk in it. Sadly, this is one of the most under-utilized privileges in the Body of Christ.

    When we look around us, we see a culture that is terrorized by their past, powerless in their present and hopeless about their future. All of this is clear evidence of a generation that is not seeing from God’s divine perspective. They are looking through a very dark, soul crushing pair of binoculars with lenses of fear, inadequacy and doubt. What an incredible opportunity for The Church to rise up with believers that demonstrate the opposite by seeing from a divine perspective. God’s perspective not only sees into the past and present but also into the future. God, the Alpha and Omega sees with an eternal view, beginning to end, front to back. I believe that the world is crying out for leaders with that kind of vision.

    We need a prophetic generation with the courage to look beyond their current situation and through the eyes of The Father to find a way to lead others forward.

     

    Are you a part of this bold generation?

     

    If so, one of the most important areas that we must apply this to is when it comes to our identity and position with Him. In fact, this area is essential if we are to experience the fullness of the life that God has for us. Throughout history, the strategy of the enemy has been the same. When a leader is about to be raised up, the enemy will come against their identity, looking for a weakness to exploit, to topple them before they even get out of the gates. Examples of this are Moses at the burning bush, where he gave every reason in the book about how he was not a deliverer or a leader. Gideon grapples with his identity as a judge over Israel to the point where he tests God with a fleece. Even Jesus, after being baptized, is brought into the wilderness where His identity is challenged by the enemy.

     

    When you choose to be a prophetic leader, you will encounter this assault on identity countless times. That is why God’s perspective in this area is of the utmost importance. Allowing this to take place will dramatically reduce the warfare that the enemy will try to bring.

     

    Take time today to seek the Lord, to allow Him to speak to you about how He sees you. Take some areas of your life where you believe something about yourself and ask Him if that is truly the case or is there some illumination that needs to come to see things as He does. Make this a regular practice and see the fruit that God brings from it.

     

    Sincerely,

    John Harke Team

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