Spiritual Warfare

I am very concerned with all the focus on warfare by people who preach the Kingdom message.  I have come to realize the importance of knowing what has already been accomplished and what is yet to be done.  When we discuss Satan we have to view his operation prior to the cross and after the cross.  Jesus made it very clear what he came to do.  In 1 John it says the following:

1 John 3:8.....for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

We must understand that when you speak of Lucifer/Satan/The Devil we have to see that Jesus walked in a relationship with the Father that was pleasing and by his life he restored relationship with the Father for mankind and by his death he paid the price for that relationship.

Spiritual warfare for Kingdom people is not about removing satan, or binding demons who rule over cities or territories.  Jesus is our model and the Apostles in the book of Acts show us exactly what it is.  When Phillip went into Samaria in Acts chapter 8 and found the people under the influence of Simon through sorcery he preached Jesus and the Kingdom to them with the demonstration of the Spirit following.  We are told that the whole city was bewitched by Simon till Phillip got there with a greater power and a greater calling.

Phillip never had an all night prayer meeting about the enemy, he did not go in trying to find out what spirit was working and controlling the people, he did not have to carry anointing oil.  He knew what he had, whose he was and what his assignment was.

In Acts 13 the Apostles, Prophets and Teachers were fasting and praying and God told them to send Barnabas and Paul for a work he had chosen them for.  They were not fasting about devils, but to hear the heart of the King about who he had commissioned with the grace to do what was needed.  When Barnabas and Paul went on their journey they encountered a person operating under demonic influence and Paul said these words:  Acts 13:11 "behold, the hand of the Lord [is] upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand" 

Prior to this verse it says the spirit in the man withstood them so the man they were sent there for could not get the word of God.  This was Paul's response to that.  He did not have to go into prayer because he had been commissioned to go by the King with the laying on of hands of the Presbytery. 

Our greatest warfare is our thought life.  We do not fight with devils/demons/evil spirits.  We cast them out, we preach the word and we see the demonstration of the Spirit that will always confirm our calling and anointing.

Where we must war is in pulling down the corrupt thoughts of our past or those sent to us from a fallen system and it's operatives.  These thoughts come to make us deny or King, ignore our responsibility or forget our assignment.  The thoughts come to dilute us.  They come to make us forget who we are and what we have.  We have to use the power of the word given to us by our King against these thoughts and pull them down.   The word of God says this:  2 Corinthians 10:3 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh":....you see we do have a war......2 Corinthians 10:4 "(For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)"....we do have a warfare and we need to see what it is.....2 Corinthians 10:5 "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"....From these verses it is clear that our war and warfare is all about the thought life. 

Jesus destroyed the works of the devil and gave power to his messengers on the day of Pentecost.  From that time forward the warfare has been about capturing the thoughts that come to invade our minds and cause us to function beneath our calling.  If the enemy could get us to believe a lie it is as powerful as holding us hostage.  You see we must know the truth.  As Kingdom citizens and messengers of the King we must know our power and our right.  We must know our fellowship with the Father through the FINISHED work of Jesus Christ and we must not bend, even when demons act up or out in our face, in the air or through people. 

We are not about to win.  We have won through Jesus Christ and now we must walk in that Victory and guard our minds.  

Be Blessed and guard your thought life.

Duane Youngblood

All in the Family

Week after week after week I meet people or counsel them and I hear the same concerns and questions.  People really want to know what they have been called of God to do.  We have filled out spiritual gift questionnaires and we have attended seminars and yet many people are uncertain about what they really are in the earth to do.

In 1 Chronicles chapter 25 we see the structure of the Musical organization under King David.  The chapter highlights three men who served in the worship.  The three men mentioned are Heman, Asaph and Jeduthun.  Heman was the lead singer, Asaph was the Choir director and Jeduthun was the lead musician.  As chapter 25 opens up we see a very familiar way of doing things, by Kingdom design, being highlighted.  In verse one it highlights the three men and their leadership and verses two through five highlight the children of these three men and how they worked under the hands(authority) of their fathers.

I believe God is all wisdom and knowledge and he has set order in place so we don't have to spend our entire lifetimes searching for answers that are already within us.  This passage noted above shows us that when it comes to purpose it is "All in the Family".  God literally calls a family and by family I mean several generations.  He then gifts that family with certain gifts and skills to accomplish a task that will assist his strategic mission in the earth of reaching and redeeming all men. 

How many times have you seen this play out and yet we miss it when it comes to us.  I am reminded of Archie Manning who played quarterback for the New Orleans Saints many years ago.  He had two sons, Peyton and Eli.  Those two sons both made it to the NFL, like their father, and both won Super bowls.  Playing football in the backyard with their father was common because it was what they were gifted to do.  You see when God places something within the family system everyone connected can strengthen it or weaken it.  We strengthen it by submitting to God's choice of our family and we weaken it by trying to do what we want to do.  I totally believe in freedom and choice and that God does not force us but within that I believe he loves us enough to tell us to look within the family system to see what we were called to do.

Some of you reading this have not had people serving God in your family system for a couple generations but that does not stop what I am sharing with you.  When God places a call on the family it can be seen, even in those who refuse to submit to it.  The bottom line is there is a purpose and call on your family and since you are in that family it is alive and well.  Now that calling will take you through some test and trials because you will have to sell out to using what you have for God, but after the fire you will see the benefit of saying yes to the reason he gifted you and placed you.

Now I also must tell you that God made no mistake placing you in the family he did.  He placed you for his purpose and not theirs.  People may never tell God yes and maybe you have and it seems like wrong family, but I assure you that your yes will pay off.  The thing you must do is look at the common gifting or placement of your family.  If you cannot see it ask people in the family what prior generations did.  I promise you there is commonness in your gifts and your family calling.  Many people reject God and one generation suffers but you are called to repair breaches within your family and restore paths for them to walk on by using what you have been freely given to serve the Lord and his Kingdom agenda.

Do not be discouraged your best days are just ahead.  Submit to God with all your heart and ask him to show you what he meant when he placed you in the family he placed you in.  He made no mistake.  Don't commit suicide thinking you are a misfit.  Maybe you sit with people who rejected the call but when you ask God for the old path of your family he will show you the path and the future and joy will break forth in your YES to him.  Try it and see.  David had it, Isaac had it, Timothy had it, and so do you. 

Duane Youngblood

Maximizing your life

I am a firm believer that we have five circles of relationships that we need to maximize.  The five circles of relationships each have specific purposes and when we learn how to relate effectively within those circles we will find our lives being lived at their maximum level. 

The five circles are God and Me, Friends of the Heart, Friends of Life, Associates and Everyone else.  As I stated before each circle has a purpose.  The first circle is the primary one of life and it is the one the strengthens all the rest.  If this first circle is non-existent, out of balance, uncultivated or ignored the other circles of relationships will not receive the greatest benefit from being related to you.  Too many of us are looking to the outer four circles for fulfillment and for connection when the true life fulfillment and connecte we need and desire start with a personal relationship with God.

This relationship is possible because of the work of Jesus Christ on Calvary.  As a business professional or student seeking your education or business owner it is critical that you place priority on this relationship because the peace you will need to deal with all the other circles and the other demands that will come upon you will come from this personal relationship you cultivate with God.  Love, Trust, Peace and Vision all find their true foundation in this first circle.  If you miss this circle your view on these words will be off.  If you cultivate this circle your view and usage of these words in the other circles will be at the most beneficial level and you and others will be better for it.

I encourage you to consider the five circles of your life and learn to live from the inside out.  What you settle on the inside you can easily express on the outside.  I will continue to write on ths subject in days to come.  Now go make today happen and take God with you.

Duane Youngblood

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Maximizing your Life Circles

I am a firm believer that we have five circles of relationships that we need to maximize.  The five circles of relationships each have specific purposes and when we learn how to relate effectively within those circles we will find our lives being lived at their maximum level. 

The five circles are God and Me, Friends of the Heart, Friends of Life, Associates and Everyone else.  As I stated before each circle has a purpose.  The first circle is the primary one of life and it is the one the strengthens all the rest.  If this first circle is non-existent, out of balance, uncultivated or ignored the other circles of relationships will not receive the greatest benefit from being related to you.  Too many of us are looking to the outer four circles for fulfillment and for connection when the true life fulfillment and connecte we need and desire start with a personal relationship with God.

This relationship is possible because of the work of Jesus Christ on Calvary.  As a business professional or student seeking your education or business owner it is critical that you place priority on this relationship because the peace you will need to deal with all the other circles and the other demands that will come upon you will come from this personal relationship you cultivate with God.  Love, Trust, Peace and Vision all find their true foundation in this first circle.  If you miss this circle your view on these words will be off.  If you cultivate this circle your view and usage of these words in the other circles will be at the most beneficial level and you and others will be better for it.

I encourage you to consider the five circles of your life and learn to live from the inside out.  What you settle on the inside you can easily express on the outside.  I will continue to write on ths subject in days to come.  Now go make today happen and take God with you.

Duane Youngblood

The Struggle is Over

Life is filled with it's challenges.  Many times we are not certain of the path to take and the answers are to come to us from our relationship with God and he will even send people to us who will confirm our release a word that points us towards healing or strength...Many people in the world struggle with private battles no one could even imagine....Sometimes these battles lead to very difficult results and even destroyed relationships...A wonderful stage presentation has been written to speak to one of those major struggles that people in church deal with....If you attend this event you will be inspired and will see a Godly way to deal with weakness and sin.

Duane Youngblood