Francis Frangipane - Strength for the Battle: Wisdom and Insight to Equip You for Spiritual Warfare

Most CHARISMA HOUSE BOOK GROUP products are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchase for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, and educational needs. For details, write Charisma House Book Group, 600 Rinehart Road, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, or telephone (407) 333-0600.

STRENGTH FOR THE BATTLE by Francis Frangipane

Published by Charisma House

Charisma Media/Charisma House Book Group

600 Rinehart Road

Lake Mary, Florida 32746

www.charismahouse.com

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwisewithout prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Modern English Version. Copyright 2014 by Military Bible Association. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked AMPC are from the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition. Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Copyright 2017 by Francis Frangipane

All rights reserved

Cover design by Vincent Pirozzi

Design Director: Justin Evans

Visit the authors website at www.frangipane.org.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Names: Frangipane, Francis, author.
Title: Strength for the battle / Francis Frangipane.
Description: Lake Mary, Florida : Charisma House, 2017. | "First edition."
Identifiers: LCCN 2016036268 (print) | LCCN 2016044579 (ebook) | ISBN
9781629989129 (trade paper) | ISBN 9781629989136 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Spiritual warfare--Prayers and devotions.
Classification: LCC BV4509.5 .F739 2017 (print) | LCC BV4509.5 (ebook) | DDC
235/.4--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016036268

Portions of this book were previously published as The Three Battlegrounds by Arrow Publications, ISBN 978-1886296381, copyright 1989, 2006; Spiritual Discernment and the Mind of Christ by Arrow Publications, ISBN 978-1886296367, copyright 2013; and The Power of Covenant Prayer by Charisma House, ISBN 978-0-88419-548-1, copyright 1998.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

2 CORINTHIANS 10:35

Contents

Wisdom is better than strength.... Wisdom is better than weapons of war.

ECCLESIASTES 9:16, 18

J ESUS PREPARED HIS disciples for everything, including war. They saw Him casting out demons. In fact, He sent them forth doing the same. But before He sent them out, He charged them to become wise as serpents yet innocent and harmless as doves (Matt. 10:16). This fusion of divine wisdom and Christlike innocence is the taproot of all spiritual victory. Indeed, we can defeat the enemy, but wisdom must precede warfare and virtue must come before victory. We must learn the ways of God, which means we must think with wisdom. And we must be pure of heart, that we may see God and gain discernment.

Almighty God, give me Your wisdom in all situations as You write on my heart what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, excellent, and worthy of praise that I might dwell on these things constantly as I contend by Your grace against evil and offer oppression no peace. Amen.

In whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God through the Spirit.

EPHESIANS 2:22

I HAVE KNOWN, ON occasion, the intimidation of the prince of darkness. Ive felt the weight of his confidence as he gloats at how unprepared the church ishow divided and carnal. He has no doubt that ultimately his kingdom will completely rule this world.

However, the immutable Word declares it will be the kingdom of the Most High that expands worldwide, not the kingdom of darkness. As it is written of Gods kingdom, Of [its] increase... there shall be no end (Isa. 9:7).

Therefore let us not surrender to fear or unbelief. If Satan has legions of demons, God has an army of redeemers. In truth, as each of us matures, we must stop thinking of ourselves merely as church people and more as a society of redeemers, for that is what we become as we are conformed to the heart of Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:2829).

O God, just as Jesus prayed that His disciples would be one, I pray that all believers everywhere will be united as one body so that the church, bound together by the power of Your love, may rise up in unity until darkness is fully overcome by the light, which is Jesus Christ. Amen!

Every purpose is established by counsel, and with good advice wage war.

PROVERBS 20:18

W E ALL HAVE seen many who have fallen. Jesus warned that the love of many would grow cold. Do not presume it cannot happen to you. Our enemy has been deceiving mankind for thousands of years. Our experience, on the other hand, spans but a brief moment. It is wisdom to recognize that we do not know all there is to know concerning warfare.

Therefore, be bold, but never brash or arrogant in your prayer life. Use your spiritual authority administratively, compassionately, but never presumptuously. Multitudes of well-meaning but ignorant Christians have approached the field of spiritual battle with flippant attitudes and have suffered greatly for it. Study and seek confirmation from the Lord for your strategies.

Gracious and loving heavenly Father, be my companion always. May I know You as You have revealed Yourself in the Scriptures. Daily illuminate my mind with Your wisdom. Strengthen me that I may stand on the day of battle, confident in the One who defeated all evil. Hallelujah! Amen.

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.

PROVERBS 10:12

T HERE ARE TIMES when I feel completely outraged by what the devil is doing to people, especially children. I burn inwardly with anger at the injustice and heartache I see in the world. But I know that my anger, by itself, cannot attain the righteousness of God (James 1:20). I must gather my passions and submit them to the Holy Spirit that they may regenerate into a redemptive response, even one that empowers my conformity to Christ.

Therefore lets arm ourselves with discernment and wisdom, and reach in faith to possess the mind of Christ. Jesus said, This gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Matt. 24:14). The world has seen Christianity; let us now reveal Christ as He manifests Himself through a society of redeemers.

O Father, arm me with discernment and wisdom. Remind me afresh today that I am Your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which You ordained that I should walk in. Let all that I do be done in love, the mightiest weapon in Heaven and on earth. Amen.

Therefore guard your minds, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 PETER 1:13

M ANY BELIEVERS HAVE been taught that, because they have the Holy Spirit, they cannot be deceived. This is untrue. One reason the Spirit of Truth was sent was because we so easily fall into self-deception. In fact, the very thought that a Christian cannot be deceived is itself a deception! Once a particular lie permeates a believers mind, his ideas and opinions crystallize and remain in whatever state of spiritual immaturity he happens to be. All manner of spirits will attack the soul, knowing they are protected by the armor of that persons own thoughts and doctrines.