THE BATTLE FOR OUR CHILDREN

The Battle for Our Children
By Eddie and Alice Smith
 
A spiritual battle is being waged for the
souls of our children. Since the beginning of
time, this has been the case, but never has
the enemy worked so deviously and on so
many fronts to destroy a young generation.
We really have to consider this battle from two standpoints:
the media and our homes.
 
First, America's homes are under attack and are being
invaded by insidious spiritual forces through various media.
Evil spirits seek entrance into the privacy of our homes
through music, computer images, video games and movies,
books, magazines and television shows--all negatively
affecting our children. Rappers indoctrinate our children to
exploit women as sex objects and to have no respect for
family, government, God or themselves.

Friends tempt them to engage in sexual promiscuity at earlier
and earlier ages and entice them with alcohol, nicotine and
drugs. Liberal public schools disregard the need for God.
But we thank the Lord for the godly teachers who continue
to stay in these schools as a direct act of obedience to Him.
 
On every turn godly parents have to fight vigilantly to
successfully contend with the godless world around them.
Even in the godliest home, all it takes is for a child to go to
an overnight slumber party with a friend whose father has a
stash of porn or whose family subscribes to a cable movie
channel and his or her life can be immediately altered
forever.
 
Second, we have spiritually clueless parents who buy
Abercrombie & Fitch thong underwear with the word "sexy"
embroidered in sequins for their preteen daughters. Parents
who buy such things are essentially acting as their
daughters' pimps, throwing them to the corporate wolves
who will force on them the most lurid, shocking, edgy
products imaginable. Sadly, to some parents, this abdication
of parental responsibility is considered chic.

After all, they don't want to appear uptight, overbearing,
puritanical or judgmental. They'd rather be their children's
friends than their moral compass and protector. Parents must
wake up and see that America's ugly, shallow, gutter culture
is destroying the souls of our children.
 
Thank God for pastors, churches, specialized ministries and
key intercessors who are aware of the spiritual battle we
face and who are stepping into the battle as spiritual
strategists to provide divine solutions for our children. As
parents, we must do the same.

Satan takes advantage of every opportunity to steal, kill and
destroy. We cannot remain naive to the fact that this is
exactly what the devil wants to do to our children and their
generation. It's our responsibility to rise up and fight for
them--to do everything in our power to see them become
powerful men and women who advance the Kingdom of light
and not cultural converts who blindly stumble into the
kingdom of darkness.
 
In this chapter we also address:
 
*  How the enemy targets our children
*  Tools the enemy uses to entrap and defile them
*  When the battle for their souls begins
*  Signs that the enemy is having success with our children
*  What if your child already possesses defiled things
*  The issue of ownership and house rules
*  Age-appropriate ways of dealing with unholy possessions
 - Dealing with Birth to Age 2
 - Dealing with Ages 3-8
 - Dealing with Ages 9-12
 - Dealing with Ages 13-18
*  Inappropriate gifts your child receives from others
*  A Parent's Prayer of Dedication
 
Yep, all of that is in only one chapter--plus some amazing
stories from people whose children have suffered from, and
been set free from spiritual darkness as a result of applying
the principles in our original best-selling book, Spiritual
Housecleaning.

TIME TO BURN THE INCENSE

Time to Burn the Incense
By Alice Smith
 
And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
Luke 1:8-9, KJV
 
You might remember from Luke 1 that Zechariah and Elizabeth, John the Baptist's parents, were "righteous before God." Both were descended from the priestly tribe of Aaron, advanced in years, yet barren! In the same way, the Church today is a kingdom of priests (see Rev. 1:5-6), advanced in
years--having had 2,000 years to learn the priestly skills--and yet essentially barren--powerless and fruitless.
 
Luke records that Zechariah's priestly division was assigned to temple duty when they drew the lot to burn the incense (see Luke 1:8-9). Imagine being chosen from a pool of approximately 22,000 active priests. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity! Verse 10 tells us that as he (the priest)
burned the incense, multitudes of people were praying outside the temple, for it was "the time of incense" (KJV).
 
As Zechariah burned the incense before the first coming of Jesus, I believe our generation has drawn the lot to burn the incense before Christ's second coming! Around the world, multitudes are praying! Those who burn the incense will become saturated with the fragrance of intercession that ascends pleasantly before Him. And as they do, they will experience life the way God intended it: so connected and satisfied by Him inside the Holy of Holies that when people who are living in the Outer Court and the world experience the fragrance of His lingering presence, they will be aroused and unsatisfied with strange fire and counterfeit incense. They will long for that place known as the Holy of Holies.
 
My husband, Eddie, has an anointing to lead people into the presence of God through worship like no other person I know. It is not unusual when we teach and Eddie is asked to sing a solo or lead congregational worship that the audience is crying by the end of the worship time.
 
When Eddie was the worship leader of our church in the 1980s, our praise and worship was so glorious that at times the congregation couldn't even stand on their feet. One particular night we had worshiped for 45 minutes in what seemed like the timeless presence of the Lord. When I opened my eyes, I could actually see a cloud hovering over the congregation. I could see in the midst of the thin white cloud, a few hands that were uplifted, and the legs of some people, but the glory cloud was over us. I don't know if anyone else experienced this amazing phenomenon, but that night there wasn't a dry eye in the building. No sermon could be preached. Our awareness of God's glory was so present that somehow we all knew that the worst thing we could do would be to speak. Some people sat in their chairs while others lay on the floor. Many people remained standing. We all sensed His divine visitation that evening.
 
There is a reason for this kind of visitation. The Father is drawing us into the Holy of Holies to restore the ministry of intercession today. Because of His prophetic end-time purposes--as well as for the desperate need of our generation--He is calling us into our prayer closets. No other
generation has lived so close to the brink of annihilation as ours.
 
God is looking for two kinds of people. He is looking for those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth (see John 4:23); and He is looking for those who will stand in the gap to intercede for the land (see Ezek. 22:30). He longs for worshipers and intercessors who will give themselves away in intercessory prayer.
 
In heaven, there are 24 elders surrounding God's throne. Of them Scripture records: "Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints" (Rev. 5:8, NIV). When we get serious about prayer, then the tears, fasting and travail of our intercession will cause the golden bowls full of incense in heaven to overflow:
 
"Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand" (Rev. 8:3-4).
 
No doubt the cup of man's sin is full and the judgment of God is approaching. I encourage you to answer God's call to intercede--to boldly step into the Holy of Holies where His presence engulfs you. As you do this, the burden on the Father's heart will become the focus of your prayers. Open your heart to receive a God-sized view of our world and unite your heart with others to make a difference in prayer.
 
Only then will you taste the joys of heaven and see millions of people prayed into the kingdom of God. Can you sense the urgency of the hour? Your prayers count! The golden bowls at heaven's altar--collecting the prayers of God's people--are almost full.
 
Pray right now. "Father, I am your priest chosen to intercede for my generation. I am asking Lord that my prayers and my life will be as a sweet incense before your throne. I rededicate my life to you today. In Jesus' name, amen."
 

WE'RE IN GOOD COMPANY

We're in Good Company
Submitted by Eddie Smith,
Author unknown

[Before we get to today's Insight, thank you for your prayers. Today marks my second week without pain medication; the beginning of the third of my six month sabbatical; and the week of my birthday! I have a lot for which to be grateful.

Thanks to you who are providing financial support for our ministry through June. We are amazed by your generosity and grateful to you and our Father.

Some of you have asked me for the following.]

Sometimes we wonder why God called us to do something for Him? There are many reasons why it seems God shouldn’t have called us. Our limitations seem so apparent, and so limiting to us. We forget that His strength is perfected in our weakness. He doesn't call those who are equipped; He equips those he calls.

Think of all those God has used. We’re in good company if we think we aren’t ready for God to use us.

• Abraham lied.
• Sarah laughed at God’s promises.
• Moses stuttered.
• David’s armor didn’t fit.
• John Mark was rejected by Paul.
• Hosea’s wife was a prostitute.
• Amos’ only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning.
• Jacob was a liar.
• David had an affair.
• Solomon was too rich.
• Jesus was too poor.
• Abraham was to old.
• David was too young.
• Timothy had ulcers.
• Peter was afraid of death.
• Lazarus was dead.
• John was self-righteous.
• Naomi was a widow.
• Paul was a murderer.
• So was Moses.
• Jonah ran from God.
• Miriam was a gossip.
• Gideon and Thomas both doubted.
• Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.
• Elijah was burned out.
• John the Baptist was a loudmouth.
• Martha was a worry-wort.
• Mary was lazy.
• Samson had long hair.
• Noah got drunk.
• Did I mention Moses had a short fuse?
• So did Peter, Paul and lots of folks.

But God doesn’t hire and fire like most bosses because He’s more like our Dad than a boss. He doesn’t look at financial gain or loss.

He’s not prejudiced or partial, nor sassy and brassy, nor deaf to our cry. He’s not blind to our faults. His gifts to us are free.

We could do wonderful things for and still not be wonderful.

Satan says, “You’re not worthy!”
Jesus says, “So what? I AM.”
Satan looks back and sees our mistakes.
God looks back and sees the Cross.

SHOWER JESUS WITH SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Shower Jesus with Spiritual Gifts
By Alice Smith

"Let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name."
Hebrews 13:15

For most of us, the words "spiritual gifts" bring to mind God's gifts to us by the Holy Spirit--the gifts of teaching, giving, and exhortation, and the other four motivational gifts listed in Romans 12; the gifts of prophecy, miracles, tongues and the other six manifestation gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12; the gifts of apostle, prophet, pastor-teacher, evangelist and the ministry gifts listed in Ephesians 4.

Not only does God give us supernatural spiritual gifts, but He is also gives us every physical gift: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17). Health, food, clothing, family, friends, money and more are all expressions of grace from our "favorful" and faithful Father God continually showers us with gifts--both inwardly and outwardly!

It's not difficult to think how we can give back physical gifts to God--our time, titles and offerings are good examples of that. But did you ever stop to think that we can also give a spiritual gift to God? Can you think of one spiritual gift we should continually shower on Him?

You probably know where I'm headed now. I'm talking about an attitude of gratitude (see 1 Thess. 5:18). Unfortunately, if there is one grievous and besetting sin in America today, it is the sin of ingratitude. As I travel the nations, the places where God seems to be doing the most are among people who are utterly and outspokenly grateful to the Lord Jesus for even the smallest blessings. This--a heart filled with gratitude and praise for who He is--is the spiritual gift He desires us to shower on Him!

A wife asked her husband of many years if he loved her. He told her of course he did. To which she said, "Then why don’t you ever tell me?" Dryly, he replied, "Honey, I told you 'I love you' when I married you. If I ever change my mind, I'll let you know."

We often live like this clueless husband--forgetting that the greatest spiritual gift we can give to God is our love (see 1 Cor. 13:13). To love Jesus means that we focus our attention on Him and shower Him with our affection. Focusing our attention means that we merge His person and His will into every experience and aspect of our lives and our thinking. Because God does not change (see Mal. 3:6), if there is something we are doing or thinking that can't be merged naturally with who He is, then we need to change.

We can't continue to think and do what conflicts with who He is and who we are in Him. To do so will make us unstable, and instability in even one area of our lives will make us unstable in all our ways! James 1:8 tells us that "a double minded man [person] is unstable in all his ways." Loving God means that we focus on Him or incorporate Him into our lives so that we live totally for Him. We honor the Lord this way.

If we cherish the Lord, we will tell Him so. Don't make God your mind reader; He has ears! Just as He hears the prayers of His people, He also hears their praise. Only a God with ears would make birds that sing, puppies that yap, and donkeys that bray, and having done so brag, "This is good!"

God created you with the ability to verbalize and orally declare His goodness, grace and mercy. So speak your heart to Him. But can’t He read my mind? you ask. Doesn't Jesus know what I feel even before I feel it? Then what's the point of saying it?

The Father not only loves to hear the melodic tones of the sparrow, but His heart hangs on every word of love and praise you speak. It is like honey to His heart! The angels surrounding His throne must surely envy the look that appears on His face when He hears you say, "Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul. Thank you for your love and grace." With all the praise the angels can muster--and they offer Him praise day and night--that simple sentence of gratitude is one they cannot express and will never experience!

Another reason for speaking your praise aloud to God is that you need to say it. Matthew 12:34 says, "For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh." Your heart and mouth are inextricably attached. They reveal each other. You are being transformed by the words you say. If you constantly confess the negative, then your heart will turn more negative. As you constantly hear yourself praise and thank Him aloud, your heart is changed! (See Rom. 10:17.)

Another reason to praise God out loud is to declare His victory to the whole spiritual world. From the day we were born we have been and will continue to be constantly monitored by both God and the enemy. Praising God aloud declares His goodness into the air where the enemy (the prince and the power of the air) can hear it (see Eph. 2:2.) God has destined us, His Bride, to do this (see Eph. 3:10).

Yes, we have a heavenly Father who continually showers us with all good things. But does He have children who think about what they can give to Him? What spiritual gifts are you offering to the Lord today? Even if you haven't a dime, the one gift you can consistently and continually shower on Him is the one gift He most longs to receive. A grateful heart of praise!