# The Three Battlegrounds ![[Assets/79dc7f8bf050380310f6ab35df524a41_MD5.jpg]] ## Metadata - Author: [[Francis Frangipane]] - Full Title: The Three Battlegrounds - Category: #books ## Highlights - There is an old European proverb worth heeding. It reads: "Age and treachery will always defeat youth and zeal. " Before we engage in spiritual warfare, we should know this about Satan: He is an ancient and extremely treacherous foe. On the other hand, the strength of most Christians lies primarily in idealism and untested fervor. It is not long, usually five to ten years in the ministry, and most zeal has waned. Without warning, the minister's call has deteriorated from a walk of vision to a mere job. ([Location 21](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=21)) - After spending much time with struggling pastors, I have seen a common trend in most: They failed to discern the assault of the devil. They stood unprotected against an ancient, treacherous foe. ([Location 28](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=28)) - Whatever lofty spiritual plane you imagine that you are on, remember: Adam was in Paradise when he fell. Before your increased knowledge and religious experiences make you overly self-confident, recall that Solomon wrote three books of Scripture; he actually gazed upon the glory of God, yet he fell. Yes, even in your deepest worship of the Almighty, do not forget in long ages past Lucifer himself was once in heaven pouring out praise to God. ([Location 36](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=36)) - Thus, our purpose here is to help equip you for battle in each of the three primary battlegrounds: the mind, the church, and the heavenly places. ([Location 43](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=43)) - We are not trapped in darkness if we have been born of light. But if we tolerate darkness through tolerance of sin, we leave ourselves vulnerable for satanic assault. For wherever there is willful disobedience to the Word of God, there is spiritual darkness and the potential for demonic activity. ([Location 63](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=63)) - There is indeed a holy radiance surrounding a true Spirit-filled Christian. But when you harbor sin, the "light which is in thee" is "darkness." Satan has a legal access, given to him by God, to dwell in the domain of darkness. We must grasp this point: The devil can traffic in any area of darkness, even the darkness that still exists in a Christian's heart. ([Location 66](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=66)) - Let us recognize before we do warfare that the areas we hide in darkness are the very… ([Location 84](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=84)) - God can never entrust His kingdom to anyone who has not been broken of pride, for pride is the… ([Location 92](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=92)) - We should realize that the greatest defense we can have against the devil is to maintain an… ([Location 96](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=96)) - James continues in verse 7, "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." When we see this verse, it is usually all by itself as a monument to spiritual warfare. However, it is in the context of repentance, humility, and… ([Location 102](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=102)) - It is vital that you know, understand, and apply this principle for your future success in spiritual warfare. That principle is this: Victory begins with the name of Jesus on your lips; but it will not be… ([Location 106](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=106)) - Satan will not continue to assault you if the circumstances he designed to destroy you are now… ([Location 109](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=109)) - Satan fears virtue. He is terrified of humility; he hates it. He sees a humble person and it sends chills down his back. His hair stands up when Christians kneel down, for humility is the surrender of the soul to God. The devil trembles before the meek because in the very areas where he once… ([Location 113](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=113)) - Therefore, we need to recognize that the immediate source of many of our problems and oppressions is not… ([Location 118](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=118)) - Therefore, be specific when you submit yourself to God. Do not rationalize your sins and failures. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is a perfect shelter of grace enabling all men to look honestly at their needs. Accordingly, be honest with God. He will not be horrified or shocked by your sins. God loved you without restraint even when sin was rampant within you;… ([Location 122](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=122)) - Before we have any strategy for attacking Satan, we must make sure that the real enemy is not our own carnalnature. We must ask ourselves: are the things oppressing us… ([Location 130](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=130)) - When Jesus says, "agree with thine adversary quickly," He does not mean "obey" the devil. He is saying that when Satan accuses you of some sin or flaw, if the devil is even minutely right, it is to your advantage to agree with him about your unrighteousness. If he accuses you of being impure or not loving or praying enough, he is right. The key is not to argue with the devil about your own righteousness because, before God, your righteousness is unacceptable. No matter how much… ([Location 138](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=138)) - The more we recognize that Jesus alone is our righteousness, the less the adversary can assault us in… ([Location 143](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=143)) - Use the accusation as a reminder that you are not standing before a throne of judgment but rather a throne of grace which enables you to boldly… ([Location 148](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=148)) - A vital key, therefore, to overcoming the devil is humility. To humble yourself is to refuse to defend your image: you are corrupt and full of sin in your old nature! Yet, we have a new nature which has been created in the likeness of Christ (Eph. 4:24), so… ([Location 149](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=149)) - Remember, Satan fears virtue. He is terrified of humility; he hates it because humility is the surrender of the soul to the Lord, and the… ([Location 158](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B005PQ53PQ&location=158))