In computer language there is a security measure called a Firewall. The intent of a Firewall is to create a barrier keep the "bad stuff" from getting in to get access to the valuable computer and network places.
These places house the data and information that companies and people use to keep track of important things, do business and function in many other ways. It protects where the inner workings are that keep the systems running like they should. If someone with bad intentions were to get access to the computer or network they could potentially steal valuable information or corrupt or destroy key configurations or code making the computer or systems fail or breakdown. If you've ever gotten a virus on a computer you have experienced a little of this threat.
If you understand even a little about spiritual things and the supernatural realm, you may likely believe that there are some bad spirits out there, and you'd be right. This, without a more complete and accurate understanding, can seem like a scary thing. We are often naturally afraid of what we don't understand. Technology can be scary for someone who doesn't know how to use it, but for those who understand how it all works together, it can be easy to navigate the code to use it to their advantage. But things we don't understand can be even more scary if we have just enough understanding to know it could hurt us . Bad spirits sure seem like something that might want to hurt us. The devil is kind of like the commander of all the other bad spirits. And indeed his entire plan is to steal, kill and destroy. So, like an attack on a computer, there is a form of viable threat.
However, God is a spirit and He also works in the supernatural realm. Not only does He work in the supernatural realm, He owns it. There is nothing in it that He cannot control. That includes the devil and his goons.
This being said, sometimes well meaning, believing Christ followers may put up a spiritual Firewall against the scary things, unintentionally blocking out the supernatural move of God from their lives in the process. God is sovereign and so if He really needed to speak in a way you were sure to hear, He could. But He's also respectful of how far we want to go with Him, which inevitably leaves an opportunity for us to limit His manifested power and voice in our lives.
If you have wondered if God really speaks, having not experienced His personal direction in your life, either through His word and general revelation, or even through special revelation (both of these explained in more detail below), and you have not been living with unrepented sin in your life (because that in itself will put a wedge between you and God), then you may want to examine if you have put up a Firewall against anything supernatural. God is a spirit and He is very Super-natural. He truly can do all, and He does want relationship with you. He wants to talk with you.
Maybe you have questioned why God doesn't answer when you pray. I assure you, God does answer prayer, and He wants to answer yours. He may not always answer the way you would prefer or would expect, but he does answer. Don't miss His answer or His voice because of a Firewall you have put up.
Here's the good news... you put it up, so you can take it down too. And like the wall of Jericho that came crashing to the ground without a single strike of physical force against it, it's not force that will take down this wall either.
First, understand that a wall is not going to keep a spiritual enemy out of your life, it's just going to keep you from recognizing that the enemy is there. Let me ask, do you think it's easier to hit a target that you can see, or one you can't? Clearly you have a great advantage to combat a force that you can see. While you can't actually see spiritual enemies, you can discern them by your spirit and the leading of God. This doesn't make them more dangerous, this exposes them. How can you productively pray against something if you don't know it's there? But if you discern it, then you can pray specifically against it and can combat it's attack.
Having this understanding, you can take courage that in pulling down this wall, you will not be giving up your security. Your true security is in God, under His wing (Psalm 91:4). The further you are from Him, the further from His cover and protection you are. You are taking a far greater risk shielding yourself from the supernatural than you would be letting God in with all of the supernatural fullness that He is, and letting Him be your shield.
If you realize that this may be a factor in your life preventing you from hearing and experiencing God for yourself and you want to take that step to bring down the wall, you can literally start it now with the very thing you questioned - prayer.
If you need a guide for the prayer, feel free to follow the below, and make it your own.
God, I thank you that you created all things and there is nothing that is outside of your command. I don't want to be afraid of spiritual things anymore. I don't want to block out Your awesome power from my life anymore. I want to be open to hearing Your voice, no matter how You choose to speak to me. I put down my fear and I take up courage that You will be my shield and my protector. I command now that every wall I have put up between You and me must come down and it must come down right now! No longer will I walk in blindness. Help me see all that you want me to see and help me to continuously walk forward in You and not fear. Amen
He will meet you here and honor you in this prayer.
As mentioned previously, God speaks to us in several different ways and even within those ways, He tailors how He speaks to align with how we would understand Him. Most people will never hear the audible voice of God and that's okay. He speaks most frequently through His word. There might be a particular circumstance that you've prayed about and when you open your Bible to read, He takes you right to the scripture that speaks directly to your situation. This being said, if you don't spend any time reading your Bible, you are not only hindering your growth, but you are also cutting out a very common way for how God speaks to His people. God also speaks through means of general revelation - those things that can be found and observed through natural means - such as nature, logic, and reasoning. In addition to communication to the masses of believers that He can tailor just for you right when you need it, He can also speak through special revelation. He can speak directly into your spirit and give you insight and understanding that you didn't have before that moment and had no other natural means of having received it.
God is speaking, the question is if you are positioned to hear Him.
These places house the data and information that companies and people use to keep track of important things, do business and function in many other ways. It protects where the inner workings are that keep the systems running like they should. If someone with bad intentions were to get access to the computer or network they could potentially steal valuable information or corrupt or destroy key configurations or code making the computer or systems fail or breakdown. If you've ever gotten a virus on a computer you have experienced a little of this threat.
If you understand even a little about spiritual things and the supernatural realm, you may likely believe that there are some bad spirits out there, and you'd be right. This, without a more complete and accurate understanding, can seem like a scary thing. We are often naturally afraid of what we don't understand. Technology can be scary for someone who doesn't know how to use it, but for those who understand how it all works together, it can be easy to navigate the code to use it to their advantage. But things we don't understand can be even more scary if we have just enough understanding to know it could hurt us . Bad spirits sure seem like something that might want to hurt us. The devil is kind of like the commander of all the other bad spirits. And indeed his entire plan is to steal, kill and destroy. So, like an attack on a computer, there is a form of viable threat.
However, God is a spirit and He also works in the supernatural realm. Not only does He work in the supernatural realm, He owns it. There is nothing in it that He cannot control. That includes the devil and his goons.
This being said, sometimes well meaning, believing Christ followers may put up a spiritual Firewall against the scary things, unintentionally blocking out the supernatural move of God from their lives in the process. God is sovereign and so if He really needed to speak in a way you were sure to hear, He could. But He's also respectful of how far we want to go with Him, which inevitably leaves an opportunity for us to limit His manifested power and voice in our lives.
If you have wondered if God really speaks, having not experienced His personal direction in your life, either through His word and general revelation, or even through special revelation (both of these explained in more detail below), and you have not been living with unrepented sin in your life (because that in itself will put a wedge between you and God), then you may want to examine if you have put up a Firewall against anything supernatural. God is a spirit and He is very Super-natural. He truly can do all, and He does want relationship with you. He wants to talk with you.
Maybe you have questioned why God doesn't answer when you pray. I assure you, God does answer prayer, and He wants to answer yours. He may not always answer the way you would prefer or would expect, but he does answer. Don't miss His answer or His voice because of a Firewall you have put up.
Here's the good news... you put it up, so you can take it down too. And like the wall of Jericho that came crashing to the ground without a single strike of physical force against it, it's not force that will take down this wall either.
First, understand that a wall is not going to keep a spiritual enemy out of your life, it's just going to keep you from recognizing that the enemy is there. Let me ask, do you think it's easier to hit a target that you can see, or one you can't? Clearly you have a great advantage to combat a force that you can see. While you can't actually see spiritual enemies, you can discern them by your spirit and the leading of God. This doesn't make them more dangerous, this exposes them. How can you productively pray against something if you don't know it's there? But if you discern it, then you can pray specifically against it and can combat it's attack.
Having this understanding, you can take courage that in pulling down this wall, you will not be giving up your security. Your true security is in God, under His wing (Psalm 91:4). The further you are from Him, the further from His cover and protection you are. You are taking a far greater risk shielding yourself from the supernatural than you would be letting God in with all of the supernatural fullness that He is, and letting Him be your shield.
If you realize that this may be a factor in your life preventing you from hearing and experiencing God for yourself and you want to take that step to bring down the wall, you can literally start it now with the very thing you questioned - prayer.
If you need a guide for the prayer, feel free to follow the below, and make it your own.
God, I thank you that you created all things and there is nothing that is outside of your command. I don't want to be afraid of spiritual things anymore. I don't want to block out Your awesome power from my life anymore. I want to be open to hearing Your voice, no matter how You choose to speak to me. I put down my fear and I take up courage that You will be my shield and my protector. I command now that every wall I have put up between You and me must come down and it must come down right now! No longer will I walk in blindness. Help me see all that you want me to see and help me to continuously walk forward in You and not fear. Amen
He will meet you here and honor you in this prayer.
As mentioned previously, God speaks to us in several different ways and even within those ways, He tailors how He speaks to align with how we would understand Him. Most people will never hear the audible voice of God and that's okay. He speaks most frequently through His word. There might be a particular circumstance that you've prayed about and when you open your Bible to read, He takes you right to the scripture that speaks directly to your situation. This being said, if you don't spend any time reading your Bible, you are not only hindering your growth, but you are also cutting out a very common way for how God speaks to His people. God also speaks through means of general revelation - those things that can be found and observed through natural means - such as nature, logic, and reasoning. In addition to communication to the masses of believers that He can tailor just for you right when you need it, He can also speak through special revelation. He can speak directly into your spirit and give you insight and understanding that you didn't have before that moment and had no other natural means of having received it.
God is speaking, the question is if you are positioned to hear Him.
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