The kitten was perhaps six or seven weeks old and incredibly cute. It resented being picked up though and attacked my hands with all the ferocity of a fully grown Siberian tiger. At least it seemed to think it was a tiger.

The kitten hissed, spit and growled. It clawed and bit. Fortunately for me, no matter how fierce the kitten of a house cat thinks it is, it will never be a tiger. Had a tiger growled at me with the same intensity, I would have been petrified. If I were close enough to know it was spitting at me, I'd be doing all I could to increase the distance between us. If it clawed and bit me the way the kitten the kitten tried to do, I'd have been dead.

Fortunately for me though, it was a kitten not a tiger. I had to laugh at it best efforts.

We sometimes try and tackle things in the spirit realm with the same level of preparation and ability as the kitten tackled me.

The sons of Sceva tried to use the name of Jesus like a magic charm with disastrous results.

Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
Acts 19:13-16 NIV

The power, protection and authority of Jesus Christ are not available to those who don't know Him. Even the demons know that. To fight the battle in the spirit realm we first prepare by giving our hearts to Jesus. Without that step we go naked and unarmed into the fray.

We cleanse and purify our hearts through confession and obedience in our lives. We need put on the full armor of God every day if we want to be any more effective than my kitten or the sons of Sceva.

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Ephesians 6:11-18 NIV

Every day we face a spiritual battle. Satan and his demons rage all around us and contending for the souls of the lost and seeking the death and destruction of the saved. Do you enter that battle prepared?

Until next time, rejoice in the power, protection and authority that Jesus has given to you and use it effectively.

Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

Be blessed

Kevin