The devil wants nothing better than to rob you.  He wants to steal your joy, your peace, your health.  He wants to cause chaos, instability, and fear.  If you let him he will eventually kill you.  That is the devil's agenda.  Unless you recognize who the enemy is, what he wants to do, and the power that he has, you are subject to his agenda.  As long as you are living in sin, as long as your flesh is alive and active, (fear, anger, hatred, judgment, lust, fornication), as long as you are ignorant of God's word and will, as long as you are not blood washed and Spirit driven, and as long as you are not set free and live in the authority you have in Christ and God, speaking to every mountain to be cast into the sea, you are subject to his agenda.  That is why when even a born-again, Spirit-filled Christian is attacked, it causes confusion in the church.  However long it takes, whatever sacrifices that have to be made, unless you have worked out your salvation, you are subject to the devil's agenda. 

            For the born-again, Spirit-filled Christian the trial of our faith is much more precious than gold that perishes, for through the trial we grow, we learn, we mature.  As we confess, “ I am strong in the Lord and the power of his might”, “I am strengthened with might by the Spirit in my inner man”, “Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world”, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, “God delights in the prosperity of his servants”, “I am the Lord that healeth thee”, “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want”, “I mortify the deeds of the flesh” we begin to take authority over our life and those for whom the Spirit leads us to pray.  When once we are Spirit filled we must pray for the gift of wisdom, knowledge, faith, prophesy, tongues, healing, and especially for discerning of spirits because when we begin to see the enemy, if we are free, we have the power to cast him out.  All sickness, disease, lack, depression, fear, bondage must obey the word of God and the man or woman of God who knows his or her authority in Christ.  Alternatively, for a person under attack, if we see fruit like love, joy, peace, and faith, we know and are certain that through the prayer of faith they will be healed.

            It is essential to know God's will, to know God's word, to know our strengths and weaknesses.  We must forsake the world for Christ.  We must cultivate a life of silence and prayer, communing with nature and the word.  We must attach ourselves to Christians who are ahead of us in the race and learn from them.  We must learn to praise the Lord, singing hymns and spiritual songs, and confess the word of God.  We must repent of sin and follow the path of righteousness.  We must live by faith and walk in love.  If we do, and it is all the product of grace, we will be more than conquerors in Christ.  We will have the mind of Christ and we will live in victory and power and the devil will not succeed to rob, steal, or kill. 

            Father, I repent of sin and all uncleanness.  I ask you to wash and cleanse me in the Savior's blood.  Jesus I give you my life, my will, my hopes and dreams.  Give me an obedient spirit to yield to your will and purpose in my life.  By faith I receive the Holy Spirit.  Change my heart and make it pleasing to you.  I stand in the authority of God's word and speak it with boldness.