"In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere." - Ephesians 6:10-12 (AMPC)
Last weekend, Scottsdale, Arizona hosted the largest satan conference in history at Saguaro Old Town Hotel on February 11th - 13th, 2022. Many churches and Christian's in the valley rose up in prayer to come against the evil forces of darkness that plague much of our world, as we know it today. Sometimes spiritual warfare can spark a different response from other Christians and leaders in the church. Some may say, just ignore the devil and he will leave! Others may justify that we don’t need to pray about something if we know Jesus already defeated the devil on the cross 2,000 years ago… What’s the point? What authority do we have on the earth as Believers in Jesus Christ and what is our response against the devil when satan comes to town to throw a big party on our land?
I’m so thankful that I’m among the Believers in Jesus Christ who saw this event as an opportunity to pray not only for our city and state, but also for the hearts of the people who are deceived. To say the devil has no power when the Bible says he is the god of this world is dangerous and irresponsible as Believers (2 Corinthians 4:4). It sounds super spiritual to say as Believers we should just ignore such things, but the only one benefiting from that attitude is the devil himself. We were given all authority over satan (Luke 10:19), but we must execute it through prayer and spiritual warfare. Just like in the art of war, no good army ignores their opponent, but strips them from their communication from their commanding officer and disarms them of their supplies. We wag war in the spirit as good soldiers of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3) and are not ignorant of satan's devices (2 Corinthians 2:11). We are representatives of God’s Kingdom on the earth (2 Corinthians 5:20) and we are to not be lukewarm, passive, and dead in the water (1 John 4:4).
Some of the topics that were being discussed at the conference will affect us as a state if left to the rest of the world to enforce such as; “Raising Children in a Satanic Household” and “Abortion as a (Religious) Right.” and “After School Satan Club,” among others. I believe that because many Christians and churches among the valley did not allow the devil to come in and pitch a tent on our turf, we pushed back the enemies agenda through prayer and intercession (1 Timothy 6:12). I’m praying that the whole body of Christ will rise up and not allow such evil to influence our next generation, as we walk in our authority in Christ on the earth (Mark 16:17-18).
To read more about this event and the rise of Christian's in the valley of Scottsdale, Arizona and surrounding cities, check out this article from - Intercessors of America. Christian's Protests outside the event, written in an article from Christian Post. Isaiah Saldivar, a well know YouTube Evangelist, shares his response to the event in a video, here.
