Is the Church Armed But Not Dangerous?

152 Pages·2006·0.41 MB·English

by  Jeff Butler

Is the Church
Armed
But Not
Dangerous?
How His Beloved Bride
Becomes a Battle-Ready Warrior
Through Six Prayer Principles
Jeff Butler
Endorsed by Tommy Tenney
ARMED BUT NOT DANGEROUS
Copyright © 2006 Jeff Butler
ISBN-13: 978-1-886296-41-1
ISBN-10: 1-886296-41-3
Printed in the United States of America
All rights reserved
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the
New King James Version (NKJV). Copyright © 1982 by Thomas
Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Arrow Publications
P.O. Box 10102
Cedar Rapids, IA 52410
Phone: [phone]
Toll Free: [phone] (U.S. only)
Fax: [phone]
Web: www.arrowbookstore.com
Dedication
Long before we began pastoring in Racine, Wisconsin, the
intercessors at True Life Ministries were praying. God only knows
how much more these dedicated people of prayer could have
accomplished if they had the teaching, understanding and inspiration
of the modern, organized prayer movement.
It was an easy decision to dedicate this book on prayer to the pray-
ers, both original and recent, who continue to surround Tami, myself,
our children and the church with constant, loyal, powerful prayer. We
could not be more blessed; they could not be more anointed or
appointed.
Intercessors, this dedication from me seems small compared to
your dedication to Him. You literally moved many of us from armed
but not dangerous to armed and dangerous to the devil. Thanks for your
unselfish commitment to establish and expand the kingdom of God.
You are the best on the planet.

Contents
PROLOGUE
INTRODUCTION
1. A COSMIC CONFLICT .................................................. 15
2. PROTECTED BUT NOT PRODUCTIVE ....................... 35
3. PROTECTED BUT NOT PASSIONATE ........................ 53
4. PREPARED BUT NOT PROGRESSING ........................ 71
5. PERSUASION BRINGS PROTECTION .......................... 89
6. PROTECTED AND PROFOUND ................................. 107
7. SUCCESS WITH A SWORD .......................................... 121
8. WALK THE WARRIOR’S TALK .................................. 137
EPILOGUE

Endorsements
I have known Jeff Butler for many years. I have witnessed him
transition as he moved from the physical activity of athletics into the
spiritual authority of prayer by using the principles outlined here. He
now shows how to successfully battle in the heavenly realm. In his
new book, Armed But Not Dangerous, he takes us from playing soldier
to being soldiers. You need to read this book.
P.S. The bride wears combat boots!
Tommy Tenney
God Chasers Network, Pineville, LA
Jeff Butler has presented a powerful position of TRUTH in this
book. Armed But Not Dangerous provides us with a true glimpse into
realities of the Western church today. The warfare necessary to
displace and replace demonic rule must be undertaken by the believers
who are ARMED and willing to engage. Jeff’s inspirational style and
motivational focus offer the reader practical steps for involvement,
and provide tools every believer can use as they become engaged in
this effort. Globally, spiritual warfare is going to another level, and this
book will serve you well in your quest to bring down Satan’s kingdom.
Very well written!
Bishop Tudor Bismark
Jabula—New Life Ministries, Harare, Zimbabwe
I recently finished a series of messages for our church on spiritual
warfare and the armor of God. Our congregation is fairly mature in
their understanding of the Word. However, these messages seemed to
be particularly timely as our people drank in the reality of our times.
Pastor Jeff Butler is a seasoned pastor/teacher with many years of
experience in the ministry. This book will place a manual for victory
in the hands of every hungry and searching person. Pastor Butler’s
experience as a pastor, regularly involved in the day-to-day lives of
Christians, will provide practical insights that will set people free to
serve the kingdom with intelligence and discernment.
Bishop Joseph L. Garlington, Sr, PhD
Covenant Church of Pittsburgh and Reconciliation Ministries Int’l
In this day of spiritual drought, the world awaits a fresh breeze and
gentle rain from our Lord. Jeff Butler’s handling of this anointed word
on prayer and spiritual warfare refreshes the thirsty and parched soul.
Read it and receive a deeper meaning of the warring bride in intimate
discourse with her Lord.
Bishop Jack Dehart
Chairman, Global Network of Christian Ministries, Dallas, TX
Prayer is the undisputed need of the church for every generation.
It is the fuel that drives the engine. Jeff Butler has given us an
excellent look at prayer. He shows us why we, at times, have been
ineffective in our approach, and then gives the antidote for ineffective
prayer. This book needs to be read by every person who is concerned
about the direction of the church.
Eddie Cupples
Love and Truth Ministries, Jackson, TN
Jeff Butler has given the church one of the best handbooks ever
written on spiritual warfare! It is both biblically insightful and highly
practical. Whoever reads it will come away being truly armed and
truly dangerous!
Dennis Cramer
Dennis Cramer Ministries, South Williamsport, PA
Prologue
A Wife or a Warrior?
I married up . . . no doubt about it.
I shall never forget when she walked down the aisle to the front of
the church that beautiful June day in 1981. Back then I thought she
was everything I wanted a bride to look like; today I know she is
everything I want a wife to be. I’ve made some boneheaded decisions
down through the years, but my judgment in this case was right on. I
knew what I wanted and went for it.
Men, if you are like I am, you chose your wife for the strength of
her character, not her bench-pressing ability. We should be more
impressed with quiet confidence and femininity than loud, overbearing
brashness. The Scriptures clearly celebrate ladylike virtues in a woman,
and I couldn’t agree more. I like a lady to look and act ladylike. My
bride, on that day, was just that . . . a picture-perfect bride.
I married a wife, not a warrior . . . a lover, not a fighter. Her
training was not in the fine points of military maneuvers but in
Christian character and godly virtues. She was dressed for a wedding,
not a war. She was not weighed down with full military gear or battle
fatigues, but wore a beautiful wedding gown. She knew where she was
going and why she was going there; she dressed accordingly.
But the beauty of a bride on her wedding day cannot be sustained
indefinitely. When a woman becomes a mother, an interesting
transition takes place. When a mother’s protective instincts kick in, her
resolve and determination expand from that of being a wife for her
husband to that of being a warrior over her children. God hardwired
women to meet the demanding challenge of being a wife and mother.
While I need my wife, our children need their mother to war for their
welfare. What a daily balancing act it must require to be both.
The Occasion Determines the Outfit
Everyone has been invited to a party or function and not been clear
on what you were expected to wear. “Should I wear a black tie and
tails or blue jeans and boots?” can usually be answered by the nature
of the event.
If the occasion determines the outfit, we should find out where
we are headed . . . or
better, we should find
I think we are preoccupied with our
out who we are.
departure to a wedding in heaven, Sometimes the bride
should dress like a
forgetting our responsibility to wage
chaste virgin, awaiting
warfare for dominion on the earth. her departure to the
marriage celebration.
But on other occa-
sions the mother will look like a battle-ready warrior, desperately
wanting dominion.
If the bride is only prepared for a wedding she will be destroyed
during the heat of a military campaign. On the other hand, a woman
focusing only on waging war will not fulfill her role as a wife. How can
one woman be pure as a virgin on her wedding day and powerful as
a victorious warrior in the heat of battle?
Every woman must determine the occasion and put on the
appropriate outfit; so should the church.
The Church is a Woman Who Wars
You and I represent the church, which is the bride of Christ. We
are the bride; Jesus is the bridegroom. However, I think we are