In this revival series, we are looking at old topics through new lenses. Be it regarding loving God or loving others, a renewed look at repentance, we are trying to capture God’s view on these topics, and to be ready for, or even lead, revival in our lands.
Two Key Perspectives
Before diving in, we want to keep two perspectives in mind, to help keep spiritual warfare in proper focus in our walks with Jesus.
First, after the disciple’s first preaching journey, they reported back to Jesus all the great things that were accomplished in His name, and even that the demons obeyed them (this is spiritual warfare right here). But Jesus reminded them, that the most important thing was that their names were written in the book of life (Luke 10:18).
No amount of victory matters compared to eternal life found in Christ. This is the first perspective that must not be lost, either as a minister of freedom from spiritual bondage, and of course for those who were just freed. If they meet Christ after becoming free, what does it matter in the long run!
Second, we are to be about the Father’s work, like Jesus was. He did what He saw the Father doing, and said the words the Father was saying. We don’t look for evil in situations and attack spiritually speaking, we look for what the Father is doing and join Him.
If a commander’s goal is to take the hill on the left, but a few soldiers see an enemy on the hill to the right, and charge and attack that wrong hill, they are in the wrong, out of place, and liable to be dealt a defeat. Why? Because God wasn’t in the attack on that hill, He had a different objective. There is safety and victory when we join what God is doing, not asking God to join in what we are doing!
So remember, eternal life is the main perspective, and going about the Lord’s business is another. Both will help us be victorious in spiritual warfare.
Aware and Prepared
We will be tacking this topic from two sides: Being Aware of the Battle, and Being Prepared for the Battle. Being aware of a battle, but without weapons and armor is very dangerous, and being fully ready, but constantly hit by surprise attacks is difficult as well. But a prepared soldier, full of awareness of the attacks will success in the Kingdom of God, and that is our aim today.
Aware of the Battle
We are in a battle, and our main adversary isn’t people! This is the hardest part of getting through tough days, or being victorious in the Lord. We must know that we are in a battle, against an enemy that is constantly seeking our defeat, and it isn’t the people in our lives. Eph 6:12 “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.”
So the first part of awareness, is getting the ‘who’ correct.
Next, the apostle Paul wrote that ‘we are not unaware of his (talk of the devil) schemes.’ ~ 2 Cor 2:11. We are to be aware of the devil’s schemes, so we aren’t taken by surprise. Some need to ‘escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive’ ~ 2 Tim 2:26. Eph 6:11 Paul also tells us to stand against the devil’s schemes.
So we shouldn’t take our enemy lightly. He is scheming against you personally, laying traps against you, seeking to devour you. No, we are ready an aware of the battle we are in!
Also, be aware that temptation and trouble is not the same as failing or falling into sin. Having temptations says nothing about the level of faith we have, or the level of maturity we have reached. Some think that the mere presence of temptation or spiritual conflicts must mean we have ‘an open door’ for sin, or that we there is immaturity in us. But nowhere in scripture do we see this. Remember, Jesus was tempted by Satan, but without sin. He had ‘no open doors’ and yet Satan, directly and through many different people, constantly hounded Him.
Questioning your Awareness
Prepared for the Battle
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.” ~ 2 Cor 10:3-6
- Divinely powerful weapons! We have weapons, that come straight from God to destroy fortresses spiritually speaking.
- We are to destroy, not people or places, but speculations and lofty thoughts, that battle against our knowledge of God!
- We are to take captive our very thoughts, in obedience to Christ. This is one of the main battlegrounds, our thoughts and mind!
Wearing Armor
In Ephesians 6, Paul quickly outlines what is many times called the Armor of God. He specifically states that God gave us these items, so that we can stand against the devil’s schemes. So be prepared in your days by wearing these items, in mindset, spiritually speaking.
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. ~ Eph 6:13-17
The Sword of the spirit, which is the word of God! Finally a weapon, and it is clearly defined as the Word of God. So know your Bible, depend upon it as though it literally can cut and stab our spiritual enemies.Who isn’t aware/prepared
In closing, it would be good for you to ask the Lord how you should be best prepared for spiritual warfare. How our enemy seeks to make you stumble, will be different than how he try to make other stumble, but in the Lord, we can always be prepared and aware of the schemes against us.
Before you start going all guns blazing against the enemy, storming his strongholds in far off places:
- What is the Lord telling you about your awareness and preparedness regarding warfare?
- Are you fighting the battles in front of you?
- Are you winning the fight Satan is bringing to you and your family. Start there, be victorious there!
Blessings, for though we have an enemy that seeks to devour us, in Christ and his love, we are more than conquerers (Rom 8:37)!
