Our Warfare

 Our Warfare

A Word on Spiritual Warfare

 

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”— Eph 6:12

“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”—2 Cor. 10:4

The Bible teaches that we have a spiritual enemy, and we use spiritual means to combat them.

I felt led to write this because I’ve seen lots of opinions lately attacking the idea of demonic entities impacting our lives.

There’s a view in some Christian circles, that there is no spiritual enemy to fight. That it’s just us and our fleshly nature. No demons. Just our sin and disobedience to God.

But, that leaves out large parts of scripture. It throws a monkey wrench into the gears of what spiritual reality is.

Our flesh impacts us. But, there’s also a spiritual component that comes at us as well. There’s something outside the body that works against us. We see evidence and the scriptures warn us of it. (1 Pet. 5:8)

If we had a house with a rat problem, we would solve it and work to prevent it.

But, would we just blame the people who live in the house? That’s what we often do. It’s their fault. We accuse them and beat them down for having rats. We gossip, and judge and accuse.

The tenants do need to clean up. This is true.

But to solve the problem, the landlord needs to organize the cleanup and take care of things the tenants cannot. Like wise, the city needs to deal with things outside of what the landlord can do.

Finally, the rats must be dealt with and prevented. 

Many folks want to solve the problem by just telling people to live cleaner. But, that won’t solve it, totally. They need saved. They need prayer. They need the Holy Spirit, and Spiritual Warfare waged. They need love and help, which is part of our warfare.

This is what goes on in many churches. They tell.people not to sin, but ignore the spiritual reality of the war we are in.

I know churches, where they never mention the Holy Spirit or possible demonic activity.

People are suffering. Our world is getting darker, while many believers want to play church. People are dying and going to hell while churches sing songs.

The Lord says, “Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.”    (Amos 5:21-24)

He desires mercy for people. He seeks to save and help the lost, and hurting. That’s His heart. He did not come to demand your worship or sacrifice. We worship by waging spiritual war, saving people and helping them. (Matt. 9:13)

We have an enemy. If Satan can get us to think he doesn’t exist or doesn’t fight, then he wins because we do nothing.

It’s far wiser to fight the rats than to pretend they don’t exist, or hope they will just go away.

The first step in spiritual warfare. Is to believe God and His Word, over everything your senses tell you and everything the World tells you.

If you cannot believe God, then you are not saved and you are powerless against spiritual forces.

You must believe the Word given unto you, in order to accept it. Now I’m not saying that you must accept every word the preacher tells you. 

I’m saying you need to believe the Word of God as He leads you through the Holy Spirit.

Are you reading and studying the Bible? Listen to it while you drive or work. You need to be in the Word. That’s where you learn Truth.

Memorize verses. Especially verses that tell you about salvation and God’s promises.

Decide that you are going to trust God’s Word no matter what.

If the Bible says God created the Earth in seven days, thousands of years ago, then that’s what you believe.

If you cannot believe in creation, then how can you believe God raised Jesus from the dead?

And if you cannot believe Jesus rose from the dead, then you are not saved. (Rom. 10:9-10)

The same Bible speaks of both.

Trust the Lord. He will show you.

The Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit. If you do not know the Word or believe it, then you are not armed in this war. (Heb. 4:12, Eph. 6:12-17)

You might not even be saved, truth be told.

We are made righteous by believing what God tells us.(Gen. 15:6, Rom. 4:3)

All the armor we have in this war is directly related to God’s Word and the belief and trust we put into it, and Him. If you cannot believe and trust God and His Word, then you have no armor, or sword. (Eph. 6:12-17)

Now realize, that it is the Holy Spirit in us. It is not our fleshly selves. It’s God that does all of it. It’s His authority.

So when we wage war, it is God in us doing it. Do not think it is your own power. That is the enemy trying to put pride in your heart for something that is not yours.

Understand?

We have an enemy, and if He can get us to ignore him. Or not believe he is real or not wage war, then he is victorious.

How many people have been lost because we did not wage war?

How much pain and suffering have we allowed to continue to torment people because we refuse to see the demons harassing them, and pray for them and help them instead of condemning them?

That addicted child? 

They could be under the influence of demons. Wouldn’t it be good to know how to pray? To know how to fight for your child. As a matter of fact there is a large demonic aspect to addiction.

That person who always falls on hard times?

Could be demons, harassing them. Maybe they try to get right but always get led astray?

That person who is facing mental issues. Anxiety? Struggles?

Demons? Maybe? Maybe not. But it never hurts to pray for them properly.

Here’s something you must get straight. Demons harass or tempt or attack everybody.

It is not an indication of wrong doing.

Didn’t Jesus get tempted by the devil? (Matt. 4:1)

Didn’t Jesus get harassed by demons using the pharisees to tempt Him? (Matt. 22:18)

Didn’t He face demons during His ministry. (Luke 8:26-39)

Didn’t Judas get filled with the devil to betray Christ? (John 13:26-27)

Didn’t the demon princes of this world kill Him? (1 Cor. 2:8)

Jesus was perfect.

Therefore, demonic attacks or harassment have nothing to do with sinfulness.

We are all tempted. We all sin and we all face attacks in this war if you are saved.

It is a deception of the enemy to pretend that we don’t, or that only those sinners over there get tempted.

Stop being like the Pharisees, and start being like Jesus.

Learn to stand. Not turning a blind eye.

Ask God to show you.

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Bio:Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

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