OUR SPIRITUAL WARFARE
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The best description is found in Ephesians 6:12 “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." We are told that Spiritual Warfare is spiritual wrestling against the forces of darkness. Our enemies, described in the verse above, have a king, the devil, Satan. (Revelation 9:11) God does not desert us to face our enemies and the devil alone, He is always with us. (Hebrews 13:5) He tells us how to carry out this Spiritual Warfare.
Are we to 'body slam' the demons from the realms of darkness? Are we to 'attack' and 'rebuke the devil'? No, that is not how God tells us to do it in His Word. Let us look at a few verses on the subject. In the Old Testament, Zechariah 3:2 tells us that it is the Lord Who rebukes Satan. In the New Testament, Jude 8-10 tells us the same thing. Michael the Archangel dared not 'bring railing accusation against the devil', but said, 'Let the Lord rebuke thee'. We ask Christ to rebuke the devil, we do not rebuke him.
I John 3:8 says that it is the Son of God Who, 'will destroy the works of the devil'. Revelation 11:15-17 says that Christ will take up the Reign of His Kingdom, not warring saints. Psalm 110 says, 'The Lord said unto my Lord, sit Thou at my right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool'. In other words, God will deliver Christ's enemies to Him, not the saints, as faithful
as they may be. We must not infringe on God's territory in our
spiritual warfare.
Many Christians are so focused on the war, that they do not see Jesus. The eyes of Christians must be focused on Him, not on the devil. (Hebrews 12:2) It has been said, 'true warriors don't need to go looking for a fight to prove that they are warriors, they have already done that in the privacy of their closet'. To keep our focus on Christ, requires prayer, private prayer, “privacy of the closet” prayer. Boasting of praying and being a warrior, is not what Christ taught in Matthew 6:6, “But you, when you pray, enter into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father, Who in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, shall reward you openly.”
1 Timothy 1:20 says that two men were delivered to Satan, so that they would learn not to blaspheme. This passage of Scripture is a warning - 'watch your mouth'.
What are we to do, then? James 4:7 says to 'resist the devil', not rebuke him, and he will flee from us. Ephesians 6:11 says to 'stand against the wiles (schemes) of the devil'. I Peter 5:8 says to 'resist steadfast in the faith'.
So, if we resist and stand firm, we will not need to chase the devil, he will already be running from us.
How do we resist and stand? By knowing and being filled with the Word of God and using it against the devil, in the spiritual battle that rages. (Ephesians 6:17) Christ, Himself, used the Word of God against the devil, He didn't get into a physical wrestling match with him. (Matthew 4:1-11)
1 Timothy 1:18-20 says that spiritual warfare should also be carried out with faith and a good conscience. We maintain our faith in God, through His Word, it will keep us strong. When temptation comes, we know it is wrong to give in, because we are filled with the knowledge of God's Will, as a result of reading
God's Word and communicating with Him. (Colossians 1:9) We also strive to live a life that keeps our conscience clear, enabling us to resist temptation and to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:10) 1 Timothy 1:19 tells of some who became shipwrecked in their battle, because they rejected this advice.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 and Philippians 4:8 instruct us on how to maintain a good conscience. "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing
that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ"; "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things". These verses speak for themselves. If we want victory in spiritual matters, if we want to maintain a good conscience, then we must exercise control of our minds. Many of the devil's schemes come through the mind. What do we spend our time thinking about, what do we dwell on? Jeremiah 50:38 sadly describes a condition of the heart and mind. They go “mad” over their idols. Idols are not just man made images, they can be sports and Hollywood personalities, they can be anything that comes between us and our God. Does the verse stir up a feeling of guilt? Then, let us obey God by keeping our conscience "good," clear and clean.
Ephesians 6:10-18 is the Christian's Spiritual Warfare Manual, it is God's plan for our Spiritual Warfare. There are four important things to do when it comes to spiritual battle.
1: TAKE
Mulraine
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