The Weapons Of Warfare Series

I’m not going to fight in the physical with physical weapons . . . I’m going to fight with spiritual weapons, cause it’s a spiritual fight. - Stephen Baldwin(1)

If you attended Vacation Bible School as a child, then you may recall marching into the church building to the tune of “Onward, Christian Soldiers.” Have you ever considered the meaning of this hymn? Some of the lyrics state, “Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before.” And also, “At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee; on, then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!”(2)

This hymn speaks of battle with Satan and his demons; but how many believers realize the unseen war that’s being fought around them? How many believe and acknowledge that there really is a war? And among those who do have some degee of spiritual understanding, how many know they’re actually equipped with weapons to send the devil running? Ed Silvoso states,

The Church in the West today presents too easy a target for Satan. We do not believe we are at war. We do not know where the battleground is located, and, in spite of our weapons, they are neither loaded nor aimed at the right target. We are unaware of how vulnerable we are.(3)

We must believe that the devil is real, and we must understand that we’re in the middle of an all-out war; otherwise, we’ll be unprepared to fight. Tonight’s message is intended to bring an awareness of the unseen war that’s all around us, and to reveal our weapons and equipment with which we can engage in spiritual battle and defend ourselves against our spiritual enemy.

Spiritual Warfare (vv. 10-12)

The Bible doesn’t directly use the term “spiritual warfare,” however it’s likely derived from the book of Psalm. David declared, “He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation” (Ps 18:34-35a). The Lord prepares you us war, because there’s a war to be fought; and Paul described this conflict in verses 10-12:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:10-12).

Paul alerted believers concerning the war that rages unseen. On this battleground Satan is the general of the opposing forces. Peter warned believers, “Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pt 5:8); and Paul cautioned young Timothy to be careful lest he “fall into reproach and the snare of the devil” (1 Ti 3:7).

This spiritual war is fought in the “battlefield of the mind.” The devil attacks the mind and heart, which are synonymous in biblical meaning. The New Bible Dictionary says the word “mind” is perhaps the closest modern term to the biblical usage of the word “heart.”(4)

When Judas betrayed Jesus, it was because the devil deceived his heart. John said, “The devil already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him” (Jn 13:2). Peter advised believers, “Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind” (1 Pt 1:13a); and Paul admonished, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rm 12:2a).

The battleground is indeed within the mind and heart, and the devil works to deceive by his lies and schemes. Jesus said of the devil, “There is no truth in him . . . for he is a liar and the father of it” (Jn 8:44). The word “wiles” in Ephesians 6:11 can also be translated as “schemes” (NIV); and Paul once spoke of the importance of forgiving others, so “that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are very familiar with his evil schemes” (2 Cor 2:10-11 NLT).

The war being waged is within the mind and heart; therefore, it doesn’t involve physical conflict, but a spiritual fight. For this reason, we’re provided spiritual weapons with which to defend ourselves. Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 10:4-5, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

In our main text, Paul said that within the armor of God are contained weapons for spiritual warfare; and if we want to be successful in our ministry efforts, and be able to withstand the attacks and schemes of the devil, then we need to gear up and wear the entire suit of armor.