Spiritual Battles And God's Protection

TEXT: Ephesians 6:12; Psalms 91:11-12;

"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...For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."

FORCES OF DARKNESS ARE REAL

Many years ago, while still in college; I was terrorised by spiritual forces of darkness. I found myself fighting a futile war in the spiritual realm that hardly manifested in the physical. Most times, I struggled and shouted while being oppressed by spiritual beings, but those around me never heard or noticed these engagements. It was spiritual.

This particular warfare ended when I received Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, but once in a while they attempt to fight back but I now have an ally in Jesus Christ - the head of all principalities and powers - and just merely shouting the name of Jesus sends them scampering away. The Lord will arise and fight for you. You will be victorious in Jesus name.

CALLED AND CHOSEN TO BE A SOLDIER

The Christian is called to be a soldier. An active officer in a raging battle with the forces of darkness (Eph 6:12). We are the soldiers of Christ, chosen by the Commander of the armies of heaven. When soldiers fight, civilians run away from the war zone and watch on TV. Many Christians are like civilians, watching as bystanders while the enemy steals, kills and destroys their destiny. 2 Tim 2:4 says: "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." No Christian can afford to be a bystander in this raging war. Take up your cross, take up your sword, go down on your knees and fight.

A SPIRITUAL BATTLE

We do not fight spiritual battles with physical weapons, we engage with weapons of the spirit. 2 Cor 10:4-5 tells us that, "the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." The Lord who has chosen you will teach, equip and strengthen you to fight the fight of faith till the end in Jesus name.

It is a battle of the mind and thoughts. The Christian's major weapon is "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph 6:17b). The sword of the spirit is deployed menacingly through prayer, praises and speaking in tongues (Eph 6:18, Luke 18:1, 1 Thess 5:17). When we pray on our knees, God fights on our behalf through his angels.

ANGELS ON GUARD

While Daniel was on his knees praying, angels were fighting the Prince of Persia that stood as a barrier to the answers to his prayers (Dan 10:11-13). While the church, interceded for Peter, an angel was sent to release him from Harod"s prison (Acts 12:5-10). When Paul and Silas were praising God, angels shook the foundation of the prison and cut off the chains and fetters used to tie them down (Acts 16:25-26). When the King of Syria sent chariots to arrest Elisha, his servant was afraid but Elisha prayed and his servant's eyes were opened spiritually. He saw angels on horses with chariots of fire around them (2 Kings 6:15-18).

"Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation" (Heb 1:14). Angels work to guard and protect you, the precious heir of salvation. Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world (1John 4:4). As Elisha told his servant: "...Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them" (2 Kings 6:16). The forces deployed to fight on your behalf are much more than whatever the enemy can muster. Any Principality blocking the answers to your prayers will receive the fire of God and release the answers to your prayers today in Jesus name.

JESUS, OUR COMMANDER

We fight under the banner of our Lord Jesus who is; the Lord of hosts, the commander of heaven's army, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. When we pray, he fights for us; when we speak in tongues, he confounds and discomfits our enemies and when we praise him, he consumes and utterly annihilates the forces of darkness warring against us. The angels of God are standing by to do his bidding, we only need to do our part, pray and God will do his part, answer.