Spiritual Warfare

Last week I spoke to you about our spiritual growth, and I showed you the four most common reasons why people stop growing spiritually. Additionally, week before last I spoke to you about the blessings of God, and I demonstrated how the spiritual blessings are far superior to any material thing that we may receive; the reason being is that spiritual blessings are perfect in every sense of the word, as they are not something temporary. In case that you have not noticed, the theme behind the two previous preachings have been taking care of our spiritual life, and there is a very important reason why I have been so persistent in this theme. The reason for my persistence in this theme is because this part of our Christian life is something that is overlooked by many. This part of our Christian life is something that many people pay very little or no attention to whatsoever, and there is a grave danger in that.

The grave danger that exists is that at this very moment a war is being fought for our souls. At this very moment there is a devastating war that is being fought, the thousands of people are falling either dead or seriously wounded in the battlefields. Unfortunately this war is something that many fail to or do not want to recognize, or perhaps just simply choose to ignore. But regardless of these types of attitudes or way of thinking, the truth of the matter is that every human being in this world is involved in this war. Many choose to ignore or accept this war because this it is not something that they can see being reported by the information means of this world. The television news don’t show us graphic pictures or films of the attacks; the newspapers don’t print or publish any statistics about the death toll; and the radio definitively won’t broadcast any reports about the deaths, mutilations, and casualty counts that is experienced on a daily basis. But regardless of the lack of information being disseminated, the war rages on, and it is a war that is being fought since the beginning of human kind.

The grim reality that exists is that there are two armies that participate in the war, the army of God, and the army of the devil. The grim reality of it all is that if we are not aware of, or if we simply choose to ignore this war, then it will be very easy for the enemy to make us fall in the battlefield either seriously wounded, or completely dead. This is why today I wish to remain in the spiritual theme, and to study about the spiritual war. Let us study about this devastating war with the purpose of discovering the facts about it, and how to wage a successful battle against he forces of our enemy. Let’s now turn to the portion of the scripture that we will be using today.

Ephesians 6:10-18 - Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For 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. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints

The first thing that we can obverse in these verses that we are studying today is a powerful message about where we need to draw our power from, and a stern warning about who we are fighting. This is very evident when we read” Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For 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”. Now, I know that there are many out there that have read this on more than one occasion and are totally convinced that this something that does not apply to them. Many just think, I am only a Christian and not a spiritual warrior, or perhaps I am just a Christian and not a leader. Many say, I am not a prayer warrior or intercessor, therefore I am not involved. But if any of those or similar thoughts have ever crossed your mind, and you have submitted to them, then I’m sad to inform you that have fallen in the battlefield gravely wounded. I say this because there is no exception as to who participates in this war; every human being forms part of it.