The Middle East and Ukraine wars are only the earthly visible counterpart of the war in the heavens. Only the Church, thanks to the Name and authority of Jesus, is equipped to fight and win this war. This article will show you how to fight and win.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places – Ephesians 6:12 (ESV).
In Part 01 we were introduced to the topic of spiritual warfare. We learned from Scripture that the Christian life is a walk of faith. It also is a constant fight. It is not a battle we have chosen but it is one we must fight to win.
The forces of darkness do not rest and neither should we. Souls and nations are at stake. So the sooner we understand the problem and take up our spiritual equipment, the better off we will be.
The changes, challenges, conflicts and chaos we see on Earth are merely the proxy war of what is happening in the heavens. Deal with the heavenly adversaries and it will bring a breakthrough here below.
In Part 02, we will look at the practical side of how to fight in spiritual warfare and win.
Thou therefore endure hardness (hardship), as a good soldier of Jesus Christ—2 Timothy 2:3 (KJV)
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses — 1 Timothy 6:12 (ESV)
A good starting place is the Book of Ephesians, Chapter Six. This is a wonderful, inspiring, exceeding blessed epistle. It tells of our great inheritance in Christ (chapter one), that we are seated in heavenly places (chapter two), that we may measure the immeasurable love of God (chapter 3), equip the saints to serve through the five-fold ministry (chapter four), be filled with the Spirit (chapter five). No criticism, no correction, and no condemnation – all good. Then you come to the final chapter, Ephesians 6 – and we are commanded to be strong in the Lord and put on the whole armour of God. There are various reasons for this but the main one is when you dwell in the heavenly places, you are more likely to have spiritual conflict than down on planet Earth.
Hannah Whitall Smith, author of the best-selling Christian classic The Christians Secret to a Happy Life, wrote these words in 1870:
… the Christian life is to be throughout a warfare; and that it is to be especially so when we are “seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 2:6, and are called to wrestle against spiritual enemies whose power and skill to tempt us must doubtless be far superior to any we have ever heretofore encountered. As a fact, temptations generally increase in strength tenfold after we have entered into the interior life, rather than decrease.
The Whole Armour of God – Ephesians 6:10-18
The stakes are high. Though we may have an interpersonal conflict on earth – something we need to minimise or avoid – all of this is child’s play compared to the true conflict in the heavens. Our real battle is against principalities powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places (v. 12). This list may sound like a formidable array of enemies but remember that ‘… greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world’ (1 John 4:4). We are well equipped to fight and win through the whole armour of God.
Note that the exhortation to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might is more than a polite suggestion; it is a divine command and we must do it now.
The Armour of God: Piece-by-Piece
- Belt of truth: Truth is our most potent weapon. Its powerful light dispels the darkness of lying and deception.
- Breastplate of righteousness: Christ’s righteousness is downloaded to our hearts by faith (Philippians 3:9). The breastplate protects our inner being.
- Gospel of peace on your feet: Keeping our feet on the gospel road is a key weapon against the kingdom of darkness.
- Shield of faith: Hold up high this shield because it will extinguish all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
- Helmet of salvation: This protects the battlefield of our minds.
- Sword of the Spirit: This is the Word of God – a weapon used to great effect by Jesus when tempted in the wilderness. Reciting the phrase, ‘it is written,’ followed by a Scripture quote, was enough to drive the devil away.
It is a healthy exercise to memorise and invoke each weapon when entering into a deep time of prayer. In intercession, remember to praise, thank, and worship God for who He is and for what He has done, as well as what He will do in answer to your prayer.
To Be continued.
