The Weapons Of Spiritual Warfare :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: November 5, 2017December 7, 2017 by RR7

The Weapons Of Spiritual Warfare

How do angels fight? Have you ever wondered about that? They’re created beings and are immortal so arrows won’t affect them. Some angels rebelled against their Creator and this rebellion is the root cause of the evil in the world today. God doesn’t turn a blind eye to rebellious angels or to rebellious people. Though angels exist in a different dimension than the one we occupy they can cross into ours. Daniel saw an angel who told him that he had just done battle with the prince of Persia and would do battle with the prince of Greece.

These princes are what Paul in the New Testament calls “principalities” and are an evil power that influences nations. When we read of the horrors that happen at the hands of Kim Jong-un you can be sure that he is under the influence of the evil power of the prince of North Korea. Still I wonder, how do angels fight. When Daniel describes the angelic being he saw, no weapon was mentioned. The weapons used must be of a different sort than we’re familiar with. They must be spiritual in nature. The same is true for Christians. Our real battle is spiritual and must be fought with spiritual weapons. “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.” Ephesians 6:12. Guns, tanks, and fighter jets won’t help in this battle.

The influence of the demonic dimension can be felt and demons are sometimes seen in the physical realm in which we live. We must do everything we can to fight against this evil force and that means to arm yourself spiritually. Spiritual warfare needs spiritual weapons. “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13. Just as we need weapons to protect and defend ourselves in the physical world, we need weapons to defend and protect ourselves in spiritual warfare. God hasn’t left us defenseless but you must learn to use the weapons available for this fight. An army that isn’t familiar with the weapons of war cannot win. Christian soldiers need to become familiar the each piece of the armor and learn how to use it properly.

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;” Ephesians 6:14. The first instruction is to stand. In a battle a soldier must be alert but if he kicks back and gets lazy the enemy has the advantage. So, Christian, stand and stay alert. Be sure your loins are girt with truth. A girt, or belt, will hold the weapons in place so be sure your weapons cling to truth. Don’t be confused by propaganda spewed by the enemy. The only truth that’s real is God’s truth and if you dilute that you have no truth. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” John 14:6.

If you put man’s ideas above God’s truth then you’ve compromised your battle gear. Without truth what can you believe? Do you believe one plus one is two? Can someone convince you it’s three? You need to be as certain of God’s truth as you are of basic math. Next you need to guard your heart by putting on the breastplate of righteousness. Not your own righteousness, which is nothing more than filthy rags, but Christ’s righteousness. How do we learn to use this breastplate of righteousness? As with every item listed in this armor of God, truth and righteousness are found in God’s word. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:16. Study God’s word and mold your life to fit His truth. Don’t pick and choose the parts of Scripture you agree with, but correct your ideas to agree with God’s truth.

What good is a soldier without proper shoes? When out on the battlefield you must be prepared to march so make sure you’re prepared. “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” Ephesians 6:15. The Gospel of peace. Jesus paid a huge price for that Gospel and we need to share it. Isaiah prophesied of this Gospel “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” Isaiah 52:7.

You won’t be able to share the Gospel of peace if you aren’t prepared. Study. That’s how you prepare. People all over the world have questions about Jesus, but if you aren’t certain of what you believe then how can you answer questions from other people? “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” 1 Peter 3:15. Whether you preach the Gospel of peace in Zion or in your own neighborhood, be prepared. A soldier’s shoes need to be cared for and comfortable. If you aren’t comfortable with the Gospel of Peace then get comfortable with it by studying. Then spread the Good News.

Is your faith in place? “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Ephesians 6:16. Having faith in something means that you know it to be true and trust it. The fiery darts of the wicked are thoughts of doubt that Satan plants in our minds to break our faith. If a loved one is ill and you pray for healing but God’s answer is to take that person Home, do you doubt God’s existence or question His love? You might go to school and are being taught the lie of evolution and you begin to doubt the truth found in God’s word. Satan has just hit you with a fiery dart. Solid faith will shield you from those darts of doubt. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews11:1. The shield of faith will protect you from doubt and protect you in times of testing.

Salvation is a free gift but it cost Jesus a huge price. He left Heaven to die on the cross to save sinners from eternal death. When we accept Christ’s shed blood as the sacrifice for salvation we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and salvation cannot be lost. Our salvation should never be taken for granted nor should it be doubted. “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:17.

A helmet covers the head. That’s where the brain is located and where thoughts originate. If you listen to the fiery darts from the wicked one you may begin to doubt your salvation and weaken your position in the battle. Keep that helmet of salvation securely in place and keep your thoughts on Jesus. Take your thoughts captive and gain victory over temptation and don’t yield to sin. When you’re tempted to sin, remember the price Jesus paid for your salvation and choose to follow Him rather than the way of the wicked. Every piece of this armor is for protection and defense.

Only one piece is for active use against the enemy and that’s the sword of the Spirit. Every word of the Bible in the original language is inspired by the Holy Spirit. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.

Don’t stray from the truth of Scripture. If you begin to re-interpret God’s word or “modernize” it to fit current sinful attitudes then you’ll have a dull sword that’s unfit for battle. The word of God is God’s truth. Study God’s word and let the Holy Spirit guide all your thoughts, words, and actions. Keep that sword in your hand and be ready to fight.

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:18-20. In battle it’s important to communicate with the leader. A Christian’s Commander in Chief is Jesus Christ. Prayer keeps us in touch with Him and helps us to follow Him more obediently. Paul also asked prayer for himself. He didn’t ask that his battle scars be healed or that he could live more comfortably, but asked them to pray that he be more bold in his witness for Christ. “Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.” Colossians 4:3-4. If you have your armor in place and in good working condition then you can march boldly through doors which Christ has opened, no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. Pray for open doors and boldness.

Think about the young David who found King Saul and his army hiding in the rocks and hills rather than fighting the giant Goliath. Saul’s army had the weapons of war but were afraid to use them. These men who should have been ready to fight were afraid and their weapons were useless. Goliath hurled curses against God Almighty and David couldn’t put up with that. He refused the carnal armor offered to him, but went to face Goliath armed with a slingshot and the armor of God.

David won that battle. We can win our battles too if we put on the armor of God. “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 exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

Many people say that Paul was being guarded by Roman soldiers when he described the armor of God. This may be true, but are we supposed to conform our life to a pagan guard? Jesus is our example. The prophet Isaiah described the coming Messiah. “For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing and was clad with zeal as a cloke.” Isaiah 59:17.

Follow Jesus and conform to His ways. No compromise and no wavering but be determined to follow our Leader. Christian soldiers, be armed for battle. Remember that soldiers are stronger when they troop together and the same is true for Christians. “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25. We need each other and joining with fellow Christians will help fight this spiritual battle. Fellowship needs to be more than a Sunday morning gathering.

The armor needs to be kept in good working order…the sword won’t sharpen itself. We’re told to put the armor on, but nowhere are we told to take it off. Keep your spiritual weapons ready for fighting spiritual warfare.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original scripture is “theopneustos” God breathed.

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Spiritual Warefare :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: October 29, 2017 by RR7

Ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties are more than things of myth. These entities come from the unseen spiritual world and are very real demons. Many people relegate them to an over-active imagination, but God’s word tells us they’re real. A spiritual battle rages all around us and we’re the victims of satanic hatred. Everyone serves one of two masters: Jesus Christ or Satan. Jesus is God Almighty, but Satan is the god of this world and is evil. The people in this world who follow Satan act on his behalf and make life miserable for Christians. Most of them don’t know that they’re following the prince of this world, but by rejecting Christ they’ve made the choice to follow Satan. They don’t have the moral guidance of Scripture and can only act in a way that pleases Satan. The battle is real, but if you’re fighting people (your spouse, your boss, your parents, etc.) then you’re fighting the wrong enemy. Satan and his minions are the enemy but will be defeated through Jesus Christ who said “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this word be cast out.” John 12:31. Jesus has won the war, but we still face spiritual battle. The battle needs to be fought with spiritual weapons.

The Apostle Paul faced much satanic opposition as he went about his missionary journeys to spread the Gospel. The blessing for us is that he wrote a letter to the Christians in Ephesus in which he told how our spiritual battle is to be fought. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10-13. It’s important to recognize just who the enemy is. Our enemy isn’t flesh and blood, but an unseen foe who attacks from the spiritual realm. Paul names the enemy as “principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world”. These are ranks of angels, specifically fallen angels who follow Satan. The demonic world is real and that’s where the battle truly lies.

The satanic entities which Paul names are seen throughout Scripture. Daniel chapter 10 tells us that Daniel had prayed for 21 days and then an angel appeared to him. The angel told Daniel that he had been delayed by the “prince of the kingdom of Persia” and that he would have to go fight the prince of Greece. These princes are the entities Paul refers to as “principalities”. The “powers” referred to are evil beings that keep people under bondage to drugs, alcohol, pornography, infirmity, etc. We’re told in Luke 13:11 that Jesus saw a woman who had a “spirit of infirmity” and had been doubled over for 18 years. Jesus loosed her from that spirit. In Luke chapter 11 Jesus talks about the eye being the light of the body, but if the eye is evil thy body is full of darkness. The ruler of darkness is evil indeed. Spiritual wickedness in high places is better translated “heavenly places”. In Ephesians 2:2 Paul says that before accepting Christ we walked “according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in children of disobedience”. The enemy is Satan and his minions, not people.

A spiritual battle calls for spiritual weapons, and Paul describes those weapons in Ephesians chapter 6. Weapons used in any war take knowledge and strength in order to use them properly. A Christian who is spiritually weak will find that the battle is difficult, tiring, and may eventually give up. The Christian who is spiritually strong will still have face battles but will have the strength to fight and win. Proper diet is an important part in having a strong, healthy body. The same is true to maintain a strong, healthy spirit ready for battle. Our spirit feeds on the word of God. When Satan tried to win against Jesus in the wilderness he challenged Jesus to turn the rocks into bread. Jesus had been fasting and His body needed food, “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4. Jesus quoted Scripture, specifically Deuteronomy 8:3. It’s important for a Christian to study and understand Scripture. A person who suffers from bulimia may put food into their mouth and swallow, but will vomit it out before it nourishes their body. They grow weak and become malnourished. Scripture needs to be taken into our minds and hearts and digested so it will feed and nourish our soul. If you never grow past the “feel good” verses you’ll never be armed for battle. Verses which speak of God’s love for us are wonderful to rest in, but when it comes to spiritual warfare we need to understand how to fight. The Holy Spirit is powerful but very few Christians understand the power we have available through Him. Peter is an example of a man who was dramatically changed by the power of God and was able to speak boldly with no fear once emboldened by the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul was changed from a murderous vigilante doing the biding of Satan into a powerful man of God who spread the Gospel and faced danger boldly because He understood the power of God. That power can be yours.

The Apostle Paul wrote many letters and if we study them we’ll be well armed for spiritual battle. One such letter was written to the congregation in Corinth. Satan had a strong influence in the Corinthian congregation and they were losing their spiritual fight. They were giving in to the darkness of the pagan culture around them. Sin was accepted and they were proud of their open-mindedness in accepting sexual immorality. 1They could no more fight a spiritual battle than a newborn baby can. Paul couldn’t write to them as mature Christians. “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.” 1 Corinthians 3:1-2. Unfortunately that’s where most Christians are today. Sunday school lessons and morning sermons are milk. Has your pastor preached on Romans chapter 1? How about 2 Timothy chapter 3? Unless he preaches line upon line and precept upon precept I’m sure he hasn’t. Don’t wait for the pastor to feed you meat. Study for yourself. Read, study, digest, and apply Scripture to your life. Be armed for doing battle against the powers of darkness.

Parents, feed your children meat. They won’t get it in Sunday school. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6. Today most parents turn their children over to public school. That’s a big mistake. Reading, writing, and arithmetic aren’t as important as teaching them to be sexually active, to accept homosexuality, and believe teachers above parents. Children who are only fed spiritual milk will grow to be weak adults who cannot fight in the spiritual battle. When Paul wrote to Timothy he reminded him that he had been taught truth as a child. “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou has known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:14-15. Spiritually deficient children will lose every spiritual battle because they are unequipped. So will spiritually deficient adults. Children need to be taught to measure everything by God’s word. If God’s truth is brought into question then the spiritual weapons are weakened.

Another important part in becoming strong is to exercise. Physical exercise builds strong muscles and spiritual exercise builds strong Christians. Memorize Scripture so that when a spiritual attack begins you can have it ready in order to fight the powers of darkness. What do you do if you’re tempted into sin by a co-worker or a friend? Counter the temptation with Scripture. Jesus quoted from Genesis when He said “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Matthew 19:4-6. Satan wants divorce, fornication, and other immoral acts. By knowing Scripture and exercising your knowledge of it you’ll win spiritual battles. Sin weakens you and makes it easier for the powers of darkness to gain the upper hand in your life. Are you strong enough to resist any temptation that might come your way? “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7. It will take strong resolve on your part to resist temptation, but the more you exercise resistance the stronger you’ll become. God won’t force His will upon you, but if you submit to Him your strength will grow.

The next step is to practice. Good soldiers don’t neglect their weapons and Christian soldiers in a spiritual battle need to practice daily. Don’t just talk the talk, but walk the walk. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22. Having a fish bumper sticker doesn’t make you a strong Christian. Resist road rage when someone cuts you off in traffic and give God glory and you’ll find yourself growing stronger in the Lord. Reach out to fellow Christians when you see they have a need. Witness to the lost people around you. If you practice doing these things they become easier. Satan would prefer that you sit home and watch television rather than reading Scripture and putting Christianity into practice. Speak out boldly for Christ and acknowledge Him in everything. Jesus commended Peter for declaring that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18. Jesus Christ is the foundation of our faith. Hell will not prevail against Him. He is our strength and our salvation. Onward Christian soldiers! Start marching to war against the “principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. Be prepared to fight a good fight.

Brothers and sisters, are you being fed meat or milk? If milk then you aren’t armed for battle. Our victory comes through Jesus. “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39. Wickedness is growing stronger and this wickedness is caused by principalities, powers, and the rulers of the darkness. If your pastor isn’t teaching the entirety of Scripture you may not understand that increased wickedness is a sign of the end times. Don’t wait for a man who’s paid to tickle your ears to feed you spiritual meat. Arm yourself for battle. Study prophecy and find out how Jesus described the end times. Understand the importance of Israel and keep an eye on the happenings in the Middle East. The end times are upon us and if you know anyone who has not accepted Christ for salvation then today is the day you need to share the Gospel…tomorrow may be too late.

Graduate from drinking milk to eating spiritual meat that will make you strong to fight the spiritual battle.