I’ve never been a member of the military, but there are a few things I know about it. When a man decides to become a soldier and defend his nation, a training process begins that is designed to turn the young man into a dependable soldier, ready for combat. It begins with a decision. For the young soldier, it begins when he decides to join the armed forces. For the Christian, it begins with a conviction that “I’m a sinner with no way to save myself.”

Scripture says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). 

The young soldier begins military life in boot camp, where he is taught to think and act militarily; he has to leave civilian life behind. He’s taught how to use the weapons of war and to be sure of his abilities.

Quite often, a new Christian is thrown back into the world without any discipleship or training in Scripture or God’s ways. Can you imagine if an untrained 18-year-old were given combat gear and told to go fight the battle? He would spend his time trying to figure out what to do with a bazooka rather than fighting skillfully. The enemy would have the advantage.

Yet, that’s what happens with new Christians. They make their confession of faith, then are expected to fight the spiritual battles alone. New believers need to be taught God’s ways, not brainwashed into denominational doctrine, but taught God’s truth and how to live to please Him.

That new believer has to understand that only through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ can there be forgiveness of sin and eternal life through Jesus; not all paths lead to Heaven. That’s when the process of maturing in our Christian journey begins. We need to enter Christian boot camp where God’s truth, found only in Scripture, is taught.

In the military, boot camp makes you physically and mentally ready for battle. The orders of the commanding office must be followed. This is why discipleship of new believers is necessary. We need to fully submit to God. Every Christian will face spiritual battles in life and must be trained to fight. The enemy we face is not flesh and blood but spiritual and evil.

“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).

These are Satan’s minions…evil powers. Remember when Daniel was mourning and fasting for three weeks? He was very concerned for Israel, even though they were in captivity in Babylon. Daniel studied and believed prophecy, so he knew the captivity was soon to end.

One day he saw “…a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz” (Daniel 10:5b). Daniel was shocked at what he saw, and he fell to the ground. The “man” explained why he hadn’t been there sooner. “Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words” (Daniel 10:12).

In other words, Daniel was fasting and praying, and right from the first prayer, this angel had been sent. There was a spiritual battle going on that Daniel wasn’t aware of. “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia” (Daniel 10:13).

God heard Daniel’s prayer and sent an angel to talk to Daniel, but the “prince of Persia” (modern-day Iran) stopped him. This “prince” isn’t a human, but an evil spiritual being behind the ruler of Persia, a principality. I say “isn’t” because that evil entity is still an issue.

It makes me wonder, what force of evil is behind the ruler of the United States? There has been much evil in the not-so-distant past. For instance, government-sanctioned killing of babies, approval of the homosexual agenda, as well as an anti-Israel attitude. I’m very thankful that our current President seems to have a high regard for Israel. National leadership can either lead a nation to moral uprightness and blessing, or follow down the path of evil principalities.

When the angel was finished speaking with Daniel, he had to return to fight again with the prince of Persia, and then he had to fight the prince of Grecia (Greece). No matter where you live, study Scripture and pray for your nation to draw near to God. Pray against the principalities that want evil. Pray for the nation of Israel.

The spiritual battle is real, and Christians need to be trained in spiritual warfare. When was the last time your pastor spoke on the spiritual battle we face? I’ve attended various churches and have yet to find a pastor who preaches the entire word of God. In fact, the last Sunday school class I attended had a lesson on demons, but likened them to termites in your house. Why even bother teaching such a watered-down lesson that would never equip anybody for a spiritual battle?

“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:10).

I’m very grateful for online ministries that are fearless to stand upon God’s truth. Our enemy is an evil entity and has power. His followers know he exists and are able to follow his lead and wield the power he gives. It seems that Christians are afraid of anything spiritual; other than believing that God exists, the enemy is ignored. Therefore, God’s army is not equipped for battle. We who claim God as our Commander must realize the battle is real. Even though evil is all around us, God is greater and more powerful than all evil.

The Old Testament has many lessons, but many preachers won’t teach from it. In 2 Kings, we read about Elisha, the prophet. Syria and Israel were at war, and the king of Syria called a meeting with his servants. In this meeting, they talked about where the army would camp. God warned Elisha to tell Israel’s king not to pass by where the Syrians were camped, which saved Israel from a large battle and possibly destruction. The king of Syria called his servants together and wanted to know which of them was a traitor and gave information to Israel.

“And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber” (2 Kings 6:12).

The king found out where Elisha was and sent his army to kill him. In the early morning, when Elisha’s servant woke up, he saw the Syrian army all around and, with much fear, told Elisha.

“And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (2 Kings 6:16-17).

Elisha was well aware of the spiritual battle behind the physical battle. Elisha knew that even though the enemy looked powerful, God was greater. Then Elisha prayed that God would blind the Syrians, and that allowed him to lead the enemy to the king of Israel. The spiritual battle will always be won by God, but Christians need to follow our Leader fearlessly and confidently.

Why is it that people who serve wickedness seem to understand the power that comes from Satan, but Christians haven’t a clue about the spiritual battle? Could it be that educating believers, both young and old, has become a thing of the past?

The New Age teaching that all paths lead to Heaven and that Christianity doesn’t have to change your lifestyle are false teachings. Christian boot camp seems to have become non-existent. God told Hosea, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me; seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children” (Hosea 4:6).

This, of course, was about the nation of Israel, but Christians should take note of it. We are indwelt with the Holy Spirit, and we have God’s power living in us. It’s time to take Scripture seriously and “Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).

The armor is God’s armor, so no minion of Satan can penetrate it. Shame on the shepherds of the flock who don’t take spiritual warfare seriously. God does, and so should we. Scripture gives many, many examples of demons being cast out of people, and demon possession didn’t stop with the apostles. This possession is real in today’s world. People open doors for demon possession by drug use, drunkenness, and Eastern mysticism (yoga). The battle isn’t against the possessed person, but against the evil entity that possesses the person.

Pastors have dropped the ball as far as spiritual warfare is concerned, but that’s not an excuse for you to lack training. Open your Bible and study. Don’t just zip through reading it in a year and think you’ve learned to use spiritual weapons in this spiritual battle. Study deep and don’t read human ideas into God’s word. He means what He says, and says what He means.

“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).

Elisha had no fear when facing a battle because he was equipped for the spiritual battle behind the physical battle. God is all-powerful. “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:14-18).

The battle is real, and so is God’s armor. Study each piece and know what the helmet of salvation is for and how to get it. Understand why you need the breastplate of righteousness, and what it is. Just like in a military boot camp, where the drill sergeant makes sure that each soldier is fully trained for battle, Christian soldiers must be trained for spiritual battles. A military drill instructor will make sure each soldier is fully submitted to the orders of the commander, so must Christians be fully submitted to God, our Commander in Chief.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

The devil is no problem for God, but if the saints aren’t equipped for battle, Satan will win. He will never win the war, but the everyday battles will overcome Christians if we allow it.

When do we prepare for battle? Immediately. Satan is under the mistaken impression that he has won the war, but he lost when Jesus shed His blood on the cross. The men who should be preparing Christians for battle seem unaware that there’s even a battle raging. They will answer for their blindness, but don’t let their lack of concern stop you from preparing for battle. Put on God’s armor, learn to use it, and don’t join the enemy’s side in the battle.

God bless you all

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com

www.prophecyupdate.com

www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).