Spiritual Warfare

 

Let’s face it, we don’t get up and get dressed like this. Or do we? While most women of faith are familiar with Ephesians 6 and putting on the armor of God, are we even sure what it is? What it really is? Or for that matter, are we aware of what is just day to day occurrences, cycles and seasons of attempts and attacks or all out spiritual warfare?

Before we gear up for battle, let me remind you, that the battle belongs to the Lord, 2 Chronicles 20:15 and about other battles, and a command not to fear. I have to admit very little knowledge of military strategy or even the Old Testament battles, but I have learned over the years more about spiritual warfare because when you live for God, you are a target. The enemy is after your testimony.

Let’s look at a couple of instances in the Bible. Saul, who faced his own spiritual warfare as king, had armor that was ” too heavy ” for a shepherd boy. I seriously believe that the armor of God, who is in control of it all, that His armor, is ” too heavy ” for us. I believe that literally and spiritually, that armor is the Holy Spirit. Why do I say that, God anointed Jesus without measure, and He knew what was going on in the spiritual world all the time, we don’t.

We only read people so much, be gifted with so much wisdom, and spiritual gifts. None of us were meant to take on everything. We can’t make God’s decisions, just follow His lead and His love. It is His battle, we can be still, Psalm 46:10, and let Him be God. Exodus 15:3 calls Him a warrior, why? His people were in captivity. People have trouble associating a God that is love with war and the consequences of it, but He sees hearts and is there for those who are in the midst of it, and suffer because of it. He is Jehovah Gibbor Milchamah, mighty in battle. And there are many names for Him, it is a study all in itself, Jehovah Rapha, healer, I have need Him, for instance. especially, after trying to fight my own battles. What is hard for us, isn’t for Him.

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Ephesians 6:10-17 New Living

Paul’s closing tells them to be strong, but how? In the Lord and His mighty power. We can’t do it ourselves, God calls us to His strength, Jehovah Uzi, yes, it sounds like the automatic rifle. He doesn’t need one and neither do we. Paul tells us that we are not facing enemies that are flesh and blood. You could defend yourself against someone you could see, or at least try to. Believers are facing unseen enemies, of all sorts of rank, but we have the Holy Spirit and a myriad of angels on our side, and victory in Jesus!

We have to stand our ground, when truthfully, you might want to run or hide. And firmness doesn’t have to be arrogant and abusive. Jesus is the truth, and arms us with a breastplate of His righteousness, Jehovah Tsidkenu. Our shoes are His peace, a gift He left that we have to put on, John 14:27, and these are not clunky, heavy, metal combat boots, except to the enemy, they make our feet beautiful, Romans 10:15. Jesus is the Sar Shalom, the Prince of Peace, God’s name, Jehovah Shalom.

As for shields, we think of the circular ones, that we wave above our head. But many soldiers carried rectangular ones that were as tall as them. Sometimes, the shield depending on what they were made of would be soaked, wet in order to prevent the fiery darts. Brass ones were polished and reflected sunlight to blind enemies. We can was a small shield in defiance or be covered head to toe with the Spirit.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:18 New Living

This does mean tongues but if you not operate in that gift, the Spirit still helps your pray and prays for us, Romans 8:26. People are not praying intercession as they should be as the final spiritual battles rage. We need God’s protection and discernment. We must have our helmet which is salvation, to protect our minds and thinking.

And the sword is the Spirit, it rightly divides the Word and helps us realize truth from error, as our shield, we want to reflect God. When the enemy sees Him in us, he will flee in terror, as we are submitted in faith to God, Jehovah Magen, our shield. I read that he is not afraid of the sheep, he’s afraid of the shepherd. And he might not fear a prayer warrior alone but with God, a mighty warrior, he fears us.

May we all learn how to win our battles in Him. Is it cancer? Divorce? Wayward children? Are people trying your patience or is it God growing your faith in grace as you learn to stand firm, or is it spiritual warfare? The battle is His, and He has already won.

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD. Romans 12:19 New Living

I want to be on the right side of this, the winning one, victory in Jesus. It’s the only way I know how to win.

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