When someone says "Spiritual Warfare", what immediately comes to mind? Have you ever sensed that you were in a Spiritual Battle?
There are 5 basic truths concerning Spiritual Warfare:
There is an invisible world
2 Kings 6:15-18
Ephesians 6:12
We are involved in an invisible world
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
2 Corinthians 4:4
Our foe is formidable
1 Peter 5:8
We must respect our foe but not fear him
2 Corinthians 2:10-11
We do not fight for victory, we fight because we have victory
1 John 4:4
1 John 5:4-5
James 4:7
There is an invisible world
2 Kings 6:15-18
Ephesians 6:12
We are involved in an invisible world
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
2 Corinthians 4:4
Our foe is formidable
1 Peter 5:8
We must respect our foe but not fear him
2 Corinthians 2:10-11
We do not fight for victory, we fight because we have victory
1 John 4:4
1 John 5:4-5
James 4:7
When conflict erupts in your life, what is your response?
Why do we struggle? We struggle because we forget that a battle is going on.
The battle is raging in our homes, our church, and our community, and we have forgotten,
Ephesians 6:10-18 (The Message)
10-12And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
13-18Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
If you are like me, I seem to find myself in "battle" most weeks. My prayer for you this week is that you will embrace God's word for us and be reminded that we fight because we have victory already.
Gather, Grow, & Go
Tim