Spiritual Warfare – The Battle Is The Lord’s
As Christians we must recognize that we are in a spiritual battle against the enemy of God. The Bible tells us that our battle is not against other people, or other political parties, or other nations. Our battle is against a spiritual enemy.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:10-12
Spiritual Warfare – The Battle Is The Lord’s
Spiritual Warfare Against God’s Enemy Satan
God loves all people in the world, and He wants all of them saved. He wants to have a restored personal relationship with all people.
“God who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” – 1 Timothy 2:4
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10
The Bible clearly talks about God’s enemy Satan. Satan is also the enemy of all Christians. The enemy of God hates all people. Satan wants to defeat people and keep them in defeat and bondage. And he wants to destroy lives. Like God, Satan also wants to win souls. He wants all people to go to where he is going for eternity.
“The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” – 1 John 3:8
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” – 1 Peter 5:8-9
Spiritual Warfare – Most Intense When You Commit to Join God In His Kingdom Work & Mission
When we are doing all we can to win souls for Christ and make disciples, the enemy will do all he can to try to stop us. Expect spiritual warfare if you have determined in your heart to join God in His work to win souls and make disciples.
If God has called you to join Him in His kingdom work and mission, then you will experience spiritual warfare. It comes with the privilege of joining God. But you do not need to be afraid or discouraged. God will strengthen you, protect you, and lead you victoriously through the battles and difficulties. And He will do this for His glory.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God…” – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Spiritual Warfare – The Battle Is The Lord’s
Paul Experienced A Great Deal of Spiritual Warfare
“Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent adrift at sea. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers. I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” – 2 Corinthians 11:24-27
“At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth.” – 2 Timothy 4:16-17
Paul experienced a lot of spiritual warfare. And he suffered a great deal for being faithful to Jesus and to His kingdom work and mission. But he remained faithful to the end. And he fully relied on Jesus, and Jesus always provided strength, comfort, and everything else that Paul needed.
Republished with permission from Blogs.crossmap.com, featuring inspiring Bible verses about Spiritual Warfare – The Battle Is The Lord’s – Pursuing Intimacy With God.
