Ephesians 6:12 – “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heaven.”

Five Strategic Foundational Statements

The following are Five Foundational Statements to help ground the people of God and to give us a perspective to help us in our Battle concerning Spiritual Warfare.

  1. We are born in war and born for war.
  2. All true spiritual warfare centers around the placement of the Son.
  3. You were created to bring pleasure to God.
  4. The source of all warfare is the root of rebellion.
  5. One of the most powerful weapons of warfare is forgiveness.

The Nature of Conflict and Warfare

Let’s take a look at the Nature of our Spiritual Warfare Conflict and how it is an ongoing and normal part of the Believers Life.  We will also review the revelation that our God is presented as “Man of War”.

It is a Normal Part of the Christian Life:

  • According to II Corinthians 10:3-5 – We do not war after the flesh … the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.  The battlefield of the mind, the devices mental thoughts.  This truth applies to all Christians.
  • According to I Timothy 1:18 – That… you might fight the good fight …
  • According to II Timothy 2:3,4 – Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier … No soldier in active service entangles himself.
  • According to Ephesians 6:12 – We wrestle against principalities and powers.

God Himself Is Presented as A Military Commander:

  • According to Exodus. 15:1-3 – The Lord is a man of war – song of Moses and Israel.
  • According to Joshua 5:13-14 – As Captain of the Army of the Lord at Jericho.
  • According to Psalm 24:8 – Who is the King of glory?  The Lord mighty in Battle.
  • According to Isaiah 13:4 – The Lord of Hosts is mustering the army for battle.

Three Observations to Aid Us in Our Battle

1. There are Two Warring Kingdoms

As there is a Kingdom of God, so, too, there is a Kingdom of Satan.

A kingdom is a place of rule, dominion, an area, or region over which a ruler reigns over those under his rule.  These two kingdoms are in direct conflict with one another.

In January of 1987, I led a ministry team from the United States to Haiti. This poverty-stricken island was once called the Pearl of the Antilles, but through a pack overtly made with the Devil, it become one of the world’s most enslaved and oppressed countries. During our sustained meetings, which included round the clock prayer and fasting, a Voodoo priest announced over the national radio, “All of the Witch Doctors across the nation must gather together at our known place and time, because “Our kingdom is under siege!”

If Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? … But if I cast out the demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (See Matthew.12:26-28; Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13)

2. As Christians we must fully realize the extent of Satan’s Influence

Nor do they understand, or exercise, Christ’s authority over the enemy.

From I John 5:19 – “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”

The Greek word used here is cosmos meaning “world” which means world system, worldly order of things. This is not to be confused with the “earth” (ge) of which the used by Psalm 24:1 where it says, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof”.

From I John 4:4 – “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

3. There are Two Extremes or Two Ditches to Avoid:  1) Preoccupation or 2) Complacent indifference!

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves [i.e., the demons] are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.” (C S Lewis, The Screwtape Letters)

There is no neutral ground in the kingdom of God.

We’re on the Winning Side!

Jesus declared on the cross, “It is Finished!”  The work of the cross of Jesus Christ is perfect and complete. Nothing needs to be added because Jesus has already won the battle. We fight our Spiritual Warfare battles from truth that we are called to be Enforcers of the Victory of Calvary. Always keep the perspective that we are on the Winning Side. Jesus declared, “It is Finished!”

Warring with You,

– James W. Goll