davidbowerkingwood

What Spiritual Warfare?

In Ephesians 6:11-12 we read: “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

That sounds like some pretty serious business to me, wouldn’t you agree? Is Paul telling us we are in the middle of a spiritual war, could there be some danger involved? It appears the answer to those questions is yes and yes, there is a spiritual war going on and we, like it or not, are involved as soldiers and are living in “the day of evil.” In the following verses Paul goes on to describe “the full armor of God” and encourages us to make sure we are prepared as soldiers of the cross.

The Day of Evil

As I look about the nation and the world it becomes rather easy to believe we are living in the “day of evil.” One need not look too far or too carefully to find activities that could easily be so classified. If then we are living during a spiritual war should we not see some evidence of the battle in the Christian community?

I can remember this country during the Second World War and recall vividly how virtually everything was focused on the war effort. Although we were blessed by not having battles fought in our homeland everywhere I looked I saw reminders that we were at war and all were expected to make some sort of contribution to the war effort.

What serious signs do you see of our spiritual warfare at church? Are you often reminded of what’s at stake and your responsibility to make your own personal contribution to winning the war? Do you ever think of yourself as a soldier of the cross, armed and standing firm against the enemies of Christianity?

Personally I cannot recall a major sermon effort on the subject nor can I recall any serious Bible teaching on the subject in Bible study classes. The prevailing attitude seems to be more along the lines of “perhaps if we ignore it, it will go away.” I’m of the opinion it will not go away regardless of how dedicated we may be to ignoring it.

What is Going On Right Now in the Spiritual Warfare?

Although the Christian community at large seems intent on ignoring spiritual warfare if there is one actually in progress, and I believe there is,  then what is it like, who is on the front lines of this battle between the forces of God and the forces of Satan?

First Israel, and later the church have been involved in this spiritual warfare. The intensity of the involvement has varied over the centuries especially with individuals. Some believe and fight the good fight while others engage in denial or permit themselves to become casualties because of a failure to utilize the armor God has provided.

The battle, nevertheless, continues unabated among the supernatural beings of the spirit world, God’s angels and the fallen angels of Satan fighting with shockingly great power.

One point that may need clarifying is the true nature of the angelic creation. Often angels are portrayed as beautiful young girls in flowing white robes. The next most popular appearance alternative is a cuddly little babe with cute little wings on their backs. Let me assure you notions of this sort are wildly, madly off base; nothing could be further from the truth.

We have a few descriptions of angels given in the Bible and a few records of how human beings reacted to the unshielded glory of an angel.

In Revelation 10:1-3 we read, “Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke.”

In Daniel 10:5-6 we read, “I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.”

How did Daniel react to this vision? We are told in Daniel 10:7 “I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.”

I believe I can say with a high level of confidence if I suddenly came face to face with a being of that sort my face would turn deathly pale and I would be helpless too! I’m not embarrassed to say I might even faint.

We are protected by God’s grace and greatly blessed by our inability to personally observe the angelic struggle that is involved in the spiritual warfare going on around us.

How Can We Fit in With Soldiers Like That?

These are the front line soldiers in the spiritual warfare that has been going on for thousands of years. Who do we think we are to compare ourselves to those mighty beings? Well, we are a lot more than one might think at first glance; after all we have God the Holy Spirit dwelling in us! In 1 John 4:4 the believer is reassured by “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” We must fight this battle in the power of the Holy Spirit, not our own power which is laughably inadequate to the task.

This is what Ephesians 6:10-17 is all about; we have God as our armorer and He has provided all of the equipment we need to be effective soldiers in the spiritual warfare. On our own strength we are nothing, with God we can “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

You’ve heard the expression “last man standing?” Well with the power of God on our side that’s us. Welcome to the spiritual warfare, I suspect we’ll see the intensity of this war increasing over the next few years.

Be prepared, put on the whole armor of God!