Spiritual Warfare
N othing is as it seems. All around a spiritual war is raging. The war is taking place in the unseen, heavenly realms, between God and the rebel Satan, and spills over into the earthly realm.
What Does The War Look Like?
It's classic good versus evil stuff!
Since he was cast out of heaven, the devil has been wreaking havoc in the earth.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1 Peter 5:8Unlike God, who is omnipresent (everywhere at the same time), the devil can only be in one place at any one time but his influence is widespread.
Many of the spiritual battles and attacks that spill over into the earthly realm often have an "earthly" explanation instead of being recognised as the work or influence of the evil one.
For example, crime is often regarded as related to a person's upbringing. Likewise, sickness and disease are linked to germs, genetics or poor diet. Acts of terrorism, due to incorrect ideology.
Soldiers Of Christ
As Christians, we are not just going through a mere struggle on earth, which is why the bible employs terms like "warfare" and "soldiers of Christ".
We ourselves were once part of the rebellion but now we rebel against it, fighting as chosen soldiers of Christ.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
2 Timothy 2:3-4Who Is Our Fight With?
Our fight is not a war against flesh and blood i.e. is not a fight against people.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12Many Christians mistake their battle to be an on-going fight against sin and the pursuit of holiness but Jesus has already won that battle for us.
If you are not currently part of the fight then you have probably been taken captive without realising.
We fight that others might be set free and to protect ourselves from the attacks of the enemy. We also fight to tear down the strongholds of the enemy and take back ground for our God.
Time To Decide
There is no "sitting on the fence" in this war. You are either on one side or the other. Only those who proclaim Jesus as their Lord and saviour can claim to be on God's side. Dare to stand and join the fight.
Whose side are you on?
Tim Simpson
4th July, 2020
#ChristianDogWalker