1 John 5:4 – For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Psalms 18:39 – For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
The reason for this post is so that us, as the children of God, know that we are called to be God’s warriors in this battle against the devil and his army. We forget many times that we are in battle – in a consistent, non-stop battle between two forces: the forces of God and the forces of the devil. I believe, and know through my own experience, that once you realize that we are in a consistent spiritual battle your entire life will change. It will change because you will start understanding many things in your life and around you, and possibly even in your own family, where the devil himself has gotten involved and has been working, trying to deceive and destroy what he can. But once we know that we are in a consistent battle, the battle ground will change for now you will know to prepare yourself and be on the offensive.
Psalms 18:39 says that we have been girded with strength unto battle. You and I have been given what is necessary for us to go to battle, but not only that, we have seen that our enemies that have raised up against us have already been subdued, through God’s strength. But many times, we forget in the midst of the battle that we can overcome it, for God has already overcome it and through Him all things are possible; we have victory in everything through Him. When we go into 1 John 5:4, it says that whoever is born of God has overcome the world, and what makes us victorious over the world is faith, the faith we have. Our Lord Jesus speaks about faith and that when we have faith, all things can come to pass. We must not doubt, we must pick up our armor and come ready to battle and know that we can, not only can, but have already overcome this world and the god of this world (the devil, 2 Corinthians 4:4). We must understand then that the devil has already been defeated.
Ephesians 6:10-18 – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…
In the passage above we see that we have a whole armor of God that has been dedicated for us to fight the battle. If the Lord has prepared an armor for us then we know that we are warriors for God. A warrior at all times must be prepared to go to battle for his Lord. You can visit the post on the Armor of God to go in detail on each part of the armor. It is important for us to know each part and how each part is used and applied for, when we do, we are able to use the armor to the fullest extent and power against the devil and his army.
Zechariah 4:6 – Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
This is a very important part – we must realize that when you and I are in battle against the spiritual world, we are not fighting in our own strength or our might, but by the Spirit of the Lord, our God. There are too many times that we try to take this battle on with our strength and power, with this flesh, but how can you fight was is spiritual with what is not spiritual? It doesn’t work.
This is why so many of us today in this world, when we try to fight the devil and his army, we fail every time. We fall back into temptation, into sin, we transgress over the laws of God and we become weaker in our walk with Christ. Which then allows doubt and fear to enter which can lead you to lose your faith completely. This happens because we do not walk by His Spirit and we do not live by His Spirit. A spiritual battle must be fought in the spiritual realm through the Holy Spirit.
This is why we must spend time in fasting and praying, in the mediation of the Word of God. We must connect back to our Father in Heaven through prayer and disconnect ourselves from this world through fasting. When we do this, we become stronger in faith and in spirit; we will start living in the supernatural with God’s spirit and we will increase the power of God in our lives and around us. This will allow the Holy Spirit to start moving in your life and the Lord will use you in His kingdom by tearing down the Kingdom of the Devil and building new territory for Christ. Many will come to Christ for they will be delivered in the name of Jesus Christ and His blood will clean and wash away sins of men and women of this world. When we become warriors for Christ, the power of the creator will work and this will cause the devil to run away.
Mark 16:15-20 – And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Jesus sent his apostles out and also gave this great commission to us. We must go preach the gospel to all – this alone is picking up the sword and going to battle. This was a commission for His warriors to pick their swords and go preach. And it tells us that he that believes and is baptized will be saved. When people turn that were on the side of the devil, to come to the side of God we are winning and breaking through the devil and increasing the kingdom of God. In addition to this, it continues saying that when you believe, we shall cast out devils (demons) we will speak in new tongues. We will take up serpents and even if we drink anything that is deadly, it will not hurt us. We will lay our hands on the sick and they will recover.
There are too many people out there that only follow the first step: to go and preach. The rest, following in this passage, isn’t only if you want to or a choice, but it is a command, a sign to show that the Lord is working and confirming what is happening. Jesus Himself said that if He cast out demons, we then know that the kingdom of God has come Matthew 12:28. It also tells us that wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty and deliverance (Luke 4:18 and 2 Corinthians 3:17).
We have forgotten that the Lord has come to heal the sick, to take the captives and set them free, to break the bondages and chains of the devil, people in addiction, fornication, idolatry, gossip, witchcraft, divination and many others to bring them to Him. We have become weak in faith (weak warriors) and allowed too much theology and philosophy of men studying God (confusion) rather than allowing God to speak and do His work through the Holy Spirit, which is supposed to teach us and show us the truth. We must become reliant and dependent and the Holy spirit to show us and teach us (this will make us true warriors).
Conclusion
It is time to allow the Holy Spirit out of the box that you have put Him in and understand His part in your life. We have blocked Him because we are confused of is work and do not understand how He works; we have become fearful of Him and because of this, many have said that certain things are not the work of God.
Do you understand all spiritual warfare? No, but we know it is there. Do you see all? No, but we know it is there. Do you know how you speak in tongues? No, but we do. Do you know how people are healed of being sick or blinded or paralyzed? No, but we know that the Lord does it,. Do you know how someone that is filled with addiction and once he has been prayed for he is no longer addicted. No, but it was done in the name of Jesus Christ. Do you understand when someone has a spirit him how he can be delivered of it? No, but it comes out in the name of Jesus Christ.
The spiritual realm is another world we do not see or understand. We live in this visible world and even here we don’t understand all, how then can we expect to understand what is spiritual when we do not allow the Holy Spirit to show us? Once we allow Him to speak and show us, we will become more aware and understand the spiritual realm and start understanding how it runs. We need to discern these things and allow God to reveal His truth, for His spirit will work with the Word of God.
When we allow this cooperation, we will become true warriors for Christ, for He has called us to be warriors for Him.
God Bless You.