Some believers focus so much on fighting the devil that they tend to lose sight of Christ and what he accomplished when He died on the cross. Others do not really understand spiritual warfare and so they tend to avoid the issue. The Bible uses the imagery of war a great deal and Paul states clearly that believers must war against the sin in themselves and against the evil one.
The idea of having to fight is not something that is easily accepted. Wars have caused much devastation on earth. However, the scriptures use war imagery and so it cannot be ignored. An understanding of what is meant by this type of warfare can help. The apostle Paul urges Christians to war against the sin in themselves and against the evil one. So, what does he actually mean by this?
The enemies Christians face are not flesh and blood. As mentioned in Ephesians, the battle is against principalities and powers. The battle is between the kingdom of God and what opposes it. Through the death of Christ and His resurrection, the power of Satan was broken and victory was won. This is a battle where the outcome is already known and His followers have to claim their freedom and liberty as children of God.
The weapons used in physical wars like bombs and guns are completely ineffective in this battle. Truth, integrity, peace, salvation, faith and prayer are the only weapons that succeed. The Word of God when used as an offensive weapon is sharper than a sword and it judges the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. Jesus countered temptations, deception and accusations by using the Word.
The motivation for battle has to be love rather than hatred. Those who love their families are prepared to go to extraordinary lengths to protect them and fight for their welfare. Christ love for mankind goes beyond this and it is this great love that motivates believers.
When Christ died on the cross, this gave His believers all the authority they need to overcome the evil one. It is not enough to simply be defensive. Christians have to attack, using the sword of the Word. They need to take ground and stand firm.
Sometimes when we look at the world around us, we become very discouraged. The odds do not seem to be in our favor and evil seems to abound. In the face of this, we need to constantly rely on God and believe that the fight is His, not ours. When we rely completely on Him, we do not give up despite discouragement. We receive all the strength we need to continue.
Many Christians feel a sense of inadequacy when it comes to waging war. However, their strength lies in trusting God and not relying on their own strength. God has already won the victory. They simply have to believe this until it becomes a reality in their lives.
The idea of having to fight is not something that is easily accepted. Wars have caused much devastation on earth. However, the scriptures use war imagery and so it cannot be ignored. An understanding of what is meant by this type of warfare can help. The apostle Paul urges Christians to war against the sin in themselves and against the evil one. So, what does he actually mean by this?
The enemies Christians face are not flesh and blood. As mentioned in Ephesians, the battle is against principalities and powers. The battle is between the kingdom of God and what opposes it. Through the death of Christ and His resurrection, the power of Satan was broken and victory was won. This is a battle where the outcome is already known and His followers have to claim their freedom and liberty as children of God.
The weapons used in physical wars like bombs and guns are completely ineffective in this battle. Truth, integrity, peace, salvation, faith and prayer are the only weapons that succeed. The Word of God when used as an offensive weapon is sharper than a sword and it judges the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. Jesus countered temptations, deception and accusations by using the Word.
The motivation for battle has to be love rather than hatred. Those who love their families are prepared to go to extraordinary lengths to protect them and fight for their welfare. Christ love for mankind goes beyond this and it is this great love that motivates believers.
When Christ died on the cross, this gave His believers all the authority they need to overcome the evil one. It is not enough to simply be defensive. Christians have to attack, using the sword of the Word. They need to take ground and stand firm.
Sometimes when we look at the world around us, we become very discouraged. The odds do not seem to be in our favor and evil seems to abound. In the face of this, we need to constantly rely on God and believe that the fight is His, not ours. When we rely completely on Him, we do not give up despite discouragement. We receive all the strength we need to continue.
Many Christians feel a sense of inadequacy when it comes to waging war. However, their strength lies in trusting God and not relying on their own strength. God has already won the victory. They simply have to believe this until it becomes a reality in their lives.
About the Author:
You can visit www.vannhutchinsonministries.org for more helpful information about Helping Believers To Understand Spiritual Warfare.
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