Spiritual warfare is a topic I\u2019d rather avoid. I hope my\nlight-hearted approach last week wasn\u2019t misleading. The enemy\u2019s activity is\nserious, and standing firm is our responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I was a child, I pictured the Devil as an impish little\nguy with pointy ears and a smirking face, wearing a red suit and dancing around,\nthreatening people with a pitchfork. I don\u2019t know where that portrayal came\nfrom. I wasn\u2019t afraid of him because I\u2019d been taught God is more powerful and\nhe fights for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Later, I framed the picture based on 1 Peter 5:8. \u201cBe sober,\nbe vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh\nabout, seeking whom he may devour.\u201d I saw him as a ferocious lion nipping at my\nheels but unable to do much harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As time passed and I heard teaching on spiritual warfare, I\nthought it a bit extreme and the people who spoke of this dark subject a little\nfar out. And then I found myself in battle requiring the weapons promised in 2\nCorinthians 10:3-5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the\nflesh. (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God\nto the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations and every high\nthing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity\nevery thought to the obedience of Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apostle Paul prepared us for spiritual battle.<\/em><\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFinally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the\npower of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to\nstand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and\nblood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness\nof this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may\nbe able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand\ntherefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the\nbreastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparations of the\ngospel of peace;<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAbove all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall\nbe able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of\nsalvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; Praying\nalways with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto\nwith all perseverance and supplication for all saints\u201d (Ephesians 6:10-18).<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re following Christ wholeheartedly, expect to battle the Enemy.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n How can we know what we\u2019re dealing with is spiritual warfare?\nIt\u2019s obvious when Satan unleashes everything he\u2019s got to blow us off the map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He did it in the biblical account of a good, God-fearing man\nnamed Job, destroying his children, his wealth, and his health. Clearly this\nwas spiritual warfare\u2014the story says so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Satan challenged the Lord, accusing Job of following him only\nbecause the Lord had given him favor and made him prosperous. Satan received\npermission to attack Job, only he could not take his life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I wonder if the word bizarre<\/em>\never crossed Job\u2019s mind during his affliction. He had no clue what was going\non, but didn\u2019t he think it bizarre<\/em>\nthat disaster came out of nowhere, altering his life forever? I\u2019ve learned bizarre<\/em> is a primary indication the\nEnemy is at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story of Job has a happy ending. After the attack, the\nLord gave him ten more children and restored more than he\u2019d lost. \u201cSo the Lord\nblessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning\u201d (Job 42:12).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are you in a baffling situation? You don\u2019t understand how\nthis happened\u2026it came out of nowhere. Look closely and likely you\u2019ll see the\nenemy\u2019s fingerprints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Satan is a formidable adversary, bent on devouring us.\nThat\u2019s not extreme teaching. It\u2019s Scripture-based fact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t be afraid! Our enemy is powerful but he\u2019s no match for\nour God! Remember, \u201c\u2026greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world\u201d\n(1 John 4:4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n First Peter 5:7 outlines our battle strategy.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We must stay aware of the prowling lion and resist him steadfast\nin faith (see verse 9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In spiritual battle, stand firm\u2014one hand securely in God\u2019s\nhand, the other wielding the shield of faith\u2014and pray with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moses declared, \u201cThe Lord will fight for you while you keep\nsilent\u201d (Exodus 14:14 (NASB).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Listen to his song of victory when the Lord delivered the\nIsraelites from the Enemy\u2014the Egyptian army.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed\ngloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The Lord is my\nstrength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will\nprepare him an habitation; my father\u2019s God, and I will exalt him\u2026.Who is like\nunto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness,\nfearful in praises, doing wonders?\u201d (Exodus 15: 1-2, 11 KJV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s use our battle scars as an opportunity to declare\nGod\u2019s praise! Tell me how he has strengthened you and brought you through a\nstruggle with the enemy. And please share this article with your friends!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a9 Dianne Barker 2019.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Spiritual warfare is a topic I\u2019d rather avoid. I hope my light-hearted approach last week wasn\u2019t misleading. The enemy\u2019s activity is serious, and standing firm is our responsibility. When I was a child, I pictured the Devil as an impish little guy with pointy ears and a smirking face, wearing a red suit and dancing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[296,297,293,9,295,292,294,298],"class_list":["post-877","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-2-corinthians-103-5","tag-adversary","tag-cast-cares-on-god","tag-dianne-barker","tag-ephesians-610-18","tag-spiritual-warfare-fighting-the-roaring-lion","tag-stand-firm","tag-strongholds"],"yoast_head":"\n
\u201cCasting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n