Warrior of The Word - Ephesians 6:12

 

Ephesians 6:12

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.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

    The Lord's people do not fight against anyone with weapons that can harm or kill one's opponents. Remember when Peter attacked the high priest's servant Malchus? He thought he was defending Jesus against being arrested. But Jesus told Peter to put his sword away; then he healed Malchus. ~John 18:10-11 & Luke 22:51~ 

    We do not retaliate against the people who have wronged us. We are to love them just like Christ loves us. We are to pray for them; not to bring divine judgement, but to bring divine mercy. It is this message of love and forgiveness which the sermon on the mount reveals to us. ~Matthew 5:21-26;38-48. 

    When we pray heaven's blessings onto the heads of our enemies, we enter the realm of darkness. We should only enter here knowing ahead of time who it is we are really fighting against. Not only our spiritual eyes need to be open, but our perspective needs to be changed in how we view our enemies. 

    For the enemy of our soul is directing the hearts of those who knowingly and unknowingly follow his lead. People who don't know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior yet, are a people living in darkness. They are bound in their sins just as surely as you and I were. Until someone prayed us out of the darkness that surrounded us and led us to The Light, Who then filled us and surrounded us with Himself. 

    The arena of darkness is the heart and the award is the soul. Whoever wins the battle, wins the soul. We pray against every evil thought in the hearts of our families, our friends, our acquaintances; in the hearts of the strangers among us and the enemies of our faith. 

    We pray the Peace of Christ for every heart. We pray the salvation of God for every heart. We pray the Joy of The Holy Spirit be known in every heart. 

    We pray forgiveness to replace bitterness, revenge, malice, murderous thoughts and intents, judgements. We pray contentment to replace envy and jealousy. We pray that the knowledge of the holy be sought after; praying against the strongholds of darkness laid out in Galatians 5:19-21. We pray Ephesians 3 into our families, friends, strangers, acquaintances, enemies. 

    We pray for ourselves: to maintain our walk in The Spirit, to keep ourselves grounded in The Word of God. We pray Galatians 5:22, 23 be our hearts and our minds. We pray 1 Corinthians 13 over ourselves. We pray to be faithful witnesses, carrying The Light of Christ into the darkest corners of the world, until Jesus returns or calls us home by way of the grave. 

Warrior of The Word - Waging War

 

2 Corinthians 10:3

For though we live in the flesh, 

we do not wage war according to the flesh.

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in The Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

    We wage war with our prayers and with our worship to The Living God, Who is The Creator of All Things, Who is The Father of The Only Begotten Son; Who is our heavenly Father, Whom we can approach freely and frequently through The Son Jesus Christ.

    We wage war on our knees, with our tears and our hearts. But we do not wage war alone. When we begin to pray earnestly, God hears the first urgent breath before the words are ever spoken, if there are words to speak.

    We wage war together, when we pray with each other and for each other. Even if we do not know one another in this life, in Christ we are known, for we are His body. From the cellular structure inside to the outer appearance, we are the body of Christ, and we all need prayer to continue the work which God has given to each one of us. 

    We wage war when we speak with the authority which Christ has within us, when we declare triumph over injury, over sickness, over death. We pray that The Lord God bind our winds, heal our diseases and raise our dead to the advancement of His kingdom and for His glory, honor and praise. 

    We wage war when we pray for those who are dying without first believing and knowing Him. We pray for our missionaries who are willing to go to foreign nations to share the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ; even sharing with those who hate them for speaking The Name of Jesus. 

    We wage war when we pray for our church leaders. We pray for them to be Holy Spirit filled men and women of God. We pray for them to lead faithful and faith-filled lives that they would continue to lead God's churches in the way He would have them to lead. Our churches do not need to be bigger: they need to be fuller, so full that they spill into the streets, the byways, the highways and the alleys. 

    We wage war against spiritual darkness. We pray against witchcraft. We pray against star-sun-moon worship. We pray against tarot. We pray against fortune telling, psychics and the all-seeing eye. We pray against vengeance and bitterness. We pray against lust on every level. We pray against prideful hearts. Whomever we are praying for specifically, we pray against whatever is taking them away from knowing and believing and living The Lord Jesus Christ.

    We pray against anything that is not of God and The Lord Jesus Christ with the full knowledge that we are entering the arena of darkness with a quiver full of Holy Spirit power (arrows) and Word of God knowledge (bow). 

    We do not wage war lightly, for war of any kind is fraught with danger. One little setback could become a retreat. But we will not retreat. We will pray. 

    Let us pray even now for The Spirit of The Living God to have His way in us and in the people we are praying for.