Spiritual War

There is an ongoing war between good and evil. And in this war I have chosen, and publicly declared, to be on the side of good. I am a reborn child of the living God, my freedom bought at a high price, and I will shout this from the rooftops!

But the enemy certainly also takes note.

You are a target. You might be a hero. I say “might be” because the choice is ultimately yours.
– Lisa Bevere, Girls with Swords

So who is it that we are fighting against? Who is it that is targeting us? Other people? No, certainly not!

Ephesians 6:12 (WEBBE): ¹²For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

If our war is against powers and principalities, then surely our weapons cannot be worldly ones if we are to succeed. Paul describes the nature of our weapons quite well.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (WEBBE): ³For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; ⁴for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, ⁵throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ⁶and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience when your obedience is made full.

Sounds like the right kind of weapons for the job to me. But we need more practical specifics – what are the weapons that we have exactly?

Ephesians 6:10-20 (WEBBE): ¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. ¹¹Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹²For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace, ¹⁶above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints: ¹⁹on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Hebrews 4:12 (WEBBE): ¹²For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Paul clearly says that we should put on the whole armour – if we miss bits and pieces, we will be vulnerable in certain areas. So it is all important. But if we have all the armour pieces on and are well protected, yet we leave our swords at home, the battle will still not be won!

No army ever won a war by showing how much it could suffer.
– Curry Blake

We need to spend time with the Bible, so that we can know the Word of God, and only then can we wield it like the sword that it is meant to be. And then we need to choose to be heroes – we need to choose to step out and make a difference!