The Weapons of Our Warfare

John 10: 9 - 10, I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. NKJV

Paul teaches us about spiritual warfare in the book of Ephesians. He tells us that we do not war against flesh and blood; instead, we war against principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this age, and against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. Consequently, since we know who it is that we are warring against, we can become effective in our battles in the spirit-realm. 

We know that God anoints and appoints humans to carry out His will in the earth. Likewise, Satan also uses people to fulfill his agenda in the earth. Therefore, we need to be mindful that anytime a person attacks us, Satan is at work. The Devil loves it when we become so blinded by an individual's attack against us that we seek revenge against them. Jesus tells us not to return evil for evil. We should not stoop to the level of our enemies, using the same methods they do, lest we fall into the trap of Satan. 

Instead, we are to return good for evil and pray for those who despitefully use us and persecute us. However, in order for us to "rise to the occasion" in spiritual warfare and not fall prey to Satan's devices, we must view ourselves as spiritual beings, instead of just human beings. We have been made to sit in heavenly places in Christ. This position in Christ will cause us to see the warfare we're in as spiritual, not physical. It will also require us to be willing to exercise forgiveness toward those who wound us. The more we know who we are in Christ, and that He has given us an authority over demonic spirits, the easier it will be for us to release those who allow evil spirits to use them to hurt us. 

Now that we've established what it is that we're fighting and who it is that is behind the attacks, let's look at what Jesus told us in John 10. Jesus has saved all who have believed in Him; we have entered eternal life through Jesus Christ, the Door. He has made us His ambassadors and given us the ability to overcome the powers of this world so that God's kingdom might be established in our generation. Believers in Christ are the only "agents" in this warfare in the heavens who have legally entered through the Door. However, Satan doesn't come through the Door; he is here as a thief. He comes against us to steal, kill, and destroy; his aim is to cause us to use the power of our flesh to engage in a fight because we have taken the battle personally instead of spiritually. 

Satan's main objective is to get us to become so hurt that we strike out against the person that has caused us pain, loss, or disappointment, thereby allowing sin to enter our hearts. If we should sin in an attempt to "get even" with someone, then we aren't operating from our heavenly position, but from our earthly or human position; and we will forfeit the victory every time. 

We should also remember that even though our battles are in the earthly realm, God has only equipped us with spiritual weapons. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10 that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they're mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds and casting down imaginations. You see; spiritual warfare becomes personal warfare when we give Satan's lies a place within our minds when we're attacked. 

You and I have a decision to make every single time the enemy of our soul assaults us. We can remain in our spiritual position in heavenly places and overcome Satan's destructive plans, or we can take things personally, seek revenge, and lose even more than what has already been stolen from us. The choice is ours; however, we will have to live with the consequences of choosing to fight in our flesh. Therefore, when the enemy comes in like a flood against you, allow the Spirit of the Lord to lift up a standard against him. Let God arise and HIS enemies be scattered. Just be still and let God fight for you and through you in faith.

You Have the Power to Overcome, 

Pastor Asa Dockery