Tools of Spiritual Warfare
- trinityobiorah
- Nov 6, 2020
- 3 min read
As Christians, one fact we have to acknowledge is that no challenge we face is purely physical. Ephesians 6:12 tells us very clearly: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
Okay, so now we know that we do not fight physically, but against principalities and powers. So, how do we fight against these powers? 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 holds the answer to this question. "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments."
Next question. What are some of "God's mighty weapons?" Ephesians 6:13-18 lists them for us:
The Belt of Truth: We've learned multiple times that the devil is not just a liar, but even the father of lies. He relies on these lies to disrupt the children of God; he tells us lies to tempt us to sin. So, we depend on God's truth at times like this, because if we know the truth, we won't believe the lies. In the words of Jesus himself, "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”(John 8:32)
The Breastplate of Righteousness: Many bible passages highlight the importance of living righteously, and one of those is protection against attacks of the devil. Wen we don't live in sin, there's less things for the devil to tempt us with. In addition, living righteously means that we get to avoid many of the hardships that come with a life of sin.
Shoes of the Gospel of Peace: Apart from being accesories to clothing, shoes give us stability during movement and activities. In similar way, the Gospel is a strong foundation upon which we build our faith, offering us stability in times of spiritual warfare.
The Shield of Faith: Having and exercising faith in our God, and in His abilities is extremely key in our spiritual battles. We have to remember that He's fighting for and with us all the time. Having faith in His truth and His promises will protect us from the devil's lies and traps.
The Helmet of Salvation: Knowing that Christ has paid the full price for our sins and that He has totally redeemed us, protects our minds from discouragement. It gives us hope, comfort and strength in the midst of our battles.
The Sword of the Spirit, that is, the Word of God: The sword is both an offensive and a defensive weapon. We can use God's word to block attacks of the devil like Jesus did when He was tempted after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights in Matthew 4:1-11. He repeatedly defeated the devil by countering with God's word. But we can also actively use this sword to destroy the devil, and come against all his plans. Remember, to use the word of God, you have to know the word of God.
Prayer: We are nothing without God, and we can't fight these battles without Him either. We have to constantly surrender to Him, and invite Him into our lives to fight with and for us. He alone can give us the strength we need during our battles, and He is more than willing to do so, just ask.
Testimony: This one wasn't listed in Ephesians 6, but Revelations 12:11a tells us that we triumphed over him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. Our testimonies are proclamations of God's wonders in our lives, and sharing them with one another helps us to strengthen our faiths, and hold on to God, trusting that He is more than able. You don't only have to share with others, but you can just count your blessings to yourself, and recount God's faithfulness in your life. Sharing our testimonies is also a way for us to evangelise and bring people to God.
For more indepth reading see this bible plan
Peace and love of Christ be with you all!
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