Spiritual Warfare
Ephesians 6:10-20 ~ TPT & [NKJV] & {comments}
Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last:
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Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. [Be strong in the Lord and the power of his might.] {Being strong in the Lord means that you know him; you have a good and active relationship with him.}
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Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you. {His Spirit is actively working in you and through you.}
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Put on God's complete set of armour provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser!
Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage. Because of this, you must wear all the armour that God provides so you're protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious.
[For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.]
BELT OF TRUTH:
Put on truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph.
[Having girded your waist with truth.]
{Jesus is the Truth! Live in Truth.}
BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS:
Put on holiness as the protective armour that covers your heart.
[Having put on the breastplate of righteousness.]
{Jesus is the Righteous One! Live in Him and His righteousness - daily. It means to live uprightly in truth and obedience.}
GOSPEL OF PEACE:
Stand on your feet alert, then you'll always be ready to share the blessings [message] of peace.
[Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.]
{Jesus is the Gospel! Read him (the Word), live the Word and share the Word by your actions and what you say to others.}
SHIELD OF FAITH:
In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the Evil One!
[Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.]
[{esus is our faith! Have faith in Him and His victory on the cross.}
HELMET OF SALVATION:
Embrace the power of salvation's full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies.
[And take the helmet of salvation.]
{Jesus is our salvation - our Saviour! Accept Him as your Saviour and He will help you and protect you against the evil one.}
THE WORD:
And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken Word of God.
[And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.]
{Jesus is the Word! Going to battle you need a sword. The Word of God is your sword. You need to read the Word and know the Word so that it can become your mighty razor-sharp Sword.}
PRAYER & being WATCHFUL:
Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times.
[Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.]
{We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the name above all names! We are being watchful as we pray, study the scriptures and believe in and hope as we anticipate the fulfilment of the prophecies.}
I often wonder what it really means to do spiritual warfare. For me, these scriptures are clarifying a lot. It is simple and to the point. It is different from what the modern world teaches us.
These scriptures here also bring to mind the time when Jesus was in the desert to be tempted. He had to engage in spiritual warfare, and how did he do that? He did it by speaking the Word, by standing on the truth, by recognizing the lies and taking his thoughts captive, and by praying beforehand. He prayed a long time before the enemy came to him so Jesus was ready - he was prepared!
Furthermore, just as 'softly' as the enemy appeared to tempt Jesus, likewise he had to move away when he was defeated in that moment of spiritual warfare. The devil could not do anything when Jesus spoke Truth to him. Every time Jesus quoted scripture to him he lost the argument and had to try a new line. Jesus then told him to go away. I can imagine it was in a voice of authority that left no room for the enemy to linger.
Satan had no more ammunition to use - he was done - battle lost! He turned and walked away. There was no shouting and screaming from Jesus. Jesus simply prepared by praying to his Father and by wearing the armour.
Jesus knew the Truth and he knew his identity. He also knew his Father in heaven.
Notice also that Satan came to Jesus after his 40 days of fasting when Jesus was at his weakest! This is when the enemy comes to attack - when we are vulnerable. That is why the scripture says: "Be strong in the Lord." When we are tired or sick we are easy targets. It is therefore important to keep physically strong and well, however, when we are physically vulnerable it is extra important to spend more time in the presence of the Lord and to be watchful for the enemy will see our weakness as an open door to come and steal and destroy!
You can read about this in Matthew 4.
James 4:7-10 NKJV
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you..
Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up.
As we continue studying the scriptures further, we will see what other ways of warfare we come across.
Galatians 5:16 ~ NKJV
Walking in the Spirit
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another.
Live each day controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit. Then the words of Christ will be in your mind, the love of Christ will be behind your actions, and the power of Christ will help you control your selfish desires. ~ Taken from footnotes NKJV
In the Christian life, we battle against principalities and powers; the powerful evil forces of fallen angels headed by Satan, who is a vicious fighter. To withstand their attacks we must depend on God's strength and use every piece of his armor.
As you do battle against the rulers of the darkness of this age fight with the power that comes from the Holy Spirit.
These principalities who are not flesh and blood are demons over whom Satan has control. They are not mere fantasies - they are very real.
We face a powerful army whose goal is to defeat Christ's church. When we believe in Christ, these beings become our enemies, and they try every device to turn us away from God and back to sin. Although we are assured of victory (because of Christ), we must engage in the struggle until Christ returns, because Satan is constantly battling against all who are on the Lord's side.
We need supernatural power to defeat Satan, and God has provided this by giving us his Holy Spirit within us and his armor surrounding us.
God gave us Christ's blood that is victorious over all evil. Without the blood of Christ, we do not stand a chance against these evil forces of darkness.
Colossians 1:13 ~ NKJV
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood.
The Colossians feared the unseen forces of darkness, but Paul says that true believers have been transferred from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to the power of God.
We have been rescued from a revel kingdom to serve the rightful King. Our conduct should reflect our new allegiance.
Ephesians 1:17-21 ~ TPT
This [the power of God in you] is the mighty power that was released when God raised Christ from the dead and exalted him to the place of highest honour and supreme authority in the heavenly realm.
And now he is exalted as first above every ruler, authority, government, and realm of power in existence!
He is gloriously enthroned over every name that is ever praised, not only in this age, but in the age that is coming!
More will follow..