Do you think of yourself as a Warrior? Do you think it's important to have Battle mentality? How do we participate in Battle? Let's explore what God's Word says:
******************************
Ephesians 6:10-18 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand, stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."
​
Jeremiah 51:10-12 "The Lord hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declar in Zion the work of the Lord our God. Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the Lord hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance of His temple. Set up the standard (i.e. signal) on the walls of Babylon, make the watch (guard) strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes."
​
Jeremiah 51:19-20 (the Lord says) "The portion of Jacob is not like them; for He is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of His inheritance: the Lord of Hosts is His name. Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war, for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms."
​
Psalm 18:32 "It is God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my say perfect."
​
1 Corinthians 15:57 "But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
​
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: for the weapons or our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds."
​
1 Timothy 1:18 "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare."
​
1 Timothy 6:12 "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."
​
Romans 8:37 "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us."
​
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."
******************************
IS THE BATTLE IS REAL?
​
Sure sounds like Battle talk to me! The answer from God's Word is obvious that we ARE involved in Battle and the Battle IS REAL. The Battles don't just happen on Sundays either. You are deep in the "Battle Zone" every day, 24 hours a day.
​
WHEN WAS ENLISTMENT DAY?
​
The day you became a Christian you were automatically enlisted in God's Army. That very day was your first day on the Battlefield and the Battle is ongoing so long as we are here on earth.
​
WHO DO WE WAR AGAINST?
​
There are two armies: 1) God's Army and 2) Satan's (a/k/a the Enemy) Army. You, Fellow Warrior, are a Warrior in God's Army. Know this: if you aren't engaged on God's behalf, you are engaged on behalf of the Enemy. There is no neutral ground in this war. "Not choosing is still a choice."
​
Most Believers don't realize that by not being wholly committed to Christ (i.e. daily studying, prying, worshiping, taking inventory of each and every choice made throughout each day, and being OBEDIENT to God's Word); they render themselves defenseless in the heat of Battle and; thereby, the Enemy wins one Battle after another after another BY DEFAULT. That is not how our Heavenly Father wants us to live our lives.
​
There are Believers who say that "Jesus has already won the battle." While it is true that Jesus won a Battle, the Battle He won on the cross was over the eternal consequences of SIN. Jesus paid our sin debt. The implication that we don't have to fight Satan couldn't be more WRONG! However, it is exactly what the Enemy wants us to believe. He wants to render each and every Believer ineffective for Christ here on earth. How? Through SIN. That is why obedience is so very, very important.
​
Brethren, fighting Spiritual Battles every day is serious. The Battle we are in is not a virtual game. It doesn't matter if your pastor has given a sermon about it or not. It doesn't mater if you've never heard about Spiritual Warfare before. THE TRUTH is that the Spiritual War you are involved in carries the SAME consequences AS IF you were physically on a battlefield, say, in Iraq! In all seriousness, if you were physically on a battlefield, would you lay down your rifle/sword right in the middle of the battlefield?? Would you leave your Fellow Warriors lying on the battlefield bleeding to death and do nothing to save them? The war we fight is not physical -- it is Spiritual and WE CAN BE VICTORIOUS!!!
​
Indeed, the Enemy is after ALL of us. John 10:10 "The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." That is the Enemy's SOLE purpose. A purpose which can be divided into two parts. The first part is to make sure unbelievers DO NOT COME TO CHRIST. The second part is to render every believer INEFFECTIVE FOR CHRIST here on earth. There is no middle ground with the Enemy. If you think he is your friend, you are sorely mistaken. If you think that just because you walked an aisle or knelt at a church altar and accepted Jesus as your Savior that you are automatically protected from the Enemy's attacks, you are DECEIVED.
​
The Enemy is known by several names: The Father of Lies; the Great Deceiver, and the Accuser of the Brethren are three of them. And for those of you that think Satan won't bother you because you now belong to Jesus . . . another ERROR. If you recall, Satan had the nerve to go after Jesus in the desert. As a believer, you are the Enemy's target every day, 24 hours a day.
​
As a Believer, you ARE on God's side in this Battle. But know this: the Enemy lies in wait for us, desiring to devour us (1 Peter 5:8). He waits (he has been at this "wait game" for thousands of years and he is an EXPERT at it) for the perfect opportunity to implement a "sneak attack" against YOU. He is not "all knowing" like God, but he and his demons have been watching you and me since we were born and knows all of our weaknesses. He wants to wound us, render us ineffective and, ultimately, if WE allow it, to destroy us (i.e. steal, kill and destroy).
​
There is no room for passive (inactive) Warriors or complacency on the Battlefield. A complacent person is one who is very pleased with him/herself or feels it is unnecessary to do anything about any situation, even though the SITUATION MAY BE UNCERTAIN OR DANGEROUS. So, if you think believing in Jesus, repenting of your sins and reciting the Sinner's Prayer is the end of it, you couldn't be more wrong. It is only the beginning. This is why it is so important to understand and be aware of the Battles you face every day and learn how to be victorious. THAT is good news! "IF" we know and obey God's Word, learn to use the spiritual weapons He has given us and use the authority Jesus gave us, we can be victorious in ALL Battles with the Enemy. AMEN!!!
​
If you're thinking, "Hey, there is no Battle, and even if there is, I don't see it. I'll just pretend it doesn't exist and ignore it." God tells us we are at war and that we are in Battle. That is the Truth! It's impossible for God to lie. What could possibly happen if you refuse to answer the battle call? The answer is you will give the Enemy the advantage and you will most assuredly lose the Battle (one after another after another), be wounded, taken prisoner -- maybe even suffer death and, the Enemy won't leave our family alone either. Yes, it is that serious. Every Battle is either won or lost. Each Battle has a lower and a victor. Spiritual Battles are no different. You either win or you lose. Complacency does not render the Battle moot . . . it merely assists/gives place to the Enemy.
​
Every Christian participates in Battle either actively or passively and the Battles begin the day you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. In order to be victorious, you must participate actively (a/k/a FIGHT).
​
Now you are aware you ARE a Warrior in Battle and that you are either participating actively or passively and the consequences of each . . . AND The Battle is REAL!
​
The next installment is about our Captain in Battle.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​