Article: Christian Warfare

When a soul turns to Christ for salvation and becomes “born again” he receives of the wonderful grace of God as revealed in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. He receives of all the blessings of salvation, joy, peace and the eternal truth of the living God.

But as soon as we are “born again” into the kingdom of God, it is the beginning of warfare and Christians are called to be spiritual soldiers. As soon as we come to Christ the battle begins, sometimes only a little at first. We must learn to crawl, walk, and then stand. There is a battle on and the Christian who does not have the mindset to do battle against the flesh, the world and the devil will be a defeated Christian. Some have greater levels of battle than others; nevertheless, there is a battle.

II Timothy 2: 3-5, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.”

The Christians’ battle is not physical. We do not take up earthly weapons to fight this battle. By no means, the battle of the Christian is strictly a spiritual warfare against the flesh, the world and the devil.

II Corinthians 10: 3-6, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”
The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. I believe that the scriptures describe three areas of battle that the Christian must confront: the FLESH, the WORLD, and the DEVIL. Each one of these is tied in, to some degree, with the other.

THE FLESH AND THE MIND:
The flesh and the mind is the first major area of battle and, possibly, the most difficult.
In Romans 8: 1-14, verse 1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” When a sinner comes to Christ in true repentance and is “born again” he is delivered from the condemnation that his sins brought upon him, but through Christ we receive forgiveness. We are at that time filled with the Spirit of God and are given the power through Christ alone and the work of the Holy Spirit to overcome the flesh and its corruption. Verse 5 says, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”

Before a sinner comes to Christ his world revolves around the flesh – how he can fulfill his worldly desires and obtain the pleasures of this world or how he may exalt himself. But repentance and true faith bring about a change of heart. At this time we begin to change our focus we begin to desire to please God and to exalt him. We begin to hunger and thirst after the things of God. This is one of the first evidences of true conversion. But there is a battle on and that old man is striving to become dominant and if you neglect spiritual things, he will, most certainly, get the advantage.

Galatians 5: 16-l7 says, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

The old nature’s tendency is to resist the Spirit of God within us, but the Spirit of God is pressing us to war against the old nature and walk in the Spirit of God that we may be victorious.
The first and foremost way to walk in the Spirit is to fill our minds with the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, and spend time in communion with our heavenly Father. Christians who do not fill their mind with the Word of God will be carnal.

King David said in Psalm 119: 11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” In verse 2, “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.” And in verse 10, “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.”

There must also be a spiritual resistance against the flesh, I mean an act of our will . I Corinthians 9: 24-27, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Paul is speaking here of a disciplined spiritual life in opposition to the sloppy worldly form of Christianity we see today, if indeed it is Christianity at all.

What we set our mind upon will determine our spiritual direction. As Paul said in Romans 8: 5, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” The Scriptures are not complicated. God gives simple instructions on victorious Christian living. The problem is with our will and obedience. It must be an act of our will to bring the mind and flesh into subjection.
Ephesians 4: 22-23 says, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”

Here we are to put off concerning the former conversation. This implies an act on our part. Colossians 3: 5 says, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth”. This also speaks of bringing our members, flesh and mind, into subjection.

I have found, in my personal experience, that the memorization of Scriptures and daily communion with our God are the best ways of bringing our minds and thoughts into agreement with the mind of God. This might seem to be obvious but the matter is applying it consistently. If we claim to love our God, there should be a desire to fill our minds with God’s Word and commune with Him.

Philippians 4: 8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be an virtue, and if there be any praise, thinks on these things.”

So how do we fare in the battlefield of the flesh and mind? Are we cultivating the graces of the Spirit of God? Or are we feeding the flesh?

I John 5: 3-5, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: And his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

THE WORLD
The ‘world’ is the second place of battle and is also a mighty antagonist, but if we have dealt properly with the flesh and the mind it will not seem so great an antagonist. But if we are feeding the flesh and subjecting our mind with carnal desires the world will seduce us and bring us into captivity.

How do we overcome the world? The Scriptures do not describe this world as a fun place for the Christian to dwell in but that it is full of wickedness and temptation.

I John 5:19 says, “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”
James 4:4 states, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

The Scriptures teach that this world is lost and walks in darkness, that the whole world lies in wickedness and is ruled over by the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:1-3).

Paul speaks to the Christians at Ephesus saying that in time past they walked according to the ways of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air (Lucifer) the spirit that works in the children of disobedience; and that in time past we had our conversation (way of life) in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath.

When we turn to Christ as our Saviour, we must see ourselves as children of disobedience that we’re only living to satisfy our carnal (fleshly) desires and we are being ruled over by Lucifer. Paul speaks to the Ephesians saying that all these wicked ways were in time past when we were dead to Christ because of our trespasses and sins but this should not be the testimony of a blood bought Christian. For we have, by the grace of God, been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son and we have become new creatures in Christ (Colossians 1: 13; II Corinthians 5:17).

When unbelievers look at your conversation and lifestyle, do they say this person is different? He or she is not like us. They appear to be walking in the opposite direction that we are going. If we are not the friends of the world, it will be noticeably obvious. A light set on a hill cannot be hid (Matthew 5:14). This will cause two possible reactions from an unbeliever. Usually they will despise you because a godly lifestyle exposes the sins of the wicked. This is why Christ said if they hated me how much more shall they hate you (John 15:19). The scriptures clearly teach that broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be that go in thereat. So the most common reaction will be to despise you. But there will be some who will see a godly lifestyle and the peace that the Christian has and will begin to ask of the hope that is in you (I Peter 3:15).

This is also an evidence that we have been born again, this is the fruit of repentance. Repentance means to turn away and go in the opposite direction. Salvation is a result of faith and repentance, true repentance will result in a zeal for righteousness. This will separate us from the world. We simply cannot confess to be Christian and be a friend of the world also. As Paul said we are in the world but not of the world. True repentance has conveniently been removed from modern day preaching. This is why we have churches full of religious people who know not God. We can see this by their conversation or lifestyle. It is a product of the ‘feel good’ gospel and is a direct result of the new translations of the scriptures. We see a watered down gospel, which actually is not the true gospel. It is another gospel as Paul warned in Galatians 1:6-9 and is leading people into hell.

So the first step to truly overcome the world is to be born again with the evidence of faith and repentance. Then we must exercise ourselves in godliness by filling our minds and hearts with the Word of God, that we might know the will of God. At the time of true conversion we are filled with the Spirit of God who gives us unction and power to live holy lives. We become temples of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:8 says, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
The Holy Spirit is the person who works in us the will of God, who reveals Christ to us that we might believe and we through faith in Christ have become temples of the Holy Ghost (I Corinthians 6: 19). The Holy Spirit is a gift given to us upon faith in Christ. First, the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to us that we might believe, after we truly believe He indwells us.

Romans 15: 13, “Now the God of peace fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

I Corinthians 2: 12-13, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
Even though we have trials of our faith in the this world (I Peter 1:7) we have victory through Christ and His promises. He has given us all we need to overcome the world – redemption, the Word of God, and His Holy Spirit. Let us exercise ourselves in godliness by the power of the Holy Spirit that is given unto us. If we fall let us get up and continue on in the Lord, knowing in whom we have believed, we have a better hope that what this world has to offer.

I Corinthians 2:9, “But as it written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

I Corinthians 15:54, “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
This present world has nothing to offer the redeemed. We need only spend our time here faithfully serving our God, looking toward that which is eternal.

THE DEVIL
Thirdly and last of all, we have the conflict with the devil. The first and foremost way of overcoming the devil is by trusting Jesus Christ as Lord, Master and Saviour. We are then translated out of Satan’s kingdom into the kingdom of Christ. As declared in Colossians 1: 13-14 that Christ “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” This translation is the point when we are ‘born again’(John 3:3) and acquire new life in Christ. For if we have not trusted Christ according to scriptural guidelines we are still by nature children of the devil.

I John 3: 8 and 10, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”(Verse 10), “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”

We know that the scriptures say that, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”(Romans 3:23). So all have sinned, therefore, all are the children of the devil. So if you are not one who has not trusted Christ for salvation God says you are a child of the devil by nature, but the good news is that Christ was manifest to destroy the works of the devil. The devil is still alive and well on planet earth. Because man rejects Christ and by his rejection serves the devil. If you are such a one then repent and turn to Christ. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. Christ died to save sinners (Romans 5: 6-10). Be ye reconciled to God. For He would not that any should perish but that all should be saved. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”(Romans 6:23). The wages of sin is eternal separation from God in hell and then to the lake of fire (Revelation 20: 11-15). “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”(Revelation 20:15)

Once we have trusted Christ and received the free gift of eternal life we are translated from the kingdom of Satan into Christ’s kingdom. Our nature is changed. We have become the sons of God. John 1:12 says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
But we must never forget that we being present in body in this world dwell in Satan’s kingdom for he is referred to as the god of this world (II Corinthians 4: 3-4). Satan is the god of this world because man serves him as god by rejecting the true God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Those who have trusted Christ now are in a position to resist the devil and actually get the victory over him. The devil may attack us with his fiery darts of sinful thoughts, temptations, spiritual lethargy, but we must resist him (James 4:7). How do we resist him? First, we resist him by the Word of God. When we confess the Word of God and His promises by faith the devil cannot endure this, but must flee from those who trust in the promises of God.

We must walk by simple faith. In some new evangelical circles too much emphasis is given to Satan’s realm. I went through it myself as a new Christian and when I was involved in charismatic Pentecostal circles in years past. There is much deception there, where Christians are binding Satan or claiming to. Satan will only be bound at the end of the tribulation, but until then he cannot be bound. If he could be bound, then who is that fool who keeps on loosing him? Another deception is the praying against demonic principalities over cities. There is no scriptural mandate for this. It just sounds exciting. As long as men choose to serve sin Satan will have power over them. Let us be careful of any unscriptural emphasis on Satan’s realm.

We can resist the devil and he will flee. Where true faith and love of God is, the devil takes no pleasure, but must flee. Let us not forget Satan will use his children to persecute the children of God.

Jesus said to his disciples in Luke 10: 19, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

Many use these words of our Lord to claim full authority over Satan and his minions and indeed it is true, but only as we confront it in our work for the Lord in ministering the gospel. We cannot eradicate evil from the world. That is Christ’s business at His return. He is the avenger.

There is warfare against Satan and his host and we should not be side tracked by false spiritual warfare teachings that cannot be proved. Let us simply walk by faith and resist the devil. In Ephesians 6: 10-18 Paul exhorts us to put on the whole armour of God and to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.

The armour of God consists of :
1. Loins gird about with truth
Word of God given to us. We must stand on it, for this is the truth of God revealed to man. First and foremost, we must have the truth for without it we can have no part in the rest.

2. Breastplate of righteousness
Which is Christ’s righteousness imputed to us upon salvation.

3. Our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace
We must know and have faith to proclaim it. 4. Shield of faith
Which is what is necessary to please God. We must walk by faith and not by sight. This will quench Satan’s fiery darts.

5. Helmet of salvation
Which again represents our confidence in the saving grace of Christ, and our hope

6. The sword of the Spirit
The Word of God, the Holy Scriptures which if used properly is the strongest force on earth. For all the Word of God will be fulfilled. In these days we must make sure we have the true Word of God in the Authorized Version (KJV). For the devil has given many butter knives instead of swords in all the new perverted translations of the scriptures.

7. Prayer

Let us be people of prayer seeking God. For the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
In conclusion, a Christian need not fear the devil, for the Lord’s on his side. We need only humbly serve and obey until He comes again. The Lord said in Luke 18:8, “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

When He comes will He find faith in me? This is my prayer, Lord increase my faith!