The
weapons we fight with [spiritually] are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2nd
Corinthians 10:4-5
When Satan and many of the angels who followed him rebelled against God, war was declared. Evil has been unrelenting in its efforts to win that war ever since. Throughout the millennia and up to the 1960s, the Christian church was, at times, referred to as the church militant. The term described the continuing conflict between good and evil and the role of the church in that fight.
There’s been
no shortage of people throughout the ages, within the church as well as
without, whose aims were to undermine the power of the Holy Spirit as the Restrainer
through the presence of the church (2nd Thessalonians 2:6-7). Evil
has never called a truce and never will.
When an opposing
force halts its engagement for any prolonged time their enemy will use the calm
to their full advantage. They will resupply their materiel and munitions and
strengthen and encroach their lines against their enemy, taking advantage of
their neglect.
A lull
occurred when many mainline denominations in an effort to not offend began
rolling over to voices resistant to inferences of battle, words like warfare,
weapons, and even the shedding of blood, under the Old and New Testament redemptive
systems. In many churches that included the blood of Christ shed for the
redemption of mankind. Even my own denomination’s newer hymnals excluded the old
and favored hymns of Onward Christian Soldiers and Power in the Blood
as being too brutal and violent.
The Apostle
Paul was keenly aware of the spiritual warfare being waged in heavenly places.
In his letter to the church at Ephesus he penned a battle imagery. Being a prisoner of Rome, he was chained 24/7 to Roman guards, and was
well acquainted with their military equipment. He likened it, metaphorically,
to the whole armor of God. (Ephesians 6:11-17).
Satan
doesn’t prowl around like a toothless police dog but like a lion. Lions are
known for their stealth and power to kill. Coming unarmed upon a lion in the
wild will mean the odds of survival lie with the lion. Any lull we may create
with Satan will be used to consolidate his agenda: to kill, steal, and destroy.
He was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44).
That we will
meet that lion is not a case of if but when. He’s constantly on
the prowl and will get around to sizing us all up for a quick meal. Jesus never
said to lay down and play dead when spotted. We are not ordered to standdown
but to standfast in His power, prepared with the Whole Armor of God.
Throughout
the Old Testament, Christ is revealed as the Angel of the LORD. He is the Leader
of a righteous and mighty host (ref the Angel of the LORD). When it’s dark and
a flare goes off above you, and all hell can throw at you is raining down, look
over and see the Captain of the Lord of Hosts in the trench next to you (2nd
Corinthians 10:3-4). He will be with you through it. He is with you now.
We can only put our hope, faith, and trust in Him. He declares He has received ALL
Authority in heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18, Ephesians 1:20-22) and with
it comes all POWER. Power to overcome all things.
There is
continuing warfare being fought by the kingdom of darkness against God’s Kingdom of Light. Believer or nonbeliever, whether we like it or not.
Satan’s aim is to destroy us all. Be vigilant and never give the enemy the
advantage. Our weapons are not of this world, but divine with Christ’s power
to demolish satanic strongholds. He shut the mouths of the lions for
Daniel (Dan. 6:22). Don’t standdown. Standfast. Keep your armor bright.
Ken
