What About Spiritual Warfare

Why is Satan such an issue? Why are the saints in such awe of the devil? Why do they act as if Satan is such a big bad wolf whom they must fight on every hand just to survive each encounter with him? I submit to you that the teachings on spiritual warfare have not all come from the perspective of truth and thus have caused the saints of God to be intimidated and distracted by a defeated foe. We must cease to ignore scriptures that clearly establish the mind of Christ in dealing with the enemies of God.

First of all, note that Satan has no power over the saints of God. God gave us power over all the power of the enemy. But the fact that God gave us power over him, means that he does have power to operate in this world. He has been conquered by Christ therefore he is not an enemy to be fought, but more of an instrument to be used by the Father. Jesus laid out the path we are to take. He said whosoever doth not bear his cross, cannot be His disciple. What man intending to build a house, would not first sit down and count the cost, to see if he had enough materials or money to finish it? If not, he could build the foundation and get no further.

Then all that see would mock him saying he started but could not finish. Do not forget, the whole subject matter here is the cross of suffering. The inference is that all who will be the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ must be prepared to suffer the humiliation of their own cross. Suffering is a vital part of our fellowship with Christ. Paul aspired to know Him in the fellowship of His sufferings. Jesus was very clear here. You cannot identify with me without being willing to suffer in the flesh. It is our appointment with suffering that theologians have determined to be attacks of the devil that must be warded off by spiritual warfare.

They also site the lack of things, persecutions or afflictions as a manifestation of spiritual lack. Because leaders in the Body have insisted that gain is the evidence of godliness, many saints equate suffering as a punishment or the consequence of sin instead of a route to perfection. Beloved, these doctrines are greatly entrenched in error. They are subtle attempts by Satan to take the cross of suffering out of the gospel.

PERSECUTION AND TRIBULATION

If you really believe the Word of God, then you know that the Body is made one by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it has all things in common. That is why Jesus answered and said, “Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” (St. Mark 10:29-30).

Persecution is a part of the package. Salvation in Christ demands a mind that is willing to suffer the persecutions and afflictions ordered by God. So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: (2 Thess 1:4-5).

Your patience and faith in persecutions and tribulations is a token of God’s judgment. This means that God has determined to take every son through the winepress, if you will. He has purposed to give Satan access to every son for trying and testing so that they might prove worthy of the kingdom. He can declare Himself as righteous in this because He makes the mystery of godliness a target for the great accuser. Remember the word mystery means “to shut the mouth.” The book of Job points directly at the Church. Now, are we to fight the devil? Well that would be like the island of Hawaii, having no weapons of mass destruction, coming up against the entire United States. America would not have to attack that little island. It could simply impose sanctions against it that would render it totally inoperable. The same is true with Satan, he is the enemy of righteousness and he is the prince of darkness. We are the Children of Light. Don’t forget, darkness is the absence of light and is only powerful when there is no light. When the light comes, the darkness disappears or is rendered inoperable. Our Lord gave us this victory when He filled us with the light of life. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it (Col 2:15).

It is demons and devils who fear The Sons of God. They know the Light is an end to their powers. We were not sent into the world as sheep among wolves to battle Satan for cars, houses, land, money or fame. Our commission is to confront Satan for the souls of men. Spiritual warfare for us is to walk in obedience to God by letting His light shine through us thus empowering us to do the will of the Father in the earth. This commission is not about materialism. God gives us the finances we need to facilitate ministry. If we are blessed with material goods it gives us more to share. If we never receive the wealth of this world we will experience the power of contentment.