EXACTLY WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WAGE WAR IN THE SPIRITUAL REALMS??? Exactly what does it mean to wage in wage war in the spiritual realms? This might be a hard concept for some to understand. Most people in the world really do not understand this concept. Even Christians, who read the Bible don’t comprehend what it means to wage war in the Spiritual Realms. Why, is this such a hard concept to comprehend? First waging war is a spiritually mature undertaking, if you don’t understand there is a war, how are you going to wag war? Only by understanding the deeper aspects of scripture, can someone learn about the battle raging all around. Paul calls these deeper doctrines in Hebrews, “Meat” as opposed to “Milk”. Only those who pursue the deeper doctrines of scripture can expect to really understand and be engaged in the Spiritual War. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:12-14 Secondly, waging war requires someone to understand who we (Christians) are, and why we are here. Then once understanding our position, we have to be willing to take God at His word and act. We have to be willing to clear the stronghold and traps Satan has put in our way. Satan’s goal is to prevent the believer from engaging in the war against his realm. Therefore, to reach the point of waging war requires someone who pursues vision cast in scripture. Someone who is willing act on their authority and position they have in Jesus Christ. We have to understand, God gives us the responsibility of making our choices with our life. We have 24 hours a day, 7-days a week, 168-hours per week until the day we die. This resource, Time is the great equalizer, regardless of whether we own a company that employs thousands, or a king who rules a kingdom of millions, or even a beggar in the streets, we all have the same resource. We can choose to spend this resource any way we want. What we choose to do with this resource is a good indication of who we are spiritually. How are we investing this resource? So many options abound; kids, work, education, friends, vacation, fun, sports, yard work just for starters. Despite all these options, we still only have 168-hours per week. What investment of our time will outlast us in the end? Jesus addresses this dilemma in the Gospels. Peter the fisherman, who just heard Jesus reply to the rich young ruler about gaining eternal treasures, makes a statement, “See, we have left all and followed You”. Jesus replied to Peter, 29 So Jesus answered and said, Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospels, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time-houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions-and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first. Mark 10:29-31 The disciples were the first line of offense, in the spread of the Gospel. They were the Lord’s warriors, advancing His kingdom on Satan’s domain, through the Church. We have been given this same authority. We are the Lord’s army advancing on enemy territory, the question is, how willing are we to use the resource of time, given to us by the Lord? Counting the cost of warfare Is there a cost to being God’s warrior? Yes, there is a cost for everything. Just ask the professional football or basketball player, was there a cost to being the top? Most have spent hours perfecting, their skills, sacrificing other aspects of their life to become the best. Today, many young athletes train with a vision of screaming crowds, multi-million dollar contracts, fame and notoriety, urging them on. Despite all this investment in time, the promise of their glory is temporary and fading. Few today can remember the great names beyond a couple of generations. The rewards this world offers is temporary, however the reward the Lord offers is eternal. Spiritual warfare involves a commitment to the Lord’s work, many times at the expense of our own lives, dreams and ambitions. This is why spiritual warfare is for the spiritual mature, those willing to exchange the temporary for the eternal. This is meaning behinds Jesus words. Serving the Lord, often requires someone to give up not only time, people who will keep someone from the Lord’s service. For example, many people who come to Christ in Muslim countries are often forced to choose between Christ and their families. The cost is great, because Satan has blinded the eyes of the lost, and prevents them from understanding the Gospel. Satan holds families hostage, to prevent God’s people from using their authority to advance the Gospel. Engaging in the Spiritual War Once we understand the battle, and have decided to be part of the Lord’s army, advancing His Kingdom on enemy territory, you might ask yourself the question, “How do I start?” You might say, “I have so many commitments, how can I make time to engage in the wars of the Lord?” Whatever your situation, you can engage in the spiritual battle, advancing the kingdom of God on Satan’s domain. God does not require us to have anything other than a sincere heart, with faith in Him, through Jesus Christ. Once we understand God can use us, wherever we are, we can let the power of the Holy Spirit do the work. It’s not about our abilities, but our availability. We just need to make ourselves available for His service. Being so busy to be used by God is one of Satan’s methods. This was the problem of the rich young ruler. He loved his wealth too much to be of any use to God, money was the stronghold on his life, and he was not willing to part with it. 21 Jesus said to him, If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Matthew 19:16-24 The rich young ruler in many ways reflected the church of Laodicea, he was not able to experience the power of God, because his wealth robbed him. He learned to trust in material wealth and power. Jesus describes the wealthy church of Laodicea as “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:14-20). Where do I start? First, we need to know it is not about us, God does not need our abilities, God wants our availability. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the Temple, which separated the Holy of Holies was ripped from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). This signified a very important event, the separation between God and man was eliminated with the death of Jesus. We now have access to God’s throne directly, we don’t need a mortal High Priest, we now have a Heavenly High Priest Jesus Christ. Jesus is in Heaven, waiting for us to approach His throne. 9 then He said, Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God. He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them, 17 then He adds, Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. 19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:9-23 Therefore the first place for us to start, when we engage in Spiritual Warfare, is to enter Heaven, before the throng of God in prayer, through the blood of Jesus Christ. What do I pray, you might ask? Here is a sample of a prayer, after praying to the Lord...listen for the Holy Spirit to speak to your inner man.
Posted on: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 13:49:05 +0000
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