Warfare, Part 1: Who are we fighting against?

Spiritual Warfare is a thing that people are either very well aware of or not aware of at all.  It is a significant part of our life, even if we don’t want it to be.

The Spiritual War started before the creation of mankind.  Satan was originally known as Lucifer or the Angel of Light – he was God’s most glorious angel.  Long story short (if you don’t know the story), Satan became entranced by his own beauty, became prideful and obsessed with himself and decided that he wanted to be God.  So, he and one-third of the angels in heaven warred against God.  As result of his rebellion, he was cast out of heaven along with the other third of the angels that had rebelled.  Since then, he has become as hideous as his nature and has been at war with God and everything that God loves.

Enter mankind, Adam and Eve, who were made in the very image of God and whom God created for the very purpose of being in extraordinary relationship with Himself.  Enter the serpent (Satan) who tempted Adam and Eve to do the very thing he himself did to be cast out of heaven.  Eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and you will become like God.  You will know what God knows and be like Him.

As we know, the temptation was successful and we, as the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, fell out of perfect union with God.  God has since been at work restoring that broken relationship with us, coming after our hearts and lives at all costs (offering Jesus, His Beloved Son, as a ransom for us) in the Ultimate Campaign of restoration, redemption and victory. 

As God’s beloved, there are those of us who know we are His and a part of this battle as it rages on.  People who don't know that they are His are equally part of the battle - they just have no idea why life isn't going the way they had hoped!  God warns us that Satan is real and is our enemy, repeatedly in the Bible. 

John 10:10 is where Jesus tells us, “the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy.  And I have come that you would have life, in abundance, to the full, until it overflows.”

Then, 1 Peter 5:8-9 says:

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Lastly, we know from Ephesians 6:10-12 who our battle is against:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³

In these passages of Scripture, several things are clear: 1) we have an enemy; 2) he seeks to kill, steal, destroy and devour us, in any way that he can; and 3) the enemy is spiritual, not flesh and blood.

Why I have titled this blog entry “Who are we fighting against?” is because we can tend to see people in our lives as the source of the problem (because circumstances and situations are often “caused” by people).  People are responsible for their actions and that is for sure.  However, when you are struggling with a person and their bad (or even appalling) behavior, you need to pay attention to who your enemy is.  This is equally true if the person who is behaving badly is yourself!  It is not that person, rather it is the enemy of your soul and theirs, who is the enemy.  The enemy will influence people to behave badly – all people.  He will plant a seed, whisper to them reminding them of past wounds (how or who wronged them and that the wrong was maybe never “right-ed”), get them to make agreements about those wounds and who is to blame and ultimately, give the enemy (unknowingly) authority to have a stronghold in that person’s mind and heart.  That person then starts wreaking havoc out of this agreement made with the enemy, completely unaware that this is what he or she is doing.

So, what do we do about this?  I will get into more of the story later, but, for starters, look for the agreement and renounce it (if it is you) or help your brother or sister to see that they are (or might be) making an agreement.  Renouncing the agreement releases the enemy's grip and influence on the person, so that the truth and light of Jesus can heal, restore and redeem the situation (relationship, in most cases).  BUT before you even attempt to do this, go to Jesus for wisdom, pray without ceasing, wait for His prompting AND PEACE on how/what to do (if anything) and KEEP YOUR EYES ON HIM!  If you are looking anywhere else, you and anyone else involved will be in for a fall (aka “hot mess”).

Peace.