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Spiritual Warfare

Naomi

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”


Ephesians 6:10-12 [KJV]


Flagstaff Hill, Warrnambool

Yesterday morning, I had plans for a different blog post topic. I had a rough outline, various notes and some key Bible verses. Then, wham, I received distressing news about another person’s circumstances. The bad news came in an already busy and complicated season of life for all people involved.


Then someone made a comment along these lines, “I am sure the timing of what happened was not a coincidence. It’s a spiritual attack.”


I started thinking about whether what had happened was a spiritual attack. That would mean the circumstances had been carefully orchestrated by demonic powers to cause maximum hurt and distraction from doing God’s will. I know that Satan exists and is called the ‘god of this world’ (2 Corinthians 4:4). But frankly, I think all of us women would prefer to think of him as a distant being, rather than a ruthless, evil enemy who “walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Satan is a murderer, liar and manipulator (John 8:44), who controls both this world and non-Christians (Ephesians 2:2). The Bible clearly says that we are in a constant battle against “rulers of the darkness” and “spiritual wickedness” (Ephesians 6:12). How do we know if specific trials or testings are spiritual attacks? How do we know it’s not instead the general consequences of living in a messed-up world, God punishing us for sin, or the product of over-productive hormones and too little sleep? I will have to keep researching this topic of spiritual warfare, but here are a few initial thoughts.


What do spiritual attacks look like? A glance through the Bible shows they can target the individual, people around them, circumstances or churches. There are ‘brute force’ attacks against human life and circumstances. Examples of these include the persecution of New Testament believers, and Satan robbing Job of his children, his financial security and his health. Other attacks come in the form of temptations that appeal to our natural weaknesses: the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Satan used these tactics when tempting Jesus in Matthew 4. Praise God, Satan has no power over the eternal destiny of born-again believers (John 10:28-30), but he and his hosts will try to destroy our witness by enticing us to sin (Matthew 4). I encourage you to do more research on Satan’s tactics, but one common area of attack for women is through our emotions. A threat against someone we care about can cause us to act hastily and unwisely. Loneliness and pride can drive single people into relationships that are not God’s will. Envy can fracture relationships. And we can be tempted to back down from upholding God’s standards when someone we love claims that something unbiblical will make them happy. Emotions are a wonderful gift, but we live in sin-affected bodies and Satan can use emotions to lure us into making wrong decisions. Esau stupidly sold his birthright for bread and lentils because he was hungry (Genesis 25). Don’t do what he did. Instead, we need to seek the Lord’s will, and at times, literally sleep on decisions.


When do spiritual attacks occur? It’s not chance that when individuals, families and churches stand on the Word of God, spiritual attacks can appear abruptly, like kangaroos on a country road at night. Preachers have shared how family issues often occur the week they have a difficult sermon to prepare. Church unity and the spiritual wellbeing of members can be challenged when conferences and outreach events occur. New Christians can hit turbulence right after being saved. When women commit to obeying God, emotional onslaughts and temptations may occur. Things arise to discourage people from attending church. In 2022 I responded to God calling me into a writing ministry, and eight or so days later had a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction. Coincidence? I don’t believe so. Think of the Biblical examples of Job, Jesus and Paul. In each case, the devil is clearly identified as the instigator (Job 2:7, Matthew 4, 2 Corinthians 12:6-8). Each was living a righteous life: Job was described as “perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil” (Job 1:1b), Jesus “did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22), and Paul was “called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God” (1 Corinthians 1:1). Their righteousness, not their sin, made them a target of demonic forces. In Ephesians 6, Paul cautions all, not just some, of the brethren, saying “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). John 15:19 tells us that the world hates us merely because Christ chose us, and 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”


If you have read this far, you might be feeling discouraged. Remember, spiritual attacks are not a coincidence, but neither is spiritual victory. God Himself guarantees victory over Satan. The devil is a liar and would have you believe that evil wins. Yet the God of Truth (John 14:6) says to all Christians, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Satan is a defeated foe, and he and his demons are destined for everlasting fire (Matthew 25:41). At the cross, Jesus destroyed Satan’s power (Hebrews 2:14) – yet another instance of where Satan for a moment thought he had triumphed, but had actually given God complete victory. Obeying God won’t always put us in the safest physical location, but it always puts us in the place He wants us to be. The Apostle Paul was imprisoned for serving God, yet from that cell, he wrote this triumphant message of Ephesians 6. Paul’s reflections on his life in 2 Corinthians 11, echo Joseph’s words when he told his unrighteous brothers, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good” (Genesis 50:20). When difficult and distressing things happen, Romans 8:28 reminds us, that God will make “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”


God provides the spiritual weapons to defeat spiritual attacks. Ephesians 6:10-11 says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” We need each piece of the armour; the girding of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the Gospel, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6). I urge you to study each piece of the armour. It is so encouraging to know that God provides us with head-to-toe protection against the enemy’s attacks! Thank you, Lord, for your strength and enabling during attacks. Thank you, Lord, for those who pray with us, let us cry, comfort and encourage us. Thank you for the godly churches, pastors, and women who help us to always be strong in the Lord, so that when attacks come, we are already wearing God’s armour.


Ephesians 6:18 reminds us to pray always. Pray for spiritual protection of church leaders (2 Thessalonians 3:2), and for fellow Christians to be “strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power” (Colossians 1:11a). We especially need to pray during during church outreach or special meeting times, and for those who make specific commitments to God.


May Ephesians 6 encourage us to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Yes, we or others might be facing spiritual attacks, but may the Lord enable each of us to “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).

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4 comentários


Lydia Ellacott
Lydia Ellacott
02 de jul. de 2024

Great reflection, considering our spirtual growth and the timing of spirtual attacks.

Curtir
Naomi
04 de jul. de 2024
Respondendo a

Thank you Lydia, glad that you found it an encouragement.

Curtir

Simeon Western
Simeon Western
28 de jun. de 2024

 "head-to-toe protection against the enemy’s attacks" - Very well put. Amen!!!

Editado
Curtir
Naomi
04 de jul. de 2024
Respondendo a

Thank you. We definitely need it!

Curtir

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