Spiritual Warfare is a Bloody Battleground

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 ESV

Whatever controls our mind will eventually control us.

Spiritual warfare takes place in the unseen realms. It is a battle that has always been since the Fall of Adam, but is not always recognized. We must come to understand that what is occurring around us in the spiritual realm will eventually be seen within the physical realm. For whatever controls our mind will eventually control us.

Our mind is the tower of our will.

Our mind is the tower of our will. If we do not have godliness and Christ at the forefront, we will easily become like the world. We will think that everything is fine, when it is not fine. We will allow godlessness to rule and reign because we have not recognized the spiritual battle that is going on at large around us.

There is a reason why many are enslaved by deception, fear, doubt, and sin. These are the shackles of the Enemy that grip many wrists and ankles. Rather than people problems as spiritual battles, many of us seek to find other explanations.

We want to judge based upon what we can see and can physical change on our own. If we can’t change something in our own resources or physical capacities, we go no further. We lose hope. This is exactly what happens in many Psychiatric Hospitals. A bunch of people diagnosed with little to no insight as to what is going on within. Even when symptoms and disorders are labeled, many are not fully healed. Medication is merely a temporary relief of a larger problem at scale.

If one can quickly learn that there is in fact a spiritual realm and metaphysical truths that go beyond what can be seen and diagnosed, they are well on their way to recognizing the movement of the Enemy.

This is where spiritual warfare becomes a bloody battleground. It is not for the faint of heart or for the Materialist who believe that nothing transcends what is physical and what is seen. This is a foolish view, however, as emotions, logic, moral laws, and mathematical truths and equations are not physical in nature. Rather, they are metaphysical.

That which is done and enacted out in the flesh always has a deeper reasoning that goes past our physical senses.

If one can quickly learn that there is in fact a spiritual realm and metaphysical truths that go beyond what can be seen and diagnosed, they are well on their way to recognizing the movement of the Enemy. They will begin to see problems as spiritual, rather than that of the flesh. For that which is done and enacted out in the flesh always has a deeper reasoning that goes past our physical senses.

We tend to fall prey to one of two misconceptions: We either give the Devil too much credit or we do not give the Devil enough credit.

We tend to fall prey to one of two misconceptions: We either give the Devil too much credit or we do not give the Devil enough credit. Those who give the Devil too much credit continually live in fear. They lack faith and trust in God and believe that God cannot save them or protect them. They depend on their own human resources and capabilities, rather than the One Who spoke all things into existence by a single Word.

Those who do not give the Devil enough credit are most likely being lulled into a spiritual state of complacency, idleness, or lethargy. Many times, Complacent Christians are simply drifting on throughout life. They are not seeking greater fellowship with God or the deeper things of life. They are merely those who have a surface based faith that may be one of salvation, but not an intimate connection with God and discernment for spiritual matters.

It is easy for someone to say “the Devil is powerless” when they are watching T.V. for hours on end as their Bible acquires dust. It is easy for someone to say “the Devil can’t do anything to me” as they continually spend their time perturbed by politics and other's opinions.

It is easy for someone to say “the Devil is powerless” when they are watching T.V. for hours on end as their Bible acquires dust. It is easy for someone to say “the Devil can’t do anything to me” as they continually spend their time perturbed by politics and other's opinions.

Many Christians who don’t believe the Devil has any power are wasting away not in salvation, but in time with God and productivity for His Kingdom.

Many Christians who don’t believe the Devil has any power are wasting away not in salvation, but in time. Time that was meant to be used to further the Kingdom of God and to grow in God slowly becomes diminished. Day by day, a silent call to change and wake up goes unheard. Eventually, on that Final Day, many will see their lives and think, “My, what time I wasted. I wanted to spend the rest of my nights in front of a screen, rather than spending time with my family and raising up my family in the Word of God.” O yes, spiritual growth with the family may have been exercised for but a time. Eventually, however, through some mindset, some action, some boastful silent word to ourselves that “we deserve this”, the Enemy swoops in and kills our time.

Many of us are so spiritual dry that to pick up our Bible and turn the page exerts an immense amount of effort.

For that is exactly how the Enemy operates. In reference to Satan, Christ says, ““The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy”” (John 10:10 ESV). Many of us are so spiritual dry that to pick up our Bible and turn the page exerts an immense amount of effort. There is no zeal for the things of God. There is no desire to seek Him and spend time with Him. Instead, we would rather be entertained and distracted by that which serves no merit.

If we don’t believe there is a spiritual battle taking place, then we are either deceived or living a life that is entirely unproductive for God. It may be a life of accolades, applause, and high reputation in this life, but it is not one that will be honored by God in the next.

This is one of the many ways the Enemy works. Our battle is against principalities and rulers of the air. If we don’t believe there is a spiritual battle taking place, then we are either deceived or living a life that is entirely unproductive for God. It may be a life of accolades, applause, and high reputation in this life, but it is not one that will be honored by God in the next.

We must recognize that what we know to be wrong and evil comes from him who is Evil. We must come to recognize that “even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14 ESV). He is continually seeking to damage, destroy, and damn that which is of God and those who are made in God’s image. Anything that is related to God, the Devil hates. Why? Because he is the one who is envious of God. Anything that is meant for God, Lucifer wants to prevent and eradicate from ever happening.

“But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough” (2 Corinthians 11:3-4 ESV). Many false prophets are either enticed by the Enemy, controlled by the Enemy, or have sold their soul to the Enemy.

In the midst of an all-time high of false prophets and false teachers, we must look deeper. There is a spiritual battle that is at hand. Many have gone to sit and have fellowship with demons, while using the name of God as a means to their own personal end. That is why Paul warns us that we “cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons” (1 Corinthians 10:21 ESV).

It is better to have physical blood spilled as a martyr for the faith than to have spiritual blood spilled without recognizing the Enemy's blade has sunk into our soul.

Many souls have been lost on the spiritual battleground. Much blood has been spilled. Many have lost not only their lives but their souls. What could have been prevented throughout their lives, was ignored and undermined. What people thought was okay and did no harm, eventually destroyed their reputation, time, and salvation.

One of the most damnable sins known to man that tends to go unchecked is forsaking God’s conviction.

It is better to have physical blood spilled as a martyr for the faith than to have spiritual blood spilled without recognizing the Enemy's blade has sunk into our soul. For did not Christ say, ““For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”” (Matthew 16:26 ESV). O yes, it is easy to speak against evil and sin that is obvious. It is easy to understand that to gain the whole world profits nothing if our soul is damned in the process. One of the most damnable sins known to man that tends to go unchecked is forsaking God’s conviction.

Many may hear this message and have a light heart towards what is being said. This is the most dangerous state to be in - to think everything is okay, when everything is not okay. God smiles at the sinner who recognizes their sin, weakness, and frailty and comes boldly to the Throne of Grace. God does not, however, smile at the one who seeks to live in sin or ignores the Holy Spirit’s conviction.

Those who ignore the conviction of the Holy Spirit are those who are being enticed and caressed by the Enemy. Without them knowing, the Enemy has latched onto their soul and drifted their heart from revealed truths of the spiritual battle taking place. As this occurs, the Holy Spirit is quenched and suppressed. The more the Holy Spirit becomes inactive in a person's life, the more that person gives into the temptations of the Enemy and of one's own selfish pursuits. It may not even be oblivious that one is living in sin, but it can be found that one is not living for Christ (an even more deceptive matter that can be disguised through spiritual lethargy).

The most dangerous Christian is a Complacent Christian who is loathsome about spiritual matters and dismisses spiritual battles. We are at war. It is more than Good versus Evil. It is more than Light versus Darkness. It is Life versus Death.

The most dangerous Christian is a Complacent Christian who is loathsome about spiritual matters and dismisses spiritual battles. We are at war. It is more than Good versus Evil. It is more than Light versus Darkness. It is Life versus Death. Those who will not awaken to the Holy Spirit’s conviction and speaking will slowly sink into a spiritual slumber beyond healing. Slowly throughout this life, all that could have been and was meant to be in God’s eyes dwindled into the abyss of darkness and death, never to be given a second chance.

We must not become fearful of the Enemy who stands before us. We must not ignore the signs that maybe we have been spiritually slaughtered by the Enemy with a thousand cuts. Instead, we must be as David and declare: “the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hand”” (1 Samuel 17:47 ESV).

We need to do nothing but cling to Christ and once again seek God for deliverance and power over sin. We must go to the Word of God and God Himself. “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 ESV).

On our own we are powerless against the Enemy, but in the power of the Holy Spirit we are more than conquerors.

Only God can awaken us, eradicate sin, destroy fear and anxiety, and fight the good fight of faith on our behalf. For on our own we are powerless against the Enemy, but in the power of the Holy Spirit we are more than conquerors. We can take the Sword of the Spirit and drive it into the corrupted heart of the Enemy. We can destroy fleshly thoughts and have power from On High. All we must do is simply desire God, read His Word, and be willing to both recognize and admit that we are not where we should be, nor are we what we should be. By doing this, we can then appropriately seek and trust in the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do: change us and equip us for every good work and spiritual battle that is to come.

Those who hide and remain under the Shadow of the Wing of Thee Almighty will be protected from the fiery arrows of the Enemy.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16 ESV). Those who grow in God will grow in the things of God. Our old nature will not only pass away, but will become non-existent, so long as we remain in the Presence of God. When we get out of His Presence, we will fall prey to the flesh. Those who hide and remain under the Shadow of the Wing of Thee Almighty will be protected from the fiery arrows of the Enemy.

The more we know the Word, the more we can pray the Word. The more we pray the Word in the name of Jesus, the quicker the Enemy flees.

One of the most underrated and underground Anglican clergyman of the Puritan era, William Gurnall, once said, “The mightier any is in the Word, the more mighty he will be in prayer.” The more we know the Word, the more we can pray the Word. The more we pray the Word in the name of Jesus, the quicker the Enemy flees.

“You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” (James 2:19 ESV). Demons tremble at the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. They hate being near the Word of God. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 ESV).

O Saint, repent of sin, believe in Christ, desire God, and continually pursue Him. The more we set our eyes on God, the greater discernment we will have towards spiritual matters. What used to dominate us, no longer shall rule us. For the Holy Spirit will be our Comforter, our Advocate, and our Helper. His willingness to do so will come to full fruition as we no longer become lethargic to the realities that the Enemy is out to destroy our time, our family, and us.

The power of the Holy Spirit will manifest greatly when we choose to die to self, seek God for assistance and aid with full assurance and belief that He is a God Who cares, loves, and will answer.

The power of the Holy Spirit will manifest greatly when we choose to die to self, seek God for assistance and aid with full assurance and belief that He is a God Who cares, loves, and will answer.

Glory be to God.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, God over all, we know that nothing happens without Your permitting. Though we know not always why You allow certain evils to take place, we know that You work all things out for a greater good. God, we understand that Satan is the Prince of the Air. We know that deception and temptation is all around. We know that many are enslaved to sin without even knowing that it is a spiritual matter. O God, help us to put on the full Armor of God. Protect us from him who seeks to kill and destroy us. We repent of all sin both known and unknown to us. O Holy Spirit, shine Thy Heavenly Light within our souls and may all darkness be cast out. Free us from besetting sins, ungodly conduct, disobedience dispositions, selfish pursuits, and darkened mindsets. Give us freedom in that which we struggle with. We give our all to You, knowing You have given us all things in Christ. Blessed be Thy Holy Name, now and forevermore, O King, Ruler, and Sovereign Lord of Heaven and earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lance VanTine

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