“Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you.” (Ephesians 6:10 TPT)

Dear People Who Keep Company with God,

When Israel wandered in the wilderness, they would occasionally get involved in warfare. But when they crossed over into the Promised Land, they were almost always engaged in battles. It is a picture of the conflict we experience as we seek to lay hold of our spiritual inheritance. It is true that Christ utterly defeated the devil on the cross, but He did not remove him or demons from the earth. Paul affirmed this when he spoke of the enemy as “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). The devil operates in the world by manipulating and controlling society which is, in turn, influencing the direction of lost men and women. Paul called the devil a prince, meaning he is a ruler over a demonic kingdom. Make no mistake about this, the devil has the power to enforce his kingdom through deception, slander, and accusation. If he didn’t, Paul would not have wasted his time instructing the believers in Ephesus on how to be prepared and equipped for spiritual battles. Jesus did not ignore demonic powers, and he didn’t teach his apostles to ignore them either (Matthew 10:1).

There is a war going on around you, but it is not just flesh and blood. A lot of what is happening in the visible, physical world is related to the warfare being waged in the invisible, spiritual world. The effects of the war going on in the unseen world reveal themselves in broken relationships, perversions, suicides, religon, poverty and lawlessness that are running rampant throughout our society. But God has provided you with everything you need to win the spiritual battles you face. You were made for war. But, you do have to believe, trust in His wisdom and use your God-given courage to put His weapons of war to use. “Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser!” (Ephesians 6:11 TPT) 

When you dismiss the reality of spiritual warfare or take it lightly, you make yourself vulnerable to attack and loss. There was a strategic moment in King David’s life, “It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle… but David stayed at home” (2 Samuel 11:1). David didn’t go out in the spring to fight the battles for his kingdom, and his staying back opened the door for the battle to come into his home. His choice to refrain from warfare brought a flood of problems and sorrow on him, his family and the nation. There are seasons of rest and seasons of warfare, times when you humble yourself, submit to God, resist the devil and draw near to God (James 4:7-8). And times when you must “Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to us.” (Jude 3) Regardless of the season, the charge to “put on the whole armor of God,” is not a suggestion. Warriors wear armor. Armor is for fighting man and women. You must never ignore or take warfare lightly. You have an incredible destiny, but you will not rise victorious if you avoid the call to warfare. 

Many Blessings, BW

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