Christian

What Is Spiritual Warfare, Really?

Many years ago, when I was in a Word of Faith church, I was wrongly taught that we had “revelation knowledge”. It was actually a prideful attitude, thinking we knew and understood so much more than that “religious” church down the street.

We naively sought understanding from the many books written by false teachers that could be found in our bookstore. Some of these errant teachings on spiritual warfare have permeated evangelical Christianity.

I decided to set aside everything I had learned from “Bible teachers” and books and to seek understanding about spiritual warfare from the Bible alone.

What the Bible says about spiritual warfare is straightforward and plain to see. There is no mysterious, hidden meaning that only the spiritual elite can understand. The Bible warns us about the ways of Satan. It also tells us how to stand against his schemes. Only by reading and studying God’s Word daily will we learn these things. There is no shortcut.

Spiritual Warfare isn’t some mysterious prayer technique. In fact, it really isn’t that complicated at all. In its purest form, engaging in spiritual warfare is proclaiming the Gospel and speaking the Truth in God’s Word.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel,Β because it is the power of GodΒ that brings salvation to everyone who believes:Β first to the Jew,Β then to the Gentile.” Romans 1:16

Stop and think about that for a moment. The world today believes many lies that literally shock the senses! I won’t list them here because you already know what they are.

“True spiritual warfare is a battle for the minds of men because they are held in bondage to Satan by believing the lies that he (Satan) has told them.”

Jim Osman, Truth or Territory

The Christian’s battle (true spiritual warfare) is not a feeling, an intuition or an imaginative experience in the spirit realm – however real it might seem.”

Bruce Cooper, Reasoned Cases for Christ

To be a mighty warrior, we must trust in God’s Word. We must study it to be prepared. Consider this familiar passage on spiritual warfare. Notice that this passage is about how to “STAND”. Why do we need to know how to stand? Because in today’s world, standing for truth can have its dangers. You might not be executed if you are fortunate enough to live in the West. But you could lose your job, your friends, or be outright hated and persecuted.

“Finally, be strong in the LordΒ and in his mighty power.Β Put on the full armor of God,Β so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.Β For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,Β but against the rulers, against the authorities,Β against the powersΒ of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.Β Therefore put on the full armor of God,Β so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.Β Β Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,Β with the breastplate of righteousness in place,Β Β and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.Β Β In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,Β with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.Β Β Take the helmet of salvationΒ and the sword of the Spirit,Β which is the word of God.

Our battle is not against people. It’s against the devil and his demonic forces. Our only weapon is the Word of God, the Truth. But to stand against the devil’s schemes, we have been given “the armor of God”. Our faith (trust in God and His might) is our Shield.

Ultimately, spiritual warfare is not about a technique to battle demons. It is proclaiming God’s Word in a world under Satanic deception to a people who walk in darkness.

β€œI am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jesus (John 8:12 NIV)

In His Love, Cindy

Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my pageΒ Who Is Jesus?

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, women

Friday’s Verse, 4/26/24

We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12 NIV Read full chapter

When faced with a vast enemy attack, Jehoshaphat cried out to God. Read this amazing story about trusting the Lord when YOU don’t know what to do.

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Denys Nevozhai on Unsplash

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Christian

Verse for Meditation, 4/25/24

“When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, β€œSurely he was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:54 NIV (emphasis mine)

My thoughts: Can you imagine? They were terrified because they realized what they had done: crucified the Son of God!

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Alicia Quan on Unsplash

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Quote of the Week, 4/24/24

Nobody can take away from you those texts from the Bible which you have learned by heart.

Corrie ten Boom

My thoughts: I memorized Psalm 23 as a young child and I still remember it. I often quote it as I fall asleep.

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my pageΒ Who Is Jesus?

RealChristianWomen.blog  

Christian

Tuesday’s Verse, 4/23/24

“Now to Him who isΒ able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,Β according to the power that works within us,Β Β to HimΒ beΒ the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generationsΒ forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 NASB

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog  

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Monday’s Verse, 4/22/24

“When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them moneyΒ and said, β€œGive me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Β Peter answered: β€œMay your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!Β Β You have no part or shareΒ in this ministry, because your heart is not rightΒ before God.Β RepentΒ of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.” Acts 8:18-22 NIV Read full chapter

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

RealChristianWomen.blog  

Christian, women

Sunday’s Memory Verse, 4/21/24

“In their hearts humans plan their course,
Β Β Β Β but theΒ LordΒ establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NIV Read full chapter

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

RealChristianWomen.blog  

Christian

The Miracle of a New Life

 β€œAlthough it is customary to divide human development into prenatal and postnatal periods, it is important to realize that birth is merely a dramatic event during development resulting in a change in environment.”

The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology fifth edition,

In that fraction of a second when the chromosomes form pairs, the sex of the new child will be determined, hereditary characteristics received from each parent will be set, and a new life will have begun.”

Kaluger, G., and Kaluger, M., Human Development

“Children are a gift from the Lord;
    they are a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3 NLT

β€œβ€œI knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.
    Before you were born I set you apart …” Jeremiah 1:5 NLT

“You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.” Psalm 139:15-16 NLT

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

RealChristianWomen.blog  

Christian

Friday’s Verse, 4/19/24

“Then they will know that I, theΒ LordΒ their God, am with them and that they, the Israelites, are my people, declares the SovereignΒ Lord.Β Β You are my sheep,Β the sheep of my pasture,Β and I am your God, declares the SovereignΒ Lord.’” Ezekiel 34:30-31 NIV Read full chapter

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

RealChristianWomen.blog  

Christian

Verses for Meditation, 4/18/24

Jesus said, β€œWhen evening comes, you say, β€˜It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, β€˜Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” Matthew 16:2-3 NIV

My thoughts: There are many signs that Jesus’ return is near. Are you ready?

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Chris Barbalis on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog