CHRISTIANS: WE ARE AT WAR
- AND WE ARE LOSING
By W. G. Guy
This is primarily a spiritual warfare but we are not fighting, thus we are losing. Why? …the enemy we fail to recognize will defeat us because we allow him to operate without opposition.
This war is about righteousness and godliness verses unrighteousness and ungodliness; morality and right values verses immorality and wrong values; the kingdom (domain) of God verses the kingdom (domain) of unregenerate man under the influence of Satan. This war has been going on since the enemy gained domination in the garden over mankind, (Genesis 3). The enemy we are failing to recognize as a nation and ignored by our governmental and political leadership is the master conspirator that opposes everything of God; everything moral and everything right. This enemy operates covertly, unseen, unrecognized and unknown due to our national ignorance of God and His Word. This enemy is Satan who operates covertly through the spirit of antichrist who has been aggressively operating since Jesus ascended to the Father in Heaven almost two thousand years ago.
1 John 4:1-3 – Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
1 John 2:22 – Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
1 John 3:10 – In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God
Our founding fathers, of this once great nation, had full knowledge of this warfare as most of them were very devout and godly men. They formed our Republic and its Constitution having full knowledge of God’s will and purpose which is what made America great.
Proverbs 14:34 – Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.
The enemy has been systematically at work trying to destroy this nation due to its original godly and moral values. Have you noticed that it’s our godliness, morals and values that have declined?
John 10:10 – The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
But God gave us all that we need to be victorious over the enemy and to live with His blessings so long as we follow His instructions. Herein is where this nation is failing – we are failing to recognize God and His love for us and the righteousness that is available through knowledge and fellowship with Him through Jesus Christ, and we are failing to recognize we have an enemy that is out to destroy us and steal from us what God has freely provided.
This war has so many battle fronts that it seems overwhelming. Consider the main battle fronts facing Christian Americans and those who want to uphold the U.S. Constitution: individual freedom, free enterprise, the sanctity of marriage and the family, and oppose, abortion, homosexuality, illegal immigration, Islamic terrorism, nationalizing businesses and our economy, using “hate crimes” to silence Christians, socialism and the centralizing of control in the government, anti-capitalism, immorality and corruption; and the rejection of God, Jesus, Prayer and the Bible from the public.
The working of the enemy is taking a toll because we fail to acknowledge the true source of our opposition. This warfare is not political, it is spiritual, caused by the spirit of antichrist, the devil.
Daniel 7:25 –……. and shall wear out the saints of the most High.......
Revelation 12:17 – And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
In spite of so many battle fronts we need to recognize there is only one enemy – Satan. We are wasting our time and effort trying to fight those whom Satan has beguiled to fight on his behalf. All these battle fronts are merely diversions to keep us from dealing with the true enemy, the real source of America’s, and the worlds, problems.
Ephesians 6:12 – 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.
James 4:7 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1 Peter 5:8-9 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
There are specific strategies necessary to fighting and winning a war. First we need to recognize who the enemy really is so we don’t waste time and energy fighting shadows or false fronts. Next we need to understand his tactics so we can know how to defend ourselves. In addition, we must be prepared to repel any and all attacks. Then we need to know what offensive tactics to use that we know will defeat him and from which he cannot defend himself.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 – For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
One of the key elements in warfare is to not be led into unnecessary conflicts that drain efforts and resources. In other words, don’t fight the enemy on his terms, on his battle ground or using his type of weapons. The reason is that we have available to us greater, more powerful and effective weapons as explained in the verse above. Instead of reacting to his attacks, we need to plan our own strategic assaults on him and his efforts.
Instead of being “reactive” we need to be “pro-active”.
Why waste time and energy trying to fight the way the enemy fights – he is always willing to draw us into his kind of battle. Again, this has to do with who it is we are really at war with as stated in Ephesians 6:12 above. It’s not flesh and blood we are fighting; it’s not the liberals, the leftists, the godless educators, the media, or congress – we are actually fighting the one who is behind them; it’s their leader and his minions, the master conspirator - Satan. Such human puppets are simply under the influence of the spirit of antichrist.
We need to recognize the enemy’s primary weapon – LIES, DECEPTION and FEAR.
John 8:44 – Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Remember that Jesus foretold that prior to His return great deception would be prevalent. The devil will use deception to promote his agenda which is to steal, kill and destroy, (John 10:10). Lies and deception include concealing the truth or modifying it into something else so that people do not see truth in a matter.
Matthew 24:4, 11 & 24 – And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Lies and deception bring those who are subject to it into bondage; they become dependent on what is not true or valid. As such they become enslaved – servants of the enemy.
Romans 6:16 – Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
The enemy’s secondary weapons are DISCOURAGEMENT and FEAR which causes us to lose heart and give up the fight.
Luke 18:1, 7-8 – Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,…7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find (persistant and enduring) faith on the earth?”
We also need to recognize that one of Satan’s favorite tactics is to cause FEAR – using threats and intimidation. The liberal media and leftists use this tactic aggressively against conservatives and those who are right. Fear causes a person back up or yield his ground to the enemy. Numerous verses in the Bible instruct us to “Fear not”. We are told to “Stand” in the day the evil one makes his moves.
The apostle Paul, who was heavily engaged in spiritual warfare, has passed on essential knowledge on how to fight the enemy. We are instructed to not give in to fear, threats and intimidation, but to STAND. If he backs up due to fear then he yields his ground to the enemy who then takes over as a conquest. We are repeatedly told to “stand” our ground and not yield to the threats, intimidations and fears that the enemy employs against us. Unfortunately, Christians have yielded up so much ground in the past few decades that we must go on the offensive to gain back what was lost to the liberal causes of abortion, homosexuality, corruption, immorality and infidelity, just to name a few areas of ground lost to the enemy.
We are provided defensive armor to help us to “stand” and hold our ground. We are also equipped with the more powerful weapon God has supplied us with - His Word – the TRUTH – the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. God’s Word, which is Truth, is both our defensive armor and the most powerful offensive weapon.
Ephesians 6:10-11 – 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.
Each piece of spiritual armor is an application of His Word that equips us to stand against the attack of the enemy. We are the take Truth to “girt up the loins”, that we use to wrap ourselves in to guard our must tender areas. We also have the “breastplate of righteousness” that protects our heart and vital areas with the knowledge that Christ is our righteousness. Next is the gospel of peace (also in His Word) to equip us to stand on firm footing so we won’t stubble or slip. Then take the “shield of faith”, our trust in Him and His Word to deflect all of the lies and accusations that the enemy throws at us. Finally we cap it off with the “helmet of salvation” with which we protect our head. This covers our mind and thoughts that should only be focused on Christ and what He has provided for us in His Word, so we are not beguiled again by subtle temptations to yield to the enticements to sin.
Ephesians 6:14-17 – Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
All these are essential defensive items to protect us while engaged in conflict in this life. Then we have the power of intercessory prayer, as requested by the apostle Paul.
Ephesians 4:18 – Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints ;
Christians need to be in intercessory prayer (as sort of “covering fire”) for the added protection of those who are taking a specific stand or assault in certain battle areas against the efforts of the enemy.
Finally we are told to take the offensive weapon – the “Sword of the Spirit, which IS the Word of God”. Prayer and speaking God’s Word aloud to every situation the enemy raises is our powerful offensive weapon. We need to be praying to bind (prohibit) the effects of the enemy’s efforts to deceive, mislead and disguise himself. We need to pray that the enemy’s plans and strategies are exposed for all to see and recognize, and for his efforts to be overturned.
Our most powerful weapon against this enemy is not bullets and bombs which only destroy flesh. Since our enemy is a spirit that motivates and drives those yielded to it, we need to apply a “spiritual” weapon – Prayer and the Word.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 – For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) – the enemy’s strongholds.
This weapon is so powerful the enemy has no defense for it and it defeats his every effort when we apply it. However, here is the key – TO APPLY IT AND APPLY IT PROPERLY.
Luke 4:2, 4, 6-8 – Being forty days tempted of the devil. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. .....6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Satan knows how effective God’s Word is; he tried to use it on Jesus, but since he has no right to use it, or authority to use it, it didn’t work for him, but Jesus used it on him and defeated his attack. Note that Jesus, even though He is the Son of God, did not relay on His own ability; He relied on the Word of God and quoted it to the enemy.
Luke 4:9-12 – And he (the devil) brought him (Jesus) to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Jesus used it by simply quoting it to the devil in its proper application and the enemy was defeated. Likewise, we Christians need to know the Word of God and apply it in our lives to provide defensive armor, then to use it offensively by speaking it out in prayer and also in public when applicable. The Word of God is so powerful it was likened to the most powerful personal weapon a person could possess in Jesus’ day, a two edged sword – today it’s like comparing the Word of God to being armed with a .44 Magnum:
Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged 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.
When people hear the truth, and are convicted of it by the Holy Spirit, they are changed. When Satan hears the Word spoken by God’s people, he is rendered helpless and has no resistance or defense - he has to flee. Satan and his forces may challenge you to see if your trust is really in God’s Word, which is why we are told to “STAND”, put up and maintain the resistance. Put the TRUTH to work; apply it, speak it out, trust it!
John 8:32 – And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 17:17 - Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
In order to effectively battle the enemy you MUST know the Word of God, what He promised, and then properly employ the Truth of God’s Word against the enemy, speaking it out loud in prayer and making proclamation against the enemy.
Luke 10:19 – Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Isaiah 54:17 – No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.
Isaiah 41:10-13 – Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ ‘Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish. You shall seek them and not find them — Those who contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing. For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’
Remember, the enemy we fail to recognize will defeat us because we allow him to operate without opposition. Now it is time to engage the enemy on our terms by using our God given weapon – Prayer and the Word. We need Christians all across this nation to engage in warfare praying – intercession for our nation, for a spiritual awakening, for revival, to return to God and acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, for repentance, for godly leadership.
Remember that you cannot stand against the enemy in your own strength; you must submit yourself to God through Jesus Christ, then you can resist the devil and all of his tactics.
James 4: 7 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
We need churches, fellowships and groups of Christians to assemble for regular prayer meetings with a very specific purpose. If you don’t have others that will join you, go it alone knowing there others elsewhere who are doing the same and agreeing with you. Spread this call for prayer over the internet to as many others as you can, encouraging them to join this desperate fight. Our nation and freedom is at stake along with our ability to continue ministering God’s Word and His love to others , both inside and outside of this nation.
Prayer should be “targeted” – aimed specifically at certain issues, problems and people. Don’t use “shotgun” prayer in which you just blast away hoping to hit something. Don’t shoot blind, you won’t hit anything. Be like a sniper with your power prayer, use scripture in your prayer as you pray about each specific issue as a target – pray aggressively and fervently; pray without ceasing. Then use the right “ammo” – pray the Word of God using the proper scripture that applies to the situation. Remember that Jesus defeated the enemy using the Word of God by quoting it. Speak God’s Word in your prayers about the situation you are praying about and you are actually bring God into that situation.
Failure to fight allows the enemy to win. Also remember, this is a battle, so fight we must – and in the end, WE WIN! There are many various battles in a war; many we Christians have lost in the past, but we are destined to win the war under the direction of Christ as our Commander and by obeying His commands and being faithful unto the end.
Mathew 6:9-13 – In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Jesus did not command us to pray this specific prayer, as so many do; He instructed us to daily pray about each of these topics He mentioned so that we can experience the blessings of the Kingdom (the dominion) of God in and over our individual lives.
Romans 14:17 – for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- AND WE ARE LOSING
By W. G. Guy
This is primarily a spiritual warfare but we are not fighting, thus we are losing. Why? …the enemy we fail to recognize will defeat us because we allow him to operate without opposition.
This war is about righteousness and godliness verses unrighteousness and ungodliness; morality and right values verses immorality and wrong values; the kingdom (domain) of God verses the kingdom (domain) of unregenerate man under the influence of Satan. This war has been going on since the enemy gained domination in the garden over mankind, (Genesis 3). The enemy we are failing to recognize as a nation and ignored by our governmental and political leadership is the master conspirator that opposes everything of God; everything moral and everything right. This enemy operates covertly, unseen, unrecognized and unknown due to our national ignorance of God and His Word. This enemy is Satan who operates covertly through the spirit of antichrist who has been aggressively operating since Jesus ascended to the Father in Heaven almost two thousand years ago.
1 John 4:1-3 – Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
1 John 2:22 – Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
1 John 3:10 – In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God
Our founding fathers, of this once great nation, had full knowledge of this warfare as most of them were very devout and godly men. They formed our Republic and its Constitution having full knowledge of God’s will and purpose which is what made America great.
Proverbs 14:34 – Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.
The enemy has been systematically at work trying to destroy this nation due to its original godly and moral values. Have you noticed that it’s our godliness, morals and values that have declined?
John 10:10 – The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
But God gave us all that we need to be victorious over the enemy and to live with His blessings so long as we follow His instructions. Herein is where this nation is failing – we are failing to recognize God and His love for us and the righteousness that is available through knowledge and fellowship with Him through Jesus Christ, and we are failing to recognize we have an enemy that is out to destroy us and steal from us what God has freely provided.
This war has so many battle fronts that it seems overwhelming. Consider the main battle fronts facing Christian Americans and those who want to uphold the U.S. Constitution: individual freedom, free enterprise, the sanctity of marriage and the family, and oppose, abortion, homosexuality, illegal immigration, Islamic terrorism, nationalizing businesses and our economy, using “hate crimes” to silence Christians, socialism and the centralizing of control in the government, anti-capitalism, immorality and corruption; and the rejection of God, Jesus, Prayer and the Bible from the public.
The working of the enemy is taking a toll because we fail to acknowledge the true source of our opposition. This warfare is not political, it is spiritual, caused by the spirit of antichrist, the devil.
Daniel 7:25 –……. and shall wear out the saints of the most High.......
Revelation 12:17 – And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
In spite of so many battle fronts we need to recognize there is only one enemy – Satan. We are wasting our time and effort trying to fight those whom Satan has beguiled to fight on his behalf. All these battle fronts are merely diversions to keep us from dealing with the true enemy, the real source of America’s, and the worlds, problems.
Ephesians 6:12 – 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.
James 4:7 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1 Peter 5:8-9 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
There are specific strategies necessary to fighting and winning a war. First we need to recognize who the enemy really is so we don’t waste time and energy fighting shadows or false fronts. Next we need to understand his tactics so we can know how to defend ourselves. In addition, we must be prepared to repel any and all attacks. Then we need to know what offensive tactics to use that we know will defeat him and from which he cannot defend himself.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 – For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
One of the key elements in warfare is to not be led into unnecessary conflicts that drain efforts and resources. In other words, don’t fight the enemy on his terms, on his battle ground or using his type of weapons. The reason is that we have available to us greater, more powerful and effective weapons as explained in the verse above. Instead of reacting to his attacks, we need to plan our own strategic assaults on him and his efforts.
Instead of being “reactive” we need to be “pro-active”.
Why waste time and energy trying to fight the way the enemy fights – he is always willing to draw us into his kind of battle. Again, this has to do with who it is we are really at war with as stated in Ephesians 6:12 above. It’s not flesh and blood we are fighting; it’s not the liberals, the leftists, the godless educators, the media, or congress – we are actually fighting the one who is behind them; it’s their leader and his minions, the master conspirator - Satan. Such human puppets are simply under the influence of the spirit of antichrist.
We need to recognize the enemy’s primary weapon – LIES, DECEPTION and FEAR.
John 8:44 – Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Remember that Jesus foretold that prior to His return great deception would be prevalent. The devil will use deception to promote his agenda which is to steal, kill and destroy, (John 10:10). Lies and deception include concealing the truth or modifying it into something else so that people do not see truth in a matter.
Matthew 24:4, 11 & 24 – And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Lies and deception bring those who are subject to it into bondage; they become dependent on what is not true or valid. As such they become enslaved – servants of the enemy.
Romans 6:16 – Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
The enemy’s secondary weapons are DISCOURAGEMENT and FEAR which causes us to lose heart and give up the fight.
Luke 18:1, 7-8 – Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,…7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find (persistant and enduring) faith on the earth?”
We also need to recognize that one of Satan’s favorite tactics is to cause FEAR – using threats and intimidation. The liberal media and leftists use this tactic aggressively against conservatives and those who are right. Fear causes a person back up or yield his ground to the enemy. Numerous verses in the Bible instruct us to “Fear not”. We are told to “Stand” in the day the evil one makes his moves.
The apostle Paul, who was heavily engaged in spiritual warfare, has passed on essential knowledge on how to fight the enemy. We are instructed to not give in to fear, threats and intimidation, but to STAND. If he backs up due to fear then he yields his ground to the enemy who then takes over as a conquest. We are repeatedly told to “stand” our ground and not yield to the threats, intimidations and fears that the enemy employs against us. Unfortunately, Christians have yielded up so much ground in the past few decades that we must go on the offensive to gain back what was lost to the liberal causes of abortion, homosexuality, corruption, immorality and infidelity, just to name a few areas of ground lost to the enemy.
We are provided defensive armor to help us to “stand” and hold our ground. We are also equipped with the more powerful weapon God has supplied us with - His Word – the TRUTH – the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. God’s Word, which is Truth, is both our defensive armor and the most powerful offensive weapon.
Ephesians 6:10-11 – 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.
Each piece of spiritual armor is an application of His Word that equips us to stand against the attack of the enemy. We are the take Truth to “girt up the loins”, that we use to wrap ourselves in to guard our must tender areas. We also have the “breastplate of righteousness” that protects our heart and vital areas with the knowledge that Christ is our righteousness. Next is the gospel of peace (also in His Word) to equip us to stand on firm footing so we won’t stubble or slip. Then take the “shield of faith”, our trust in Him and His Word to deflect all of the lies and accusations that the enemy throws at us. Finally we cap it off with the “helmet of salvation” with which we protect our head. This covers our mind and thoughts that should only be focused on Christ and what He has provided for us in His Word, so we are not beguiled again by subtle temptations to yield to the enticements to sin.
Ephesians 6:14-17 – Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
All these are essential defensive items to protect us while engaged in conflict in this life. Then we have the power of intercessory prayer, as requested by the apostle Paul.
Ephesians 4:18 – Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints ;
Christians need to be in intercessory prayer (as sort of “covering fire”) for the added protection of those who are taking a specific stand or assault in certain battle areas against the efforts of the enemy.
Finally we are told to take the offensive weapon – the “Sword of the Spirit, which IS the Word of God”. Prayer and speaking God’s Word aloud to every situation the enemy raises is our powerful offensive weapon. We need to be praying to bind (prohibit) the effects of the enemy’s efforts to deceive, mislead and disguise himself. We need to pray that the enemy’s plans and strategies are exposed for all to see and recognize, and for his efforts to be overturned.
Our most powerful weapon against this enemy is not bullets and bombs which only destroy flesh. Since our enemy is a spirit that motivates and drives those yielded to it, we need to apply a “spiritual” weapon – Prayer and the Word.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 – For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) – the enemy’s strongholds.
This weapon is so powerful the enemy has no defense for it and it defeats his every effort when we apply it. However, here is the key – TO APPLY IT AND APPLY IT PROPERLY.
Luke 4:2, 4, 6-8 – Being forty days tempted of the devil. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. .....6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Satan knows how effective God’s Word is; he tried to use it on Jesus, but since he has no right to use it, or authority to use it, it didn’t work for him, but Jesus used it on him and defeated his attack. Note that Jesus, even though He is the Son of God, did not relay on His own ability; He relied on the Word of God and quoted it to the enemy.
Luke 4:9-12 – And he (the devil) brought him (Jesus) to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Jesus used it by simply quoting it to the devil in its proper application and the enemy was defeated. Likewise, we Christians need to know the Word of God and apply it in our lives to provide defensive armor, then to use it offensively by speaking it out in prayer and also in public when applicable. The Word of God is so powerful it was likened to the most powerful personal weapon a person could possess in Jesus’ day, a two edged sword – today it’s like comparing the Word of God to being armed with a .44 Magnum:
Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged 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.
When people hear the truth, and are convicted of it by the Holy Spirit, they are changed. When Satan hears the Word spoken by God’s people, he is rendered helpless and has no resistance or defense - he has to flee. Satan and his forces may challenge you to see if your trust is really in God’s Word, which is why we are told to “STAND”, put up and maintain the resistance. Put the TRUTH to work; apply it, speak it out, trust it!
John 8:32 – And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 17:17 - Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
In order to effectively battle the enemy you MUST know the Word of God, what He promised, and then properly employ the Truth of God’s Word against the enemy, speaking it out loud in prayer and making proclamation against the enemy.
Luke 10:19 – Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Isaiah 54:17 – No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.
Isaiah 41:10-13 – Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ ‘Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish. You shall seek them and not find them — Those who contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing. For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’
Remember, the enemy we fail to recognize will defeat us because we allow him to operate without opposition. Now it is time to engage the enemy on our terms by using our God given weapon – Prayer and the Word. We need Christians all across this nation to engage in warfare praying – intercession for our nation, for a spiritual awakening, for revival, to return to God and acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, for repentance, for godly leadership.
Remember that you cannot stand against the enemy in your own strength; you must submit yourself to God through Jesus Christ, then you can resist the devil and all of his tactics.
James 4: 7 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
We need churches, fellowships and groups of Christians to assemble for regular prayer meetings with a very specific purpose. If you don’t have others that will join you, go it alone knowing there others elsewhere who are doing the same and agreeing with you. Spread this call for prayer over the internet to as many others as you can, encouraging them to join this desperate fight. Our nation and freedom is at stake along with our ability to continue ministering God’s Word and His love to others , both inside and outside of this nation.
Prayer should be “targeted” – aimed specifically at certain issues, problems and people. Don’t use “shotgun” prayer in which you just blast away hoping to hit something. Don’t shoot blind, you won’t hit anything. Be like a sniper with your power prayer, use scripture in your prayer as you pray about each specific issue as a target – pray aggressively and fervently; pray without ceasing. Then use the right “ammo” – pray the Word of God using the proper scripture that applies to the situation. Remember that Jesus defeated the enemy using the Word of God by quoting it. Speak God’s Word in your prayers about the situation you are praying about and you are actually bring God into that situation.
Failure to fight allows the enemy to win. Also remember, this is a battle, so fight we must – and in the end, WE WIN! There are many various battles in a war; many we Christians have lost in the past, but we are destined to win the war under the direction of Christ as our Commander and by obeying His commands and being faithful unto the end.
Mathew 6:9-13 – In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Jesus did not command us to pray this specific prayer, as so many do; He instructed us to daily pray about each of these topics He mentioned so that we can experience the blessings of the Kingdom (the dominion) of God in and over our individual lives.
Romans 14:17 – for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
