SPIRITUAL WARFARE
THE DEADLIEST WAR
OF ALL
The history of mankind is
exemplified by a series of endless wars and conflicts between nations, within
the boundaries of a nation, and between individuals. No nation in history has
been immune to at least one involvement in war. Psychologists estimate that
individuals will engage in a minimum of eight personal conflicts before they
enter adulthood. The world and its
inhabitants have been at war, are involved in war, and will always encounter
some form of conflict. This is true for nations as well as for individuals.
To understand this historical fact,
it is necessary to trace back to the core element why the world is in constant
conflict and will always be so despite the efforts of ambassadors and
organizations whose purpose is to prevent wars and to create peaceful
co-existence. The core basis for all wars comes under the umbrella of spiritual
warfare, the deadliest war of all.
Spiritual warfare is the result of
the current war between satan and the Sovereign Godhead. This war began before
the creation of the earth and of man. Nobody knows exactly when the war began
but the Bible states that the angel known as Lucifer, a created being of the
Godhead, at some point wanted to be a god. He refused to accept the fact there
is only one true God and he revolted with the result of being cast out of
heaven and eternal relationship with the Sovereign Godhead. Biblical scholars
are in agreement that the angel Lucifer also influenced other angels and they
all are forever banished from the heavenlies and condemned by the Sovereign
Godhead. They will never be reunited in eternal relationship with their
Sovereign Creator.
Now the question arises, what did
this created angel of God do that resulted in such severe repercussion by the
Sovereign Creator of all the heavens and the earth and all that is in it? The
answer is pride, arrogance, and the desire for control are the factors for what
is referred to as the Great Fall and the beginning of the Great War that will
last until Christ Jesus returns as stated in the Bible Book of Revelation.
What began in the heavens is the
basis for all wars that have taken place throughout history and for all wars
that will continue until Christ’s coming. All wars on earth resemble this
spiritual, heavenly war. This spiritual war having earth s its battlefield
includes soldiers for each side as well as numerous casualties. Spiritual
warfare for the purposes of this narrative will be centered on definition,
Biblical examples, preparation for, and how to combat this deadliest of all
wars.
DEFINITION: Spiritual warfare is the system of tactics
utilized by the devil to prevent God from carrying out His will, plan, and
purpose for his special creation, mankind. The purpose of spiritual warfare is
to also keep mankind from having what the devil never will enjoy; eternal life
and relationship with the Sovereign Godhead.
Let’s break down this definition for
better understanding. First is the word system: “A set of interrelated ideas and principles that form a method of
carrying out or maintaining a stated purpose.”
Now let’s look at the word tactics:
“The technique of securing the objectives
designated by strategy, especially the method of deploying and directing troops
in coordinated maneuvers against a stated enemy.”
Tactics is commonly referred to
military operations but also is incorporated by businesses, organizations,
religions, governments, and individuals. These two definitions fit within the
scope of our understanding spiritual warfare. In spiritual warfare there is one
leader for each combatant side. The commander designs the technique and the
deployment of the troops. The tactics used by the troops are funneled to them
through a series of sub-commanders. It is the duty of the troops to carry out
the tactics in battle to achieve the desired purpose and goal.
In the case of the evil commander,
satan, the tactics are designed to rob, kill, and destroy any and all
relationship any human being may have or has with God. As in any war, by
attacking all human beings, satan is attacking God for the purpose of satan’s
becoming God.
The righteous commander, The
Sovereign Godhead, also has a stated objective and tactics to achieve His will,
plan and purpose. Sovereign God’s army includes those soldiers who have been
selected to be His ministers to overcome the tactics employed by the devil.
Opposite of robbing, killing, and destroying; Sovereign God desires to redeem,
renew, give abundant life, and have eternal relationship with His special
creation, mankind. God's will was the same at the time of The Great Fall as it
is today and will be tomorrow. This was His intent when He created Adam and
Eve, and why He gave His only begotten Son, Christ Jesus, as a sacrifice to
open the door for redemption, renewal, and abundant eternal life.
THE DEVIL’S SYSTEM & TACTICS: The devil
has a strategy, plan of action, in the deadliest war that consists of the
flesh, the world, and personal harassment. The flesh consists of one’s five
senses plus the various emotions and feelings that combine to influence our
thoughts and subsequent decision making. The world is the culture in which one
lives and includes the rituals, laws, traditions, and mores deemed necessary
for acceptance and continued membership. Personal harassment includes those
elements that trigger our reactions and responses to stimuli that will impede,
destroy, and kill our effectiveness in a variety of endeavors. This harassment
is initiated by the devil and carried out by his demons that have chosen to
align with him in carrying out his evil purpose.
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES: In
Genesis 2:9b the Word of God states; “…and
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” This phrase tells us that
evil existed when the devil was cast from heaven and before God created Adam
and Eve. No human knows how long before God created man and woman that the
devil was cast from heaven. Also of particular note is that no mention in the
Book of Genesis is made of the devil until God created man and woman. In
Genesis 2:15-16 God gave Adam the commandment to take care of the garden and not
to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This passage
clearly indicates the existence of both good and evil and reflects the
spiritual war, the deadliest war was already happening. In Genesis 3 we are
informed the devil initiated spiritual warfare against man and woman by
tempting Eve. As the saying goes; “And the rest is history.” Genesis 1: 26-27 tells us the devil hates God
and all His creation and in Genesis 1: 28-31 the devil’s stated purpose is to
rob mankind of God’s blessing.
How is it then that the devil could
and continues to go against God and His special creation and involve mankind in
this spiritual war that has deadly consequences? After all God proved His
sovereignty by casting the devil and all his followers from heaven into the
darkness. The devil’s desire to become a god received fuel and an opening with
the creation of man and woman. The devil saw this as an opportunity to get back
at God. In Genesis 2: 15-17 God clearly and emphatically instructed Adam and
Eve not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or
surely they would die. God’s statement tells us two things: #1. Disobedience to
His commands results in death and #2 that both Adam and Eve had the God given
blessing of freedom of choice. Adam and Eve, similar to Lucifer were created
with freedom of choice to have and to maintain a loving relationship with the
Godhead from the heart and not merely a pre-programed robot whose obedience and
relationship with God would be hollow and meaningless.
Genesis tells us that both Adam and
Eve did use their God-given freedom of choice and ate of the deadly fruit and
were cast out of the Garden of Eden, subjected to a life of toil physical death
and potential eternal death. Because of the choice made by Adam and Eve, all
descendants inherit physical death and the potential for eternal death as well.
This is why God the Father send His only begotten Son, Christ Jesus to die on
the cross to be our Redeemer and to pay the price of original sin.
Another Biblical example of
spiritual warfare is found in the Book of Job 1:6-12. In studying this
particular passage it is evident that God is Sovereign by the fact the devil
had to ask permission to attack/harass Job. The devil cannot do anything of his
own accord because he isn’t sovereign and despite the fact he is banished from
heaven he remains subservient to God’s will, plan, and purpose as well as His
total authority. #2 With harassment and attacks come trial, testing, and
suffering all of which add up to the
fact that spiritual indeed is real, with real consequences. Spiritual warfare
is very nasty and deadly. #3 Throughout his ordeal, Job retained the gift of
choice. At one point in his suffering, Job’s wife pleaded with him to renounce
God and die. Her words were part of the devil’s tactics and she became an evil
messenger. #4 God allowed this trial/test and suffering to go only so far then
He intervened. Job was restored, blessed beyond his imagination and the devil
realized his limitations and incurred defeat.
#5 There were casualties in this battlefield engagement and that often
one’s personal battle includes others. This informs us of the consequences of
sin, disobedience, and failure to seek God during those times of trial,
testing, and suffering.
In Matthew 4:1-11 God’s Word teaches
us another interesting aspect about the devil and spiritual warfare. In this
passage the devil tempted Christ Jesus much as he did Adam and Eve. The devil
attempted to ignite triggers that would lead Christ Jesus to sin, thereby
destroying Christ’s purpose of dying on the cross as mankind’s Redeemer. These
attempts of harassment reflect the diabolical purpose of the devil and that he
does not respect or fear Christ the incarnate Son of God. If the devil doesn’t
respect or fear the Son of God, it doesn’t respect or fear the human efforts of
mankind to thwart his deadly efforts. This passage, as well as others, tell us
the devil will attack anyone regardless of gender, age, race, status, or
affiliation.
It must be emphasized that the devil
will tailor his tactics to the unique personalities of men and women. The devil
always attacks on the personal level and aims at those areas of weakness of
that individual.
The final example of the existence
of spiritual warfare for definition purposes is found throughout the Book of
Revelation. In chapter 12:10 the Word of God states that the devil has access
to God but only by permission from the Godhead. #2 Christ Jesus, after His
sacrifice, resurrection, and ascension now and forever sits at the right hand
of Abba God in ALL power, authority,
and grace. This passage becomes important when one encounters the harassment
and spiritual warfare tactics aimed at them.
QUESTIONS:
1.
After reading the
given Biblical passages, do you believe spiritual warfare exists?
2.
Do you believe
you are immune to spiritual warfare simply because you have received Christ’s
salvation?
3.
Do you believe
in eternal life and death?
4.
What tactics
has the enemy employed against you recently?
5.
Do you know
how to combat spiritual warfare?
