This Means War!
“For we do not fight 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
“This again…”
I sat in the Walmart parking lot so frustrated with myself again.
“Why do I keep dealing with this over and over and over??? I want victory over this in my life! I’m so tired of fighting!!!”
“You’re fighting and that means you’re ALIVE! Dead people don’t fight. Dead fish go with the current. Fish that are alive swim against the current.” Holy Spirit spoke so clearly to me on that day and I was brought back to the reality that the fight against sin never grows old nor does it necessarily get easier.
I was thinking about my sin and angry with how I didn't struggle like this before. But that's the point. I didn't struggle because I didn’t fight. And I didn't fight because I didn’t love God and want to honor Him. When I was not a Christian, I didn’t care; these things didn't matter to me. I gave into every desire I wanted to. There was no conviction, no desire for holiness, no desire to please God.
But being born again changes you; your mind, your soul, your spirit. Seeking to follow Jesus and His way, not our own, makes you a slave to righteousness instead of a slave to sin. Though some desires may still be present, you don't seek the things of the world anymore though some desires will still remain.
“Of course it wasn't this hard. You didn't care then like you do now.”
Your Enemies Plot Your Demise…
You have 3 main enemies in this world that will always try to tempt you away from God.
Temptation comes from…
The World
Your Flesh
The Devil
Temptation is the desire to do something wrong or unwise. The thing about temptation is that we all have, currently are, and will experience temptation throughout our lives. It’s part of the human condition and living in a fallen world.
So how do each of these enemies tempt us?
The World: Money, sex, material items, status, success, fame, relationships, ideologies, intellect, etc. You name it, the world tries to tell you it’s better to pursue those things instead of pursuing God Himself. The world rewards you for being your own God and chastises you for actually following God. The temptation is to make everything else god except God.
Our flesh: Our flesh is always prone to agree with the world and with the devil. Good and normal desires are not fleshly, but they can run rampant in our lives if we do not control and bring them under submission to Christ. The temptation is to make our desires our god.
The Devil: He destroys, divides, distorts (perverts), distracts, discourages, deceives, pushes us into ditches, encourages a lack of discipline. Basically anything negative that begins with a “d” is what the devil is responsible for. He uses the world, tempts the flesh with temporary pleasures that destroy in the end. The temptation is to get us to accept counterfeits and believe that they are better than God.
As you think about the definitions for each of these enemies, you will be able to better discern where temptation is coming from and what the tactics are so that you can fight more effectively.
Spawning Salmon and Spiritual Warfare
My dad has always been an avid reader and when I was growing up, I often saw him reading National Geographic. He traveled the world when he was in the military and passed down his wonder for the world and nature to my brother and I. Growing up, we loved watching National Geographic and the Discovery Channel.
I remember watching a segment about the salmon run. “A salmon run is an annual fish migration event where many salmonid species, which are typically hatched in fresh water and live most of the adult life downstream in the ocean, swim back against the stream to the upper reaches of rivers to spawn on the gravel beds of small creeks.”
Y’all, these salmon are on a mission! As they return to freshwater as adults, they remember the smell and are compelled to swim upstream back to the very place where they were born so they can lay their eggs. Some species of salmon do not die after spawning, but some do.
Even though some of these salmon die after their mission is complete, the point is that they prevailed against the treacherous upstream waters and journey back to where they were born. They fought to complete their mission no matter what.
Watching these Salmon On A Mission! actually made me emotional the first time I watched it. They literally will not give up until they reach their destination. And if these little fish can do it, then by golly, so can we for our King!
The Armor of God: Stay Ready So You Don’t Have to Get Ready…
Friends, we are in a war against sin. A WAR. And in a war you need armor and a strategy for victory or else there will be severe casualties. The armor of God is what the Lord gives to His people, those who follow Jesus, to have victory in this world and over sin.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 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. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,” Ephesians 6:10-18
Be aware of your temptations so you can have a strategy to fight. Also remember:
Temptation is a human experience as well as a supernatural one.
Your temptation is not your identity nor is it limiting.
It is not sinful to be asked to be delivered from temptation.
Temptation is not exempt from the power of the Holy Spirit.
As we continue to seek God, the temptation will not be as intense as it could be and we will be able to have relief.
Feel: You have to feel the weight of the spiritual warfare that is at hand so you can understand just how serious it is.
Fight: You have to fight with what God has given you and not with your own weapons nor according to your own ways. Fighting means you’re ALIVE; alive in Christ. I know the fight is exhausting much of the time and that you want to give up, but you have to keep going. God doesn't want you to give up and He won’t let you.
Faith: Think about this: your faith can’t grow if trials and temptation aren’t present. How will you learn to trust God? How will you learn to cling to God? How will you help others to have faith? How will you learn to pray and cry out to God if there are no opportunities to do so?
Remember these 3 things as you are dealing with spiritual warfare:
Temptation will still come even when you are walking with God! But there is no temptation known to man..
The scriptures are our best defense! Stand firm on the word of god…
The body of Christ is an extension of God and there to encourage you! Bear one another’s burdens…
Reflect & Apply
What has spiritual warfare looked like for you lately?
How has God been helping you navigate it?
How will you fight differently?
