Process and Purpose of Spiritual Warfare

I have written several blogs focused on living in the Spirit, spiritual prayer and engaging in Spiritual warfare.  A primary passage in scripture which guides us in the realm of spiritual warfare is found in Ephesians 6.  Here is what Paul writes, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  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.  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.  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 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, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:10-20.

Paul lays out a systematic purpose and process to spiritual warfare in these verses. To lead through any process well, you need to stay focused on the goal.  You have to start with “why” and know your “why” to navigate the process. If the goal is well defined and the questions of why are clear, the details will become systematic.  In verses 13, 19, and 20  Paul gives us the clear goal and answers the question of “why spiritual warfare?” 

The goal of spiritual warfare is not to defeat Satan, but for the Kingdom of God to advance.  The Kingdom of God advances we learn how to persevere through evil days (v.13).  As God’s Kingdom is the focus, we boldly proclaim the mystery of the Gospel (v.19).  We are to live as ambassadors of the Kingdom of God in the middle of difficult days (v.20).  That is our focus and it answers the questions of why we do what we do.

Once you understand why you do what you do, then the next question becomes “How do we do that”?  The power to persevere, proclaim, and represent the Kingdom is not found in ourselves but in God.  Paul points out that we are to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”  The words strong and strength are two different words in the Greek language and represent a process.  The first word for “strong” indicates the strength or ability to do something.  As it is used in the Ephesians passage, it reflects an ability to grow in skill, to gain insights, and to continue developing an ability to do. Thus it could read, continue growing strong in the Lord. 

The second word for “strength” indicates the power of a position.  This word centers on the idea of dominion or sovereignty.  This second word moves us from strength growing in to the strength given to us from One who is in the position to grant us strength. Paul urges us to keep growing strong in the Lord, but never forget all we do is focused on His Kingdom. We can have this strength because the Kingdom of God is all powerful and we are granted strength because of His supreme sovereignty.  So how do we do what we need to do?  We stay submissive to the all powerful Kingdom of God and learn how to live with a dependence upon His strength.

With all this strength and power at our disposal for us to live for the Kingdom of God, the next question becomes “Who is against the Kingdom of God?” and “How are they against it?”.  Paul gives us that insight in verses 11 and 12.  He urges us to stand strong against the schemes of the devil.  Understand that the word for schemes indicates a well designed or thought out process, but one that leads to deception.  In other words, it looks right, sounds good, and seems wonderful, but in the end, it will lead you away from your focus of representing the Kingdom of God.  Paul also points out in verse 12 that this is a well designed system that is bigger than physical kingdoms.  It spreads out in cosmic realms. The deception is subtle and well designed and the kingdom of darkness is massive and organized.

The last two elements that Paul addresses are those of process and prayer.  The process of how we represent the kingdom of God and withstand the schemes of the devil has to do with the whole armor of God.  I am sure you have heard plenty of statements about not going out half dressed.  We are to put on the whole armor of God.  So important is this element that Paul repeats it.  In verse 11 he tells us to “put on the whole armor of God” and in verse 13 he tells us to “take up the whole armor of God”.  In the Greek, Paul is tell us to wear the whole armor and use the whole armor.

What is the whole armor of God? Paul defines it for us.  We are to wear the belt of truth which is the Word of God.  The more time you spend in the Word of God, the more truth you will know. The breastplate of righteousness guards our heart.  The transformation of exchanging our will for the will of the Kingdom is central to our focus.  Protecting that process allows it to continue in purity.  Shoes with the gospel of peace have to do with the stability to stand when forces begin to push in an opposite direction.  The shield of faith is a spiritual shield that extinguishes the attacks of Satan.  The helmet of salvation is similar in to the breastplate of righteousness.  We need the mind of the Christ and to develop a Biblical worldview.  Protecting our mind is key to the process.  Finally, the sword of the Spirit is a return to the word of God.  We started with knowing the Scriptures, the sword is about wielding the Scriptures.  We start with knowing, but without application, knowledge is wasted.  Intellectual accumulation, without transformational application leads to deceptive disobedience.  Don’t be deceived into thinking that all God wants is for you to know stuff.  He wants to change who you are and how you live. Obedience is our action of doing and living God’s Word and will.

Just like Paul would warn us not to go out half dressed, he is also worried about half-hearted praying.  Paul urges us to first pray all the time in verse 18.  However, he urges us to make our consistent praying to be dependent on the Spirit’s control and leadership.  You may recall that we addressed Spirit led prayer in an early devotional. 

In addition to praying all the time in the Spirit, Paul wants us to continually pray with requests for help or intervention.  He wants us to develop a dependence upon the strength of the Lord and not our independent nature.  The final element Paul adds to our praying, is not limit our prayers to ourselves, but to include all the saints also.  Never forget that spiritual warfare is not a solo raid, but the flood of an army empowered by a magnificent commander.