“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of stongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4,5
The nature of the conflict between Satan and God is primarily spiritual. What does this mean? First, it means what the Apostle declares it not to be, a “war after the flesh,” (v.2) primarily physical, sin and self-oriented. The spiritual warfare in which every child of God is engaged to some extent or not, is characterized by that which is beyond the natural senses, resources, and means by which it can be successfully waged. In the Old Testament, we find examples where Israel relied upon Egypt, with its army, chariots, and horses. Scripture tells the believer that he is not to rely upon the strength, and natural capacities of a man, nor in those of a horse, and certainly NOT upon any idea of a “god” created by man’s design and imagination. The call to the Christian, or disciple of Christ, is to come first of all to grips with the fact that Christ’s war, is his war, a conflict against “principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against the spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph. 6:12) Because the enemy is spiritual, only that which is spiritual and of God, by God, and for the glory of God, will be effective in this conflict. This is why the Apostle Paul instructs the Ephesian believers to “…take unto you the whole armor OF GOD, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (6:13) Where then do we begin in considering this conflict, in order to come a knowledge and power of God’s ways, overcoming, and being victorious in this conflict?
We must always, in every consideration of any subject in the Bible, begin with Christ. Why? First of all, He was in the beginning of creation, having created it. He was also there when the “mystery of iniquity” raised its ugly head and brought upon the human race such destruction and death. The only One who could successfully “bruise the head” of the serpent, Satan, and eventually overcome him perfectly on the cross, was Christ. There is none other in the whole realm of creation and beyond who is worthy, or able, to be the Captain of our salvation, nor the Everlasting Keeper of our souls, especially in the face of the enemy who would seek to destroy them.
The second thing we need to see, apart from this glorious victory, when Christ, “…having spoiled principalities and powers,…and made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them…” (Col. 2:15), is God’s means of conferring to His church in our day that same victory. It is first of all, not a victory of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but that of the Son of God who yielded not to Satan but rose from the dead to demonstrate His Almighty power over death. This victory was conferred, or given to the believer, the moment he was saved, when placed into Jesus Christ. This union with Christ made all that was in Christ available to the believer by faith. Like the matter of salvation, so is the gift of the victory of Christ, communicated to the believer by the Spirit of God.
How then is this warfare to be waged? Apart from putting on the whole armor of God in Christ, those specific provisions that God has given the believer to “fight a good fight,” there is first and foremost the matter of prayer. Paul put it like this, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” (Eph. 6:18) It has been said that the army of God goes forward on its knees. Why? Prayer and faith are those means by which Christ interposes and interjects His victory into the present conflict.
Dear Father, Make us good soldiers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.