Tag: warfare

The Battle We Fight

Carl says, “Many Christians go about their daily lives completely unaware of the spiritual battles raging around them. It seems we’ve underestimated the impact this war has on our lives.” What can we do about it?

Carl Pollard

Many Christians go about their daily lives completely unaware of the spiritual battles raging around them. It seems we’ve underestimated the impact this war has on our lives. Imagine if World War III were to break out; there wouldn’t be a single person in this country who wouldn’t know about it. It would dominate the news, fill the papers, and be the talk of every household and workplace. We’d see evidence of war in videos, photos, soldiers writing home, and leaders addressing the nation. There would be no doubt that we were at war.

Now, what if I told you that, as true Christians, we already see the signs of a spiritual war? It’s evident on social media, in our homes, in the films we watch, and in the curriculum being taught to our children. Evidence of spiritual warfare is all around us, yet we often choose to live as if it doesn’t exist.

April 18, 1775, Paul Revere was awakened and warned that the British troops were coming by sea. He mounted his horse and rode through the countryside shouting, “The British are coming!” Imagine the militia hearing this news, springing into action, getting dressed, and grabbing their weapons, ready to fight.

Ephesians 6:10-18 serves as our warning that the enemy is approaching. This passage of scripture is meant to prepare us for battle. The enemy is not just coming; he is already here. Are you ready?

One of the most powerful stories in the Old Testament is that of Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings 6:17-20. Surrounded by a Syrian army, Elisha’s servant panicked, questioning how they could possibly defeat such an overwhelming force. Elisha prayed, “Lord, open his eyes; there are more with us than there are with them.” When the servant looked up, he saw the spiritual realm filled with chariots of fire and an army of angels ready to fight.

Just as there is an invisible army of God, there’s also an invisible army of Satan. We must open our eyes to the spiritual forces of evil poised to destroy our faith. 

Do we live as if we’re at war? How often do we recognize that the enemy is attacking us? This happens in the videos you watch in solitude, in the thoughts that drift through your mind, in the anger you harbor towards others, and in the gossip you spread. Do you see the enemy at work? We must be more vigilant.

Satan and his demons have a grip on so many lives, so what do we do? Three quick points from Ephesians 6:10-13 regarding our spiritual warfare:

It Is Real

We need to understand that spiritual warfare is as real as anything else in life. Ephesians 6:10-12 tells us, “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.”

Notice that Paul emphasizes that our struggle isn’t against flesh and blood. If you’re a Christian, you are in a war. We face an enemy unlike any other. When you think of wrestling, recall those childhood moments spent grappling with siblings, often ending in parental intervention. This is the intensity of the fight Paul describes. He tells Timothy to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). We are engaged in a daily battle—not a physical one, but a spiritual one.

It Is Relentless

Our spiritual enemy is unwavering in his pursuit. Verse 11 states, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Our enemy is strategic and constantly plotting. Think of Wile E. Coyote—always concocting new traps for the Road Runner. Satan does the same with us, looking for our weaknesses to exploit.

1 Peter 5:8 warns us that “the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” He studies us, waiting for moments of vulnerability to strike. The battle is unceasing, and he is cunning, using lies to manipulate our thoughts and emotions. We must recognize how he attacks our families, our children, and us personally.

Be Resolved

James 4:7 instructs us to “resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” It’s not you he fears; it’s the power of God within you. God equips us with spiritual armor to withstand the enemy. We need to be steadfast, recognizing that little by little, day by day, we are defeating Satan.

Ephesians 6:10-11 presents three critical commands for spiritual warfare:

1. “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” Remember, you cannot win this battle alone; victory comes through Christ.

2. “Put on the full armor of God.” Utilize what God has provided—truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Spirit.

3. “Take your stand.” We’re called to stand firm, and Paul emphasizes this 4 different times in this section of scripture. 

Do you see the battle that is all around us? Open your eyes to the reality we find ourselves in and pick up your weapons. God has won, but we must be prepared to face our enemy.

The Old Paths

Wednesday’s Column: Third’s Words

Gary Pollard

In almost every major war preceding World War I, men met face-to-face on the battlefield. The weapons used by soldiers had not changed much in thousands of years, so engagement distances were limited to 100 or so meters at most. By World War I, the bolt-action rifle had been perfected, machine guns were everywhere, some artillery pieces had a range of 80 miles, people fought in the skies for the first time, and some soldiers even had portable machine guns.

Commanding officers didn’t care, though. Soldiers always charged into battle; that was a thing. This was how they had fought for thousands of years, so why change now? They threw soldiers’ lives away over and over again, each charge being erased by the enormous volume of bullets. Why hadn’t they changed tactics after the first couple of failed charges? 9.7 million soldiers died in World War I (https://www.census.gov/history/pdf/reperes112018.pdf). A hefty percentage of them would have survived if the commanding officers had just changed tactics.

Christianity is warfare (Eph 6.12; II Cor 10.3-6; II Tim 2.3ff). We fight our own nature, the influence of evil, and the involvement of the enemy (satan). Christianity is also a rescue operation – we’re trying to save people! Just as with any war, the enemy is always trying to stay one step ahead. Ours is the most advanced threat anyone could face! No stakes are higher, no enemy more powerful, and he’s primarily concerned with causing as much damage as possible. He knows he’s doomed (cf Matt 8.29), which makes him an enemy with nothing to lose. We KNOW he’s used evolving tactics over the millennia.

The message Jesus gave us is timeless and can never be changed. The way Jesus wants his church to operate is timeless. Doctrine cannot be changed. But this gospel is not confined by an era or aesthetic. The message is relevant across time, culture, and understanding. If we confine Christianity to a form that hasn’t been in common use for a long time, do we not demonstrate a lack of faith in his timeless message? Worse yet, it would mean our rescue operation is several steps behind the enemy’s offensive.

We have the most powerful entity as our ally, but this mission is ours. What God wants to accomplish will be accomplished. Since this mission is ours, we must execute it as effectively as possible! How? The message is timeless, so it works in any culture and time. Match it to our culture and time in every way that doesn’t compromise (I Cor 9.19-23), and let God’s power do the rest.

“Our fight is not against people on earth. We are fighting powers of darkness. We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6.12).

via National WWI Museum and Memorial.

A Global Adversary

Neal Pollard

In the wake of the recent siege on an upscale mall in Nairobi, Kenya, the Kenyan Government has mentioned the possible role played by American teen boys and a British woman–perhaps the infamous “White Widow” linked to the London Bombing in 2005–in the deadly attack led by Somali militants.  Since our nation went to war after the attacks on September 11, 2001, the government has frequently stated that this war is unique.  It is not against a particular nation per se or even a specific religion.  It is against particular people, bound together by a similar philosophy, mindset, and methodology.  Such a war is difficult to prosecute, since a front might pop up in Indonesia, Kenya, or no one knows where.

As formidable, frightening, and frustrating as such a foe is, Christians of every generation have been engaged in similar warfare.  It is not with people, but the devil (1 Pet. 5:8).  The warfare is most unique.  Paul writes, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:3-5).  The warfare, weapons, and tactics are unconventional and spiritual.  We do not conquer by subjugating or injuring–we lose if we do that.  In fact, we are not the conquerors in this sense.  The battle belongs to the Lord.  Victory occurs when those fighting for the enemy leave his camp and come over to the Lord’s side.

We personally wage that war here at home, but the battle rages across the planet.  We may wage it thousands of miles from home, but our fellow-spiritual soldiers all over the world are armed with the gospel and on the front lines. Unlike the war on terror, Christians know this battle must rage until Christ comes again.  May we never surrender!