1By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10:1 – 6)
Over the last three days, we have certainly seen how the Discipline of Bible Study is key to providing what the world desperately needs – God. Today, we switch our focus to the Discipline of Spiritual Warfare. Will the relevance of this Discipline to A World in Need be as obvious? Let’s consider this over the next two days.
When we speak of a world in need we are, of course, referring to people in need. However, the world can also be defined as the kingdom ruled by Satan. As Christians in Satan’s domain, we are by definition at war, whether we acknowledge it or not.
Please prayerfully read the passage above, and note the presumption that we are at war. Also, note the power God provides and what it is capable of doing.
Questions
- How conscious are you of the spiritual battles around you?
- In what ways might unbelievers benefit from Christians practicing spiritual warfare?
March 5, 2020 at 6:42 am
This passage communicates “powerful” information but yet does so with simplicity. Our victory over the enemy is evidenced by obedience. Our obedience is what the unbeliever “see” and is what is our witness to them. The more challenging the situation, ( i.e. one in which we are more tempted to disobey and therefore the more intense the warfare, which still results in our being obedient to God’s will/way, the greater our witness.
March 5, 2020 at 11:51 am
Truthfully, I have to remind myself of the fight in the spiritual world. I tend to reduce the wrongs that happen on Earth to worldly causes, but the truth is that something much deeper is at play. It’s so important to acknowledge the spiritual realm because it’s only by acknowledging this that we can address the wrong with the proper weapon – fight spirit with spirit!
March 5, 2020 at 1:05 pm
I’m extremely aware of the spiritual world and battles facing this world. Sometimes it is very overwhelming. If as Christians we fight these spiritual battles it could allow the world to see Christ working through us, that it’s not being done in our own strength, which could lead one to Christ.
Unbelievers are looking for answers and hope and we hold the key to many of these if only we’d practice what God’s word prescribes.
March 5, 2020 at 1:55 pm
1. Spiritual battles occur in our homes, at the workplace, and also how issues are resolved. 2. Unbelievers can benefit from Christians by the approach taken, as well as the mindset adopted when confronted with problems. Everything we do should glorify God. This includes our interaction with believers and unbelievers. People are not only influenced by what we know, but also what we do in challenging circumstances.
March 5, 2020 at 2:34 pm
Very much so and am impatient that others cannot and do not take heed .
I am at a loss how to strengthen others to SEE. It’s quite argumentative and frustrating to show non believers who are blind to the fact.
At the moment I have given up so that maybe actions can make more progress than my talk.
March 5, 2020 at 2:50 pm
I am very conscious of the spiritual battles around me. So often things happen that make me say, “What is wrong with people?” I usually say that after hearing or reading something that I find appalling and unacceptable, but it doesn’t seem to be a big deal to others.
We need to fight “the war” with consistent Godly actions….no wavering, and with prayer. Many people “give in” to what the world is doing because it seems like the easier way to go. This should never be a Christian’s strategy.
If we as Christians stand firm and practice our beliefs as we fight, the unbelievers who are watching us can benefit. They are more than likely going to notice that Christians (God) wins in the end, and it may have a lasting positive, and maybe even life-changing impact on them.
March 5, 2020 at 3:22 pm
The spiritual warfare awakening came front to front with me when my younger daughter came back from a trip to Spain.
Without divulging too much she had a very bad experience.
I saw a Minister deliver her and this continued for a year and to date she is rooted in the Word as spiritual warfare recurs.
To non believers I tell them if they read the bible they will see Jesus casting out demons.
Before this I was totally unaware and thought it was all hocus pocus
But the same non believers would enjoy looking at a horror movie with spiritual warfare.
Is it that the devil is so present in this world?.
Yes as they took out prayers from the schools.
I think so.
March 5, 2020 at 4:15 pm
I don’t think I’ve considered confronting societal wrongs as spiritual battles, but this is pushing me to expand what going to “war” means. As someone interested in social policy, I believe in a framework that gets to the root of systemic inequalities to find solutions. I’m reminded of a scholar who said that the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house. That current institutions are ill-equipped or unwilling to help our most vulnerable communities. How do we navigate dissension to rebuild what may have always been broken?
This passage (particularly verses 3 and 4) reminds me that even in a tense political climate, Jesus offered the blueprint on how to fight against institutions while keeping God at the forefront. His framework was both radical and loving. I pray to continually grow in my faith and evaluate whether the “weapons” used in my framework are aligned with spiritual weapons.
March 5, 2020 at 11:27 pm
I’m living in a country (Japan), where spiritual warfare seemed to be not existing but actually it is very much happening here. Same is true when I was living in Pakistan and Oman. Here in Japan, amidst the peace and quietness of everyday life, there is a spiritual warfare that is going on. As a Christian I believe I have to be vigilant in prayer and firm with my faith in order to win against the scheme of the enemy. Japanese people are very busy working everyday as if that’s all life has to offer. It’s good there are Christian churches and some believers I know who truly pray and committed to share the gospel that led for some Japanese to be saved. I believe the Holy Spirit is with us , and that is an assurance that we can be victorious in this spiritual warfare. The Lord is victorious and He will let His children triumph, that is a Promise I hold on. The mission works I do in Japan like being involved in VBS and other works like helping Japanese people devastated by calamity or even just giving leaflets of our church at train stations are few ways to fight the spiritual battle going on.