In talking about how spiritual warfare has progressed throughout history, we need to see the change from the Old to the New Testament. Most Christians are misinformed about our battle. They’re trying to use Old Testament principles to fight their present warfare.
Reviewing what we know so far…before Christ, God’s people had no spiritual weaponry. The battles had to be fought in the natural. Even as far as their walk with God. It was all about following the rules, not the ability to change themselves permanently.
Spiritually speaking, the enemy held all the cards. That’s why the only way to fight the battle was to follow God’s plan and let Him fight for you and protect you.
He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.’”
2 Chronicles 20:15
The problem is that many believers have picked up this attitude. “I’m going to let the Lord fight my battles.” We even sing songs to that effect such as the old chorus The Victory is Mine when the Battle is the Lord’s.
You might get mad at me for speaking this truth. But the simple fact is that there’s no place in the New Testament where we’re told that God fights our battles for us. On the contrary, over and over again we’re exhorted to fight the good fight.
Why is that? How did such a change take place? It’s all because of the work that Jesus Christ accomplished for us. He even told His disciples what He was going to do.
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
Matthew 10:34
Jesus made it clear that part of His work on earth was to give God’s people a powerful weapon. Because of His victory on the cross, Christ put a spiritual weapon in the hands of the church. It’s the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God.
What we need to hear is that we can no longer sit back and tell God to fight our battles for us. That’s not going to happen. The Lord has placed everything we need for victory firmly in our grasp…if we’re willing to use it.
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4
It’s crystal clear from the Scripture. We wage war. We fight. God has already accomplished everything we need for victory. It’s now up to us to walk in it.
Many of us may need to be retrained with this new information. Over the next few posts, I’m going to be talking about the New Testament concept of spiritual warfare. Especially if you were one of those who thought that God fights your battles, you need to keep reading these articles.
If this resonates with you, you may want to subscribe to this blog so you won’t miss any of these important posts. My hope is that all who read them will walk in the blessing and victory that the Lord has won for them.
Question: What are the spiritual battles that you’re currently facing in your life?
© 2019 Nick Zaccardi