Fighting The Battle Of Spiritual Warfare

Yesterday, I posted about this war that Christians are in everyday. This spiritual battle manifests itself in our physical world. Today I want to encourage Christians through the Word of God to engage in this battle in such a way is to have victory in this life.

Every Christian knows the story of David and Goliath. If you grew up as a child in a Christian home, most likely you heard this story told many times through Sunday school. But this Scripture passage is more than a story, but a very real event which took place in a battle of the Philistine army and the army of Israel. This historical event can be read in 1Samuel 17:1-50.

It would appear from reading the text that Goliath's massive height ( 9ft 9") and his impenetrable armor present a challenge that no warrior of Israel, even Saul as king, can defeat the Philistine. The fear that possesses the Israelites is real and none want to face the challenge. Along comes David, the shepherd boy. He recognizes the spiritual battle waging before him.

And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? 1Samuel 17:26

Saul having heard the report about David sent for him to be brought before the king. Saul tells David there is no possible way for a young man to defeat this champion of the Philistines.

³⁴ And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
³⁵ And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
³⁶ Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
³⁷ David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee. 1Samuel 17:34-37

And we all know the rest of the story..... David kills Goliath with a few stones and severs his head in triumph. Where Saul depended on military might, it was David's faith that this battle was a spiritual one that belonged to the LORD.

⁴⁵ Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
⁴⁶ This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
⁴⁷ And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands. 1Samuel 17:45-47

The battle really does belong to the LORD. We sing a song,"in heavenly armor we enter the land, the battle belongs to the LORD." But do we really believe it? Are we arming ourselves with heavenly armor to fight the battle before us?


Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness 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. Stand therefore,

• having girded your waist with truth,
• having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and
• having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
• above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
• And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints — and for me... (Ephesians 6:10-20 NKJV)

This is the armor we sing about. Yet, I'm frustrated everyday when I hear Christians believing the battle is democrats against republicans, the US against ISIS, or planned parenthood vs. right to life. Yes this is a battle we see but the real battle is waged in the heavenly realms!

We need to exhibit the same faith that David displayed in fighting Goliath. Paul said it this way to Timothy: This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience... (1 Timothy 1:18-19 NKJV)

And this in his follow up letter: You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. (2 Timothy 2:1-4 NKJV)

Friends in Jesus, this is the real battle before us. It is the battle for men's souls. As ambassadors for Jesus Christ, we need to represent Him before a dying world destined for everlasting judgment. Its the Word of God and our testimony which become our weapons.

³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
⁴ (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
⁵ 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 10:3-5

In Paul's letter to the Romans, he wrote this: ...now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Romans 13:11-14 NKJV)

Its time for Christians to awake from their slumber for the time is short. The day is indeed at hand. Today is the day of salvation. Let us go forth without fear or defeatist attitude that defined Israel's army. Rather let us go as soldiers of Jesus Christ, sons and daughters of the King of Kings and wage a spiritual battle that the gates of hell cannot prevail against. We have a charge from our king. A direct command to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV)

I know we can do it. Because the battle belongs to the LORD.