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Fighting Spiritual Warfare
By Rick Warren
“For our struggle is not
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV).
There are four things we need to do when we are facing spiritual
warfare in our lives
1. Acknowledge the adversary. Satan
is real (1 Peter 5:8-9).
Why
would God send his Son to fight what does not exist?
The
Bible says in 1 John 3:8, “The Son of God came to destroy
these works of the Devil” (NLT).
When you’re being attacked, it’s proof that you’re a believer.
The more you make an impact for God, the more the Devil is going
to fight you. You never outgrow it; it just gets more intense.
2. Accept God-given authority. Most believers don’t
understand about the authority they have against the Devil.
Matthew 28:18-19 says we have all authority in
Heaven and on Earth.
Then Jesus says, “Therefore go and make
disciples” (NIV).
He transfers the authority to you and me. He does that because
he’s given us a specific mission: sharing the message of Jesus as his
ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20).
3. Put on God’s armor. When
Paul wrote about the whole armor of God in Ephesians 6:11-17, he was in prison chained
to a Roman guard.
Paul used the Roman centurion as a model for spiritual armor.
Paul says that just as the Roman soldier was properly dressed to
do battle, we also need to be dressed for battle.
For instance, I will often pray, “Lord, I put on the helmet
of salvation that will protect me from the thoughts the Devil will try to give
me. I don’t want to think the Devil’s thoughts. I don’t want to think my
thoughts. I want to think your thoughts, so that I may be a voice for you. I put
on the belt of truth. Lord, I want to share the truth, not falsehood. I want to
lead people into righteousness.”
4. Aim the artillery. The battlefield for
spiritual warfare is primarily in your thought life (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
The weapons God gives you to use demolish arguments are
humility, faith, truth, and praise. Take every thought captive!
Talk It Over
When you feel attacked by the Devil, what does your authority in
Christ give you the power to do?
How does memorizing Scripture help you engage in spiritual
warfare?
We’re told to “take captive every thought” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV) — what
do you think that means?
Pastor
Rick Warren is
passionate about teaching people to learn, love, and LIVE the Word! Through the
Word, he believes people can attack what he calls the five “Global Goliaths” –
spiritual emptiness, egocentric leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic disease,
and illiteracy/poor education. Pastor Rick founded Saddleback Church in
Lake Forest, California, which has grown to over 25,000 members, and has more
than 300 ministries to groups such as prisoners, CEOs, addicts, single parents,
and those with HIV/AIDS.
Pastor Rick’s mission is to provide Daily Hope to listeners through sound Biblical teaching, and he plans to mobilize believers to reach the 2,900 remaining tribes that have not received the Gospel of Jesus. His latest book, The Purpose Driven Life, is about the purpose we find in following Christ, and is the best-selling hardback book in American history, according to Publisher’s Weekly.
Pastor Rick’s mission is to provide Daily Hope to listeners through sound Biblical teaching, and he plans to mobilize believers to reach the 2,900 remaining tribes that have not received the Gospel of Jesus. His latest book, The Purpose Driven Life, is about the purpose we find in following Christ, and is the best-selling hardback book in American history, according to Publisher’s Weekly.
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