It's a War Out There!

 

 

"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." Eph. 6:12

Lately I've been keenly aware of that battle that rages.  It can bring such discouragement until the Holy Spirit reminds me that He is bigger than the principalities of evil and that there are specific purposes for it.  It's just it can feel so vicious at times, so personal.  I find comfort in the book of Job, where Satan had to ask permission from God before he could touch his righteous servant.  There seemed to be a sense of esteem over Job, that God knew his faith could withstand the testing. Or in Luke where Jesus tells Peter that Satan has asked to sift Peter as wheat, but Jesus then tells him he prayed for Peter that his faith would remain strong and that he would come back and encourage his fellow believers after he stood the test.  It helps me look at things from a different perspective.

It's hard when you are in the midst of full-on warfare to see things from His view, at least it is for me.  This last Sunday I had a migraine, one of the stubborn ones that feels at the time like it will finally be the death of me. Anyone that struggles with migraines can probably relate, they can be brutal.  When I was able to sit, in between runs to the bathroom to, well, rid my body of its stomach lining (TMI, sorry, it's part of what makes them so nasty) I watched my "church" on TV since I was missing the real thing and was really in need of some encouragement at that moment.  I'm thankful for TV Preachers, there are some that are really worth watching.  I heard some great messages from Charles Stanley, Bayless Conley, Ravi Zacharias, Adrian Rogers, David Jeremiah, my favorite prophecy show, "Christ in Prophecy", oh and "The Skit Guys" were thrown in there for a few laughs which I appreciated.  I am not saying that the migraine itself was the spiritual battle, it just felt like a blow to my already weary self.  Battle-weary if you know what I mean. Each message I heard complemented the other and gave me the perspective I was in desperate need of.  I was reminded that it is not an option to back down, that's what the enemy wants me to do, to go into a pit of despair and depression. 

James and Peter both exhort us to resist our enemy (James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8-9).  Jesus said He has given us His authority to overcome the spiritual attacks against us.  In seeing the people of the Bible as real people who had their own spiritual battles raging, but in their time of testing, endured, can give us hope. I know God can use the spiritual warfare in our lives to strengthen our faith, draw us closer to Him, train us for the roles we are meant to play, and to prepare us for our future at His side. In the book of Judges, the Lord, the God of angel armies (que the Chris Tomlin song), did not drive all the nations out at once "by giving them into the hands of Joshua" (2:23).  The Lord left some nations to test  the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience.  Could it be that much of what He allows in our lives is not for us to simply accept, but to get us to rise up? Maybe God wants us to know how to wield the weapons of warfare, how to take a stand, and how to fight. 

Seeing God's perspective on what He allows the enemy to bring against me, knowing He is fighting for me, training me to be a warrior, interceding for me with groans, allowing the pain to build character in me, using it all for good, helps me to persevere and not give in to despair.  To not grow so weary that I am no earthly good.  Having a migraine that day forced me to sit and listen and made me desperate for a message on hope. So I am trying to look at these forces that are against me as a motivator, to let it stir me to rise up. Ephesians goes on to say "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 firm." 

Let's encourage each other in this battle, knowing we are not solo in any of this.  Your battle may not be as brutal as the above image my son made with his Halo figures, but I know it isn't easy.  Remember Who is fighting for you, interceding for you, and training you. There will be a day when the battle will finally end.  How we fought may have eternal rewards.  Lets rise up to whatever He may be calling us to do, whatever He may be training us for.  It is a war out there, but we are not meant to fight it alone and it is personal and that could be a complement and not an insult!