To live successfully in the spiritual war zone you need to know who your enemy is and his tactics. Know your strengths and weaknesses and have a strategy.

Fiery Trials

In this life we go through fiery trials, 1 Peter 4:12 and in a spiritual war zone much can be learned by how you face problems and difficulties. It’s not what you go through, it’s how you go through it.

This life is a testing ground for our eternal destination and the opportunity to grow into the stature that belongs to the fullness of Christ Ephesians 4:13. Trials have a place in God’s eternal plan for the maturing of His children.

Nothing comes to us that does not first go through the hand of God, but the enemy has God-appointed limitations, Job 1. After total devastation Job knew God in a way he had not known before the testing, Job 42:3-6.

Our Secret

Satan cannot read our minds, but he can discern where we are spiritually and he uses that against us. He knows our weaknesses and attacks with all the viciousness of hell’s fire.

However, followers of Christ have a secret weapon. Paul implored the Lord three times to remove the thorn he had been given, a messenger from Satan to keep him from exalting himself, 2 Corinthians 12:7. Christ said to him, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.

We have a High Priest, Hebrews, Hebrews 4:14-16, who is on our side and knows all that we go through. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me, Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties. For Christ’s sake for when I am weak, then I am strong, 2 Corinthians 12:9,10. That is the I Am that I Am of Exodus 3:14.  When we are weak, trusting only in Him, God manifests Himself.

Wrong Advice

Each trial is different from the last one. Another ‘expert’ is always ready to write a new book and give the Christian world a new formula. One of the major wrong strategies is to dig in our heels and have a face-off with the enemy. ‘Rather, it’s about faith in God and seeking God’s will for our life.

Misguided advice, or wrong ambitions lead only to destruction, like the sons of Sceva, Acts 19:11-20. You need to know the Word of God and how to successfully operate in this spiritual war zone.

Strategy

Satan does not fight fair, for he is a liar and a murderer from the beginning, John 8:44. He has only one goal. That is to undermine your faith in God and if possible, get you to question who God is.

The devil makes up the rules as he goes along and never hits the same way twice, so you can’t outguess him. He lives to engage you in battle. He knows he can’t win, for you have the Word of God, the Name of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but he can do a lot of damage in the process. 

His aim is to embarrass God through His children. We end up with a ‘bloodied nose’ and the enemy walks away laughing. The devil knows God is in control, but he uses the weakness of our humanity.

Using Scripture as a Weapon

We use scripture to defy the enemy. However, Satan knows the scriptures better than we do and can quote them better than we can. As Lucifer, Satan was once the top angel in the heavenly realm and music was in him, Isaiah 14:10, Ezekial 28:11-18. He knows God and the spiritual realm better than we do.

Satan’s heart is not filled with doubt, but hatred and envy. That envy was his downfall in the first place, Isaiah 14:12-14. It is that same hatred and jealousy that blinds him to the reality of God’s Lordship in the life of Christ’s followers.

However, scripture must be used in the authority of the Name of Jesus, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 6:17. We must know when to use them under the nudging of the indwelling Holy Spirit, John 14:17. Authority flows from presence and power flows from alignment. Then the Word of God will hit the mark with deadly force.

The Answer

Jesus shows us how to successfully deal with the devil, Matthew 4:1-11. Satan had looked for God’s Messiah from the time it was announced in the Garden of Eden, Genesis 3:15. Finally, He thought he had confirmation of the long searched for Messiah. After 40 days of fasting in the wilderness, the Man was physically weak. 

First, misquoting and misusing scripture Satan believed he had his chance to beat Him. Satan finally tempted Jesus to illegally regain the authority Satan had stolen from Adam. Each time, Jesus replied only with the word of God, in total authority and power. Satan withdrew, to regroup and try again later.

Likewise, we are to submit to God, know the Word of God and resist the devil. He will flee from you, James 4:7. Satan at work is ultimately God’s victory, for we are to be overcomers.

Wrap Yourself in Light

To live successfully in the spiritual war zone is to know yourself. Recognize your weaknesses and your strong points and wrap yourself in light. That is to live under the shadow of the Almighty, Almighty 91:1.

Jesus said I Am the light of the world, John 8:12. Darkness is merely the absence of light, for light outshines it. When we stand in the light of Jesus, darkness loses its authority. In the fire you will not be burned, the water will not drown you, for God is with you, Isaiah 43:2.

You live successfully in the spiritual war zone, despite all the enemy can throw at you. It’s the depth of your relationship with God that counts, for what your focus is on is where your energy is. Set your mind on heavenly things, Colossians 3:3, and align your life with the will of your loving Heavenly Father.

Living Successfully in the Spiritual War Zone

Living successfully in the spiritual war zone, is to know God’s word experientially. Scriptures are not just something that roll easily off your tongue but have real impact on how you live.  They are something you believe with all your mind and soul, deep within your being.

God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose, Romans 8:28.

In Christ you are a new creature. The old things passed away, behold, new things have come, 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Put on the full armor of God and having done everything, stand firm, Ephesians 6:13.

You have died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God, Colossians 3:3.

Leave the past where it belongs and live in the ‘Now’, looking to the endless possibilities of the unknown future, for it is in God’s hands alone. Live successfully in the spiritual war zone, for you are already seated in heavenly places in Christ, Ephesians 2:6.

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Dr. Wendy Stenberg-Tendys is a servant of the Lord who enjoys researching Biblical topics and sharing words of encouragement from the Word of God. She asks the hard questions.

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