From January 2011 to January 2016 I was with Alpha Co. 1st Battalion 23rd Marine Regiment. I was an infantry rifleman or 0311. In the time I spent with 1/23 I learned a few things about combat and fighting. As it turns out some basic principles of warfare are the same across the board. From the physical world to the spiritual.
Whenever a fire fight starts. The very first thing you do is take cover behind something that will keep you safe. The second thing you do is fire back. Preferrably with a much larger and way more awesome weapon system. There is a lot more that goes into a fight, but for now that’s all that we need to cover. Firefight video here. Pardon the language.
What does any of this have to do with spiritual warfare? I mean you can’t shoot a spirit. Right? How do you even hide from something you can’t see? Well, what if I told you that scripture is your weapon and God is your refuge? What if I told that God has given you armor to wear everyday. Ephesians 6:10-18 is our “Art of War for Believers” so to speak. In my opinion at least.
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For 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. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Prayer and worship (aka God’s love language) out you in a place of refuge in God. Where the enemy is powerless. Scripture becomes your sword or in modern terms your assault rifle. To repel the enemies attack on you.
So whenever you feel under attack by the enemy. Stop and praise God and just pray through it. Fire back at the enemy with scripture. It is the truth and authority of God that gives life when the enemy is trying to take yours. The devil has zero say or authority over you once you belong to God. So why listen to anything he would do or say? Know who you are and more importantly whos you are.
To be perfectly honest. In my own life the enemy has been struggling to keep a stronghold. I have struggled with defeating my old sins and finding the absolute freedom that the Lord gives. But every day is a battle and every war is won by the small fights and the ground won day after day after day. The end isn’t always clear, but the victory and the prize at the end is. Thus, the Lord is my strength and my shield. Though at times my flesh may desire the sins of my old life. It is my desire to continuously seek a stronger and deeper relationship with God that drives me toward Him.
“No one prepares for a battle for which he is unaware, and no one wins a battle for which he is unprepared” Johnny Hunt.
