PREPARATION FOR WARFARE
We have introduced the reasons why Christian history has been full of war. We then move to the next stage of preparing ourselves for spiritual warfare. Our understanding of spiritual warfare affects the way we wage war in the spirit. For us to fight a good battle, we must:
KNOW YOUR ENEMY
Ephesians 6:11
Many are times we fight the wrong enemy. We have couples fighting each other to the point of divorce or separation or even killing each other. They forget that Satan targets even marriages. We have fought fellow brethren in the church ignoring the fact that this reduces the soldiers that are on our side hence by implication empowering the enemy. We have digressed from fighting the devil to battle each other. Knowing your real enemy will help you wage a good war in the spirit.
KNOW THE WEAPONS WE HAVE AND HOW TO USE THEM.
Ephesians 6:10-20
If you were given a gun today and you don’t know how to use it, then it will be useless to you in the day of battle. The following weapons are essential in our warfare; The word of God (Ephesians 6:17); Gospel music/Praise and Worship. (1Samuel 16:14-23); Testimony (Rev. 12:11) The blood of Jesus (Rev 12:11); and finally, Prayer and Fasting (Daniel 10:11-13). The above weapons have been tested in the scriptures and proven to be offensive to the dark kingdom.
KNOW THE COURSE YOU ARE FIGHTING FOR
Nehemiah 4:14
If we indeed wage a good war in the spirit, then we must understand why we are fighting. When the Jews returned to their homeland, and it was time to rebuild the walls. Their enemies threatened the people and Nehemiah reminded them the course they were fighting for and encouraged them to remember their God and fight for their children, wives, and grandchildren as well. Knowing the course, you are fighting for, gives you morale for battle.
KNOW THE BATTLE STRATEGIES OF YOUR ENEMY
Matthew 4:1-11; 1 John 2:15
The devil has never changed his schemes. We should not act ignorant of his devices. In case you may not know how he works then get it from me now. For God to establish his people, he focuses on their spiritual life first which dictates the outward life they live (Inward affects outer life).
Contrary to God, the devil centers on dealing with your outward life to affect the inward spiritual experience. Second, the devil strives to keep you in the physical realm so that you never think or focus on the spiritual things and God. Third, the devil presents the world in an alluring aspect; invites us to pleasures that seem to be harmless, and leads us in indulgence until we have gone so far that we cannot retreat. Remember, the devil and his demons will never make you do anything; they pride themselves that human beings willingly serve them. They never force a person against his will. They will, however, put pressure on you to willingly go along. Finally, “God always makes the man (or woman) before He makes the ministry. Moreover, the devil always destroys the man (or woman) before he can destroy the ministry.”
