Spiritual Warfare
Friend, to say that we Believers are in a battle is an understatement. There is no question about it we are in a constant battle. Christianity is not without warfare. Accepting the Lord Jesus Christ is tantamount to saying I am ready to be crucified for the sake of the Gospel. I repent on behalf of the many preachers who have told people that all they need to do is confess their sins and accept Jesus and their troubles are over. Friend, that is just but the beginning. (2 Corinthians 10:3)
In his letter to the Church in Ephesus, Paul instructs them to put on the full amour of God. Paul knew that battles are part of the Christian faith. It comes with the territory. The difference between our battle and others is that we go in knowing that we are not the ones fighting but that God Himself will fight on our behalf and that our role is to go in and secure our victory. (Ephesians 6:10-18)
The Old Testament account of Moses lifting up his hands while the war was being won in the valley is a great illustration. (Exodus 17). Those in the valley could easily have thought that they fought and won the battle on their own strength BUT it was the lifting up of the hands of Moses that brought victory. This has great lessons for us in spiritual warfare. We have to always know that, on our own we cannot win any battle and even though we may expend energy and thought and tact, the source of our victory should never be lost to us. (Exodus 17:11) Another vital lesson is knowing that all physical wars are first won in the spirit. The spiritual first, then the physical.
Another key point to note, which is also of critical importance, is that we should all take our rightful position without under-estimating each other’s responsibility. Joshua who was down in the valley was as vital to the whole equation as Aaron who was lifting up the hands of Moses. My prayer is that we shall all learn to love one another, embrace one another, and be one as Jesus Christ prayed in John 17. When we are in one accord, and of one mind, great things do happen. It may be challenging getting many people to be of one mind and one accord; but start with your cell or Bible study group, or your family and see the victory that will spring forth as you war in the spirit in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.
The lifting of hands is symbolic. First and foremost, it is a sign of surrender. Friend, it is wonderful to have great expectations from God but when you come into His presence, or as you war in the spirit, you have to surrender all your plans to Him. We have to let only His will prevail; this is the key to total victory in spiritual warfare. When there is no surrender of our will, our plans, our self; God will not move until we come to a place where we say – “Not my will but thine Lord.” When our hands are fully lifted, declaring, I give up Lord, have your way then He knows we are ready to receive what He has for us.
The lifting up of hands is a form of worship. Hands are lifted up in adoration and worship to the King. When we lift up our hands, our hearts and all that is in us to the King of Kings, we are invoking God’s presence in our midst and He has declared in His Word that He inhibits the praises of His people. According to the Psalmist, When He is lifted up, “His enemies are scattered” Jehoshaphat, Joshua and even David show us that worship cannot be separated from spiritual warfare.
The Bible says “But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” (Exodus 17:12) Another pillar to spiritual warfare is mentioned in this scripture and can easily go unnoticed by the bare eye. The Bible says they took a stone and Moses sat on it. Friends, Christ is the stone that the builders rejected. Yet the Bible says, “unless the Lord builds a house, they build in vain they that build it”. Friend, a key to our warfare is Jesus Christ. He is the Word of God. We should base our warfare on the Word, the Promises of God which never fail. This is the KEY to victory. Our own strength will fail us.
A key element of spiritual warfare is recording for purposes of remembrance and thanksgiving. Our generation seems to forget so quickly and very few, if any at all, are thankful for the many things that the Lord has done for us. Our present battles make us focus so much on the current warfare and we hardly remember what the Lord has done for us in the past. May God help us to remember, write down, what He has done for us. These will be great testimonies for our children of what the Lord has done and is able to do. (Exodus 17:14)
May the Almighty God open your eyes as you war intelligently in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen. May victory come your way from all fronts in Jesus Great and Mighty Name, Amen. May Peace surround you and all that is yours in Jesus Peaceful Name, Amen.
Remain blessed.
