Spiritual Warfare – Men, You Are in the Battle Whether You Believe It or Not
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting” Sun Tzu
Don’t let the title fool you, women are in the battle too. But men, we are commissioned and responsible for leading, protecting, providing, interceding, and so much more for our wife, family and community. So, I am addressing men. We have abrogated so much of our leadership charge to governments, institutions, and “professional dogma” – we have become spiritually stunted and easily deceived; intellectual giants but denying the power of the Word. We must stop being passive spiritual leaders and lead actively, passionately, lovingly and in truth. The state of our nation’s spiritual temperature is why our families are being torn down, homelessness is rampant, divorce is more than normal, people even think a child should decide their gender and the list goes on; and it started with one lie, man, and one family. The attack from the enemy is pervasive in our nation. But our King Jesus Christ has overcome for us and given us warfare training instructions, battle plans, armor, weapons, and spiritual forces to overcome the enemy. Let’s look at what God’s word has to say about the matter, and a little history.
Not by sight
During the 1800’s germ theory regarding illness and diseases was not largely understood or accepted by the world population. As a matter of fact, “germ theory” was a minor medical concept at the time. However, Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) French chemist and microbiologist, a man considered one of the “fathers of germ theory of diseases” shined the light on this issue overcoming the ignorance of a false belief. In fact, you may recognize his name from your trips to the dairy aisle at your local grocery store – as this is where the term “pasteurization” was derived. Louis Pasteur proved germs we cannot see, can and will, harm and even kill us. Today, we don’t even debate the point. Most people did not believe or understand how unseen germs were responsible for stealing, killing and destroying their health, family’s health and even the health of populated territories. Whether they believed it or not, germs were causing illness, disease and death.
We are bombarded everyday with radiation spanning a wide range of frequencies and wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum – radio waves, blue tooth, microwaves, infrared, visible light ultraviolet, X-rays, etc. We don’t see most of these wavelengths, but we know they are around us and real because of the manifested results from radio and satellite communication, cell phones, televisions, electronic and satellite navigation systems, etc. And most of us don’t hesitate to protect ourselves from ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which manifests a sunburn without protection, and overtime causes cancer.
Like the germs of the 1800s, there is an unseen battle occurring in the spiritual realm and we need to recognize the battle, be equipped and trained to fight against our enemy.
There are two spiritual kingdoms and two realms – God’s Kingdom, and Satan’s kingdom. Be certain, the two kingdoms are not equal. Satan is NOT God’s equal on the opposite side of righteousness. The two realms – spiritual and natural. The battle occurring in the spiritual realm is manifest in the natural. We see it happening everyday around us and toward us…, do you recognize it? As illustrated above, not understanding what we don’t see doesn’t mean it is not occurring. God has given us His word for us to understand and be equipped for the battle, and to lead and equip others – for victory over the enemy.
Satan does not want you to understand the spiritual laws, weapons and authority.
During my high school driver education class our teacher echoed, “ignorance to the law is no excuse” throughout the semester. Our ignorance of spiritual laws, authorities and weapons is used by the demonic realm against us.
Deception and ignorance – a key strategy of our enemy
Satanic forces will do whatever they can to keep you from becoming a born-again believer in Jesus Christ. But, if you become a Christian[1] and Satan can keep you from knowing your weapons and operating environment, you won’t pose a significant threat to Satan’s kingdom and mission as stated by Jesus Christ, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) The thief is Satan, and he has limited forces but is most adept at deception campaigns. Satan is a master of deception as Paul warned us in 2 Corinthians 2:11, “…, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs [schemes/plans].”
If Satan can have you think the spiritual battle is not real – or at a minimum you don’t really influence the battle in the spiritual realm, either out of ignorance or disbelief – you are not a threat to the enemy and at some level already a casualty.
“The most powerful tool of a leader is deception. Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are week. Convince the enemy you armies are near when they are far, and far when they are near. In this way the enemy is deceived into maneuvering and for their own defeat.” – Sun Tzu, Art of War
To be clear, I’m not supporting or condoning deception by men of God. I am demonstrating how the enemy works. World history provides numerous examples of military deception – the Trojan’s horse, the successful deception for June 6, 1944 D-Day WW II invasion of France, the ploy of the Coalition Forces during Operation DESERT STORM to name a few. Countries and militaries around the world produce doctrine, training and schools for deception. Therefore, it would be logical to understand the same applies in spiritual warfare – actually, deception in the natural, came from Satan. Ask yourself, am I possibly deceived in some way regarding spiritual warfare? What do I know and understand about spiritual warfare? Am I holding onto a religious belief or a church tradition closer than God’s word? Are there parts of God’s word I redact for some reason? Do I think my victory over Satan is after I leave this earth, and live on this earth in some measure as a victim? These types of thinking patterns could be a lie from Satan – the father of lies. God’s word stands today, as it did in the past and will for all time. Both the Old and New Testament make this truth clear, Isaiah writes in 40:8, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of God will stand forever.” And, Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:25, “…, but the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you.”
Your victory over Satan and the enemy is now. Your inheritance as a believer in Jesus Christ is now. You are called to bring God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven now. If the battle is not about flesh and blood, and is spiritual, we may consider some of the below and test it against God’s word. Listen to what God tells you personally, not religion, not family tradition, not your community or culture.
Understanding our operating environment[2]
Let’s begin understanding our operating environment as we look at the Book of Daniel chapter 10. After Daniel prayed, fasted and forsakes anointing for 3 weeks praying to God an angel arrived, see what Daniel writes, “2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. … 12 Then he [the holy angel] said to me, ‘Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia…,’” (Dan 10:2, 12-13). We see God dispatched an angel immediately to Daniel, but the angel was in a battle with a fallen angel, a prince in Satan’s kingdom, so after 21 days, God sent the angel Michael a chief prince from God’s holy angels with a “response force” so the angel speaking to Daniel could deliver the message. Now let’s look at what happens after the angel delivers and tells Daniel, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come.” (Daniel 10:20)
After delivering the message, the angel went back to fight the prince of Persia alongside Michael. But before leaving Daniel, the angel let Daniel know the prince of Greece will come against Israel. Understanding Ephesian 6:12 and other scriptures regarding spiritual ranking[3] we see the high-level ranking fallen angels are directing lower forces to move upon men spiritually which ultimately manifests in Israel being ruled by Greece in later years.[4]
Furthermore, we know from Paul, while we exist in this natural world, the battle is spiritual requiring spiritual weapons against spiritual forces. Paul wrote, “3 For though we walk in the flesh,[5]we are not waging war[6] according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” (2 Corinthians10:3-4) And again we see how personal the battle is to us, “For we do not wrestle[7] 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.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Consider – Since our battle is spiritual, why do so many of us fight the battle with intellect?
No human is exempt from the battle; but only Christians have the authority and weapons and are able to fight the spiritual battle. We see these truths repeatedly in God’s word. As a matter of fact, the more you press into God and further God’s kingdom on earth, the more the enemy attacks; but God turns the enemies’ attacks into tests, and we become stronger, more resilient…, the King we follow, Jesus Christ, leads, guides and fights our battles. Our enemy is trying to stop the advancement of God’s kingdom on earth. Just as in natural battles – once our forces push the enemy off the territory, we set up a defense, hold the territory, see if there is a counterattack; reinforce the perimeter, hold the ground, reconstitute and then advance to take more territory. God will give you your territory “little by little” just like the Israelites, when we are able to maintain our ground. Notice what Moses told the Israelites (and us through God’s word) as he relayed God’s word to the Israelites, in Exodus 23:20, 29-30, “20 Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. … 29 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land.”[8] As we spiritually increase to hold our territory, we move forward to take more ground.
Consider – Are the Old Testament accounts for us to understand our spiritual battles?
How did this battle begin, and how did Satan get on earth?
God’s word tells us much on how and why the battle began – and it begins with “free will.” There are two beings created by God with free moral agency – the will and the capacity to choose between right and wrong: righteous and evil – angels and mankind.
Let’s begin with Satan and his fall – his expulsion from Heaven. In Ezekial’s 28th chapter, verses 1-10 we see God speaking through Ezekial as he gave a prophetic word pronouncing judgement on the human prince of Tyre who was ruling Tyre (located on the coast of Lebanon present day) in the natural world. However, in verses 11-19 we see a transition to the king of Tyre referring to Lucifer[9] / Satan who is controlling the prince of Tyre in the spiritual realm, and these verses describe Satan as he was in Heaven before his fall and God casting him to earth.[10] I have bolded text below to draw your attention to key points you should refer to and read at the link in footnote 10.
Ezekial 28 tells us:
“11 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me: 12 “Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord GOD: “You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. 14 You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. 16 In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. 18 By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you. 19 All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.” (Eze 28:11-19)
Like Ezekiel, Isaiah the prophet gives a word from God in the 14th chapter of Isaiah:
“12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! 13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ 15 But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.”
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [How] you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!” (Isa 14:12 NKJV – showing the name Lucifer)
And many may be familiar with the following verses in Revelation chapter 12:
“4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. … 7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world–he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” (Rev 12:4, 7-9).
And Luke writes regarding Jesus’s comment to His disciples, “17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” (Luke 10:17-18)
Jesus saw Satan’s fall from heaven to earth because Jesus as the Son of God, and part of the Holy Trinity was present in heaven as the angel Michael and the angels under his charge forces drove Satan and his forces out of heaven. Take note, God directed Michael to eject Satan and the fallen angels out of heaven and unto earth. Be certain, Satan is a created angel who rebelled and is NOT the opposite of God in power or authority. God allows Satan to exist. God has NO equal and is above all things. He is the Creator and through Him all things exist and are held together – “16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Col 1:16-17)
The war is NOT against God and Satan. God won the war long ago. God directed the holy angel Michael to throw Satan and the other rebelling angels out of heaven. Jesus won the war on earth over Satan, sin and the curse on Calvary when He rose from the dead. It’s up to believers to walk in His victory.
The war IS against Satan and MANKIND – God’s most precious creation, who is created in God’s image and likeness.
How did we get in the battle?
Let’s turn to Genesis to see what occurred. We see in the first chapter of Genesis our Triune God created the stars, earth and all that is in the earth. We should note, as documented in Genesis 1:2 there was something that had been formed and was not completed and there was chaos – “The earth was without form[11] and void, and darkness[12] was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” God continued with His creation until the sixth day when God created man in His image and likeness, and declared it was good. And we read, “27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue[13] it, and have dominion[14] over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Gen 1:27-28)
Then in verse 31 we read, “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”
If you are picking up what God’s word is saying we can now understand God had Satan and the fallen angels cast to earth, and they were already present on earth as we begin Gen 1, and we see it was filled with evil, chaos, confusion, darkness and wickedness. (more on this during Advance Men! Bible Study, and following articles)
You may be wondering how can “it be very good” with Satan and the fallen angels on earth? Have you ever thought about this dynamic before regarding man and demonic forces during the creation account? God had a solution; it was not “plan B.” Simply put, when God created us in His image and likeness, He gave us authority and dominion over all creation on earth it included authority over all the fallen angels, including Satan. We can understand God’s solution from the words used in the Hebrew text. Subdue is an action word and demonstrates we were to keep evil under our force, reign and rule. So, Adam – mankind – had rule, authority and power over all the fallen angels. It was good because nothing is done without God already knowing it across all time; and God knew Satan and a 1/3rd of the angels would rebel. God knew when He created us, He would give us the authority and power over the evil on earth. God would not put His most precious creation on earth and “call it very good” and let Satan and the fallen angels have authority over us.
Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden of Eden, like a son and daughter walk with a good father in a garden, park, city. As a matter of fact, God created earth for mankind. God’s word tells us, “The heavens are the LORD’s heavens, but the earth He has given to the children of man. “(Psalm 115:16) God put us in charge of stewarding the earth and gave us the authority and power to accomplish the stewardship. Psalm 8:6 also confirms us having all things “under our feet.”
Man authority diminished and shifted
And then sin occurred, changing the dynamic of our authority and shifted the warfare. Adam and Eve – the fall of mankind through Adam’s sin, including Adam’s passive leadership with his wife, cursed all of mankind and shifted the warfare dynamic. We see this warfare shift across the Old Testament and then amplified with further detail in the New Testament. We see Satan gain dominion over the world (earth). How do we know this?
We see in Genesis 4 Cain allows sin to rule over him. Cain who is having a conversation with God, regarding God accepting his (Cain’s) offering, counsels Cain and tells Cain his offering will be accepted if Cain changes his heart and God tells Cain to be watchful and wary because sin is waiting for Cain and sin’s desire for Cain is to rule over Cain. God loves Cain and wants Cain to succeed, but Cain chooses let sin “rule over him. We see in Genesis 5 – 8 sin continues to increase on the earth. The same is true today, we have a choice.
Looking in both Matt 4 and Luke 4 when Satan was tempting Jesus regarding Satan showing Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world…,” and, Satan told Jesus he would give Jesus all these kingdoms of the world if Jesus would “fall down and worship me [Satan].” Jesus did not debate with Satan if Satan had the authority over the earth. Jesus rebuked Satan with God’s word.
Also, in 2 Corinthians 4:4 Paul writes, “4 In their case the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” We plainly see here Satan is the god of this world – because God allows it.
Let’s continue understanding our operating environment.
The war is fought in multiple domains / dimensions
Warfare is complex. For those who have experienced the battlefield in the natural we know there is a higher campaign strategy and all the battles across the battlefields are planned and fought to attain the campaign goals and achieve victory. The same is true for the spiritual war. Jesus has already won the war, and the victory is ours over Satan and his desires for us. But we must fight the battle.
In the natural, warriors fight across multiple domains across the expansive geographic boundaries, and the air, land, sea, space and cyber-space domains. Each warrior is important and contributes to the success of the campaign. (Warriors must be trained and equipped for the battleground and mission – the same applies to spiritual warfare. More in following articles)
Let’s consider just a few dimensions of our battleground: psychological warfare, the first battleground is our mind and we must “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” (2 Cor 10:5); and consider the social dimensions between the believer and the “world” in John 15:18-27; the deception strategy of the enemy we discussed earlier in 2 Cor 2:11; the personal battle between our flesh and the spirit Paul writes about in Gal 5:16-26; and the supernatural battle between believers and evil spiritual demonic forces in Eph 6:10-27. There is more, but I think you get my point. How can we fight this battle, it seems so daunting.
Just think of a four-man recon team behind enemy lines. The team has been compromised, and the enemy is attempting to overrun the team. The team only has small arms, and radios. The team appears less powerful than the enemy surrounding them, and unleashing relentless fire against the team, except for their authority transferred to them to be on the mission, and their radio which calls for massive fire power raining down from the sky. It is the authority and power of the one the radioman contacts that brings the fire. It is the same in the spiritual battle. Jesus Christ has transferred authority to us, and He releases the heavenly power to come against Satan and his forces. The power of Jesus Christ used by the willing vessel of a believer makes demons shudder. Not because of us, because of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ regained the authority for mankind
The first Adam lost it; the second Adam gained the authority back for us. We see in 1 John 3:8 “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” (bolded for reader to focus on this text)
We know Jesus destroyed the works of the devil and make a public spectacle of Satan and demonic forces from Colossians 2:15, Paul writes “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” Jesus Christ’s perfect sacrifice on Calvary and resurrection on the third day, triumphed over Satan redeeming all who believe in Jesus Christ for the salvation, and Jesus gained back the authority for believers.
Jesus Christ gives us His authority to overcome the enemy while we are on this earth to advance God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, He has given you authority. We know this from Jesus Himself as noted in Gen 1:26; Psa 8:6; 115:6; Matt 28:18-19; Phil 2:9-11; Matt 7:28-29; 10:1; Matt 16:16-19; Mark 16:14-20; John 8:31; John 14:12-14; Luke 9:1; 10:19-20. (More in following articles on a believer’s authority)
Don’t be overwhelmed, Jesus keeps it simple for us
While working in my profession of arms, I was in a planning meeting for a military operation, the mission had many complexities and required specific authorities. The general officer taking the brief and responsible for giving authority for the mission listened to the members explain the phases and parts of the mission. At the end of the meeting the general said, “the men conducting the mission have enough to think about, I want them to have clear guidance and authority for decisions they will make during the mission” – he then provided the clearer guidance and authorities for the operation. Great military leaders understand the complexity of battle, and strive it keep things simple for those on the battlefield; they provide clear and simple direction and authorities to conduct operations.
Jesus Christ, Commander and Lord of the Angel Armies has provided simple instructions and authority to us for our operating environment – and for our victory over our enemy Satan and the demonic forces under his charge.
The more we abide in Jesus Christ, the closer we follow God and understand these principles, the more we advance God’s kingdom. And the more the enemy notices us and knows our name.
The enemy knows your name
While teaching at the USMC Amphibious Reconnaissance School at Ft. Story VA a few decades ago it was an honor to have USMC Gunnery Sergeant (Retired) “Gunny” Carlos Hathcock come and speak to our students undergoing their pipeline training. Gunny Hathcock was known for being a premier sniper and warrior. Books have been written, and movies made about him. During his discussion Gunny Hathcock was asked if he had a bounty on him while in Vietnam due to his success as a sniper. Gunny Hathcock’s matter of fact response was “yes” and then he explained there was a $30K bounty on him.[15] The enemy knew him by name.
The enemy knew Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, Caleb, Elijah, Debra, Gideon Ruth, Samson, Samuel, David, Daniel, Jeremiah, Matthew, Peter, John and Jesus’s other close disciples – and us too. They were not perfect. Just like the other faithful warriors in the Old Testament, and disciples of Jesus Christ; Jesus did not need perfect, He needed men after God’s heart.
That’s right, Satan and his forces know you by name, they have been following your family heritage and bloodline for years and want to keep you ignorant of his schemes against you; untrained in the ways of warfare; unknowledgeable in your divine weapons, and ignorant of the authority given to you by Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
You have probably heard the enemy speak to you – like “Tokyo Rose” spreading lies and propaganda in WW II to our troops in the Pacific Theater; Satan calls you by your sin, even though he knows your name. He will twist truths and attempt to shame you from your position and authority. Satan wants to make and keep you a prisoner of war; and Satan is ok with you marching on the parade field.
Satan wants to keep you bound from engaging his forces on the battlefield – bound by ignorance of spiritual laws, weapons, content with comfort, even laziness; fearing man, and not an Almighty God who will fight your battles with you – Check out Joshua 24, Psalms 35, 91, 149. The same God that led the Israelites out of Egypt by pillar of cloud and fire, brought down the walls of Jericho, and sent hornets driving out the Amorites, Hivites, Canaanites, Hittites and many more; brought down the giants in the Promised Land (yes, there was more than one) and is the same God fighting for you and I today!
Jesus does not need perfect, but does desire your heart. It is the heart that makes the warrior, not the stature. That is why David could take down Goliath, and why Joshua and Caleb at 80 years of age could fight to take the Promised Land.
Men, you and I are called to be great warriors for God – to be conquers and overcomers.
As with the development of any mighty warrior, one develops and matures day-by-day. As one day progress to the next, and days become months, and months become years. This is how it is done in the natural world; it is no different as we develop for spiritual warfare. Moses was 80 when he led the Israelites out of bondage, and he led for another 40 years. It was not different for Joshua, Caleb, Samuel and John the apostle.
Mighty warriors are developed by their “heart condition.” Nothing will stop them, possibility of failure is not a deterrent – if we fail, we get back up and try again; we train hard, we forgo comfort, we desire instruction, coaching, leadership – we sacrifice.
Moses wasn’t ready when he was 40 to lead, it took 40 years to develop him, he was prepared in the wilderness for leading the Israelites through the wilderness and was 80 when he led them out of Egypt. Joshua spent some 40 years being developed as a leader under Moses before being commissioned and leading God’s people across the Jordan River to possess the Promised Land. Warriors are humble and embrace the process; they don’t take shortcuts, knowing with the process and testing brings exaltation by God in His time. Peter tells us, “5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you…,” (1Peter 5:5-6)
The battleground in the Old and New Testaments are much like I remember the mission of the USMC Rifle Squad – “Locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver, or repel the enemy’s assault by fire and close combat.” We are in close combat with the enemy. Remember from the previous scripture in Ephesians 6:12, “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.” Wrestling is hand-to-hand combat. This is a personal fight, it’s close, meant to grip you and not let go. The battle is against you, and your family bloodline. The assignment and mission God has for you to accomplish on this earth.
Consider – If the Christian community understands spiritual warfare and is fighting an effective battle, why are so many born-again believing men gripped with addictions – gambling, alcohol, drugs, work, pornography, suffer from depression and are spiritually passive leaders at home?
Today, in the spiritual realm the battle is the same as we read in both the Old and New Testaments. Our weapons are divine – prayer, praise, worship, fasting, truth, decrees, and more – all through love. Do not be deceived by culture, family or other traditions; don’t be led astray by your intellect and human philosophy, pride, and demonic forces of the world. Paul admonishes us, “6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:6-8)
We need a Christian leader, mentor; and close battle buddy / swim buddy
All men need a solid man of God to follow. These men are not our saviors – they are leaders, teachers, and mentors. Too many Christians idolize their mentors. Spiritual fathers are humble and always point to Jesus Christ. When we look for a spiritual leader and mentor – look for a man who pursues God, has weathered the battlefield, reads the Bible (eats the “Bread of Life), who prays, is being led by another man, is dependable and available, who stands their ground for righteousness, does not take away or add to what Jesus Christ did on the cross, understands his identity in Jesus Christ, speaks truth, is humble and confident, and able to take correction – even Peter was corrected by Paul.
We also need a close “battle buddy” or “swim buddy” someone who keeps us accountable. Men have men for swim buddies! A man is not supposed to have a woman swim buddy. (Many a man, family, pastor and ministry have fallen to this ploy of the devil).
Jesus sent out the 12 and the 72 disciples in pairs – this was no accident. In battle we need a buddy.
Warfare among nations is to conform to international laws and specific authorities. Spiritual warfare works the same way, except in spiritual warfare there are no Geneva Conventions or international laws the enemy abides by; the enemy is bounded by and conforms to Almighty God’s spiritual laws. Satan and his forces know the law and use them on us.
Men you are called to lead and operate on the battlefield, NOT the PARADE FIELD! People on the parade field look good, but they and their weapons are not battle hardened. We are in this world, but not of this world; we are deployed on a battleship outside the gates of hell hammering it with our weapons, and not on the cruise ship SS Comfort.
Remember, the war is not between Satan and God; it’s between Satan and mankind – you!
The veil has been torn! Move across the battlefield in humility, peace and authority. Put on the armor of God, wield the Sword of the Spirit. Place the devil under your feet, trample on the serpents and scorpions. In the name above every other name – Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
“1 Of David. Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; 2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.” – Psalm 144:1-2 ESV
The author welcomes comments and hopes this article has blessed and encouraged you.
[1] The defining of a Christian from God’s word is – one who believes Jesus Christ as the eternal Son of God and is God and has always been and will always exist. He took on flesh, came to earth lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose on the third day – defeating the curse of death. And, in believing in Jesus Christ’s work on the cross, His resurrection and trusting in Him for eternal salvation, one is redeemed of their sins and penalty of eternal death and separation from our Triune God. There is no other way. For more information on this see Advance Freedom Ministry’s Statement of Faith.
[2] The military operating environment is much like the spiritual warfare environment – A composite of dynamic conditions, circumstances, and influences affecting the employment of forces in uncontested and contested environments. Author aggregation of US Military doctrine on “operating environment” available via Google searches.
[3] The following scriptures Romans 8:38; Ephesians 1:21; 2:2; 3:10; 6:12; Colossians 1:16; 2:15 when referenced in Greek show an angel ranking in the spiritual realm.
[4] Alexander the Great conquered Judah in 332 BC and continued through 63BC with the Hellenistic and Seleucid rule. https://yalebooks.yale.edu/2021/10/04/jews-in-the-greek-and-roman-periods/
[5] A human and human nature – “G4561 – sarx – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (esv).” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 2 Jun, 2025. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4561/esv/mgnt/0-1/
[6] The war is from evil forces opposing the apostolic advancement of God’s word / gospel by evangelizing, teaching, prophesying, shepherding – “G4754 – strateuō – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (esv).” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 2 Jun, 2025. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4754/esv/mgnt/0-1/
[7] A spiritual conflict engaged in by Christian believers – to wrestle / struggle against an evil spirit – “G3823 – palē – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (esv).” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 2 Jun, 2025. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3823/esv/mgnt/0-1/
[8] Deuteronomy 7:22-23 reinforces this as well.
[9] Lucifer was Satan’s name before being cast out of heaven. You will find Lucifer in one verse of the Bible Isa 14:12 in the KJV, NKJV, and few other versions.
[10] The holy angel Michael and his forces expelled Satan and the fallen angels from Heaven at God’s command. Greater amplification on Satan’s fall with multiple references and editorials can be found at – Guzik, D. “Study Guide for Ezekiel 28 by David Guzik.” Blue Letter Bible. Last Modified 6/2022. https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/ezekiel/ezekiel-28.cfm
[11] a place of chaos, confusion, emptiness, primeval, wasteland and wilderness. “H8414 – tôû – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (esv).” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 10 Jun, 2025. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h8414/esv/wlc/0-1/
[12] misery, destruction, death, wickedness. “H2822 – ḥōšeḵ – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (esv).” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 10 Jun, 2025. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2822/esv/wlc/0-1/
[13] subdue, tread down, dominate – as in your enemies. “H3533 – kāḇaš – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (esv).” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 10 Jun, 2025. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3533/esv/wlc/0-1/
[14] to rule over, reign over, dominate and govern “H7287 – rāḏâ – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (esv).” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 10 Jun, 2025. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h7287/esv/wlc/0-1/
[15] The author was present and one of the instructors at the school at the time of Gunny Hathcock’s speaking engagement. The bounty figure can be verified at – https://militaryhallofhonor.com/honoree-record.php?id=2614
One Response
While reading this article I was constantly reminded of the passage by John Stuart Mill: War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest thing; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing worth a war is far worse… A man who has nothing which he cares about more than his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.
The passage is also a metaphor for men who will not stand up and stop the destruction of our moral and social standards. The reduction of testosterone levels in men is alarming and must be reversed. We are obliged to take a stand and lead.