I find it challenging to remember that we’re in a spiritual war. So much of what we do is physical: sleeping, working, eating, raising kids, spending time with friends, and doing things we enjoy — all are physical activities. It’s easy to forget that we’re in a spiritual war in a physical world.
It’s also challenging to remember that we’re in a spiritual war when things are relatively calm in our homes, with our kids, or in our church.
However, as I mentioned on Sunday, we are engaged in a spiritual war (against defeated enemies), and it would be beneficial to recall this regularly. The battle being waged is not strictly political or educational. It is a battle for the souls of men, women, and children, and politics and education can become vehicles for fighting this war. However, we must remember that while those might be battlegrounds, they are not the battle itself.
Let me provide some brief examples of when spiritual enemies appear, so that you may be better able to recognize what’s happening.
- When the Lord is about to move in a particular direction, our spiritual enemies arise to distract us from God is direction. As an example, this past month, as we’ve prepared to share the Gospel Legacy Initiative with our church, there have been ample moments of our spiritual enemies showing up (creating conflicts between people, family challenges, sicknesses, etc.). At times, our spiritual enemies seek to divert our attention from the direction God is leading us.
- When we move towards people to resolve conflicts, our spiritual enemies arise to confuse the facts. Have you ever tried to fix something with someone, only to wonder why things are so confusing? It isn’t just because one or more of you have sinned against each other. It’s because our spiritual enemies want to prevent us from moving forward in reconciliation.
- Have you ever been in a room when you or someone else (spouse, friend, or child) said something so hateful, bitter, or angry that you couldn’t believe it? I was in a difficult meeting several years ago, and a person suddenly began spewing hatred. It was so out of character, and it felt like the devil had entered the room. I stopped them, asked if I could pray, stood against the spiritual enemies at work, and then closed our time in prayer. The person immediately stopped, order was restored, and they were able to resolve the issue. Our spiritual enemies want to bring chaos where order is attempting to be restored.
- Or here’s my personal pet enemy…unbelief. I can’t tell you the number of times the Lord is working something out, and doubt and unbelief rise up in my heart. I’ve shared in recent posts about learning, during my sabbatical, how to deal with unbelief. But it’s a battle I fight, and it can happen to me at a moment’s notice. Our spiritual enemies want to stir doubt in our minds about God’s good work. It’s been a tactic from the Garden of Eden (see Gen. 3:1-7).
- Lastly, here’s another challenge of mine…discouragement. I struggle with regret for the sins I’ve committed. I have taken heart in this truth: condemnation is a spiritual enemy that reminds me of my sin and past, but conviction is the Holy Spirit showing me my sin and the gospel. Our spiritual enemies want to discourage us from the work of God, and they will use our sin to do it. “You did that and you’re a pastor??” “Why would God ever show up to do anything for a clown like you?” “Your sins will one day come back to haunt you…just wait, God isn’t going to rescue you then.” The truth of Romans 8:1 must be re-preached over and over again to our hearts: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
I share this with you to help you in the spiritual war we’re fighting.
One big reminder:
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 is a wonderful reminder of the type of war we’re in and how to wage war in this physical world. Paul wrote, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.”
Notice that the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh (physical force or power, which are the weapons of the world) but have power to destroy the strongholds of arguments and any ‘high’ opinion that is raised against the knowledge of God. Paul’s point here is that our weapons are not guns, swords, spears, or bows. Our weapons are heavenly ideas, given by God and empowered by God, to bring down philosophies, opinions, and knowledge that is against God.
This is why Scripture calls us to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. Left to our own devices, we’ll drift toward worldly methods and fleshly weapons to fight our battles. I know this all too well. It’s a sinful pull in my own heart. That’s why every thought must be submitted to Jesus’ authority. When we do this, disobedience loses its power. Over time, Christian character endures while rebellion against God collapses in on itself. Obedience to Christ doesn’t just restrain sin—it fuels the flourishing of the gospel in a world that’s tearing itself apart.
We don’t wage war in this physical world with the world’s methods of chaos, conflict, strife, anger, and revenge. We wage war in this physical world as spiritual people who are pursuing reconciliation with God, with others, peace, and harmony through the gospel of Jesus.
A great thought for encouragement:
I just finished an excellent little book entitled A Christian’s Pocket Guide to Loving The Old Testament: One Book, One God, One Story by Alec Moyter.
At the end of the book, he offers an excellent example of how the whole Bible works together to reveal the glory of Jesus. For carpenters or woodworkers, you’ll especially appreciate this. He compares the unfolding story of redemption to the grain of a piece of wood being revealed. Early in Scripture, as if with the first sanding, you can begin to see the faint pattern of the wood grain. With each additional layer of sanding and stain, the grain becomes richer and clearer. Finally, in the New Testament, you see the “end grain”: the full beauty of the pattern, where the Savior is revealed in all His glory.
Let that encourage you this week as you open the pages of God’s word.
This week and looking ahead:
This week, we will examine Ezra 5:1-5. We will discuss God’s vision for building and working for His purposes.
Cheap Seats (most people’s favorite section):
- This is the craziest touchdown I’ve seen: https://x.com/jomboymedia/status/1974973748412596581?s=12&t=ANRRmEDhNWbghelISD7Rvw. This, along with one of their guys dropping the ball before scoring a touchdown, has to go down as one of the worst losses for the Cardinals (and they’ve had several of them).
- I don’t think I had on my bingo card that the Blue Jays and the Brewers would show off the offensive light show they have in the playoffs thus far. Unreal.
- I have several pastor friends who are Phillies fans. They ALL believed the Phillies would go into an offensive slump when the playoffs started. They told me that in August!
- I like the hiring of Skip Schumaker as the Texas Rangers’ new manager. Now, I’m praying that they will make a philosophical change in their offensive approach.
- For all my Mariner friends…I’m pulling for you!
Have a great week!
Christ is King!
In Christ,
Dave York
