On the battlefield-Spiritual warfare

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WAR IS DECLAREDOn September 11, 2001, the United States was attacked by terrorists. When these attacks occured, it meant that the country was at war. This would be a different kind of war, because the enemy prefers to hide in the shadows and strike.Christians are engaged in a war, it is a spiritual war. It has been going on since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Christians struggle against the devil and all of his forces. believers stand on the battlefield and hold fast to their faith in God. Much like the terrorists of today, the devil hides in the shadows and attacks the people of God. He seeks to destory the works of God, and to rob believers of their hope in Christ.War for America was declared when the planes hit the buildings. The Christian's battle began in the Garden of Eden when the devil tricked Adam and Eve into eating of the forbidden fruit, and thus leading them into sin. God punished Adam and Eve, but He declared war on the devil. God the Father declared; "And I will put separation between you and the woman's seed, he will crush your head and you will strike his heel." (Gen. 3:15) Those were the words that declared war on the devil. Although Jesus came into the flesh and defeated the devil, the devil never ceded defeat. He has been weakened, but he still wages a daily battle against believers. believers have to be on the look out for him, and for other enemies of the faith.KNOW THE ENEMIESIf believers are going to be engaged in spiritual battles, then they need to know what kind of enemies that they are fighting against. In today's war on terror, that is not so easy. In the Christian's spiritual battles, the enemies are quite clear.First, we struggle against the devil. He is a fallen angel who was cast into the fires of hell. He wages war against God, and seeks to lead people into sin. He and all of his forces wage a daily battle against Christians. Christianshave be on guard for him, for he hides in the shadows and attacks. The only way the resist him is through the Word, and with prayer.Second, we struggle with the world. We are living in a world that has become more hostile and indifferent to the good news of the Gospel. Christians are often belittled and mocked by an unbelieving world. What the world advocates often are opposed to God's Word. In this world, believers stand their ground on the Word, and bear witness to Christ.Third, we struggle with our own flesh. As we live in this world, we will always struggle with our sinful flesh. We sin daily in thought, word, and deed. Each day, we should confess our sins to God, and seek His forgiveness through Jesus. because we still live in the flesh, we daily must depend on the mercy of God.THE ONE WHO FIGHTS FOR USBelievers do not step on to the battlefield alone. There is a mighty warrior who goes with them. That mighty warrior is Jesus Christ. He has already won the battle over sin, death and the devil. He has already conquered the world. He the victory to those who believe in Him. Jesus stays with His people through the heat of the battles, and will supply them with what they will need to triumph on the battlefield. Through faith in Christ, the saints will overcome.WE SHALL OVERCOMEWe shall overcome in the spiritual battle because Christ fights for us, and supplies us with what we need for battle. St. Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:10-17about the armor that believers will need as they stand on the battlefield.When we put on this armor with prayer, then we are ready to stand on the battlefield. The Lord supplies to His soldiers the greatest weapon there, the sword of the Spirit-the Word of God. With it, the believer can stand on the battlefield and vanquish all foes. With the presence of Christ, and with the armor that He supplies, the believer can stand victorious on the battlefield.We are not promised that we will be free from spiritual battles. As long as we still have to wrestle with the devil, the world, and our own flesh, there will be warfare. But for the believer, there is victory in Jesus. He defeated the enemies for us. He stands with us as we go on the battlefield.