Are You Fighting The Wrong Battle?
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
The Apostle Paul makes it clear in the book of Ephesians that our battle is a spiritual one and it is against “spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
One of the ways these spiritual hosts of wickedness attack us is through human beings. Their attacks can manifest themselves in the way others treat us or act towards us. The negative things they say or do against us.
When this happens, our first instinct is to retaliate against the human. We often believe that the best and only way for the situation to be resolved is by confronting them, reprimanding them, demanding justice from them.
This does work, especially if you act from direction from the Lord. But too often we act out of our own self-pride and anger and that does not give us the results we desire. Instead this leads to more strife and greater injustice. Why is this, you wonder? Because you are fighting the wrong battle.
Out battle is not against flesh and blood, it’s a spiritual one and therefore it must be fought with spiritual weapons.
What Are Your Weapons?
As Christians, our greatest weapon against the spiritual enemy is prayer. Too often prayer is ridiculed as a phrase that Christians use when they don’t want to do something about a situation. But that could not be further from the truth.
Prayer is a Weapon
Apart from being a way to commune with our heavenly Father, prayer is actually a powerful weapon that strengthens the spirit and casts down strongholds and lofty arguments made against us and the Word of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-6)
A fervent, prayer of faith is what changes things in the life of a believer just as it did for the prophet Elijah and the kingdom of Israel. (James 5:17-18)
Another powerful weapon is our conduct.
Our Conduct is a Weapon
Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.
1 Peter 3:1-3 (NKJV)
Whilst, in context, this verse is speaking about how wives should respond to their unbelieving husbands, it is still applicable to all areas of our lives.
As Christians, we often overlook how much the way we act towards others after being ill treated by them impacts things going forward. When we respond not only with kindness but self-control and sometimes even silence, things shift.
And this shift turns things around for our good. Whilst the shift may not always change things in the way you desire, it doesn’t detract from the good work of Christ that is done in us as we are patient in our tribulation.
Remember Why You’re Fighting
Just as it is important for us to remember the weapons we have at our disposal and who it is we are fighting. It’s also important to remember why we are fighting.
If we’re not careful, we can get caught up fighting for fleeting and momentary pleasures of life when in reality, we are fighting to continually resist the devil and his tricks.
We are fighting to continue bearing the fruits of the spirit and become more like Christ.
We are fighting to stay on course so we can receive the crown of glory and eternal life. (1 Peter 5:4)
That is what we are really fighting for.
This does not mean that we are to stand idly by as injustice, corruption and oppression take place. God Himself hates these things and actually encourages us to remember the poor and to stand up for those without justice. (Proverbs 31:8-9)
But as we do, we must be careful that we are not doing so out of selfish ambition or pride. We must ensure that we are being led by God’s spirit because our own wrath does not bring about the righteousness of God. (James 1:20)
And when we do realise that our reasons for fighting are less than godly, let us remember where true justice, peace and salvation lie, in God and in the eternal home He has prepared for us.
