The way I understand warfare is that as Believers in Christ, we are co-workers with God and we are His messengers on earth. We are His soldiers engaged in warfare to claim possessions and occupy for Christ. We sometimes engage in such warfare for our personal lives, for the lost souls, delivering the captives, healing the sick, enforcing our victory, and so forth.
The fact is we have not finished the race yet so the devil may attempt to pull us down or to restrict us hence we need to be always alert, praying all the times, focusing on the Lord, remaining steadfast in righteousness. The war was won by Christ and this warfare is just to enforce our victory and occupy for Christ as we send decrees, intercede, confess the Word, apply the Blood of Jesus Christ and putting the whole armor of God. It becomes an easy warfare when we know we fight from a winning side.
2Corinthians 10:3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
However, there is a proper way to engage in such warfare prayers. Some people develop a habit of naming every demon they know, binding, sending fire, crushing and so forth. I used to do this and there is something I have learnt that has changed my approach. The Bible says the battle does not belong to us but it belongs to God. Jesus prayed that we be protected from the evil one, and also taught that when we pray we have to ask God to deliver us from the evil one.
Matthew6: 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.]'
It is God who does the battle as we pray and confess His Word calling upon Him applying all the weapons at our disposal. Remember Jesus Christ on the cross said if He wanted He could ask God to send a legion of angels to save Him, It is God himself who does battle on our behalf. We have to accept the help God sends to us. As we engage in warfare prayer, we take on the Sword of the Spirit (The Word of God) and remind God of His promises.
For example, we say, ‘‘your Word Lord says you will cause confusion to befall our enemies, let your Word be fulfilled over our lives, let the enemies be confused and be defeated in your might Name; I repeat your Word as I claim your promises my God. I come against you devil in the Name of Jesus Christ my Lord; you are defeated and you have no share in my blessings, etc.’’
I emphasize that the things of God do not necessarily have a formula. We however note in the above example the approach is different from someone who just addresses and keeps talking to the enemy throwing everything without seeking protection from God who is the one to do battle for us. It can work as one exercises faith but our role is not to take the battle into our own hands since this will cause us to have running battles with demons unnecessarily.
I remember dreaming myself having physical fights with evil spirits and I now understand it was because I used to take matters into my own hands sometimes. It happens usually when our emotions rise up on seeing the enemy; we rather make it a physical fight forgetting it is spiritual.
2Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh …
Jesus, when He addressed Satan, would just command him to leave, or He would quote Scriptures and stand His ground. In our case, when we feel the devil is interfering with us in the spirit, if we really sense him, it is fine to confront Him, to quote or apply the Word of God and command him to leave and to let go of our areas of life.
We can also bind the devils that are interfering with our lives and claim our freedom. The Scriptures also teach us that sometimes we battle against our thoughts which might be under attack from the enemy; whilst certain strongholds are erroneous belief systems and ungodly imaginations which need to be done away with for us to walk in the fullness of God’s glory.
Warfare prayer can however be so intense that it is like having to move mountains. In such incidences, believers have to know that it is no longer playing games but serious business. There were times when the Holy Spirit would show me the answer to the things I had prayed for but I would also see the enemies sitting on my answer sometimes in form of those fierce animals like a lion, a leopard and some other fierce animals or creatures.
There are times when we need to engage in such fierce battles when we know that it is a make or break situation. We remind ourselves that it is the violent man who takes it by force. We engage Satan and boldly put him where he belongs. We also pray in the Spirit, speaking in Holy Spirit inspired tongues and even groaning in the spirit as we seek to demolish the strongholds in our lives. The devil does not easily give up at times and believers should not give up also.
Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
I remember when an opportunity had been opened by the Lord in my life and I was just waiting to be called as advised but days went by without anything happening. The spirit of discouragement was beginning to show up and I was losing peace. The Holy Spirit then showed me the battle that was going on in the spirit. I was groaning and the enemy was surrounding me.
As I continued to groan and cry to the Lord, the angels came down and I saw horses running up and down to clear the demonic strongholds holding back my answer. The Lord Jesus Himself appeared together with the angels as the commander of the armies of God. In less than three days after the experience, I received the phone call and I got the manifestation of the answer to my prayers.
Revelation 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Warfare prayer can thus be real war. Some people can be casualties if they fail to cooperate with God during warfare times. There are such times when mountains seem to refuse to move. There are such dry times when God seems to be unmoved by our prayers and hopelessness may begin to overcome us. These are times when it can be easy to backslide, it becomes easy to mock God, and it also becomes easy to just do things our own way as if we no longer trust God. Such are very difficult times when many Christians lose their faith and probably their salvation. These are death situations Christians may be called to go through as they are partakers of Christ’s sufferings.
2Corinthians 1:7-11 And our hope of you [is] stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so [shall ye be] also of the consolation. For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver [us; ] Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift [bestowed] upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
After a long struggle with life in the Lord, I got the opportunity to see the spiritual battle that was taking place during some of my other difficult times. I saw myself in real war combat like a soldier in battle. The war had been won but many people had lost their lives. The guns were scattered over the place and some of our own men had perished in the process. There was the smell of fire and death, it was a frightening experience.
The Holy Spirit helped me to understand that it was a tough spiritual warfare we had just won but those who could not resign themselves to God and could not cooperate and hold on to the last breathe had lost it. They had lost their crown and could not make it. They resented God when things were so tough they felt they could not help it anymore. Such times come when one is on a mission with God and the devil throws everything to stop it.
The Israelites had to overcome some giants to possess their promised land. It is no more just being a church person, but a resolute Christian who develops a thick skin to face any form of death experiences for the sake of victory and righteousness. The word wrestle in Ephesians 6 below is derived from the Greek word pale, which refers to warfare in general and this battle is between the Saints and spirit rebels.
Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places. ] Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
Apart from such times when we engage in real war with the enemy, the usual way is to ask God to protect us and to fight for us reminding Him His promises in the Word. Paul asked God three times to take away the messenger of Satan which I think was an evil spirit, he did not waste time calling the fire of God, licensing the angels of God, and doing other things that would appear as if the devil is really powerful. It is important to know what you are facing and also to know the mind of God with regards to certain circumstances.
The devil is no longer powerful since we have the One in us more powerful (1John4:4). So next time, don’t unnecessarily waste time on the enemy who was defeated long back you have to know your position in Christ. Do not waste time repeating prayer points again and again on same things the battle belongs to God; just confess your victory, stand your ground having faith in the accomplished work of salvation through Jesus Christ. Believe it in your heart and confess it only when necessary.
The devil plays around with Christians who do not know their position, they will spend a good one hour telling the devil things, even the same things and it shows they lack confidence in who they are in Christ. We do not have to be always confessing the Word to the devil; prayer is for us to talk to God and not to waste time on the enemy. Are you getting it now?
We also use the offensive weapon (the Sword of the Spirit) against the enemy when we need to stamp our authority and we want him to get behind us but we do not make this a routine thing. God protects us, He protects our marriages, our finances, our health, our jobs and we commit everything to Him as He is faithful and able to protect. We do not appear as if we doubt God’s faithfulness and ability to protect us. When we see the enemy, yes, we tell him he has no place in our lives as children of God.
Numbers23: 19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfil? 20 I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it. 21 "No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. The LORD their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them. 22 God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. 23 There is no sorcery against Jacob, no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, 'See what God has done!' 24 The people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion that does not rest till he devours his prey and drinks the blood of his victims."
