Psalm 18:34 says, “He teaches my hands to make war, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze” and Psalm 144:1 says, “Blessed be the LORD my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle—” We are trained for war!
Over the years, God has trained me for war. Not for the physical war, although as a police officer there was the constant battle “on the streets”. I was trained for that battle, both while with Halifax City Police and with the RCMP. I spent almost 20 years with the Emergency Response Team and a couple with the Tactical Team (riot team).
While with ERT, I was at different times the second in charge (2i/c), medic and team leader. I probably took part in 70 – 80 entries over those years. The team, even though it was
Related Post: Are We in the End Times?
The Real Battle
But, God used all of that to train me for the real war that is raging all over the world and has been raging for 6,000 odd years. This is the spiritual battle that started when Adam and Eve decided to disobey God by eating the forbidden fruit. This caused death to enter this world; both physical and spiritual death.
Physical Death
We have all known of someone who has physically died. It may have been a close relative or a friend or even a total stranger. As a police officer, I have seen many who had died.
I investigated fatal accidents for years and many times the deceased was still on scene when I arrived. Even though I didn’t know the person, I always felt a sense of loss. Knowing that a life had been stopped. No longer would this person see or hear or experience all that life has to give. I also sensed that I was only seeing the shell of the person.
The Bible tells us we have three parts: spirit, soul
Spiritual Death
There is a spiritual death as well and even though Adam lived for 930 years, he died spiritually the moment he disobeyed God. Man who had lived in close fellowship and intimacy with God was now separated from Him.
All people have sinned. The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23). Yet God did not leave us in this state. Jesus came to die on the cross. On the cross, He took upon Himself the sin of the whole world. He reconciled us with God. This reconciliation is available to all who would believe in faith; the “whosoever” of John 3:16.
The Warrior’s Armour
This post though is about being trained for war. God has called me to be a warrior. He has given me all the
Spiritual Warfare
Even though I have been trained for war, when dealing with the spiritual realm, it is of little use. You see, this is why God has prepared my hand for war. It is because there is a mighty spiritual battle going on. So I can’t rely on physical skills to fight in this war.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,“
Everyone is Called to be Trained for War
Our battle looks like it is against flesh and blood. Satan uses people to do his bidding. Even you and I have been used by him, sometimes knowingly, sometimes unwittingly. I do want to make one thing clear though.
Every single person who has asked Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Saviour immediately became part of Christ’s army. We are trained for war.
Each person has been issued the armour that I mentioned previously. Many who claim to be in the Faith have no idea where their armour is. Yet, this generation is part of the end-time army of God.
We are the final generation. Why then are we so stuck on following the ways of the world? Why are so many neither cold nor hot? And why are so many asleep and complacent?
The Enemy Exposed
Ephesians 6:12 also tells us who our battle is against and who it is not against.
“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.”
The previous verse says to “Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
The next verse says, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.“
The Wiles of the Enemy
Two things stand out.
- In both verses, the Christian is told to put on the “whole
armour of God”. - We are to stand against the “wiles” of the devil.
In order to stand against the wiles of the enemy, we need to know them. John 10:10 tells us, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” He will do that by lies, deception, manipulation, and fear.
All Authority in Heaven and on Earth
In later posts, I want to talk about some of the spirits he uses but first, I want to assure you that we are able to not only withstand but to come against the devil’s plans. Satan and the higher-level demons are more powerful than man but not more powerful than God. God is all-powerful!
When Jesus hung on the cross Satan thought he had won the battle. Through manipulation, he was able to kill the Son of God. That, however, was not the case. Jesus walked out of the grave, which wasn’t powerful enough to hold Him. When He did, Jesus was given ALL authority in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18).
Colossians 2:15 says, “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” This means they are now under His authority. And that authority has been given to the true believer.
Look at Ephesians 1:19-21, “and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, …” Christ is far above all principalities, power, might, and dominion.
The Holy Spirit
Jesus returned to His rightful place in heaven and God, at Christ’s request sent the Holy Spirit as another Comforter for the believer. The Holy Spirit baptizes the new believer into Christ but, as we saw on the day of Pentecost, Jesus baptizes the believer with the Holy Spirit.
Once baptized, the believer receives power and will be witnesses for Jesus. This power allows the believer to “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and
The Spirit-filled believer has been given authority over “all” the power of the enemy. This is because of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross. It is also because the believer receives the Holy Spirit. God in us! This doesn’t make us gods. Yet God allows His mighty power to work through us.
False Power
Satanism, the occult, witchcraft, the New Age Movement and the religions of the world all have the ability to use and manipulate power. The born-again, Spirit-filled believer has access to a much higher and more powerful power–God’s mighty power. This power is the Holy Spirit living in us! Let us use this mighty power to come against the works of the enemy and to proclaim the Kingdom of God.
Four False Spirits
In a future post, I will be highlighting four of the spirits that we need to understand. They are the
- spirit of Jezebel,
- the Leviathan spirit,
- the Python spirit,
- and the Behemoth spirit.
They may seem big and scary but we don’t come against them in our strength but in the power of the Holy Spirit. In other words, we come against them in God’s strength! I will be highlighting them not to build them up but to show you how they work so you are not ignorant of the wiles of the enemy.
Be the Warrior You Have Been Called to Be
Oh, and one last thing. Find the armour that God gave you when you accepted Christ. Put it on. Put it on daily! The trumpet is sounding. The battle cry is being shouted. Wake up and get into ranks, ready to march with the Captain of the army of God, the Lord of Hosts Himself!
Remember, you are being trained for a spiritual war!