Rodney Drury: Spiritural Warfare - Do we really need another war?

What to do? How to do it? Tools to help get it done.

By Rodney Drury

The world has been torn apart by war in our recent history. Many Americans have lost friends and family. If we consider that in October 2001 we invaded Afghanistan, war has been a part of American life for almost 14 years. This is having an effect on our culture and the church. Mass media informs us about the destruction of believers caught in conflicts all around the world. Christians are being beheaded, shot, and hung. Almost any given day I receive twenty or thirty calls, tweets, and post that ask me to help, pray or take political action on behalf of someone being persecuted. Even if we are people who are energized by these calls to action, over time we can become depressed and discouraged by the endless war and destruction that is in the world right now.

It’s not surprising to me that “spiritual warfare,” once a major focus within the church and within the prayer movement, has faded from view. Who wants to go to church and be bombarded by the same language as the news media? What prayer team wants to use the same language as those who are killing innocent children? We are weary of war. The messages of grace, tolerance, and acceptance fill our sanctuaries. But are these messages “the voice of the Lord” for our time or are we reacting to what evil is doing in the world. Are we feeling the pressure of our culture to change our message or does our message need to be changed? What do you want us to do God?

I believe in spiritual warfare. I don’t necessarily believe in all the different actions and attitudes Christians display in spiritual warfare, but we are in a spiritual conflict and we are called to fight against an enemy. I believe this so much I am writing this article to encourage you and share a helpful perspective as you live out your life in Christ Jesus. What follows is a basic plan of “what to do,” how to do it,” and “tools to get it done.”

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 2Co 10:3-4 NASB

Spiritual warfare is just that, a spiritual battle. It is not carnal or fleshly. We are to live and manifests at least nine expressions of war, but not act in fleshly or carnal ways. Our call to spiritual warfare is a call to holiness, sanctification and righteousness. We fight against, resist, and stand against evil and demons but have not need to express anger, control or use manipulation.

Each one of the aspects in the list below could have a book written about it. I just want to share my list and allow you to feel God’s call to your own heart to take action or focus on some part. At the end of this article I share five Disciplines for Disciples that will help you live out the life God has called you to. Here are the nine expression of spiritual warfare. This is what we are to do.

What to do?

1.       The Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is holy and moves in our lives and upon the lives of all the people of the world. God, through the Holy Spirit is warring against evil within individuals and among the nations of the earth. While we have a part to plan, the Spirit of God is powerfully moving on the earth today. We acknowledge God is at work.

2.       Conviction. Conviction is one of the works or expressions of the Holy Spirit. I am not going to break out all the different ways that the Spirit fights evil, but this one is worth the disclosure. The Spirit convicts of sin, but also or righteousness. God convicts us about what is both right and wrong. The first two elements of our non-carnal warfare are expression of God and not of ourselves. We have not need to try and convict people. It’s not our job. We are to trust God to convict.

3.       Truth. Truth still exists even though many want to nullify the truth or make all things relative. All things are in relationship but a truth still exists that is absolute and real. The most common way truth is used in spiritual warfare is through expressions of word and deeds. Truth is not effective through just words or prayer, truth must be lived out in the deeds of those who are also proclaiming and praying. Truth has merit on its own. You do not need to tell someone “this is the truth” very often as real truth is verified and validated by the working of the Holy Spirit. Telling someone what is true is much less effective warfare than living truthfully and allowing the Holy Spirit to establish. The best way to “tell the truth” is to live it. We are to live truthfully.

4.       Forgiveness. Forgiveness is the releasing to others that which we have received from God. The use of forgiveness in spiritual warfare occurs when a sinful person passes onto others that which they have received from God. The activity of God, forgiveness, is transmitted from heaven to earth. God uses a person who is not worthy or deserving of forgiveness to pass onto another undeserving person, divine forgiveness. Spiritual warfare occurs when both forgiveness and the passing on of forgiveness is lived out by human beings. Christ like actions are manifested on earth as it is in heaven. Forgiveness also contains within its work the message and reality of starting all over. “New” life, “new” beginnings, “new” self are all aspect of spiritual warfare needing to be utilized in our day. We are to be ambassadors of forgiveness.

5.       Freedom. Freedom is not the absence of laws but rightly living under the laws. In the natural the law of gravity allows us the freedom to move around and function. Freedom is found not in the absence of that law of gravity but in the understanding of gravity. Non-carnal freedom is personal responsibility lived out in Godly expressions. Christians are free to give, serve, honor, help and live because God has laws in place that establish eternal security and justice in His kingdom. Freedom, when it is an expression of God and not an expression of human desire, wars against fear, manipulation, greed and control. We live in freedom.

6.       Righteousness. Righteousness is right living as defined by God. Righteousness surpasses the requirements of the church and creeds; it transcends that of our societies and orders. The righteousness that I am expressing here is not the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ; it is not how God sees us. The righteousness that wars against evil and demons is our righteousness, the living of our lives in the ways the epistles teach us to. The imputed righteousness of God is intended to empower you to have a manifest righteousness on the earth that conflicts with sin and evil. We are to be righteous people.

7.       Prayer. Prayer can be a weapon of spiritual warfare but it must be the right kind of prayer. In Ephesians 6 the passage about putting on the armor of God establishes warfare prayer. After being clothed in His armor we are to stand and pray. Many hours are wasted in prayer as the people praying are expressing anger, personal desires, un-forgiveness or accusing others in their prayers. God does not require us to be perfect to come to Him. But to war in the spirit we must rid ourselves of being carnal. You cannot clean yourself up enough but you can be cleaned by the blood of God. Jesus is able, He truly is. When it comes to prayer get the log out of your own eye first so that you can help your brother get the speck out of his eye. Pray that the Lord would be merciful to you a sinner, before you pray for God’s justice and intervention in the world. We are to pray rightly.

8.       Spiritual Gifts. Spiritual gifts are given and directed by the Holy Spirit for the work and will of God. I believe that every believer has some divine working within them. These non-earthly gifts may seem natural, like administration, helps and mercy, but they are not. When a person is expressing a spiritual gift we are going beyond natural ability or talent. Spiritual Gifts do not always appear spiritual, but they are. They work in ways that are spiritual, holy, divine, and not fleshly. We are to use our spiritual gifts.

9.       Self-denial, sacrifice, not loving self. By the power of the cross and the power of disciples denying themselves and following Jesus every day, war against demons and evil is released. Total forgiveness for humanity and the defeating of death was accomplished on the cross. As disciples of Jesus follow Him today, we too release God’s activity in the world through sacrifice, denial and the absence of self-love. We are to deny ourselves and follow Jesus.

The nine items above are what we are to do. But how are we to do that? How do you live your life as an expression of God that defeats evil? There are three basic steps. There is more to life in Christ than these three, but I believe these are basics.

How to do it?

1.       100% obedience to God and His word. With God’s help 100% is not impossible, only difficult. We may only accomplish this for moments, then hours and then days, but we can walk in 100% obedience because God gives us the strength, wisdom and understanding to do so. The “perfection” of God is not accomplished in scientific human terms but in divine relational terms. God does not ask a 5 year old to live as though they are 12. 100% obedience is an expression of who you are and where you are in Christ Jesus right now. By obeying God we live out the nine aspects.

2.       Clothed in the armor of God. As stated earlier this passage, and others, Ephesians 6 deals with the preparation and presentation of our lives before God. Divine activity requires divine preparation. Each day we choose to deny ourselves and follow God. This “each day” opportunity is both a chance to start again, if we need to. And an opportunity to continue on in our devotion to following the Good Shepherd. By proper preparation we live out the nine aspects.

3.       Walk by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the first and foremost agent in the war on evil and in our need for sanctification. When we walk with the Spirit we live in fellowship with God. This communing with God allows for ongoing direction, discipleship and discipline. Many try to implement the Galatians 5 passage, some of which I will post below, through human effort. Avoid that plan. Both Christian and non-Christians are in need of spiritual warfare to push back darkness and defeat evil. All effort apart from the work of the Holy Spirit is not able to deliver or transform. Apart from God we can do nothing. The passage below is a call to us so that we understand where God is leading, it is not a road map for us to use and try to arrive on our own. By walking with the Holy Spirit we live out the nine aspects.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

Gal 5:15-26 NASB

Tools to help get it done.

5 Disciplines for Disciples

Spiritual Disciplines is a title we give to things we can do to help us grow in the Lord. The disciplines are not the end in themselves, but are tools or means to an end. We discover that over time some tools work better for us than others. We learn as we grow that we have a spiritual personality that fits better with certain types of activities and is not helped much by others. You will notice that over time God will reveal to you insight about yourself. You will come to see why certain things touch your spirit and help to develop your Christ like nature. The pathway to that deeper understanding is the practicing of what you know to do now. Believers who wait to understand themselves before they practice disciplines seldom advance. Those who walk a life of a disciplined disciple discover that faithfulness with little is rewarded.

1.       Nightly prayer of exam. If you research “Prayer of Exam” you will discover several expressions of this evaluation throughout history. For those who what to jump in take this approach. Each night, prior to going to bed, take 10 min. and ask the Lord what happened today? Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart about what happened that needs to continue and what needs to stop? Do not seek to justify or defend your actions, just evaluate them with the Holy Spirit and tenderly respond to His direction. Journal your thoughts with a recording of both the positives and negatives. You are seeking to grow in laying your life down before the Lord.

2.       Fast lying, deception, partial truth and twisting perspectives. The goal of this fast is to realize how often we use words to protect ourselves, avoid conflict or be seen in a more favorable light. Rather than making a commitment to “never lie again” go on a fast. For a day, a week, or 40 days, seeks to fast lying and deception. Our culture is so accustomed to altering the truth to fit our situation that this discipline is much harder than it first appears. I suggest you start by using this method. Prayer every hour this one line prayer, “Father help me to see when I lie and deceive.” Secondly make a score card for each day and record the number of lies released that day. Confess and repent of these. Thirdly at the end of each week ask God “why.” Why do I feel the need or pressure to lie? Allow God to build you, strengthen you, and guide you.

3.       Pray for others as much as you pray for yourself. The goal here is to discover your level of love and care for others. Both truth (#2) and love (#3) are needed to set people free. By praying for others you are giving God the opportunity to birth in you a more compassionate heart. You are taking a step away from self-love and inviting God to use your life in helping others. What you desire to happen is twofold. One, you want any thoughts or intention of your own heart to be exposed, you want new insight on your own self-love. Secondly you want to increase in your love for God through an enlarged heart for others. You want your prayer time to advance from the “burden of praying for others” to “the simple love” for others that prays for them.

4.       Reading the Word of God for obedience. Often we read the Bible to gain insight or knowledge. This discipline is a reading of the word to do what it says. Start in Matthew 5 if you don’t have a strong impression of what book of the Bible to start with. As you read stop when you come to a command or lifestyle that God calls us to live out, but which you are lacking in. Read that section of the scripture over and over again, asking God to give you a desire to do what His world asks us to do. Focus on loving God more. Allow your obedience to be an expression of your love for God and not just outward compliance. I have found it helpful to ask the Lord often to “create in me a clean heart” as I sought after “loving obedience.”

5.       Don’t avoid conflict. In this discipline you want to engage in conflict with the intention to learn and to love. Often we face conflict with a need to fix, resolve, have justice, or get our point across. Don’t do that. Try and address the conflict situations in your life with the intention of learning from them and loving others in them. Allow things to be unresolved, but share with those involved in the conflict that you are trying to learn and love in this situation, you are not seeking to avoid dealing with issues that need to be addressed. Tell them you will get to resolution, but you are learning and loving right now. Nightly journal about what is happening? Does listening, understanding and compassion have power to resolve conflict? Does your peaceful spirit cause strife or more peace? Why? Do you feel an ability to connect with God in the midst of conflict more when learning and loving are your focus?