Spiritual warfare
Because we are in the midst of this unseen battle all around us, the Bible calls us to engage in spiritual warfare. Some Christians turn this into binding and loosing all sorts of demons; but the Bible’s approach seems, perhaps surprisingly, to be much more ‘down to earth’. It tells us that spiritual warfare involves such things as:
❑ Praying and fasting as Daniel did for revelation (e.g. Daniel 10:1–19)
❑ Submitting to God and seeing the devil flee as we do (James 4:7)
❑ Being self-controlled and alert for the devil prowls around looking for prey to devour (1 Peter 5:8–9)
❑ Recalling Christ’s victory at the cross, where Jesus stripped Satan and all his hosts of their power (Colossians 2:13–15)
❑ Changing ways of thinking which become strongholds that need demolishing (2 Corinthians 10:3–5)
❑ Putting on ‘the armour of God’ (Ephesians 6:10–18)—not as a spiritual exercise for the moment of battle, but as a lifestyle that prepares us for such times (‘Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the evil day comes …’, verse 13).
❑ Getting back to God as the seven churches in the Book of Revelation were called to do (Revelation 2:1–3:22). It is very striking that churches that were facing such satanic opposition and persecution, were told to deal with this spiritual warfare, not by binding up demons in heavenly places, but by getting back to their first love (2:4–5), being faithful (2:10), repenting (2:16), holding on (2:25), waking up (3:2), taking advantage of open doors (3:8), and restoring their fervour (3:15–20).
Fighting God’s way
Having said all this, there may well be times when we need to confront demonic powers more directly, as Jesus himself did. If we are wise, however, we will not do so personally, but rather will call on the Lord to act on our behalf.
The Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you!’ (Zechariah 3:2)
But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’ (Jude 9)
A final prayer
Holy Spirit, think through me till your ideas are my ideas.
Amy Carmichael (1868–1951)
Conclusion
When God does not seem to answer our prayers, we should wait and trust, for in due time his reasons will become clear.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5–6)
Manser, M., & Beaumont, M. (2020). Handbook of Bible Prayers (pp. 381–383). Manser and Beaumont.
- Amen received
- Amen!
- This is GOOD-- thank you for the reminder!