Fighting the Spiritual War
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12
It’s important to remember the spiritual war is not against people, but against Satan and his demons, who are forces of evil. These evil forces feed lies to people, often causing them to do his evil and influence others. Our war is against Satan and his demons that are leading multitudes blindly down the broad road of destruction. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)
Satan is bringing his lies to people and the Lord’s people are bringing God’s truth to people. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5:14) We fight Satan wherever we go by being a light for Christ, proclaiming God’s truth, and remember light always takes away darkness. We reflect God’s love and compassion to everyone with a caring heart, and seek to never be confrontational.
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, (Matthew 24:12) In the later days wickedness is increasing and it is critical that we fight Satan and not people, and to see evil people as souls created in the image of God misguided by Satan. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! (Matthew 5:44) Pray for those people who are doing evil, otherwise our love can grow cold. There is no room in a Christian’s heart for hate, except the hatred of sin.
Let the evil in this world draw you closer to the Lord and deepen your hate of sin. We show our love to the Lord through our love for people and that includes everyone. Pray for lost souls, pray for people who are doing evil, because it will increase your love for the Lord and people and increase your power to overcome sin.
Prayer is critical in fighting sin, because we call on the Lord and his power over Satan and the demons, to fight this spiritual war for us. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (Ephesians 3:20) We have the power of the Lord in us, but we call on the Lord in prayer for his power to work in our life. When we pray for lost souls that are distant from us, we depend on the Lord to fight the battle to overcome the evil in there life. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.(Exodus 14:14)
To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. (Proverbs 8:13) From this verse, our fear or ultimate respect for the Lord is to hate sin, and not people. The Lord hates sin and he is sad when Satan’s lies lead souls down the broad road of destruction, and we are also sad.
Today show the Lord’s love and kindness to everyone, and pray for souls that do not know Christ. Ask the Lord to soften their hearts so they will listen to the Truth. Reflect the fulfilling life you have from the Lord, reflecting love, kindness, peace, joy, and contentment. Do not reflect fear, worry, or anger, but reflect love and security in Christ.
Prayer: Lord, help me to love everyone and to hate evil. Guide me to pray for my enemies so the love in my heart will grow stronger and never grow cold. In Jesus name, Amen