The Warfare We Face

The Necessity of This Warfare

• We must all face the fact that spiritual warfare is a necessity. God never varnishes over the fact that there is going to be warfare for His children.
• He told Moses there would be blessings and enemies in the Promised Land (Exodus 3:16-17)
• He promised Joshua the Land but told him he would have to be strong and courageous to face its challenges (Joshua 1:1-7)
• He promised Gideon he would save Israel but he would have to face the Midiantes (Judges 6:15-16).
• He anointed David to be king as a youth but David still had Goliath and Saul to fight (1 Samuel).

The Nature of This Warfare

• Consider the nature of the warfare we have to fight. We are to be engaged in offensive warfare. We are not called to hold the fort against the giants of life.
• When Goliath challenged Israel, Saul hid in his tent and just hope everything would work out.
• God has called us to pull down strongholds (v.4). The word pull down means to dethrone.

The Weapons of Our Fight

Weapons We Cannot Trust

We cannot face the giants of life with weapons of our own making. It is that carnal or fleshly nature that is our problem in the first place (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).

Weapons We Can Trust

God has given us weapons we can trust. These weapons are mighty in God (v.4). Though we live in this world and face the problems of this world, we have a different way to face those problems. This is the emphasis of Galatians 2:20 which reminds us, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

• We cannot trust weapons of this world – we must trust God’s weapons.
• David refused to fight Goliath with the weapons of Saul. He knew he must fight God’s battle God’s way
• “So Saul clothed David with his armor … And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.
• ”So David took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine." (1 Samuel 17:38-40)

He has given us

• His Word – it never returns void
• Prayer – He is always listening and ready to answer.
• His People – He often has reserves He has prepared to help us fight.

The Challenge

What giants do you face in your life? Do you find other people, circumstances, or things within in your own heart and mind coming between you and obeying God with your whole heart? Hebrews 12:1-2 gives us the ultimate answer for all the giants of life – “Look to Jesus the author and finisher of your faith…”