War in the Heavenlies Part 1
BENNY HINN
We are at war!
And the conflict in
which we are engaged is unlike any warfare mankind can wage against humanity,
for the forces to be reckoned with are more threatening than any natural force
known…and the stakes are eternal!
The Bible makes it
clear that as believers this warfare involves a foe who is not of this world.
Equipped with greater
weaponry than the military might of any nation or international power, our
enemy opposes us in the spirit realm in the battle of the ages.
Preparation for Battle
We are told:
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)
This is an invisible
battlefield. The stakes are high. We must be prepared, and preparation for this
battle involves three specific steps:
Preparation for Battle
Step #1: Identify the enemy.
It is imperative that
you determine who your enemy really is. Preparation for spiritual warfare
requires the application of spiritual principles revealed in the Word of God.
Satan does not fight
alone. Let’s quickly examine the divisions of Satan’s army mentioned in the
verse from Ephesians 6 above:
- Spirits or demons—for the Word
of God says, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood.”
- Principalities from the Greek
word arche: chief rulers of the highest rank.
- Powers—from the Greek
work exousia authorities. These authorities operate the
chief rulers, executing their will.
- Rulers of the darkness of this
world—world rulers of darkness; natural men possessed with demonic powers.
This world (cosmos) binds them to the natural and refers to
governments or individuals in high authority on this planet who are
demon-led or -directed.
- Spiritual wickedness in high
places—wicked spirits in the heavens; fallen angels.
Never underestimate
the capabilities of your adversary or the deceptiveness he will use in his
attempt to defeat you.
Preparation for Battle
Step #2: Be strong in the Lord.
Strength to subdue and
defeat the enemy is not found in the natural, but in the Lord. The Bible
commands us as believers to “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Eph. 6:10). The Greek infers the command to “be
strengthened” in Christ’s might, as is promised to the believer:
“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe,
according to the working of his mighty power” (Eph. 1:19).
Recognize who you are
in Christ and acknowledge the real source of your strength. Don’t attempt to
fight the forces of hell alone, for the power to subdue and defeat the enemy
does not rest in your own strength; it comes from the Lord. Luke 10:19 declares, “I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all
the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
Preparation for Battle
Step #3: Clothe yourself with the armor of God.
A prepared soldier
will not go into battle without the appropriate armor. The potential for
victory in a battle hinges upon suitable armor and appropriate weaponry. A
spiritual battle requires spiritual weapons. It’s impossible to avert the
attacks of the devil and prevail against his strategies in your own strength.
We are instructed, “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to
stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11).
The Word of God
continues on this theme, stating, “Wherefore, take
unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil
day” (Eph. 6:13).
The Armor of God
Preparation for the
invisible battle must focus on the third step, and training with your armor
must continue throughout your life. Let’s look more closely at each of the
pieces of your battle equipment.
It is interesting to
note that the first five pieces of armor have a defensive purpose, while the
remaining two are offensive.
Defensive armor
provides protection for the vital organs of the soldier when facing the enemy
in battle. From a spiritual perspective, the whole armor of God, applied and
used properly, provides full protection and enables the believer to hold his
ground against the enemy until victory comes.
Battle Armor #1: “Loins girt about with truth” (Eph. 6:14).
Your loins deal with your mind (“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,”
says 1 Peter 1:13). Fill your mind with the Word; the door to
the Spirit comes through the mind.
Battle Armor #2: “The breastplate of righteousness” (Eph. 6:14).
The breastplate covers the vital organs and speaks of the
heart. It fortifies the
heart against the attacks of the enemy. Allow the righteousness revealed in
God’s Word to influence your mind and touch your heart. When it does, it brings
transformation and renewal (Romans 12:2).
Battle Armor #3: “Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel
of peace” (Eph. 6:15).
The Word of God must affect your walk or your life. This
happens as the Word fills your mind, touches your heart, and is manifest or
seen in your walk. It all begins with
your mind. You begin to read the Word and hear the Word; it begins to influence
and fill your heart with truth. This affects your daily actions.
Battle Armor #4: “The shield of faith” (Eph. 6:16).
Faith brings powerful
results, for when faith is joined with the results of the Word in your mind,
heart, and life, the Bible declares, “ye shall be able to
quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Armed with
God’s Word and faith, we can withstand the onslaught of the enemy and render
his fiery darts ineffective.
Battle Armor #5: “The helmet of salvation” (Eph. 6:17).
In the natural, the
helmet protects the head from injury. Some mistakenly believe that the helmet
deals with the mind. However, the helmet of salvation deals with doctrine. Once
the truth enters your mind, touches your heart, affects your life and walk, and
is manifest in your actions, it becomes your nature. The helmet of
salvation protects your nature, your character, your doctrine; what you
believe is who you are. The doctrine of the Word makes you balanced and stable.
You are not moved by error or taken by false teaching. The helmet of salvation
brings balance to your life and keeps you walking steady with the Spirit and in
the Spirit.
Battle Armor #6: “The
sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17).
All the armor up to
this point has served a defensive purpose, intended for use in facing the
enemy. Each piece provides protection from an attack. And although the Word of
God is connected to each element of this armor, the sword of the Spirit is the Word of
God, for it is used as an offensive weapon against the enemy.
His Word protects you,
affecting your mind, heart, walk, actions, nature, character, and life. As your
life becomes strong and established, the sword of the Spirit becomes an
offensive weapon against the enemy. Unmovable, unshakable, and, because of the
truth within, you are able to stand against the enemy.
In three consecutive
instances, Jesus Christ Himself used the Word of God as He resisted Satan’s
temptation, saying, “It is written” (Matthew 4:4,6,7). Armed with the sword of the Spirit, you can
take back the territory that belongs to you, including your family, your
finances, and your health because you’ve strengthened yourself in the Spirit.
Battle Armor #7:
Prayer and supplication (Eph. 6:18).
The final weapon is what keeps you, and that’s prayer—prayer that covers and clothes you like a
mantle, for the Bible declares, “Praying always with
all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.”
Beyond Our Weapons of
War
Seven pieces of
armor—seven weapons of war.
The Word is key.
To be victorious, the
Word of God must be in your mind. The Word must be in your heart and reflected
in your walk. It must be evident in every step of faith and demonstrated in
your actions.
The Word of God shows
in your character. It is one of your greatest offensive weapons of war. And
prayer covers you like a mantle.
As believers, we have
nothing to fear: “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the
world” (1 John 4:4).
Through Christ, we
will see victory on the invisible battlefield!