The Spiritual Warfare Mandate, Part 1

Every Christian experiences spiritual warfare. This war started in heaven, and moved into the physical realm with Satan’s deception of Adam and Eve in the garden. Mankind fell into sin, God promised redemption and victory through Christ, and the battle was on. Though Satan was defeated at the cross, he will be finally crushed when all of God’s redemptive plan has been accomplished. Until then, we find ourselves in a spiritual fight. Our battle is not against people, but the spiritual forces of evil which seek to oppose the way of God. That doesn’t mean that we’ve been called to charge the gates of spiritual strongholds. On the contrary, God simply calls us to stand firm in Him and stop resisting the work of His Spirit in our lives. How can you fight the good fight? Pray for God’s strength in the battle with sin, be filled with His Word, discipline yourself for godliness, and commit to love God and His people. As you pursue Christ in these ways, you will find all the strength you need to stand in the evil day.