Weapons and Tactics in Warfare*

In this modern era, we have seen through media and technology what war is really like. Beginning with the Vietnam War, right up to the present war in the Ukraine, the images of warfare are brought to us. What we see happening in the natural realm, however, is only a microcosm of what is going on in the spiritual realm. In both realms, poor tactics can cost lives. We, as believers, are in a war. Rabbi Jonathan Cahn refers to a "dark trinity war" in his new book, "The Return of the Gods". We need to know our weapons, and the correct tactics to use in this spiritual warfare. We are given powerful information from the apostle Paul: "...some...think of us as if we walk according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. Do ye look on things after the outward appearance?..." (2 Cor. 10:1-7). Our weapons are not carnal. Our enemy is opposition against the knowledge of God, and disobedience to Christ. Our tactics involve casting down ungodly thoughts, and revenging disobedience through the fulness of our own obedience. Spiritual warfare begins in the mind, within us, and not with bombs, or bullets. All natural soldiers have weapons and some sort of body armor, but our armor in spiritual warfare, "...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", is the whole armor of God. (Eph. 6:10-13). It is this armor which enables us to stand against the wiles of the devil, and "the evil day". As we know, the days are very evil, and wicked powers of darkness are very real. The whole armor of God includes having our loins girded with truth. We are to procreate the Gospel of truth, bringing it to others. We are to have on the breastplate of righteousness. Our hearts, which are the "kill zone" to the enemy, are deceitful, but we cover them with Christ's righteousness, not our own. Our feet are prepared with the gospel of peace. Wherever we go, we go with the Gospel. This is the Great Commission given to us by Christ. Above all, we take up the shield of faith. This spiritual shield quenches the fiery darts of the wicked against us. We take the helmet of salvation, protecting our minds from those thoughts, reasonings, and imaginations that Paul warned of above. In our hand is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (v. 14-17). This is a two-edged sword, reminding us that judgment begins, not with an enemy, but with the house of God. We use the Word, especially 2 Chron. 7:14, to bring repentance to our hearts, to fulfill our obedience first. Always, Paul wrote here, praying for all the saints of God, and for the boldness to make known the Gospel even in the face of obstacles and persecution (v. 18-20). Regarding this, here in this country and across the world, we are seeing a growing intolerance to the Word and knowledge of God, and instead a demand, under penalty of law, that the people of God accept in silence ungodly and abominable practices. We can see in scripture how these spiritual weapons and tactics were used by God to fight Israel's enemies, even when they were outnumbered, ill-equipped and starving in their natural circumstances. In Exodus 17, the Israelites are in battle with the Amalekites. Moses gave this instruction to Joshua: "Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand." (Ex. 17:8-9). When Moses would hold up his hand, Israel prevailed, however, when he lowered his hand, the Amalekites prevailed. As the battle raged on, and Moses grew weary, Aaron and Hur put a stone in place for Moses to sit, and stood on either side of Moses to hold up his hands until the sun went down. "And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword." (v. 11-13). The LORD commanded Moses to write the battle against Amalek for a memorial in a book to remind Joshua of the vistory, and to insure the continual warfare of the LORD against the Amalekites. From this event, Moses worshipped the LORD by the name "Jehovah Nissi", meaning "The LORD our Banner" at an altar that he constructed (v. 14-16). The battle was won by the rod of God in the hand of His servant. This is the same rod that Moses used to part the Red Sea. In another example of the ways of God in warfare, Gideon had assembled an army of 32,000 to fight the Midianites. The LORD told Gideon that he had too many in his army: "...there are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, 'Mine own hand hath saved me." (Judges 7:1-2). The LORD told Gideon that the Israelite army was too big! So the LORD told Gideon to tell all who were afraid to go home. This reduced the army to 10,000. The LORD said that this was still too many, and the army was to number 300. Those 300 were to carry a trumpet in one hand, and a vessel containing a lamp in the other hand. To reassure Gideon of the coming victory, the LORD had Gideon sneak up to the enemy camp with his servant, Phurah (meaning "branch, bough, glory, glorify"), to spy. Gideon overheard one enemy soldier telling another of a dream that he had in which Gideon had crushed their tent. This telling of the dream in the enemy camp caused the Midianites to believe that it was inevitable that God was going to deliver them into Gideon's hands. When Gideon overheard this talk within the enemy camp, he sent his 300-man army in three divisions against the Midianites, who were as numerous as grasshoppers. As they blew their trumpets and threw down their lamps, crying 'The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon', the Midianites panicked and ran (v. 9-21). The fleeing Midianites turned their swords upon each other in their fear, and the Israelites pursued them. As we can see, this is not warfare as usual as practiced in the world by generals and armies. God has already told us that His thoughts are not our thoughts, and neither are His ways like our ways. We see the contrast again between natural warfare and spiritual warfare in the account of David and Goliath. The armey of Israel was confronting the army of the Philistines. David had gone to the army camp to bring provisions of bread to his older brothers, who were soldiers. Then the Philistines' champion warrior, a man of giant proportions, Goliath, began to threaten and taunt them. When the Israelite army saw him, they all ran, including young David. However, when David heard the rewards that King Saul had promised to the man who would go forth and answer Goliath's challenge, David verified the reward offered three times, and then said of Goliath, "...for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (1 Sam. 17:24-26). One of David's older brothers became angry at him, and belittled him, that David, a lad who watched sheep, would speak up and involve himself in army business. However, King Saul heard of David's talk, and asked him to come to his tent, telling David, "Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth." (v. 28-33). David told Saul that as a shepherd of his father's sheep, he had already killed both a lion and a bear, even taking one of the captured lambs out of the predator's mouth. David told the king that this uncircumcised Philistine, Goliath "shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God", adding, "...the LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion,...and the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine." (v. 32-37). Saul agreed, and offered David the use of the king's own armor. However, the armor did not fit David, and David did not feel confident in it because he had not "proved it". So David went forth to meet the Philistine with his shepherd's staff, his slingshot, and five smooth stones that he had gathered from the stream and placed in his shepherd's bag. (v. 38-40). We know that David ended up killing Goliath with one of those stones in his slingshot, even though Goliath was armed with a huge sword, spear, and shield. In another example from scripture, God made four Israelite lepers with nothing left to lose sound like "...a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host" as they approached the enemy Syrian camp looking for food because the rest of Israel was starving. The Syrian army fled thinking that they were coming under attack from two great armies. (2 Kings 7:1-7). When the Syrians fled, they left all of their food and possessions behind them, and the four lepers began to gather all they could. Then the lepers reconsidered, and reported the bounty, and the empty Syrian camp to the king's household. (v. 9). The king's army then chased after the Syrians, picking up spoil as they went. God's spiritual warfare can make four shuffling lepers sound like two mighty armies to the enemy, causing them to flee! Another king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, believing the word of prophecy that had come from the LORD through His prophet, went into battle against the Ammonites and the Moabites by commanding the Levitical singers to go before his army praising "the beauty of holiness", and singing, "Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever." (2 Chron. 20:14-21). Jehoshaphat had told the people, "O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall you be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." (v. 20). Not many generals of the world would send singers in front of their army to face a large enemy, but by this tactic the LORD made the enemy armies destroy each other (v. 22-23). It is very important for the church to be aware of the weapons and tactics available to us in spiritual warfare, because so many believers are becoming caught up in natural, or worldly, methods and ways. Neither politicians nor natural armies can defeat the spiritual enemies that hold nations in darkness. Paul wrote to his son in the Gospel, Timothy: "Thou, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." (2 Tim. 2:1-4). *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 11/20/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.

The Missing Weapons of Our Warfare*

Recent events have created a discussion about weaponry: nuclear weapons that are being developed by nations, and other weapons needed to fight or defend current wars such as in the Ukraine, but there are also spiritual weapons that are necessary here and now for use by believers in the spiritual warfare that is all around us. We are not using the right weapons in our spiritual warfare, and we are therefore not being effective. As Jesus described the condition of the kingdom of God that would be found before His return, He commented that only half of those who were supposed to attend the wedding of the Bridegroom were prepared, having oil for their lamps. He called this half, "wise", and the unprepared, He called "foolish". All of them, however, were found to be asleep when the moment of the Bridegroom's arrival came (Mt. 25:1-5). In our warfare, we are often reacting to situations that have already occurred, like trying to close the barn door after the horses have already gotten loose. Paul also saw the problem of spiritual slumber in the Church writing: "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light..." (Rom. 13:11-12). We are now even closer to the moment of Christ's return than Paul was at the time he wrote this. We need to make a change. Paul refers to Isaiah in telling the Church: "...Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." (Eph. 5:14-17). Again there is a call to the Church to wake up, even from being dead. Paul also described the weapons of warfare that we may be neglecting: "Speaking to yourselves in songs and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Giving thanks always for all things unto God..." (v. 19-20). Praise is a powerful weapon in the hands of the believer. Scripture says that God is enthroned, or inhabits, the praises of His people. (Ps. 22:3). How often, rather than giving thanks to God in the middle of trying circumstances, we begin complaining instead? God has given us promises that make provision for us through every trial, and we should be remembering those promises before God with thanks. The Israelites continually murmured and complained in the wilderness despite the miraculous provision and deliverance of God. We have those great promises combined with thanksgiving to Him as part of the weapons of our warfare, but are we using them? Paul told us to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might, but often, we rely upon our own strength and understanding instead. Paul wrote that each believer has access to powerful spiritual armor, but we must put it on. This armor is the only thing that can keep us standing in the evil day, such as exists today. It is necessary to put on this spiritual armor because our enemies are not flesh and blood, but they are principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph. 6:10-13). This armor consists of having our loins girded about with truth, against this age of lies and even the father of lies, the devil; having on the breastplate of righteousness at a time when all, especially those in political, religious and business leadership, have been found unrighteous; having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace when peace in this world is so rare; taking up the shield of faith which quenches the fiery darts of the enemy, especially when faith and the name of Jesus are mocked as they are now; the helmet of salvation, the hope and assurance of which sustains us through every threat and trouble; and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, which is the truth that never fails us (v. 14-17). Putting on this armor, Paul wrote that we are to be praying always in the Spirit, and watching - not sleeping and unprepared (v. 18). Paul again refers to the armor of God in the warfare of the believer, whom he says are "the children of light" (1 Thess. 5:5-8). He again wrote "...let us not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober." All of these things are given to us by God because "He hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ..." (v. 9). Paul wrote, "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (v. 16-21). He said that we were to abstain from all appearance of evil (v. 22), and to flee evil things, and rather to follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness (1 Tim. 6:11). These things are all part of "fighting the good fight" and laying hold of eternal life (v. 12). The Apostle James also wrote of the great value of prayer in all things, including spiritual warfare: "Is any among you afflicted (meaning to suffer evils, hardships, and troubles)? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:13-16). As a ministry, we have always prayed for those who have made requests, and we have sent prayer cloths to minister to those who were at a distance. We have received many miracle testimonies as a result of this. The church and believers in general, however, have been using the wrong weapons in warfare. Our warfare is not won by anger, or through political powers, but we and our nation are healed by prayer, waking from spiritual slumber, watching, pursuing righteousness and godliness. The LORD promised: "If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chron. 7:13-14). *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 5/1/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.

Spiritual Warfare

 

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete.”
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

 

The Devil has been portrayed as a cartoon character with red suit, horns, and pitchfork. Nothing could be further from the truth. If we do not understand who the enemy is, and the nature of the enemy, we will always be defeated by him. If we do not know ourselves honestly, understanding how this enemy works towards us, we will never have victory. If we do not have knowledge of the things of heaven and earth, we become easy prey.
There is nothing cartoonish about our first glimpse of Satan in scripture. In Genesis, he takes the form of a subtle creature, a serpent, deceiving Eve and Adam by questioning God's command to them: "Yea, hath God said...?" (Gen. 3:1-4). Satan challenged the truth of what God had said to Adam, and lied about the consequences. Jesus similarly explained Satan's character to us:

"...He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar and the father of it."  Jn. 8:44

Satan murdered in the beginning by drawing man from eternal life in God to death in sin. He does not do it with truth, but with lies. Because of this, Jesus went on to say that those who rejected the truth of God, and Himself as the Bringer of that truth, were after the likeness of their father, Satan. Those who believed Christ, and the words He brought from the Father, were of their Father, God (v. 44-47). We can't have it both ways. We can't disregard God's Word as truth, or the Son Whom He sent, and still say, "God is my Father".

The Apostle Paul explained the difference between those who belong to God, Who brought us back to life through Christ, and those who belong to the world, and the spirit that influences the world:

"Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world. according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ...."  Eph. 2:2-5

The mind and ways of the world and the flesh are ruled by the prince of the power of the air, and that's where the battle begins-in our own minds and flesh. He is a spirit who is not confined to hell, but who inhabited heaven, and now falsely claims the earth as his. We have been delivered out of his realm of sin and death by Christ.  We who have been so miraculously delivered, are no longer to be one of the children of disobedience, subject to Satan's deception.

His fall from heaven is described in Revelation. After great warfare, Satan and the angels that he deceived into rebellion with him, were cast out:

"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him....Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil has come down unto you having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."  Rev. 12:7-12

Not only is Satan a murderer and a liar, but he is filled with great wrath. He viciously and unendingly accuses believers before God. The work of this vicious accuser is overcome by the brethren by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony, and the fact that they do not love their own lives even to death (v. 11). Natural weapons, and natural strength have nothing to do with victory over this spiritual enemy. Daniel warns that it will be those "who know their God" that shall be strong and do exploits in the face of this spiritually powerful enemy (Dan. 11:32). In the end times shown to Daniel, the worker of evil will lure the world, and even some of God's people with "flatteries" (smooth, slippery, deceitful promises, (promises) to plunder, divide, share, distribute or apportion). As these end times were described to Daniel as an age in which knowledge increases (Dan. 12:4), the time in which we live now definitely qualifies. Natural knowledge and advancement in just this past generation alone has surpassed that of any other age in history. Daniel also prophesied that those who serve God in the time of the end will teach others the knowledge of God with wisdom.

We have not been left defenseless in the face of this unmerciful enemy of God and His people. Paul describes the spiritual armor and weapons that God has provided for us through Christ, and he urges us to use them, to stand against the wiles (cunning arts, deceit, craft, trickery, method, settled plan, lie in wait) of the devil. "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. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all of the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance for all saints."  Eph. 6:12-18

Paul gave this revelation having been in the midst of spiritual warfare himself, under arrest and in chains (v. 19-20). The spiritual armor and weapons of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God (Who is Jesus Christ), are the tools given to us to stand against and overcome the spirit of murder, lies, accusation and hot anger that is Satan. As Paul taught, we cannot take this armor on and off, which happens when we carelessly desire to be of this world. Jesus also told us that while we are physically in the world, we are not to be of the world. Paul told us in another place that we were not to be conformed to this world, but transformed. We are in a spiritual battle that requires perseverance, praying always, not only for ourselves, but together with and for all the saints.

The enemy that all of God' s people face is not a cartoon. Because God has already prophesied his utter defeat, Satan knows his time is running out, and he seeks to destroy as many as he can in his seething anger, especially in these end times. However, Almighty God has given us the means to attain the victory in Christ.
If you want to know Jesus like this in these end times, if you want to know the truth concerning the things of heaven and earth, there is a prayer below which will start you on this journey. You will never be the same!

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.

Understanding Our Warfare, And Our Weapons

 

In these End Times, it becomes especially important that we understand our spiritual warfare and its weapons. It is deception to believe that the enormous problems facing the world today, or in our individual lives, can have political, economic, or social solutions. While the world relies upon these remedies, the church should understand differently. Scripture tells us:

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. Do ye look on things after the outward appearance?..."  2 Cor. 10:3-7

First of all, the battle begins in our own minds and understanding. Our minds have to be conformed not to what we see, but to God's word, the knowledge of God. Warfare begins in our own thoughts. Do they line up with the word? Scripture tells us to renew our minds with the washing of His Word (Rom. 12:2, Eph. 5:26). The Word of God that we know changes how we think. Our own obedience to spiritual truths in the Word makes the difference between victory and defeat. This is the warfare, but what are the weapons appointed by God for us to use in the battle?
Psalm 20, written by David, begins in this manner:
"The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee....in the name of our God, we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfill all thy petitions....Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen and stand upright."  (excerpt)
The phrase "day of trouble" used in the above Psalm, not only refers to any day in which we are desperately struggling, but t is also an expression used to mean the end times (Zeph. 1:14-18). In any case, one of our greatest spiritual weapons is the power of the name of the LORD in the mouth of the faithful. One of the greatest confrontations in scripture illustrated this power.
The Philistine army drew near to fight the army of Israel under King Saul. David, a young man, went to visit his older brothers, who were in the army of Israel. While there, he witnessed the challenge from Goliath (meaning splendor, an exile, a denuded captive), the champion of the Philistines, as he demanded a showdown with a warrior from Israel. All the army of Israel were fearful and ran from this giant's challenge. According to his name, outwardly, Goliath looked to have impressive splendor, but in truth, he was already a defeated foe, humiliated, shamefully revealed and cast out.
When David heard about the rewards the king was offering for anyone who would go against Goliath, he stirred himself up against this enemy and said, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
His older brothers mocked David, and Saul feared for David and tried to outfit David in his own armor, including his own sword. However, David found the armor awkward, refused it, and said he would rely instead on his own proven weapons. Goliath mocked the seemingly humble weapons of staff and sling that David carried, but David declared what he was about to do to Goliath, and said to him, "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied." (1 Sam. 17:21-45). We all know how that encounter ended. Even the giants are subject to the name of the LORD!
Our battles, large and small, individual or worldwide, belong to the LORD  On the occasion of a great battle between Judah and an overwhelming enemy army, the LORD prophesied:
"...Be not afraid, nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God's....Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah, and Jerusalem: fear not...for the LORD will be with you."   2 Chron. 20:15-17
The king of Judah sent the choir out before the army, and instructed them to sing and praise the beauty of holiness. With this spiritual weapon of praise, the LORD defeated the armies of three enemy nations that had come against His people (v. 21-23).
Moses and the Israelites, who found themselves in a seemingly hopeless position, were also able to witness the destruction of the Egyptian army in this same manner. Moses declared to the people:
"Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will shew you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."  Ex. 14:13-14
In both of these cases, the LORD saved His people by His salvation, "yeshua", who was the person of Jesus, the greatest of spiritual weapons in warfare.
Finally, the prophet Joel, describing a coming day of terrible destruction, accompanied by fearsome signs and wonders in the earth and the heavens, urged the people of that time to gather together, to fast, to repent, to weep in intercession, to call upon the LORD.
The LORD will hear their prayers, and receive their repentance, Joel prophesied. He will turn mourning and destruction into rejoicing and restoration. He will pour out His Spirit upon all of His people in a miraculous way. He also promises:
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in Mt. Zion, and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call."  Joel 2:32
This is the warfare, and these are the spiritual weapons that the LORD has placed into the hands of His people.

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:
Jesus, I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.







 

 



Understanding Our End Time Warfare

 

In his two letters to Timothy, the Apostle Paul includes instruction in spiritual warfare. Paul associates the conditions of this warfare specifically to "the last days" (1 Tim. 4:1, 2 Tim. 3:1), which he refers to as "perilous times". The condition of men's hearts have so degenerated, that it is dangerous to them, and to believers around them. Paul states that, among other things, men in these last days have become blasphemers, false accusers, fierce, despisers of those that are good, and traitors (2 Tim. 3:2-4). Some of these even have an outward appearance of godliness, but, in truth, they deny God's power and authority (2 Tim. 3:5). We can see these same dangerous traits in our times, which are indeed the last days before the return of Christ. It is in the midst of these circumstances that Paul instructs Timothy, and us also.

Paul's beginning comments to Timothy also reveal his beginning stance regarding all of these things:

"...without ceasing, I have remembrance of thee in my prayers day and night."  2 Tim. 1:3

Paul makes the definitive statement that we are in a warfare (1 Tim. 6:12, 2 Tim. 2:3-4), comparing believers to soldiers who go to war. Paul's stand in this warfare begins with his continual prayer for Timothy and the saints, and that is where our stand begins also. Are we praying for the saints faithfully and continually?

The warfare in which Paul instructs Timothy could be described as having three levels. The first level of warfare pertains to Timothy, himself. Paul instructs Timothy to understand the nature of his calling:

"...God who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."   2 Tim. 1:8-9

Our calling is from the will of God, given to us through Christ, even before the world was formed. We are not to be ashamed of that calling, or of others who suffer because of that calling. It is a holy, supernatural, eternal thing.

Timothy is to keep, or hold fast, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the scriptures and spiritual principles that he has learned from Paul, and throughout his spiritual training (1 Tim. 6:20, 2 Tim. 1:13-14, 3:14), and to continue studying the Word of God (2 Tim. 2:15). We will see that the knowledge of the Word of God plays a vital role in the next level of warfare.

Timothy is also instructed to endure through, and be a partaker of, suffering and hardship (2 Tim. 1:8, 2:3, 9-12). We cannot expect to reign with Christ if we refuse to share in the sufferings of Christ. Are we willing to share the sufferings and hardships that come with standing in the truth of Christ, or do we fear them, and avoid them? Paul tells us that fear is not to have any part in our holy and eternal calling (2 Tim. 1:7). Many saints across the world have had to endure extreme suffering and hardships because of their faith in Christ. Yet so many of us back away from hardship, and hide our faith in the face of it.

Paul also warns Timothy of the corrupting, sorrowful, and destructive power of the love of money and wealth, describing this love of money as the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:5-11). Paul tells Timothy to flee from this particular love and pursuit. We flee from this powerful lust by committing ourselves to contentment with godliness. As we flee from this evil lust, and other youthful lusts (2 Tim. 2:22), we flee towards righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness.

Moving outward to the next level of warfare described, Paul instructs Timothy about the dangers of those who speak or teach lies, causing harm to those who believe them (2 Tim. 2:14, 3:6-7). On one hand, there will be those who teach the lies, sometimes in pursuit of wealth, but on the other hand, there will be those who are looking for lies in which to believe (2 Tim. 4:3-4). This is especially the case in these latter times:

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron;...evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived...ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of truth."   1 Tim. 4:1-2, 2 Tim. 3:13, 7

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears."  2 Tim. 4:3

This is the level of warfare that requires a sound knowledge of the Word of God. Timothy is to remind himself, and other believers the true words of faith and good doctrine that we have received (1 Tim. 4:6). He is to instruct those who are in error with meekness, gentleness and patience, with the goal that they might find repentance with God (2 Tim. 2:23-26). Timothy is to preach the Word, always being ready to do so (2 Tim. 4:2) because:

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works"   2 Tim. 3:16-17

Paul tells Timothy to do the work of an evangelist (bringer of good tidings), which is the full proof of his ministry (2 Tim. 4:5). We all have this same work. The Word and the salvation of God is good news! Men need the good news in these last days. They need to hear the truth that has come to stand against the lies that destroy faith and lives.

As Paul instructs Timothy to be diligent in his study, rightly dividing the Word (2 Tim. 2:15), we also need to prepare ourselves by studying the Word of God, and learning the Word from faithful servants of Truth. The Word is both our defensive, and offensive tool against the lies that have been released in these last days. We have no excuse for continued ignorance and laziness regarding the Word of God.

The third level of warfare that Paul revealed to Timothy is the most far-reaching, and unfortunately the most overlooked, even neglected. The results of this warfare can change the very conditions around us. For this warfare, Timothy is instructed once again to use prayer:

"I exhort therefore that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."   1 Tim. 2:1-4

How many of us pray, and give thanks for all men? How many of us pray for those in leadership and authority over us? We, the Church, have become so politicized and polarized by the spirit of this world, that we have forgotten:

"The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will."   Prov. 21:1

The effects of these prayers of thanksgiving and supplication for all men, and especially for those who lead us, are salvation, peaceful living, honesty, and godliness-the very things which we desire to see most in these times. However we may feel about all men and leaders, we are exhorted to pray for them with thanksgiving. Our conflicting opinions and feelings are not relevant in the face of the expressed thoughts, will, and Word of God, "who will have all men saved".

We need to pay attention to the groundwork of warfare that Paul revealed and instructed in his letters to Timothy. It is the Word of the LORD for the time in which we live.

 

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