THE NATURE  OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE

 

THE NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL REALMS

To understand this invisible war, you must first understand the natural and spiritual worlds.  Man exists in two worlds:  The natural world and the spiritual world.  The natural world is that which can be seen, felt, touched, heard, or tasted.  It is tangible and visible.  The country, nation, city, or village in which you live is part of the natural world.  You are a resident in a natural kingdom located on one of the visible continents of the world.  You can see the people who are part of your environment.  You can communicate with them.  You can experience the sights, sounds, and smells around you.

But there is another world in which you live.  That world is a spiritual world.  You cannot see it with your physical eyes, but it is just as real as the natural world in which you live.

Paul speaks of this division of natural and spiritual:

There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (I Corinthians 15:40)

All men have a natural body which lives in the natural world, but man is also a spiritual being with an eternal soul and spirit.  Man is body, soul, and spirit.  Your spiritual being (soul and spirit) is part of a spiritual world just as your natural body is part of the natural world.

SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT

Because spiritual warfare is just that--spiritual--it must be understood with a spiritual mind.  In our natural, sinful state, we can not understand spiritual things:

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:  for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (I Corinthians 2:14)

It is necessary to use "spiritual discernment" to understand spiritual things.

Perhaps one of the best examples of natural and spiritual discernment is recorded in II Kings chapter 6.  It records the story of a natural battle in which troops of the enemy nation of Syria had surrounded a small town called Dothan where the prophet Elisha was staying.  When Elisha's servant, Gehazi, saw the great host of the enemy he became fearful.  Elisha prayed that God would open Gehazi's spiritual eyes so he could see the angelic hosts surrounding and protecting them. On this occasion, God actually opened the natural eyes of Gehazi and allowed him to visibly see the superior forces of God aligned for battle.

The story of this battle at Dothan is similar to present spiritual conditions in the Church.  There are some, like Elisha, who see clearly into the realm of the spirit.  They know there is a conflict occurring, have identified the enemy, and recognize the greater forces of God that assure victory. There are others like Gehazi, who with a little encouragement, will be able to open their spiritual eyes and no longer be fearful of and defeated by the enemy.  But sadly, there are many people who, like those in the city of Dothan, are spiritually sleeping. They do not even know that the enemy has surrounded them and is poised for attack.

TWO SPIRITUAL KINGDOMS

Within the natural and spiritual realms of which we are speaking there exists separate kingdoms which are ruled by natural and spiritual leaders.

Natural kingdoms:

All men live in a natural kingdom of this world.  They live in a city or village which is part of a nation.  That nation is a kingdom of the world.  A natural kingdom is a territory or people over which an actual king or political leader is the sovereign ruler.  The Bible speaks of these natural kingdoms as "kingdoms of the world.”  The kingdoms of the world have come under the power and influence of Satan:

Again, the Devil taketh Him (Jesus) up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all  the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

And saith unto Him, All these things will I give thee, if you wilt fall down and worship me.  (Matthew 4:8-9)

John 5:19 sadly reminds us that "the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”

Spiritual kingdoms:

In addition to the natural kingdoms of this world there are two spiritual kingdoms: The Kingdom of Satan and the Kingdom Of God. Every person alive is a resident of one of these two kingdoms.

The Kingdom of Satan consists of Satan, spiritual beings called demons, and all men who live in sin and rebellion to God's Word.  These, plus the world and the flesh, are the spiritual forces of evil at work in the world today.

The Kingdom of God consists of God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, spiritual beings called angels, and all men who live in righteous obedience to God's Word.  These are the spiritual forces of good.

The Kingdom of God is not a denominational church.  Denominations are man-made organizations of groups of churches. They have been established for practical purposes of organization and administration.  Denominations are major church organizations like Baptist, Assembly of God, Methodist, Lutheran, etc.  The Bible speaks of the true Church which is not a denomination or religious organization.  The true Church is composed of all those who have become residents of the Kingdom of God.

At the present time in the natural world, the Kingdom of God exists individually within every man, woman, boy or girl who has made Jesus King of their lives.  It exists communally in the true church and wherever people make this world the kind of world God wants it to be. In the future, there will be an actual visible manifestation of God's Kingdom.

  The Invisible War

The invisible spiritual war is a battle which involves all men and women.  Because the Kingdom of Satan is a spiritual kingdom...

...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)

Spiritual warfare is not a natural battle between flesh and blood. It is not a battle of man against man.  It is not a visible battle.  It is an invisible struggle in the spirit world.  It is a battle within and  around man.  It is not a visible war is because spirits are involved and we learn in Luke 24:39 that a spirit does not have flesh and bones.

Spiritual warfare is "multidimensional,” which means it is fought in different dimensions.  It is...

1.  A social battle between the believer and the world: John 15:18-27 2.  A personal battle between the flesh and the spirit: Galatians 5:16-26 3.  A supernatural battle between believers and evil spiritual powers: Ephesians 6:10-27

Every person alive is engaged in this battle, whether he realizes it or not.  There is no neutral ground.  Unbelievers are in bondage to evil and have been taken captive by enemy forces.  They are victims of the war.

Believers have been freed from the enemy through Jesus Christ and are victors, but they are still engaged in the war.  The key verse for this chapter indicates that we (all believers) wrestle against evil spiritual forces.

"Wrestling" involves close personal contact. No one is exempt from this battle.  No one can view it from a distance.  You are in the midst of conflict whether you acknowledge it or not.  If you believe it will get better, you are wrong.  The Christian warfare never ceases.

WHERE THE BATTLE RAGES

This invisible war is being waged on earth:

The thief  (Satan) cometh (on earth) not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

Satan fights to maintain control of the kingdoms of the world.  He does not want them to come under God's authority.  The battle also rages within the hearts, minds, and souls of men and women.  Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers and attacks believers in the areas of worship, the Word, their daily walk, and their work for God.