My dear ones in Christ. I pray this writing finds you surrounded with peace and protected by the strong right arm of Christ Jesus. Our lives have been turned upside down since Covid entered our world in the past year and a half. During this upheaval, many of us have lost loved ones or dear friends, and I pray that you will know the love and care of the Holy Spirit, the Great Comforter, as your walk through the valley of grief. I know the economy has plummeted, leaving many people in severe financial straits, and I pray even now that Jesus will supply all your needs. With our world shaken all around us, we wonder if we will ever return to normal. The Covid mandates put forth by the Biden presidency reek of control. In Canada, Pastors are arrested for holding church services; in Australia, people are locked up for refusing the shot. At least 16 countries require a green pass [vaccine passport] to travel, eat and attend most venues. (1)
Requiring a green pass is eerily similar to a verse in Revelation that talks about not being able to buy or sell without a mark (Revelation 13:16-17). So, is the Covid shot the mark of the beast? No, this form of the Covid passport/shot is not the mark, but it is the precursor where the governments, or should I say shadow governments and the evil behind them, test their control of the people in preparation for the mark. Covid has been the great decimator of freedom; it came with a virus in one hand and control in the other hand. Covid and governmental control brought a loss of liberty targeting New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the US, which was once a bastion of freedom. Many who refused the jab have lost their jobs. We hear rumors that we will not be able to travel without a vaccine passport. Our beautiful Bill of Rights that guarantees our freedoms in the Constitution is under fire, being torn apart by executive order after executive order at the state and federal level. What can Christians do about governmental restraints being placed on us? What can we do about the evil in our governments?
This past year is only the beginning of sorrows; bringing us into the last days; I want to remind Christians that we are entering a time that Christ and the prophets warned would bring great hardship to the world, especially to His followers (Daniel 7-9, Matthew 24). What can we do when our voice, our beliefs go against the evil world system? How do we prepare ourselves for challenges to come? When evil rules the day, what can we do? How do we make a difference when everything is so torrid? When our hearts grieve at the evil that surrounds us, we must fight the evil that is spiritual darkness with weapons of the Holy One, which are powerful against the workers of unrighteousness. God, who is eternal and walks through time and space, gave us Biblical precepts to fight evil, and because of what is happening in the world around us, I was led to study Biblical passages on spiritual warfare. I want to share what the Holy Spirit has revealed in the Holy Bible. Let us understand what Father God said to prepare His children for war against evil.
War in the Spirit through God
In 2 Corinthians 10, the Holy Spirit teaches us through the Apostle Paul about the weapons of our warfare, and then in Ephesians 6, the Holy Spirit teaches us about the Armour of God. But, first, let us look into 2 Corinthians 10 and find out how we battle evil.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
“3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)
5 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;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
We live in our bodies
We war according to the spirit
We do not use carnal weapons
Gods’ weapons are mighty to-
To pull down strongholds
To cast down arguments
To cast down high things
To bring all thoughts captive
To punish disobedience
To be obedient
Now that we learned that our weapons are mighty in God, let us delve into Ephesians 6, where the Bible teaches that Christians do not wrestle or fight against other humans but against evil in realms of the spirit. First, I would like to note that Christians believe that God is a spirit, and in lives in heaven henceforth, it is no stretch to believe that there is evil in the spirit realm as well as the pure light and goodness of Father God.
Wrestle with Spiritual Wickedness
Ephesians 6:12
“12 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.”
Wrestle against the spiritual
Against principalities
Against powers
Against ruler of the darkness of this world
Against spiritual wickedness in high places
Warfare in 2 Corinthians and Ephesians 6
2 Corinthians 10:2b-6 Ephesians 6:12
War according to the spirit Wrestle not humans
Pull down strongholds Fight principalities
Cast down arguments Fight Against powers
Cast down high things against- Fight Against rulers of the darkness of this world
The knowledge of God Fight Against spiritual wickedness in high places
Bring every thought captive-
To the obedience of Christ
After reading the text above, we discover that we cannot fight in our earthly bodies. It does not matter how much military or physical training we have; Christians cannot fight spiritual battles from the flesh. This battle with evil is not like a movie where the good guys and bad guys shoot each other. Earthly weapons do not stand a chance against spiritual evil. We cannot win against demonic powers without the weapons of the most powerful Creator God. How can I fight the evil that is permeating my life, my family, my community, my nation, and my world? Remember, our battle is not an earthly fight; we wage war with the weapons of God. Where do we find this Godly weapons cache? God did not leave us clueless to search endlessly for the truth; He gave us the wisdom of the Scripture. If we look further down in Ephesians 6, we will find the armour that God has given to the Christian to protect themselves from the evil one.
Whole Armour of God
Ephesians 6:13-17
“13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Armour of God
The whole armour of God
Stand girded with truth
Put on the breastplate of righteousness
Be prepared with boots to share the gospel
Take the shield of faith
Take the helmet of salvation
Prepare for Battle
Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, which is Jesus Christ.
All soldiers must understand before they can fight, they must train and prepare themselves for the battle to come. Soldier, it is time to don your armour—stand firm in the truth of God’s word. Repent, submit, and be consecrated to Him to put on righteousness over your chest and vital organs. Have your boots ready to move to share the gospel. Protect yourself from the burning stabs of the enemy, Have faith in God, and raise your shield. A soldier cannot fight the enemy unless they have salvation; Don, your helmet soldier of righteousness. Lastly, use the sword of Him who sits on the throne. His declarative truth. The word of God, which is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Word of God; declare the name of Jesus as you fight. Declare His name. Jesus is the victor. Jesus is Lord.
Satan and his evil minions will bow to the name of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:9-11
“9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Sickness, you have no hold in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Acts 3:6
“6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.”
The devils are subject to Christians in the name of Jesus.
Luke 10:17-18
“17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.”
Stay close to Jesus, for He will protect us and has given us power over the enemy.
Luke 10:19
“19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and overall the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
My beloved, the enemy will soon be on the earth waging war on the followers of Christ. He will rage after the saints; our only protection will be the word of God. We must have a personal relationship with the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God. If we do not know our identity in Christ, we will be broken. Read the Holy Bible, meditate on it day and night, pray to our Father, cultivate your relationship with the King of the Universe. Seek Him while He may be found. He is listening as close as your heartbeat. Call to Him. Whisper sweet words to the one who loves you so for you have found the one whom your soul loves (Song of Solomon 3:4). He is waiting ever so tenderly He waits at the door of your heart (Revelation 3:10). Invite Him in, for He loves you with an everlasting love. Remember, brave soldier, when you are on the battle lines, your King stands with you and will give you the courage to face the challenge even unto death. May your lips ever cry; my Jesus.
Until next time my fellow servants in Christ.
References:
(1) https://www.euronews.com/travel/2021/10/12/green-pass-which-countries-in-europe-do-you-need-one-for
A verses are from the King James Bible and are Public Domain.
Arsenal Of The King 