SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS REAL!
by Pastor Lem Niere
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers o the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” Ephesians 6:12
Spiritual warfare is real! The devil and his minions are not myths or fantasies. These are real beings that hate the human race and roam about “seeking whom they might destroy” or devour. That’s why it is important to know how to best protect yourself against their attacks.
Most of the attacks the devil wages against you will occur in your mind. He knows that your mind is the central control center for your life. If he can take control of one small area of your mind, he can begin to expand outward into other weak areas that need to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
The devil wants access into our lives—and if he finds that access, you may be headed for quite a conflict. You can see why it is so important that you keep every door shut, then the enemy won’t be able to find any entrance through which he can wage warfare against us.
In Ephesians 6:12 the apostle Paul tells us “for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world…” The first phrase of this text carries the idea that our wrestling—that is, our intense struggle, fierce combat, contest, challenge, and ongoing conflict—is not really with flesh and blood…”
Our adversary is real. There are foul forces of darkness that work covertly behind most vexing problems, disasters, and many moral failures. However, these demonic spirits can’t do any ting unless our flesh cooperates with them. The greatest key to winning every battle the devil wages against you is to keep your mind dominated by the Word of God. That’s our only safety.
Remember, the devil knows that if he can take control of one small area of your mind, he can begin to expand outward into other weak areas of your life. Don’t you think it’s time for you and me to really “fortify our minds with the truths of the Bible, so we may be able to stand in the last great conflict” (to quote Ellen G. White).
This was how Jesus defeated the temptations of the devil (Matthew 4). Christ used Scripture as a shield against temptation.
There is no better mental protection against the enemy’s strategies than to
fill your and my brain with God’s Word.
It will strengthen us to keep our minds free from unbelief, discouragement, and lying strongholds of the evil one.
