Waring or Ruling

Some may remember that during the period from about 1985 until about 1995 the idea of spiritual warfare had become the focus of teaching, preaching and music in many sectors of the church. However, in the same sectors of the church many have overemphasize it and have taught it from an extra biblical perspective resulting in one of two things. First, many believers become fearful and apprehensive if one mentions the devil, demons, and evil spirits and their activities, so this group of believers believe it would be better not to ever mention the devil or evil spirits. On the other hand other believers feel that the church should take a militant posture and wage warfare against principalities, powers, might and dominions over geographic areas. Now what I am about to say may shock some who have taken either of these positions, but is either of these positions biblically sound?

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices." (2 Corinthians 2:11) "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) Well if the church does not teach believers from the Word of God how to deal with the devil, the enemy will just run rampant in their lives because they won't know that they have authority over the devil and his forces. Therefore, being fearful and not talking about or dealing with the devil and demons is certainly not biblically sound. So, what about taking a militant posture and waging warfare against principalities, powers, might and dominions, especially over geographic areas?

Interestingly enough, studying the New Testament, especially the epistles, it is amazing how seldom the words war and warfare are mentioned and when they are mentioned the devil is not spoken of in connection with either of these words. For instance, "Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?" (1 Corinthians 9:7) Paul isn't referring to combating the devil. In context with what Paul is conveying to the church, he is simply making the point that ministers should be adequately paid. Next, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,  and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)

This is one of the passages of scripture that has been widely used and applied in battling demons over cities and countries, that is, geographic areas. But it's clear, when taken in context, Paul is talking about something different. The casting down arguments, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God are not over geographic area but over believers own thoughts and imaginations. Paul is admonishing believers to take control of their thoughts so they can prevent the devil's lies from getting a stronghold in their minds. He is telling the church that the truth of God's Word is a spiritual force mighty enough to overcome the lies and deception Satan tries to bring against the believers mind to bring them into bondage.

Looking on, we see, "This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck." (1 Timothy 1:18-19) Here, Paul is simply telling Timothy to stay in the fight of faith and fulfill the call of God in his life. Again, the devil is not mentioned in these scriptures. Next, "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier." (2 Timothy 2:3-4) Once again, this has nothing to do with the devil. Paul is simply instructing Timothy to stay committed to the call of God in his life regardless of the cost. To be a good soldier for Christ it takes discipline and dedication.

Finally, the other main text used and applied to battling demons over geographic areas is found in Ephesians. "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore…" (Ephesians 6:10-14a) (Note: the rest of verse 14 thru verse 17 talks about the various pieces of spiritual armor which I will not address at this time)

As we can clearly see, first and foremost believers are "to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" by putting on the whole armor of God. Here Paul uses the word “wrestle.” There is a vast difference between wrestling and fighting a war. First, the word wrestle not only describes a struggle, but it describes it in a figurative sense as to the spiritual conflict engaged by believers over evil. To take the thought of wrestling out further, according to Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, the word "wrestle" here is, "to sway." So, the inference here is, if we let him, the devil will try to sway us away from “Fighting the good fight of faith,” to falling prey to doubt, and unbelief concerning God’s Word. This was the very tactic that the devil used in the Garden. The serpent swayed the woman from the truth, that is, what God said, by asking her, "Has God indeed said..." This created an argument as she reasoned in her mind, "Has God indeed said." Her mind now created arguments against the knowledge, the truth, of God. Simply put, the devil swayed the woman from believing God.

Believers do not have to overpower and overcome the devil, that is, wrestle with him in their own strength, we simply wrestle demonic forces by our faith in God's Word from a position of victory and triumph, not fear or being militant. Why? Because we are seated with Christ and have authority over them in Christ. (Ephesians 1:18-23, 2:4-10) Therefore, the only wrestling we engage in, is what Paul told Timothy, "fight the good fight of faith." Finally, Paul tells us "to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore…" This very posture is found throughout the Pauline Epistles. We see, "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong." (1 Corinthians 16:13),  “…for by faith you stand." (2 Corinthians 1:24) "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand." (Romans 5:1-2) "That you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." (Philippians 1:27) "Stand fast in the Lord, beloved." (Philippians 4:1)

Simply put, the believers posture against the wiles of the devil is to stand firm in faith, in grace, in one spirit, in the power of God’s might, that is, His Word, as victors, putting a stop to all the devils schemes in every circumstance that we may encounter.