The Warfare

This charge I commit unto thee…that thou… 

mightest war a good warfare;

1 Timothy 1:18

Thou therefore endure hardness,

as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 2:3

Of a truth…

the battle RAGES…

on every side.

A HOT conflict…

of Spiritual POWERS…

Diametrically opposed…

Fiercely Incompatible…

Intensely hostile…

 

NEVER to be reconciled!

This warfare takes place on every level.

It’s intensity is like none other…

At times…

It will be physically taxing…

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  2 Corinthians 4:8-10

and you will have to endure…

Hardship. Affliction. Distress. Persecution.

But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;   2 Corinthians 6:4-5

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.  2 Corinthians 11:24-27

And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.   

Hebrews 11:33-38

and you will have to fight…

Fatigue. Apathy. Indifference. Temptation. Fear. Sin.

For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.  2 Corinthians 7:5

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 

1 Corinthians 2:3

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.    1 Corinthians 10:13

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.   James 1:12

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 

1 John 3:4-6

At times…

It will be mentally and emotionally taxing…

Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:  Acts 20:19

Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.  Acts 20:31

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.  2 Corinthians 2:4

and you will need to be focused…

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are TRUE…

whatsoever things are HONEST…

whatsoever things are JUST…

whatsoever things are PURE…

whatsoever things are LOVELY…

whatsoever things are of GOOD REPORT…

if there be any VIRTUE…

and if there be any PRAISE…

THINK ON THESE THINGS.

Philippians 4:8

so that you can OVERCOME…

By pureness, by knowledge…

by longsuffering, by kindness…

by the HOLY GHOST

by LOVE unfeigned,

By the word of TRUTH,

by the POWER of God,

by the armour of RIGHTEOUSNESS…

on the right hand and on the left,

By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report:

as deceivers, and yet true;  As unknown, and yet well known;

as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich;

as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

2 Corinthians 6:6-10

At times…

It will be spiritually taxing…

For you will face large numbers of a formidable enemy…

An enemy bent on destroying the souls of men…

And seeking whom he may devour…

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.   Ephesians 6:12

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  1 Peter 5:8

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

(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;   2 Corinthians 10:4-5

But you will not face him alone!

For IF ye be on the side of TRUTH…

ALL of heaven backs your advance…

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.  Isaiah 41:10

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Isaiah 40:29

The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;  Psalms 20:1-2

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Psalm 91:4-7

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Psalms 91:11-13

O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.  Psalms 140:7

In a word, Christians, God and angels are spectators, observing how you quit yourselves like children of the Most High; every exploit your faith doth against sin and Satan causeth a shout in heaven; while you valiantly prostrate this temptation, scale that difficulty, regain the other ground, you even now lost out of your enemies' hands.  Your dear Saviour, who stands by with a reserve for your relief at a pinch, his very heart leaps within him for joy to see the proof of your love to him and zeal for him in all your combats; and will not forget all the faithful service you have done in his wars on earth; but when thou comest out of the field, will receive thee with the like joy as he was entertained himself at his return to heaven of his Father.

~ William Gurnall   “The Christian in Complete Armor”

Even NOW…

enemy forces are set in array…

WHAT are YOU going to do about it?