Spiritual warfare is not God vs the devil. The devil does not even have access to the Highest Heaven to even face God. Spiritual warfare is not angels vs demons as we humans assist them. No! We are the ones on the battlefield. Spiritual warfare is the war for the hearts of men. The fate of the devil and all his demons have already been determined. It is yours that is yet to be determined; it will be determined by the choices you make here on earth. Although Jesus’ death and resurrection meant that the souls of all men in general was not eternally lost, the enemy has lost the war but has still won some battles. He has been successful in deceiving many men, using their God-given gifts to his advantage and corrupting them so they share the same fate as him eternally.
So don’t think the devil is directly fighting God. No! He’s indirectly fighting God by directly fighting you. The earlier you get used to the idea that you are in a war, in an active battlefield, the better. It is not that good and evil are fighting on their own somewhere in the spiritual realm and it just so happens to affect you. No! You are the one fighting because the fight is about you. Have it at the back of your mind. Nonetheless, you are not fighting for victory but from victory already secured by Christ. The fact that the warfare is centered on men does not mean it’s a physical wrestle with carnal weapons. If you fight on your own, you will lose.
Our victory was secured in Christ. Satan has built a counterfeit kingdom system that has made it impossible for any man to win against him. You can try; you will just be amongst the many men who tried with their own strength and failed. This is why this series is very necessary. It is meant to teach us how God raised men to fight and overcome. These men waxed strong, secured territories, gained ground, slain giants and conquered cities for the people of God. Of course, theirs was a physical battle with physical enemies but the precepts and principles still apply. Let’s continue the David strategy from last week;
Speed
“He makes me feel like the feet of deer…”. Some battles are won by fleeing. That is how sexual immorality is won. I don’t know why Christians find it perplexing when God tells them to flee from something. “Flee from that relationship”. “Flee from this town”. Yet we ask, “Isn’t God all-powerful?”. The fact that you are fleeing is not for God; it is for you. You are not wiser than God, are you? That notwithstanding, this is not the only area we need speed. Speed is not so we skip the process. Speed is so we make the most of the time. In warfare, many are not aware of the retaliation of the enemy. Don’t give the enemy a chance to recoup soon and come after your loot. Pursue and overtake! When the Philistines saw that Goliath was dead, they fled. However, the children of Israel did not just laugh at them and go home. No! They pursued them. Speed is grabbing a kairos moment and leaving no stone unturned.
Stature
“…and sets me on my high places”. In spiritual warfare, you fight at the level of your stature. The easiest way to die is to fight an enemy with a higher rank. Although you sit far above principalities and powers with Christ Jesus, you need to grow in stature. It’s just like a prince may sit far above in a kingdom but does not have the fighting ability for a war. Thus, he will need to be prepared. This is another reason why God deploys speed. Speed to set you on your high places. We take territories by treading upon high places (Deut 33:29). The high places are rightfully yours but it won’t come without a fight. At the end of the day, your elevation is justified because it matches your level of stature. I have noticed God sometimes keeps men below their level of stature for long so that when He finally elevates them, they are able to sustain their new level. This is how he sets you permanently. David was fighting lions and bears in private to increase in stature. When his fame grew abroad with the defeat of Goliath, David was able to sustain the level he was promoted to and won every battle he was sent to. Don’t rush. Don’t look for status when you don’t have stature.
Training
“He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze”. Bows are typically made of wood and decorated with metal. A bow of bronze was never an actual weapon that existed. It was referring to God training us for the days of calamity where we are faced with humanly impossible situations. This is why God will not allow the people of Israel to enter the Promised Land for 40 years although they could use 11 days (Deut 1:2-3). On a day when your feet may fail, when you have no weapons in hand, can you make war/combat with your hands? There’s a reason why God wants to train your flesh now that no one really knows you. It is because there are battles awaiting you on the Promised Land. The enemy is defeated but won’t give up without a fight. Allow God to train you vehemently so you don’t fail Him on the day of calamity. Good character is at the foundation of great exploits. The devil will offer you sin on a silver platter one day; you will reject it without hesitation because you are well-trained. 1 Samuel 18:14 says “David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him”.
✔ For by You I can run against a troop – Courage
✔ By my God I can leap over a wall – Agility
✔ It is God who arms me with strength – Strength
✔ He makes my feet like the feet of deer – Speed
✔ and sets me on my high places – Stature
✔ He teaches my hands to make war – Training
✔ You have also given me the shield of your salvation
