The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer
jgibson@tribunemedia.net

IN SPIRITUAL warfare Christians cannot fight the enemy with high powered weapons, nor can they protect themselves with bullet proof vests.

The only thing that can guarantee victory every single time is when Christians put on “the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit” as admonished in Ephesians 6:11-17.

Some Christians are not conscious of the spiritual war taking place in their lives every day, with their minds as the battle field. The enemy constantly makes suggestions to Christians that go against the word of God. In some instances these suggestions are accepted and manifest through physical circumstances such as poverty, terror or sickness.
One of Satan’s primary attacks in warfare is the mind, according international televangelist Creflo Dollar. He said Satan tries to plant images in one’s mind and get them to be nourished.

“Satan will always bring an image to you to support your negative thoughts. If you meditate on something long enough, you are nourishing the image and will eventually act out on it. So you must become a maintenance person over your thought life. Songs, people and conversations are instruments he uses to plant seeds of wrong thinking in your mind.”

However the word of God is the appropriate, offensive and defensive tool that a believer can use to successfully fight against the enemy. It is important for Christians to train themselves in the word, studying it and planting it in their hearts, so that when an attack comes they will be ready to fire back. If they do not know the promises of God presented in word, this will make them unable to stand strong during test and trials,” said Pastor Matthew Allen.

“First of all, believers should know how to rightly divide the word of God when fighting or standing against every ungodly circumstance in their lives. This is done by studying, not just simply reading every now and then. ‘Putting on the whole armour of God’ is a spiritual way of living this life, especially knowing that we are in a constant spiritual battle against the forces of evil, and the kingdom of darkness. Nowhere in the scriptures it can be found ‘you can take off your armour now, the battle is over’,” he said.

Christians have an example of how to use the word of God to fight off the enemy. Pastor Allen said when Jesus was tried by Satan in the wilderness his only response was the word. Likewise Christians must do the same.
“When he was tempted, tested and tried by the devil, his reply was the word of God. In Matthew 4:4 he responded to the devil ‘it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God’. In Matthew 4: 7 Jesus responded ‘it is written again, thou shalt not tempt the lord thy God’ and then in Matthew 4:10 he said ‘get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, thou shalt worship the lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve’,” Pastor Allen said.

“Christians must plant the word in their heart by studying, meditating daily and nightly continuously. This is the only way they can obtain victory even when it seems impossible,” Pastor Allen said.
“The renewing of the mind with and by the word of God is of the utmost importance to a believer; because we are faced with day to day challenges like sickness, diseases, lack and other issues. It is very easy to conform to the circumstances, situations and the old ways of thinking,” he said.