War Around The World

Have you watched the news lately? Lots of talk of wars breaking out. Russia is trying to take control of the Ukraine. The Hamas crossed over into Israel and began terrorizing people. Israel responding and declaring war against the Hamas controlling the Gaza Strip. I’ve heard people saying they felt like this is it and that World War 3 has become all but inevitable.

Matt 24:4-8 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Spiritual War

It’s sad that wars happen. People hurting and killing one another over disagreements. Land, money, power, and even religion being fought over. Have these things exceeded the value of life? I think not. The real war isn’t fought with missiles and tanks. It’s an ongoing war that has existed for millennia in the spiritual realm.

Ephesians 6:12 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.

War is a product of deceit. Just as Eve was deceived in the Garden of Eden. An idea was created in her mind by the serpent. She had everything she needed, and even existed in the presence of God. Yet, the idea that there was something more she needed to embrace led to the beginning of humanities demise.

Gen 3:1-5 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

These same type of lies are being put in the minds and hearts of mankind today. The fruit may come in many forms, but we are told “You need this”, but it comes at a steep price. Yes, sin can feel good for a season, but the corruption is something that rots into something far worse.

Heb 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Physical wars are the product of spiritual wars. People being deceived into rebellion against God’s law.

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

So what we are dealing with in the world is a manifestation of a spiritual problem. In other words, the necessity of the wars and bloodshed is built on lies. Yet, they will happen, and God will use them as part of His plan for good. God’s message to us is not to be troubled by it, so this is where we hold fast and have faith in Him.

Mark 13:7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Identifying The Enemy

There are two sides. God’s side, where we belong.

Eph 2:4-6 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Then we have Satan’s side, where we don’t belong.

John 8:42-44 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

He is a deceiver and an accuser. A serpent who is content to get you to make a mistake so he can accuse you of doing it.

Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

No matter what he may try to convince you of, his intentions are bad.

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

Peter says, “be sober and be vigilant.” You should listen, because he was targeted by Satan.

Luke 22:31-32 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (This is referring to Simon Peter, who is also Peter).

Spiritual Wars Require Spiritual Weapons

Just because you are sitting at home or work, doesn’t mean you can’t enlist in the war effort. In fact, you can be on the front lines doing your part, because we fight spiritual problems with mighty spiritual weapons, starting with God’s Word.

Heb 4:12-13 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

If our thoughts and intentions about things are what cause physical wars, and God’s word can discern these things, then I would say that’s a pretty powerful weapon at our disposal. Additionally, we can put on our armor.

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

The Seven Armors (Eph 6:14-18):

• The Belt of Truth
• The Breastplate of Righteousness
• Shod Feet (Ready to move with the gospel)
• The Shield of faith
• Helmet of Salvation
• Sword of the Spirit (God’s Word)
• Prayer

Knowing and applying these things in our lives are what we need to be using to protect ourselves and others. This is how we bring down spiritual strongholds. This is how spiritual wars are won. We follow the battle plan God has laid out for us in His Word.

2 Cor 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (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;

Final Thought

I do not hate people who start wars. In my mind, I am not at war with them. I am at war with spiritual wickedness that has deceived them into thinking the way they do. When we are children, we are not completely innocent, but we do have an innocence about us. Over time, we often become a product of what others have taught us. If the teacher is corrupt, then the student will learn corruption. This is why I do not hate them. They are taught wrong. In their minds, they may be doing something wonderful. Yet, God’s law is what determines if it is good or evil. Yes, nations need to defend themselves. Lives will be lost out of necessity. Physical wars happen. However, it’s a symptom of spiritual corruption. Our place is to deal with the spiritual corruption with spiritual weapons, and destroy it at its roots. Thank you for reading and God bless.