| Portraits of Spiritual Warfare |
| Tuesday, 09 January 2007 | |
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Portrait 1: Peek-A-Boo I Don’t See You Then Job replied to the LORD: You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. It’s likely that Job was never aware of what was going on between God and Satan as described in the Book of Job. We as the readers are told this story, but even when God answered Job’s prayers that he could speak to him directly, the end result was that God asked Job a lot of questions that he had no answer to. It would appear that one of the significant themes of the Book of Job is that we need to trust that God is in control and he knows what’s going on behind the scenes when it comes to spiritual warfare even when we don’t. Portrait 2: Back to Basics “Get out of here, Satan,†Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.’†Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus. When I was researching for my honor’s thesis on a Christian apologetic to Satanism I was told to visit with a Baptist pastor who was an “expert†in spiritual warfare. At the end of our time together he told me that he would gladly give me “keys†that I needed to unlock spiritual forces involved with Satanism. I was tempted to tell him my house and car keys were the only keys I needed. When it comes to spiritual warfare Jesus points to the most significant “key†involved. It’s not for experts, just everyday Jesus-followers. It’s not for those who claim to have special spiritual powers, it’s for those who worship the Lord God and serve only him. Portrait 3: I Don’t Have a Beef With You For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. In spite of protests to the contrary, much of contemporary spiritual warfare literature and thought has to do with fighting against people. People who are part of subcultures that make us uncomfortable, people who are part of occult paths, and the like. This portrait of spiritual warfare doesn’t have any human beings in it. Rather it has an evil realm of invisible spiritual forces, and powers in this sin-stained world that are inhuman. Portrait 4: Tug-O-War Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. The spiritual tug of war that is most dangerous is often the one we have with our own desires that are susceptible to Satan’s temptation. Yet we shouldn’t focus on playing tug of war with Satan. Rather, we are to resist him and proactively continue living the life of faith we are called to. Portrait 5: Stop Being a Scaredy Cat “Don’t be afraid!†Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!†Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!†The LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. Admit it. This is a cool passage. It reminds us that we aren’t to live in fear when it comes to spiritual warfare. Rather we are to remember that God has our back. Even when we can’t see what God is doing to help us win the spiritual battle, we can know by faith in God’s character and promises that he is doing more than we could ever imagine. Since I have recently posted on my Struggles with Spiritual Warfare and thoughts on Spiritual Fighting, I haven’t sought to be exhaustive here. But please add any portraits of spiritual warfare that you see in Scripture. Don’t forget to check out the posts of others writing on spiritual warfare today.
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Comments (22)
 
Ok, I admit it. That Elisha passage is pretty fantastic. Thanks for distilling the warfare thing down into bitesize bits that make you giggle. Nice place you've got around here.
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January 10, 2007
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Hi Jenelle,
Just stopped by your place as well. Glad to make you giggle  My posts mostly make people cry :- Don't be a stranger.2 report abuse
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January 10, 2007
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John. Wow. My favorite is portrait 1. That has been a lesson I learned in this last year. Great post...just a great post.
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January 10, 2007
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Tasty li'l bits indeed. Thanks for the simple approach to a topic usually overcomplicated.
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January 10, 2007
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I think the frustrating part of the war is that Satan is so good at distracting us that rather than fighting the enemy we end up fighting our brothers and sisters and/or fighting those for whom God has called us to minister.
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January 10, 2007
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"In spite of protests to the contrary, much of contemporary spiritual warfare literature and thought has to do with fighting against people. People who are part of subcultures that make us uncomfortable, people who are part of occult paths, and the like."
This is perhaps the biggest reason I hate the term. I really appreciate the scriptures you've addressed. I wish someone would've shared them with me a long time ago in reference to the 'battle'. 6 report abuse
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January 10, 2007
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Ahh yes, the great tug of war. Which is why it's about God and not about us. I loose enough as it is. hehe.
Great practical stuff John! Thanks. :-) 7 report abuse
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January 10, 2007
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Jamie,
Thanks. 1 to me fits with 5. 8 report abuse
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January 10, 2007
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Phil,
Thanks. Really liked your post too. 9 report abuse
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January 10, 2007
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Bryan,
Sad, but definitely true. We need to start fighting the right thing--our sinful nature and resisting satan. 10 report abuse
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January 10, 2007
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Cindy,
Thanks, and thanks for being a part of this on your blog. Great post. 11 report abuse
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January 10, 2007
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David,
Thanks for the helpful thoughts, and for posting on this 12 report abuse
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January 10, 2007
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I gotta agree with everyone that I love how you broke it down into bite-size pieces. I am not very good at that, ha! I talk/type too much...
Great reminders on all counts. 13 report abuse
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January 10, 2007
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Marieke,
Thanks for the encouraging feedback. And don't be so hard on yourself, I think you write great  14 report abuse
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January 10, 2007
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John,
i am wondering out loud hear so sorry if this isn't well put together. in my own tradition spiritual warfare often has less to do with spiritual forces - ie beings and more to do with our own struggle against our own sin. would that be another portrait? or is that considered another realm? 15 report abuse
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January 11, 2007
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Mike,
Thanks for your thoughts. I think this is definitely a component of spiritual warfare. But I also think that there's an intersection between our own struggle against our sin, and sometimes spiritual forces that meet us at our point of personal weakness and sin. Do you think the latter is something that can happen, or do you think there aren't spiritual forces that are malevolent? 16 report abuse
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January 11, 2007
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Thanks for this John- nothing to add- but thought I'd say thanks.
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January 11, 2007
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Sally,
I'll take a simple thanks anyday 18 report abuse
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January 11, 2007
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John, "Do you think the latter is something that can happen, or do you think there aren't spiritual forces that are malevolent?"
that is a good question. actually it is two questions 1) is there an intersection between our own struggles and the malevolent? and 2) do you think there aren't spiritual forces that are malevolent? the first depends on the second. as to the second question: you know, as i posted on my Synchroblog on Spiritual Warfare, i am conflicted. the materialist in me has some real issues with the first 11 chapters of Genesis and even the existence of God. the Reformed guy in me wants to believe in the inerrancy of the scriptures and therefore everything written in it. my experience leaves me even more torn. i have encountered a few times what, if malevolent beings do exist, would undoubtably be such. but i have also had experiences that cast doubt upon much of what i would want to believe. if i follow my Reformed tradition i would say that certainly there are such beings and yes the two do intersect at times, however i would, still speaking as a Reformed guy, i would say that more often than not it is our own corrupt nature. speaking from all three perspectives i think that too often we are quick to point to demons and devils as an excuse. a way of softening the harsh reality of our corrupt nature. does that make sense? 19 report abuse
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January 11, 2007
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Mike,
Thanks for sharing more of your thoughts on this subject. I think perhaps more than most topics we can go to one of two extremes on this topic. The first is to point to devils and demons as an excuse as you mention, and even to see the demonic everywhere. And the second is to not see these at all, either because we don't believe in the demonic, or by our actions we deny them. I think that, and I think this is what you're pointing to, overwhelmingly we need to point to our sinful nature. But I also think that at times there is definitely something demonic occurring with literal malevolent demonic beings--something that I think you struggle back and forth on if I understand your comment above. Where I'm coming from is that I think we have a sinful nature, and also that satan and demons are actual personal beings that sometimes tempt us, etc. But even when they do seek to do this we still have responsibility for how we respond. So even when these beings do seek to make us fall, that isn't an excuse for us anymore than its an excuse for one of my kids when they say "But my brother did it too!!" Does that make sense? 20 report abuse
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January 11, 2007
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Bro, you can paint a treat!!!! thank you
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January 12, 2007
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John,
yeah i think i hear you. i think it is like james points out. namely that sin comes, primarily, from with in us. 22 report abuse
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January 12, 2007
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