This Means War

by Boston Gilbert

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Ephesians 6:12

It is absolutely key for us to realize that the battle that we think we're fighting is actually only a masquerade. Yes, life is hard. There are physical, mental, and emotional hurdles. Although, it's important for us to understand that these matters are only the pretend battleground. It's all a game that is set up in order to catch me snoozing. If I am so enthralled and preoccupied with my "flesh and blood," as the scripture calls it, then I am unaware. You might ask, what am I unaware of? And who is creating this game of unawareness? What does it lead to?

I'm blindsided by the fact that I have an Enemy. He has a name. His name is Satan, and he is the Tempter, the Thief, the Deceiver, and the Adversary. And it leads to death.

Spiritual warfare is a funny thing. We read about it in the Bible, and I'm convinced that at times, we're sure it doesn't exist any more. As you read accounts of Jesus casting out demons, raising people from the dead, and performing miracles, it's easy to believe that although these things happened back then, surely they're extinct now. Or, you hear about this crazy stuff happening in third world countries - tales of witch doctors in Haiti, or demon possessed people in Africa.

Here is my attempt at explaining why I believe these matters are relevant to us. In fact, not just relevant, but absolutely essential. I believe that the reason you hear about the more blatant examples of spiritual warfare, like demons, darkness, and miracles, in other (poorer) countries, is because these people have less distraction. If I am an occupant of a poverty stricken, rural village in Zambia, I probably don't have an iPhone. I probably don't have a TV. I probably don't have a huge house or a nice car or a lot of spending money. Maybe all I know is my family, friends, and then my daily duties or occupation, whether that's fetching water from the village well, hunting, fishing, farming, etc. This is more people around the world's reality than we think, I'm convinced. Because we live in America, I believe that we have a skewed view of really how wealthy and cozy we are. I realize that there is still prosperity in other counties, but I don't think that it would be too far off to say that it is easy to grow accustomed to the comfort and relative ease of living that we experience here in the U.S. Don't get me wrong, I love the U.S. It's the greatest country in the world. But I'm not blind to the fact that, generally, success and affluence hold hands with complacency and apathy.

I believe that spiritual complacency might be Satan's number one tactic in the modern, specifically Western, world. I think that the reason you hear about stories of demons in third world countries is the same reason you read about demon encounters during Bible times - there are less distractions. Believers in these environments are not constantly typing away on their laptop in their cubicle, or pushing buttons on their iPad, or rushing through the Chick-Fil-A drive through as they spill their Starbucks coffee on their lap. Both the poorer, non-Western world people groups, as well as ancient Biblical peoples, live slower lives. Consumerism and materialism are not what they are in Zambia like they are in Dallas, and especially not like it was back in Jerusalem 30 AD.

Satan is cunning. He knew that during Biblical times, the most effective way of turning people's hearts from their Father may have been through witchcraft, demonic practice, or encounters with darkness. It is the same with third world countries today. The point is not WHAT he uses to distract the Christ-follower from their Father, but only that he indeed does distract the Christ-follower from their Father.

This is why we need to have fresh perspective and an open mind in realizing that spiritual warfare is not dead. Oh, no. It is most definitely more of a battle today than I believe it ever has been. Think about it...if Satan were to choose to send one of his demons to torment me or do something crazy to me...shoooot, I promise you I'd hate him even more, and just be that much more disgusted with his vile and deceptive self. He knows this - he's not dumb. Instead, he doesn't opt for the same techniques as he does for the African villager or the disciples in Acts, but he chooses the thing that will discourage me from following Jesus the most, whether that be by attacking my time, my energy, or my attention.

This is why we need to understand what the Enemy's goal is. His goal, simply, is to keep you from enjoying Christ. In addition to keeping me from enjoying Christ, he wants to kill me. He wants to kill my friends. He wants to kill my family. He wants to kill everyone and everything I love and hold most dear. The first half of John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." If I can't wrap my head around the fact that the Devil has placed a target on my back, and that he literally will come at me and attack me any way possible, then I am missing the plot. If he can trap me by using Instagram, by making me question my self-worth, or by bombarding my mind with negative thoughts, all the while not having to deploy legions of demons or powers of darkness, then you can bet, sure as hell, he'll do just that! The difference with these kinds (more modern style) of attacks is that they are subtle. Oh, man, are they subtle. People go their whole life and don't even know that they were tricked.

My call is to myself. It's to whoever reads this. It's to my family and my friends and to the stranger. We need to be aware. We need to at least recognize what is going on around us, and not be blinded by the subtle, yet deadly spiritual warfare that rages in our midst. But, guess what...

I'm not scared. And you shouldn't be either. We have a Helper who is a Mighty Warrior. He's a loving Father who is calling us sons and daughters. He's a crucified and risen Jesus who has paid the price for your freedom. I am a free man. I am not a slave. He is raising up an army of believers who will impact the world for good. He is making me a Warrior of Light.

You are loved like crazy. You are cared for. You are heard.

I'm ready to fight.