Warrior of Words

Tag: Spiritual warfare

  • Practice Life

    This morning, I was thinking about a conversation I had with my dad, several years ago. It was about the killing of a nurse in Buffalo. The alleged shooter, a surgeon, had served 18 years as a decorated special forces soldier. As we reflected on how tragic the situation was, my dad brought up another decorated soldier who in a maximum-security prison for a similar crime. Then he said something that stuck with me:

    “It’s sad because these men have been trained to kill and fight—but they have not been trained to live.”

    That statement hit me hard. And as I thought about it, I realized how much it applies to us as Christians. We are taught how to fight the enemy. We know how to resist the devil and make him flee. We put on the full armor of God and stand against the schemes of darkness. But do we know how to live?

    Yes, there are great sermons and teachings on family, relationships, and godly living. But listening to a message isn’t the same as training. A soldier isn’t prepared for battle just by watching videos or receiving instructions. He drills relentlessly. He disassembles and reassembles his weapon until it’s second nature. He practices marksmanship until he can hit his target every time. Training is what makes him effective.

    The same principle applies to living.

    According to Barna Research, conservative Protestant Christians have a higher divorce rate than many other religious groups, including Catholics and some mainline Protestants. Some studies also indicate that their divorce rate is comparable to or higher than that of atheists and agnostics. That statistic should make us pause. If we have so much teaching on marriage and family, why are we struggling so much? The research suggests that churches may not be providing truly life-changing, practical support for marriages. The issue isn’t just knowledge—it’s training.

    This isn’t about condemning those who are divorced. It’s about recognizing a critical gap. We don’t just need to know what to do; we need to practice how to do it.

    If you struggle with communication in your marriage, practice until you improve. Don’t give up just because you have a fight or get hurt. We must learn to live well, not just fight well. If apologizing is hard for you, practice until it becomes second nature. If serving others in love doesn’t come easily, train yourself to do it until it feels natural. A good attitude isn’t automatic—it’s a learned skill that takes discipline.

    When I look at Scripture, I see a pattern. Some of the greatest warriors, prophets, and kings knew how to fight—but they didn’t know how to live.

    • King David raised sons who fought and killed each other.

    • Solomon, despite his wisdom, had disastrous relationships, with 700 wives and 300 concubines.

    • Manasseh was one of the most wicked rulers in Israel’s history, even though his father, Hezekiah, was a godly king.

    • Samuel, a righteous prophet, had corrupt sons who took bribes and perverted justice.

    • Isaac’s sons, Jacob and Esau, were locked in bitter conflict.

    • Eli, the priest, had sons who defiled the temple and led Israel into sin.

    These men were strong in battle, but many failed in their homes. It’s a wake-up call.

    So, what will we do? Will we keep fighting without learning how to live? Or will we commit to training in the areas that matter most?

    As for me, I choose to practice until I get it right. I hope you will too.

  • True Enemy

    Our daughter had gotten into trouble for something—though the exact reason escapes me now. What I do remember is her dramatic outburst after being punished. She looked up at me and shouted, “I hate you!” In her eyes, I was the enemy for taking away her TV time. It’s a classic reaction of blaming the person enforcing limits. I chuckled and said, “Oh honey, you’ll get over it. I’m actually your best friend.” Though she didn’t see the humor, my intent was to show her that I wasn’t the enemy—the rules were there for a reason. It was a small lesson in recognizing who’s truly on your side.

    Understanding your real enemy is crucial, especially in spiritual warfare. David, while fleeing from King Saul, exemplifies this. Despite being relentlessly hunted, David never saw Saul as his enemy. Even when he had the chance to kill Saul, he refused, saying, “I will not lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed.” David understood that Saul was not his true adversary.

    In 1 Samuel 27, David’s situation becomes intriguing. Hiding in Ziklag, a Philistine town, he befriends Achish, the king of Gath—the very Philistines he had once fought against. When Achish invites David to join him in battle against Saul, David agrees, but the other Philistine rulers distrust him and send him back to Ziklag. Returning, David finds his town in ruins and his families captured by the Amalekites. His men, devastated, turn against him.

    In this crisis, David doesn’t succumb to despair. Instead, he seeks God’s guidance. God tells him to pursue the Amalekites, promising recovery of all that was lost. David follows this direction, and his faith is rewarded with victory. Saul meets his end in battle, clearing the way for David to become king. David’s real battle was against spiritual forces, not flesh and blood.

    Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” David understood this and fought accordingly.

    In the garden, as the guards came to arrest Jesus (Luke 22:50-51), He knew His true enemy wasn’t the men before Him. Peter, seeing only the immediate threat, struck one of the guards. But Jesus, recognizing the larger spiritual battle, told Peter to put his sword away and healed the man’s ear. Jesus understood that the real adversary was the spiritual realm, not the flesh and blood before Him.

    Similarly, in Acts 6 and 7, Stephen faced an angry mob ready to stone him. Instead of responding with anger, Stephen prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” He saw beyond their actions to the spiritual forces at work and chose compassion and forgiveness, reflecting the heart of Christ.

    Before antibiotics, bacterial infections were often fatal. Medical professionals struggled to combat infections effectively because they didn’t always identify the true enemy. The breakthrough came in 1928 when Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, a mold that killed bacteria. This revolutionized medicine by targeting the real cause of infections rather than just treating symptoms.

    Jesus assured us in Luke 10:19 that we have authority over the enemy. James 4:7 encourages us to resist the devil, who will flee from us. We are empowered to confront spiritual forces with divine authority. David Livingstone’s life is a testament to this. His missions in Africa, fraught with peril and illness, were driven by unwavering faith and a sense of divine purpose. Even amid dire challenges, Livingstone’s resilience highlights the importance of recognizing and confronting the real adversary.

    As believers, affirm your authority in Christ daily. Address the spirit of fear with 2 Timothy 1:7, the spirit of discouragement with Psalm 42:11, and the spirit of sickness with Isaiah 53:5. Remind these forces of Christ’s authority as Philippians 2:10-11 states, and rest in the confidence of Romans 8:37 and Exodus 14:14. Stand firm, knowing that with Christ, you are equipped to overcome any challenge and defeat the true enemy.