How to be a Strong Spiritual Warrior

I’m sitting here as I write this contemplating how I can best explain how we can fight and be victorious in the battles that make up the spiritual war we find ourselves in.   

What I struggle with is that fighting this war seems to come natural for some, learned by others and totally foreign to the rest in fact so many people seem to be oblivious that there is even a war raging all around us.  I’m sure you know someone in your life that is what many call a “prayer warrior” or that one person that miracles seems to surround them on a constant basis?  And just as true on other end of the spectrum there are people who believe everything is great and are just moseying on with their life. Have you ever pondered why?  I sit here and I look over my 57 years and I wonder why I am the way I am.  I consider myself totally blessed to have had Christians around me most of life that helped instilled Christian values within me.  But, I also know others who had similar backgrounds that went 180 degrees out from where I am.  I guess we can chalk it up to free will and that our adversary, Satan, is strong even though Jesus defeated him on the cross.  I also think about Romans 8:28 and how that comes into play. It says, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Knowing what I know makes me feel for those that are on thr wrong side of this war. They don't even know thats they are on the losing side with only one chance to live. that chance is acknowledging Jesus as their savior. And I continue ponder, “What is it that makes someone a strong spiritual warrior that allows them to glorify God and help expand the Kingdom of Heaven?”

As a Christian I was raised and taught from an early age that we live in a fallen world.  That the minds of those who do not believe are blinded to the truth.  And as Jesus told us in John 14:6, “That Jesus is the way, the TRUTH, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Him”. I’ve been hearing this my whole life and at times it’s hard to believe that people have never heard this.  What’s even harder for me to believe, although I know it’s true, that many people that call themselves Christians have a hard time with this concept.  

I’m going to answer the big question right up front.  What is it that makes someone a strong spiritual warrior?  The answer is Faith.  But before you get to excited, and think it’s just that simple you must realize where your faith comes from and where it is directed make a huge difference.  It’s really the difference between life and death.  I say this and can back it up by what God said in Hosea 4:6 (paraphrased) “God’s people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. 

Because they have rejected knowledge, He also will reject them from being priest for Him;  Because they have forgotten the law of God, He will also forget their children “.

That is pretty plain English, but that not the end but just the beginning.  In Romans 1:24-32 Paul warns us about the dangers of the following, “24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

Wow!  If that doesn’t get your attention I’m not sure anything will.  

But, it becomes really clear that the end result of lack of knowledge is

destruction and death. The lack of knowledge also means that you may rationalize a life without God, Jesus and Holy Spirit which most definitely will lead straight to destruction.  Also what you may have that you call faith will be totally misdirected which will lead to death as well.  Take all that and it plays right into Matthew 7:13-14 which says, “13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” The narrow gate may be hard, but that is definitely the way to go.

If you have read this far, I hope reality is starting to set in.  That there are deep seated spiritual reason why prayer in schools was deemed unconstitutional in 1963, why Roe vs Wade to approve abortion was “passed” in 1973, that gay pride started to gain traction in the 80s, and how the feminist movement took hold in the 90s and totally devalued the family, and how gay pride has now morphed into Transgenderism and even transhumanism.  Whoa!  The trend is nothing but evil .  Where does all this end?  The answer if left unchecked is destruction. But, there is hope and it's in the name Jesus. And this brings us right back to spiritual warfare and where we stand as Christians.  

It’s very important to impress on the reader, that salvation is just the beginning, the first step, so to speak, of the Christian walk.  There are so many people who wrongly  believe that once they have their “Heaven Ticket” punched they can kick back, put their feet up and the battle is all but over for them and they just hsve to wait until they die or Jesus comes back. 

Well, I have news for those people, you’re wrong!   In fact, if that is truly their sentiment I question if they are truly born again and filled with Holy Spirit because once you are filled, rather baptized, with Holy Spirit your outlook on life dramatically changes.  At that point It’s like you cannot do enough or cannot get enough of God.  There is an overwhelming urge to share in your God given special ways about how great God the Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit are.  You’ll want to not only read the Bible but soak in its knowledge and wisdom.  Take in every promise and make each one your own.  You actually will change from the inside out and your compassion for others will become greater and greater.  The meaning of love takes on a whole new aspect within your life and the love you feel for all of God’s creation becomes part of who you are.  It takes us right back to Faith.  The faith where you know and believe Jesus is who God says He is.   Faith that Holy Spirit came to indwell Christians after Jesus was called back to Heaven.  Faith that every promise that God or Jesus ever made will come to fruition if it already hasn’t.  Faith that Jesus will never leave you for forsake you.  Faith to have no fear but courage in every circumstance because of who you are through Jesus and the promises He made and gave to us.  In the end, it’s all about faith and realizing our enemy is not flesh and blood, but principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this age, the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. And, that’s why we must be prepared to fight in spiritual realm, we we must maintain a relationship with God the Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit.  Why we must be able to totally rely on their power and not our own.  And why we must seek them in everything we do.  That’s the kind of faith you need to be a successful spiritual warrior and to glorify God! Amen

Here is in simple form:

1. Profess with your mouth that Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected 3 days later.

2. Acknowledge that you're a sinner and repent for your sin and ask Jesus for forgiveness and take away your sin.

3. Spend time with God the Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit through prayer, worship, reading and meditating on the Holy Bible. Every dat and throughout the day

4. Your faith will increase as your relationship increases and as your faith increases you become a stronger and stronger spiritual warrior. And whatever your God given purpose is you will be glorifying God more and more and helping to expand the Kingdom of Heaven.

5. And at some point, you'll begin to understand why the angels rejoice with each soul that is saved

This is not an all inclusive list, but as you grow and mature in your Christian walk these things will always be relevant and powerful.