For thousands of years religions have waged war against one another in the name of their God. Millions have been beheaded, hung on a cross, put in front of a firing squad, or suffered the most inhuman forms of torture. … This was either done because others would not accept their form of religion or to purge their churches from doctrinal heresy. The world is still reeling from the Crusades against the Muslim nations, the inquisitions of the Catholic Church, and the trail of blood down through the centuries left by Christian martyrs. With al-Qaida nipping at the heels of Western civilization, the rise of the Muslim caliphate, and muted talk of those who want to physically purge the Church of Jesus Christ prior to His return, it is essential that we return once again to the blessed teachings of the Holy Bible.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood” was the cardinal cry of the great Apostle Paul and spiritual leader of the early Church. Here was a man who was whipped five times, beaten with rods, and stoned for his faith, but he still wrote through the Holy Spirit that we wrestle not against flesh and blood. Here was a man who was rejected by many of his own people and the religious establishment of his day, but he still wrote through the Holy Spirit that we wrestle not against flesh and blood. Through all this pain and suffering we never see him once relax the teachings of his blessed savior Jesus Christ. Tolerance for other world religions and cultic beliefs of his day was not given. He stood on the solid ground of a higher teaching from heaven and still wrote that we wrestle not against flesh and blood. The Apostle Paul saw the real enemy standing behind all the evil forces of his day. He saw the manipulation of people and institutions by a force stronger than anyone realized. A veil was opened to observe the real enemy and he understood that our fight is against “principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12).
Today Christians have three choices: they can accept the mandated tolerance by accepting every man’s religion on a level ground with ours; or he can wage a physical war against all those who would impugn our God and destroy our faith; or he can wage a spiritual war against the real enemy that stands behind every world religion and cultic belief upon the planet. If he takes this latter position then he will join with the millions that have gone on before him in their struggle against evil. This is not a small choice because it will have eternal consequences and if the later choice is made it will throw you into the front lines of a spiritual battle that is raging in this world for the hearts and minds of every person. The wars and rumors of wars in our world today pale in comparison to the spiritual war taking place here and in the heavenly places.
So what can we do if we have made the later choice to join the spiritual battle? The first thing is to ensure that we are true believers in Christ and have laid a firm foundation in Him. Secondly, we must realize that the battle belongs to the Lord believing that our strength is in Him alone. Then we must put on the full armor of God prior to engaging the real enemy. I have dedicated my upcoming book: “Stand Firm” to these three essential points for taking our stand against the real enemy. For the time being let me encourage you to develop small groups for prayer, mutual encouragement, and learning how to engage the enemy and stand firm as we fast approach the end of days. As a retired pastor I cannot over emphasize the importance of the local church and its spiritual leadership to help you stand firm.
Copyright © 2012 Rev. Daniel W. Blair – All content (blog articles) have been published in my new book: “Revelation Truth” available in our bookstore or at a bookstore near you.