Weapons of Warfare June 10, 2011

Weapons of Warfare
 
By: Samaria M. Colbert
 
This article comes at a time when the fight has been the fight of my life I kid you not. I will be transparent and not super saved to say that I have been going through. If it was not one thing it has been another. When I get through one battle there is another one. I will be honest and say although writing is my passion I haven’t written in a while. I just didn’t have the heart or strength to write some encouraging positive article when in my heart I have been screaming on the inside. So I feel qualified to write an article about warfare. Trust me I know what I am talking about. The thing about trials is they cause you to pray, pray and pray like never before. Trials cause you to get on your knees in desperation. And believe it or not trials actually help to perfect your motives and teach you what really matters. Trials keep you fasting and reading the bible. I should have a PhD in Biblical Studies after all of this. (LOL) In fact I may even consider getting a PhD in Biblical Studies but that is another matter to be discussed at a different time. Through all of my trials, I have gained strength, become more confident and most importantly I am becoming a fighter. Not a physical fighter but a spiritual fighter. I will not lose. The fight is fixed. Whatever happens today I have already won the war. However I don’t want to appear super saved as to not be human. Through it all I have also been discouraged. I have cried. I have lamented saying to myself, “God where are you in all of this?” I have. This article is not written at a time when I am not going through or to talk about a trial that is past tense, I am in the mist of one right now.
 
Even though it is painful I have not given up hope and I am growing stronger every day. I have learned so much along the way. I have come out with a profound understanding of how God uses the trials that we go through for His good. So here is my story on what I learned and am learning in the midst of a trial.
 
First things first. Understand that there are two types of trials that one goes through. There are trials because of disobedience or sin. Somehow you walked out of the will of God for your life. The other trial that you go through is because you are anointed. Yes, that’s right because you are anointed. The good news is that scripture says all things work together for your good, but why would you want to add an extra trial or tribulation that you don’t have to go through? Trials of your faith are hard enough. You may say how can one go through a trial because they are anointed?
 
Matthew 5:10-12
 
New King James Version (NKJV)
 
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
 
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven,  so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
 
Romans 8:28
New King James Version (NKJV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
 
Pain is a part of the perfecting process. If you are familiar with any of my writings you know that you don’t get to be great in God until you go through. So yes although you have a prophetic promise if you want to get to it you must go through. Simple as that.
 
I write about the weapons for warfare because even though the devil may appear to have the upper hand in your life when you are going through he does not. God is only allowing this test to bring you to His promise. The last stage of a woman getting ready to give birth is pain. Excruciating, unbearable pain. One scripture God has led me to is this:
 
Isaiah 66:9 (NKJV)
9 Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the LORD.
“ Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God.
 
In the midst of a trial the devil will whisper in your ear. He will tell you maybe God didn’t really say that. He will cause you to go back to fear and doubt. The doubt is that maybe God is not who He says He is. The fear is that maybe what He promised you won’t come to past. The devil is still a liar. Isaiah 66: 9 is clear. Looking back over your life and all that God has done for you, why would you get to this place and it not manifest? God will not cause delivery of your baby to shut up in the womb. It is the time of birth and He will not cause delivery to not happen.
 
But what about weapons and warfare? How are they related to trials? Let us take a look at this:
 
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
New King James Version (NKJV)
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
You see the devil thinks he is causing your demise because he has been given access to give you trouble, but God is only using your enemy to birth you out into your prophetic promise. Your promise will wreak havoc on the enemy and destroy his kingdom.
 
2 Corinthians 4:7-15 (NKJV)
 
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.
13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,”[a]we also believe and therefore speak
14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
Remember it is only a test:
 Before we talk about weapons of warfare let’s talk about the purpose of our trials.
-As stated trials are only there to make you strong.
-Most importantly trials come so that we can die to ourselves and the glory can begin to manifest.
 
John 12:24-2525
New King James Version (NKJV)
24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor
In order for the Glory of God to manifest a death has to happen.
Romans 8:18-19 (NKJV)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
 
So before God can raise you up, you got to do die. Harsh words but true. It is in the death of a thing that our hearts are tested, we find out who we really are, motives are perfected and ministry is truly developed.
 
But what about warfare?
 
It is simple if while going through you don’t use your weapon you will never get through. Trials are meant to reveal to you who you really are and the power you really possess.
 
Remember there are those who God wants to reveal His glory to and there are those who God wants to reveal His glory through. It is when you mature in God that you are no longer content to sit on the sidelines and be observers of the glory. It is then that you are being put in position to have the glory come through you.
 
Remember God can’t release His kingdom to babes or those who have not fully matured into the things of God. You must be a son, meaning full mature kingdom citizen to be given a position of power within His kingdom.
 
Galatians 4:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.
7. Therefor you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
 
Remember what God has for you it is for you. Don’t allow the devil to steal your destiny. He has only been given access for a time of testing he still has no control unless you give it to him.
 
Read: Job 1:6-12
 
A word of wisdom that struck me like a ton of bricks the other day. My pastor said this, “If you can pray it away it was the devil. If you can’t pray it away it is God.”
 
Remember it is only a test the devil does not had the upper hand. He is liar but he is not that smart. He rejoiced like he had done something when Jesus died on the cross. He thought he got the final victory. But he was wrong; God only used the cross to bring about the victory for all mankind.
 
So it is with this trial. God is only using it to bring about the resurrection of your destiny but remember if you don’t bear the cross you will never get the crown. The cross is the death of you, your resurrection is the life of Christ in you ready to be used for His glory not your own.
 
Principle of spiritual warfare:
 
-God is equipping His people to advance His kingdom. We are being prepared to advance His kingdom. We advance His kingdom my confronting the enemy and rulers of this world that sit in high places. We cannot be equipped to advance His kingdom being weak and wearied saints. You can’t conquer a demon that you don’t confront.
 
For to long Christians have been content to sit and give sinners what God has died and given to us. He gave us the world not sinners. We are not meant to sit look pretty stay in our nice homes, and go to church. The world doesn’t mind Christians as long as they stay in their place and don’t stir any controversy.
 
Look at the world today and everything that is going on. Yet in church most Christians assume that God’s kingdom is about how He is going to bless them. The mind of God is that He created us to set the captives free, to advance His kingdom. To pursue Him and to bring reconciliation of the nations back to the cross. Why do we shout about what God is getting ready to do for us? Instead we should be shouting about what God is ready to do through us.
 
That’s why the bible says seek ye first the kingdom and His righteousness. God doesn’t want us to seek what’s in His hand. We are to seek what is in His heart. When you have His heart you have what’s in His hand.
 
Remember the kingdom suffers violence but the violent take it by force. If you are apart of the kingdom you will suffer violence.
 
That’s why God won’t allow us to be comfortable and content where we are. He will allow that thorn in your side till you say, “okay God I realized what I really want is you”. Nothing will satisfy you completely but God Himself. Not a job, not a degree, not a nice house. God is not concerned about how comfortable you are. He is concerned about positioning you for His advancement.
 
If God allows us to be comfortable where we are we will never seek after something greater. There are people in life who want nothing at all. They are content to be average and ordinary. There are people who wonder around aimlessly without ever fulfilling their purpose but if your like me there is something down on the inside that won’t allow you to sit and be content with nothing. That how you know that you’re really in position for greatest within the kingdom. When your main concern is advancing His kingdom. You more concerned about others than yourself. When you shout and pray you’re not shouting over a house or something material but your heart is for God and His people. When you truly have His heart you are a true kingdom ambassador.
 
Don’t take it lightly because there are many people who are shouting the shame shout you are shouting but their reasons are completely different. They are shouting over the blessing instead of the Blesser. So even though we may look the same we are not. One is a kingdom citizen the other is not.
 
-Spiritual warfare prepares us to be fighters not pacifiers. Not sissies, not weak, frail or ineffective. Learning how to do battle behind closed doors in your own life prepares you to advance His kingdom and fight on behave of others.
 
-Spiritual warfare releases you to the supernatural boldness that God needs for you to speak His words. When you are fighting the battle, you have to learn to speak. You fight by using your mouth. You begin to declare a thing and it shall be. Your mouth is your weapon and what you say can make things come to past.
 
When you’re in the mist of spiritual warfare you get tired of being sick and tired. You get tired of the devil backing you into a corner and holding you hostage. So get Godly angry and say, “I have had enough.”
 
Then instead the devil having you on the run the shift happens and now you have him on the run. Instead of you being afraid of him he is now afraid of you. Spiritual warfare releases tenacity in you.
 
Spiritual warfare teaches you how the demonic kingdom works. How can you confront an enemy unless you know how he operates? It is in the spirit that we wage war not in our flesh. Again how can you confront a demon on behave of someone else when you have never confronted demon in your own life.
 
So many people want the ministry. What they really want is the accolades and the position. Real preparation for real ministry happens in dessert places.
 
-Spiritual warfare releases the anointing. God does not anoint us for nothing. He doesn’t anoint us to say we are anointed. The anointing is for a purpose. Not our purpose His purpose.
 
-Spiritual warfare teaches you discernment. The devil knows how to imitate God. He knows how to preach, prophesy, and lay on of hands just like God. People are so easily deceived these days. We think that because someone is preaching and working miracles then they must be of God.
 
2 Corinthians 11:13,14 (NKJV)
13. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers transforming themselves into Apostles of Christ.
14. And no wonder! Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
 
If you’re going to survive you have got to have discernment and not be deceived by what you hear and see.
 
Spiritual warfare matures you. Babies don’t participate in battles. Babies stay home while the war is being raged. Matures Christians fight. You can’t stay a baby your whole life.
 
So yes waging war is for your benefit. It is for the benefit of the body of Christ because waging war is for the advancement of the body of Christ as a whole.
 
Spiritual warfare teaches you not to fear. The Lord spoke to me a couple of weeks ago and said, “fear is the root of all evil”. Not money fear. Every strategy of the devil first and always is rooted in fear. If the devil can get you to fear he will gain victory. Fear causes you to run and hide. But when you are backed into a corner you will have no choice but to stand up and fight.
 
I use to wonder why the devil would mess with me. I am just a quiet girl from a small town. I was just about afraid of everything including my own shadow. My main objective in life was to be left alone. I have my grandfather’s spirit. I just wanted to stay in a room by myself and read my books. The blessing and problem was that from a young age I have had this deep and unfathomable love for God. Loving God wholeheartedly causes you to dream. It causes you to long and want something beyond your small world and what others have planned for you. So by the leading of the Holy Spirit I sought God for His destiny for my life.
 
The truth is the devil doesn’t care a thing about us. It is not about us. He wages war against us to cause us to run away and fear. He wants us to have a spiritual abortion. That’s why he wages war against us even when we are in our infancy. The devil knows who we are far before we ever know. He doesn’t want us to come into our identity. The devil does not fight fair. He is a coward. He will fight you even when he is at an unfair advantage. He will send out a giant when you are just a little no name David. But the truth is God is in control. He knows that He does not send you off in your own strength; He’ll send you forth in His.
 
The war is not against you it is against God. The devil wants to destroy you to get to God. He hates you because you belong to God. He hates you because as weak and insufficient as you may feel you are stronger than the devil on his best day. That’s why he doesn’t want you to come into the knowledge of who you are.
 
Spiritual warfare causes you to understand the God you serve and the power you already possess. What good is it to have power and not know you have power and worse more not use that power? The power that God has placed in us can literally change nations. Having power and using that power are two completely different things within themselves. God wants us to know that we have power, then He wants us to know how to use that power.
 
Spiritual warfare releases the strategy of the enemy. Again why would God give you a strategy if you’re not going to fight the war? That is something to think about. You have to use the strategy that God gave you. He gives you the strategy, and then He allows the circumstances of life to use it. Every test you go through is only preparation for ministry.
 
Spiritual warfare perfects the promise. It puts you in position to possess the land but like unto the days of Israel there are giants in the land. It is still up to you to confront the giant before you possess the land. What we have to ask is will we be like some of the people of Israel and say, “we are like ants in their eyes” or will we be like Joshua who said , “we are well able”.
 
You must understand the strategic motive and assignment of the devil to be able to rightfully discern and defeat the spirit of Jezebel. Now that is a mouthful. I don’t have time to even begin to explain the spirit of Jezebel. God had me studying that spirit and trust me I can’t begin to explain in this article but I definitely encourage you to begin your own study. Just understand that the spirit of Jezebel destroys lives, families, churches etc. That spirit runs rapid not only throughout the church but throughout the world. We must understand how that spirit works and how it operates. Again we must understand the strategic, plots, plans and motives of the devil in order to defeat him and his demonic kingdom. Studying about spiritual warfare in books is not enough. Again God allows us to wage war in private to prepare us to wage the war on behave of others in public. Again if your not going to win the war behind closed doors you’re not going to win in public.
 
So how to we fight and win the war?
Ephesians 6:11-18 (NKJV)
11. Put on the whole armor of God that you maybe able to stand against the wiles of the enemy.
12. For we do not wrestles against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual host of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.
15. and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16. above all taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench al the darts of the wicked one.
17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.
18. Pray always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, begin watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
This scripture tells us what to do:
 
The first thing is put on your battle garments so you can fight. Who goes to war with no armor? The first part of this scripture admonishes us that if we are going to fight we must have our armor on to be able to even stand against the enemy. Verse 12 gives us a description of the enemy’s kingdom. One it is not flesh and blood. So whatever you are going through it is not about the person. If someone is attacking you, treating you unkind, calamity is happening all around you it is about the devils kingdom. Then we know that the demonic kingdom is not in a low place but in high places, meaning places of authority. Where do principalities, powers, rulers dwell? In high places. The scripture above makes it very clear that they dwell in heavenly places. Heavenly places are not below you they are above you. I once heard someone say you have to look down to do spiritual warfare. This is not true, the demonic kingdom exist in high places. So if someone in a high position is attacking you they are only doing so from their demonic position which is in high places. So all these attributes we must put on. Putting on something is not something that happens accidently or automatically. You have to make a conscience decision to put on something. Like when you wake up in the morning you make a conscience decision of what to wear. No one just puts together any old thing just because. At least I hope you don’t. It is the same thing we must get up and make a conscience effort to be ready for battle. We must put our armor on every morning.
 
Other armor to put on is the garment of praise. Keep praising regardless of how you feel.
 
Be careful who you seek consolation from. Remember everyone who appears to be your friend is not. Some people will only discourage you. They will say things like well, “maybe you should turn around and go back” etc. Everyone doesn’t share your dream. I am not saying don’t seek out people I am saying make God your source.
 
Trust me when I tell you God will get you to the place where the only person you can call on is Him. You not going to be able to call mom or dad, no prophet will get you out of this one. In spiritual warfare God is not only perfecting your praise he is making sure your total reliance is on Him. You will get to the place where you’re stuck. You can’t go back to what you know but you can’t move forward because God won’t allow it.
 
In spiritual warfare you learn how to walk in the spirit for yourself. You stop depending on someone else to lay hands on you and pray over you, you begin doing it yourself.
 
Spiritual warfare causes you to be confrontational. Now when I say confrontational I am not saying you begin popping off at the mouth and having an attitude problem. I am saying spiritual warfare causes you to confront the devil head on. You are no longer the nice little sweet Christian who is content to live and die in the safe by and by.
 
Spiritual warfare awakens you from the dead. It stirs up the gifts that lay dormant on the inside of you. I could go on but I think that is enough on spiritual warfare for now.
 
I want to conclude by saying while in the mist of spiritual warfare you can feel alone, depressed, and insufficient. Let’s be honest, in the mist of spiritual warfare sometimes you feel weak. I know as Christians we are not supposed to say that. We only want to believe that we will never cry, we will never feel defeated, we will never feel weak but the truth is that we do. We are human and of Christ at the same time. The key is don’t let how you feel cause you to give up. Remember after you have done all you can do, you just have to stand. Don’t give up, just stand.
 
Finally remember:
While fasting and studying scripture God gave me these words:
2 Corinthians 13:4-6
New King James Version (NKJV)
4 For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.
5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.
 
It is saying when you weak then you are made strong.
 
Even Jesus had to be crucified in weakness to be raised in power and so do you. This trial is crucifying your flesh but it is meant to raise you in power and boldness.
 
Yes it is true you may not be enough in and of yourself but in God you are more than enough.
2 Corinthians 13:7
New King James Version (NKJV)
7 Now I[a] pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified.
It is basically saying regardless of what it looks like you have not been disqualified. Though you may seem disqualified, don’t retaliate with evil you have not been disqualified. In the midst of your trial the devil will try and tell you that you have been disqualified but you have not. You are God and He is yours.
 
Never give up.
 
I conclude by saying I don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring. I wish I could say that this trial was over and now God is ready to bless I honestly don’t know. He still gives me dreams and visions but honestly you get to the point where dreams and visions are not enough. What good is a vision with no manifestation?
 
I do know the word of God is true. God does not lie. It will come to pass. This is only a test; I believe I am passing with flying colors regardless of how I feel. So will you. Don’t give up.
 
Philippians 1:6
New King James Version (NKJV)
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Finally one thing I keep telling myself is, “God loves me and I am safe in His arms” over and over again.
Try it.
Love always
Samaria M. Colbert