Spiritual Warfare

[Natsumi Lam]

Hi Family,

Do you believe too much attention is given to Spiritual Warfare or too little?

~Natsumi Lam~

 

[thecolorsblend]

Hi Family,

Do you believe too much attention is given to Spiritual Warfare or too little?

~Natsumi Lam~

I sometimes think some people here on CF post a lot of impossible things. It's most likely a product of wild imagination or, perhaps, mental illness. I've read precisely one story on here that I suspect might actually be authentic. But what do I know? I could be wrong.

Yes, the darkness is a very real thing. And it's very dangerous. It's not to be trifled with.

But in terms of day-to-day life, it's also not a major threat as long as one exercises even a modicum of common sense. Some of the stories that get posted here, as you know, are mostly the product of an overactive imagination, mental illness, attention-seeking or some other possibility.

Simply put, it's just not likely to happen unless some very specific conditions have been satisfied. And even satisfying those conditions might not be enough sometimes. By all means, people should be careful. But they shouldn't be paranoid.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Hi Family,

Do you believe too much attention is given to Spiritual Warfare or too little?

~Natsumi Lam~

I think it depends on the church. When I was a kid and my parents took me to the local Liberal Presbyterian Church [Presbyterian U.S.A.], I never heard anything about spiritual warfare. Then again, there was a lot of theology that wasn't covered at that church. However, when I began to attend a Southern Baptist church years later, I would hear references to Spiritual Warfare probably every other time or so I was there.

On the whole, I don't think all of us Christians realize the deep demonic doo-doo that the world is in or has already been in for centuries. And now, what with Hollywood making extravagant movies that express gross exaggerations or misrepresentations about what to 'look for,' we don't see the forest for the trees these days. But Satan is alive and well, and kicking, and some Christians understand what's going on more or less, and some Christians have no clue.

 

[LynnSmith]

I don’t think we can give too much attention to what we are told to be aware of.
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:8-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In Ephesians we are told how to protect ourselves with the armor of God.

If the fight wasn’t real or important I don’t think it would be in God’s Word.

 

[JCFantasy23]

Interesting question and I'm not really sure how to answer it. I see some who seemed too obsessed with this, but for the most part most Christians don't pay attention or worry about it.

I do think that too many people place blame outside themselves, their own flaws and sins, and try to blame outside influence or "the devil made me do it" kind of thing. That's always been a popular scapegoat with too much emphasis.

 

[Romans 8]

I think it depends on the church. When I was a kid and my parents took me to the local Liberal Presbyterian Churck [Presbyterian U.S.A.], I never heard anything about spiritual warfare. Then again, there was a lot of theology that wasn't covered at that church. However, when I began to attend a Southern Baptist church years later, I would hear references to Spiritual Warfare in some way probably every other time I was at that church.

On the whole, I don't think all of us Christians realize the deep demonic doo-doo that the world is in or has already been in for centuries. And now, what with Hollywood making extravagant movies that express gross exaggerations or misrepresentations about what to 'look for,' we don't see the forest for the trees these days. But Satan is alive and well, and kicking, and some Christians understand what's going on more or less, and some Christians have no clue.

The greatest trick the devil pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

 

[icxn]

Spiritual warfare is not only with the demons but also with the will of the flesh. The demons, for the most part, attack those who struggle and overcome their sinful habits. Everyone else is just easy prey.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Interesting question and I'm not really sure how to answer it. I see some who seemed too obsessed with this, but for the most part most Christians don't pay attention or worry about it.

I do think that too many people place blame outside themselves, their own flaws and sins, and try to blame outside influence or "the devil made me do it" kind of thing. That's always been a popular scapegoat with too much emphasis.

...I'm just the opposite. I think too many churches don't incorporate into their teaching an admission that the devil is often, very often, embedded in the cultural structures which lay claim to each person, or upon each citizen who lives within the structural domains of political sin. So...............while it is true that all of us are culpable for our own individual sins, this isn't to say that we are each 'solely' responsible or guilty for our own sins. In fact, many times, we need a bad shove in the 'wrong' direction to do 'wrong' ...

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Hi Family,

Do you believe too much attention is given to Spiritual Warfare or too little?

~Natsumi Lam~

Well, the bible does say we are more than conquerors. So maybe a bit of both depending on the context.

 

[NBB]

Christians don't realize how much the devil and flesh is actively trying to slow you down in your search for God, putting stones in your path and making war on you.

 

[Tone]

Hi Family,

Do you believe too much attention is given to Spiritual Warfare or too little?

~Natsumi Lam~

It can basically be summed up as the war of words and it rages on regardless if any attention is paid to it or not, but, of course, it is extremely wise to pay the utmost attention to these voices. There are really only two voices in this world (battlefield); His Voice which is Sound and the enemy's voice, that is noise. If we aren't paying attention to the war around us, we are, by default, hearing the noise...lost in its confusion.

*And I've spent too much time in that cacophony.

 

[Francis Drake]

I sometimes think some people here on CF post a lot of impossible things. It's most likely a product of wild imagination or, perhaps, mental illness. I've read precisely one story on here that I suspect might actually be authentic. But what do I know? I could be wrong.

I agree totally with your last sentence, ie. you are completely wrong!

Yes, the darkness is a very real thing. And it's very dangerous. It's not to be trifled with.

If as you said, its just a product of wild imagination, why is it very dangerous?

But in terms of day-to-day life, it's also not a major threat as long as one exercises even a modicum of common sense. Some of the stories that get posted here, as you know, are mostly the product of an overactive imagination, mental illness, attention-seeking or some other possibility.

Jesus regularly cast demons out. He also healed all sorts of diseases, men being born blind, or paralysed, leprosy, end death.
Never once did Jesus heal anyone from "mental illness", nor is there any mention of it in scripture!
Instead he cast out the demons that caused such mental illnesses.

Simply put, it's just not likely to happen unless some very specific conditions have been satisfied. And even satisfying those conditions might not be enough sometimes. By all means, people should be careful. But they shouldn't be paranoid.

You are hypothesising on a subject you admit to possess no knowledge and you are miles off target.

I have been casting demons out of Christians for over 40 years. There are all sorts of ways they can get access in a person's life. The most important issue is that Christians wake up to all the scripture reveals on the subject and cease trying to dismiss it to the fringes.

 

[Francis Drake]

The greatest trick the devil pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

I totally agree, but I would take it one step further.-
The greatest trick the devil pulled was convincing the church to dismiss as irrelevant, all the scriptural warnings about the demonic.

 

[LynnSmith]

Spiritual warfare isn’t as complicated as some make it. The enemy is a liar. I know for me I have to fight his lies daily by filing my thoughts with the Truth. When I stop, he creeps in and before you know it I’m living the lies.
I have so much to say about all this and have typed it out and deleted it a few times because the enemy had me convinced nothing I say here could show anyone how real the war is.

 

[Loyce KG]

Hi Family,

Do you believe too much attention is given to Spiritual Warfare or too little?

~Natsumi Lam~

It's hard to say. One thing I know is the Bible calls Christians-soldiers (2 Tim 2:3). No soldier should be unprepared or unaware of enemy threats any time. The evidence that a soldier takes his battle seriously, and understands the strength of his enemy, is seen in how he arms and prepares himself.
One has to only look around them long enough to see the deadly and evil schemes of the devil.
What I have noticed in some churches esp in the west, is that spiritual warfare is spoken of like avian flu outbreaks-it passed and probably won't return. This is dangerous in itself because Paul tells us in Ephesians 6, we don't wrestles against flesh and blood but rulers, principalities etc. this means we are ever engaging in battle and the feat is not for the weak.

Here in my mother land, I have often seen some churches are on the extreme of this teaching that you start to see Christians who are paranoid and demonize every thing to the point of ridiculousness.
We ought to speak of spiritual warfare often AND let the church know Jesus won the victory and so can we.

 

[Romans 8]

Spiritual warfare isn’t as complicated as some make it. The enemy is a liar. I know for me I have to fight his lies daily by filing my thoughts with the Truth. When I stop, he creeps in and before you know it I’m living the lies.
I have so much to say about all this and have typed it out and deleted it a few times because the enemy had me convinced nothing I say here could show anyone how real the war is.

I believe God allows us to go through these turmoils for ourselves, and our testimony can help others. Please fire away.

 

[Romans 8]

I totally agree, but I would take it one step further.-
The greatest trick the devil pulled was convincing the church to dismiss as irrelevant, all the scriptural warnings about the demonic.

Yep. I've heard too many times, "I am Christian and therefore I'm devoid of attack by demons". Well, if that's the case why does deliverance work at all since we need belief in Christ for this to be possible.

 

[Halbhh]

Hi Family,

Do you believe too much attention is given to Spiritual Warfare or too little?

~Natsumi Lam~

To me the instruction to us (Ephesians) about it is simply a regular (necessary) part of being Christian --


10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."
Ephesians 6 NIV

It's never a battle against people themselves, but instead it's against unseen forces.

A part of what we learn above -- we ourselves cannot battle such powers on our own ability without Christ, but instead entirely must do as Christ said, so that we are protected, according to the condition He Himself said to us --

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

Those who listen to Him and then follow Him -- they are then protected -- cannot be taken out of His hand.

So, the only real 'spiritual warfare' is very far above any of our abilities to do on our own in ordinary life in ordinary times (and all times throughout history) without His way, and we must entirely listen to and follow our only hope -- Our Shepherd.

 

[Dan1988]

Hi Family,

Do you believe too much attention is given to Spiritual Warfare or too little?

~Natsumi Lam~

Most churches are focused on preaching about God's love for us and how He desperately want's to bless us with health, riches and wisdom.

Most people don't want to hear about a spiritual war against their flesh and the powers of darkness, it's just too depressing.

Satan and his Demons will never attack those who are already defeated and on their way to hell. They go after true believers, they can't posses a person who has the Holy spirit indwelling them but they sure do oppress them.

The Bible says that, people are devoured because of their lack of knowledge. They say "ignorance is bliss", but it comes at a huge price.

 

[devin553344]

Hi Family,

Do you believe too much attention is given to Spiritual Warfare or too little?

~Natsumi Lam~

The spirit realm is not a human experience except good and evil spiritual influences. So I think enough attention is given in the bible. We have various stories about good and evil spirits affecting people in positive and negative ways. I like the bible stories. But as far as people trying to get into that, I think we can be easily misled that way.