Musing – Are we at War?

 Hebraic Musing – Are we at War?

War is mentioned over 200 times in the Bible.  Are we at War?  Consider that warfare can be both worldly flesh and blood and/or could also be Spiritual.  Do we think we only need to deal with flesh and blood worldly issues?  Why did Paul conclude his well-known Armor of God discussion with “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:10-12 NKJV   With whom are we fighting?

Why has God given us, His children, the weapons we need to fight the Spiritual battles?  “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 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,” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NKJV   What are some of the “weapons of our warfare”?  A – God’s word, the name of Jesus, Prayer, Praise & Worship.

How are we to fight this good fight?  Let’s start by casting off our confidence in our own abilities.  Let’s utilize and trust the weapons that our Ever-loving Father God has given us.  The first 5 weapons mentioned in the “Armor of God” (Ephesians 6:10-20) are truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation; and these five are defensive in nature.  The last two are offensive weapons – the Word of God and Praying in the Spirit; which is defined as “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,” Ephesians 6:17-18

Why was Paul so concerned about whether his disciples were prepared for Spiritual warfare?  “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,” 1 Timothy 1:28   And Paul went on to encourage his disciple Timothy with advice that also applies to us today.  “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12  

Was Paul speaking only to Timothy?  Or might Paul have meant this for believers who read it 2000 years later when he said – “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2:2-3   Are we each soldiers of Jesus Christ?  Who enlisted us?  Webster’s definition of a soldier – (a) one engaged in military service, especially in the army, (b) an enlisted man or woman, (c) a skilled warrior. 

Remember the song? ♫ I may never march in the infantry, Ride in the cavalry, shoot the artillery, I may never shoot for the enemy, But I'm in the Lord's army. ♫      Are you a skilled warrior/soldier in His army? 

A good soldier is always “at ready”; so Paul tells warns “Be ready in season and out of season.” 2 Timothy 4:2

Maybe that’s why this is one of my favorite songs. ♫  Spirit of the Living God, Fall afresh on me. Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me. Spirit of the Living God, Fall afresh on me.  ♫ 

And the most powerful force in the earth is the Word of God.  It was through His Spoken Word that the heavens and the earth were created!

Remember Paul’s final words when he acknowledged that he had fought the battle and he gave his valedictorial message.  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7  

Points to Ponder
Will we be able to say that we “fought the good fight”?

How do we become skilled warriors?

Are we focused on our worldly problems, when we are really fighting Spiritual battles?

Should we tell new believers that they have been recruited into God’s army?

♫  In heavenly armor we'll enter the land, The battle belongs to the Lord.
     No weapon that's fashioned against us shall stand, The battle belongs to the Lord.  ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                           June 10, 2025            
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”