Spiritual Warfare In Mission

Text: Acts 26:12-18    IBC World Missions Conference      March 6-8, 2007

By Pastor Jose B. Cabajar

                   “Spiritual warfare in mission” is a subject not as popular as soul winning, sending missionaries, church planting, faith promise giving, missions conferences, leadership in missions and other well-discussed subjects concerning global evangelization, but it is worthy to be considered because it will help us realize the inevitable presence of spiritual warfare in all areas of mission-related activities.

                    Through the ages, many dynamic preachers, teachers and impressive church leaders have been wounded and fallen in the spiritual battlefield and their homes have been badly shattered, their congregations suffered much shame and losses, their mission program collapsed and the image of Christianity has been misunderstood by unbelievers because many servants of God overlooked or underestimated the importance and depth of spiritual warfare in this present life.

                   As we go global in our evangelization, every mission-minded church must strive to learn more about spiritual warfare. Pastors and teachers should take time to teach their congregation how to be equipped for such crucial battle. Mission-minded believers are the prime targets of the adversary and his multi-faced war against the people of God is being intensified daily because he knows fully well that his time is running out.

                    Studying spiritual warfare is a rewarding step that could lead believers to outstanding victories over the forces of evil. If studied prayerfully in the light of the Scriptures, its spiritual impact on the lives of believers will cause a big blow to the enemies of truth.

                   We strongly believe that the Gospel is the extreme need of the world and that proclaiming the Good News and spiritual warfare are two inseparable things. Realizing such truth will surely trigger us to go deeper in our study about the fierce battle we are engaged in.

(I)   It’s Reality

      Acts 26:17-18    II Corinthians 4:1-4

      -During the earthly ministry of the Lord

        Matthew 4:1-11

                    The earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus reminds us of the certainty of spiritual warfare in His mission to save fallen mankind. In spiritual realm, it is certain that there is no such mission without spiritual war. When Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights, the devil tried to tempt him in various ways to defeat Christ’s purpose. The devil knew who Jesus was. He wanted Christ’s mission to be hindered so he tried to put Him to untimely death, but the Lord handled the temptation perfectly and won that crucial battle.     

                   In Luke 4:16-21, it is written, And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. (KJV) These verses reveal to us the importance of sharing the Gospel and the presence of spiritual warfare every time we tell the Truth to others.  

                   Spiritual warfare should not be taken lightly, but seriously, because it is a real war and not just a man-made fiction. It is a decisive war to be won by Gospel bearers.

-During Paul’s ministry

  Acts 13:1-12

                   When Barnabas and Paul were sent from Antioch to preach the Word of God, the presence of spiritual warfare in their ministry was undeniable. In Acts 13:6-12, it is written, And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. (KJV)

                   Satan is not happy every time a lost person desires to hear the Word of God. The devil will surely use his followers to hinder anyone from hearing the Word of God, and at same time, he will also make a way to prevent soul winners to do their God-given task; but we praise God because the Lord is more powerful than our adversary and He is always with us to protect us from evil especially during intense spiritual battle.  

(II)   Its Sphere

Acts 5:1-4

-Global In the hearts and minds of believers

                    Spiritual war comes to our life’s course and it may come as a visible battle or an invisible fight. Internal warfare is an invisible one and it was well-illustrated through the life of Ananias and Sapphira.

                     In Acts 5:1-4, it is written, But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. (KJV) These passages from the Bible surely help us to understand why many churches today hardly hit their goals when it comes to fulfilling commitments.

                    Some people may not be aware, but their hearts and minds serve as battlegrounds of good and evil. Many professing Christians, whether rich or poor, have indifferent attitude toward mission giving not because of their financial condition, but because they let the old man rule their hearts and minds. The mindset we have toward giving reveals who really won and controlled our hearts.

                     In II Corinthians 10:3-6, it is written, For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (KJV) Through these verses, we could understand that an invisible war within our thought life should not be ignored lest the old man takes control of our whole being.  It must be handled according to the principles of Truth so our new man in Christ will prevail and the Lord will be glorified.

·        In the mission field

                    The mission field is not only a harvest field, but also a battlefield. In Matthew 10:16, it is written, Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. (KJV) The Lord instructed His early disciples to be wise before He sent them to preach because He knew what could happen in the mission field.

·        Anywhere and anytime

                    The fight is on and we cannot afford to quit, but to face the foe and engage ourselves even in the fiercest battle that will come anytime and anywhere. Every Gospel-related ministry will be targeted by the devil, so we must not neglect to encourage ourselves and also other Christians to keep on fighting for the Truth lest we stay in the line of mediocrity and overlook our role as God’s heralds. We must be aware that without sharing the Gospel, the lost will never find their way to the Living Savior.

                    In II Corinthians 4:3-4, it is written, But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (KJV) Through these passages we realize the scope of Satan’s domain. Undoubtedly, we are bound to encounter the forces of darkness anytime and anywhere. Truly, we are in a spiritual warfare.

(III)   Its Victors

II Timothy 4:1-8    Ephesians 6:10-20

-Faithful Servants of God

                    The Apostle Paul said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” Faithful servants of the Lord who fight a good fight and are determined to finish their Christian Course of Life without a wavering faith will surely become victors in Christ.

                    Unquestionably, Paul was an exemplary soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was a victorious soldier who won many battles for the glory of God. Obviously, Paul did not use any literal weapon of war, but rather used spiritual weapon against the devil.

                   Paul was a strong soldier of the Lord, but the power he used came from God. He learned how to use the whole armour of God and as an amazing result, he withstood the wiles of the devil. In his Epistle, he also emphasized the power of Truth and righteousness as a protective covering, and the importance of having their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

                   As we study Paul’s Epistle, we will realize that faith is indeed the spiritual shield of Christians, and without it, we cannot quench the fiery darts of the wicked. It will help us also to comprehend that the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, must be used strictly and appropriately so we could prevail and win notable victories over the adversary. We should not forget how our Lord Jesus used the Word of God victoriously against the tempter during His temptations. What an excellent example to follow. May we truly appreciate the power and benefits of the Word in our daily walk with the Lord.

                   One more important thing we should not overlook is the power of prayer in a believer’s life. Paul was not only a man of faith, but also a man of prayer. A kneeling person before God will make the devil flee, but a man who does not pray will become the devil’s prey. Victories are wonderful rewards of great faith in the Lord and strong prayer life.                     

                   Having an opportunity to gain more knowledge and understanding concerning spiritual warfare in missions is a great blessing from above. It will help us considerably in fulfilling the Great Commission. Ultimately, strict adherence to what we have learned from the Bible will surely pave our way to more God-glorifying victories.