Armed Prayer

And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem - 2 Sa 11:1.

The Time for Battle is Now

As Christians, it comes to a point in our life when we have to decide to take a stand. A stand for our families, a stand for our brothers and sisters in Christ, and a stand for the lost trapped in their wilderness.

That stand is a continuous stand, meaning that this stand is intentional and dedicated. In other words, our stand should be a constant stand of intercession against the enemy.

From the moment of our birth, the reality is we are bound to the world, but by the blood of Jesus we are unbound, we are saved, we are delivered, and we are redeemed. That means so much, and is a sobering reminder of the importance to stand. Just as we are bound by birth to the world, I would argue that we are bound by our new birth. (John 3:4 “Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” ) Jesus responds in (John 3:5 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” ) In other words, we cannot enter into the kingdom of God unless we are born by water and Spirit. I love this because it signifies some important facts: We can be born again, we have something to do upon birth, and we have somewhere to go.

Frankly, our walk with the Lord, should have some spiritual fire and that walk is going to require a spiritual fight. (Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”)

Just as the beginning Scripture indicated, kings go forth to battle. While we must go forth to fight, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places.

That means I cannot fight something I see, I have to fight something unseen. The unseen and unknown can cause fear and doubt. That is why ambushes are so effective in warfare, you cannot see it until it’s too late. Unfortantely, what works in warfare against enemy forces in combat, is the same tactic powers of darkness uses against us. (2 Corinthians 2:11 “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”) In other word, Satan is crafty, and wicked - one thing I’ve learned is that wicked people don’t fight fair.

Think about that, when have you have had a fair fight with a wicked person, it is the same with Satan, (1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” ) In other words, Satan walks around ready to find prey, and in spiritual warfare, it is often ourselves that gives him the victory.

In the moments where we are ready to fight, Satan cannot win. It’s only in the moments when our guard is down that we become vulnerable.

I want to refer back to 2 Sam 11:1 :The kings went forth to battle. When kings conducted warfare, there are considerations, one did not just go to war, planning occured. When is the right time to invade, when is the best time to fight. Where do we bed down. What about logiistics, how do we establish lines of communication. Where is our intelligence. What about reconnaisance?

Kings went to war at the best time. But as Christians, it is not feasible to go to war at the best time all of the time. When we are always fighting, we become exhausted. When armies fought, resouces became drained. Just as surely God rested on the 7th day, we need to rest.

Every experienced and observant Christian can acknowled that there are alternating seasons, a season where things are accomplished and seasons where the world slows down.

We as Christians should go forth to warfare at the right season, when we have the highest chance of winning. We don’t go to war alone, just like Jesus paired his discples when the went forth, we need back up. Just as when kings went to war at the best time, so should we.

However, David tarried in Jerusalem. So his forces went forth, but he was left behind.

This is an important note because