The Battlefield of our Warfare

INTRODUCTION

To succeed in any battle you must take into account the battlefield or place where the battle takes place. In other words, you must consider the environment of war much as we consider the enemy of war! In fact, at times the environment can be as much of an enemy as our opponent. For years the game of football was played exclusively outdoors. As a result, a team had to prepare as much for the weather as they did for their opponent.

Understand that when we talk about the ‘battlefield’ of war, we are talking about the seasons (time) and the setting (places) of the battle. Satan will try to use our ‘seasons’ (time) and ‘settings’ (places) to launch an effective attack against us.

Arena #1: SEASONS

Luke 4:13

We learn two things from this verse:

(1) Even after we win a particular battle with Satan, the war is never truly over. He and his demons will eventually launch a counterattack (Matthew 12:43-45). (When a team jumps out to a big lead, a good coach will remind his team that their opponent will eventually try to mount a come back. You must be ready!

(2) The devil will wait for a convenient or opportune time to launch an attack.

A time when you are least alert (Matthew 26:40, 41). Jesus commanded his disciples to ‘watch’ (remain alert) lest they be attacked (tempted)! We must remain ‘sober’ and not allow ourselves to become alcoholics or even egoholics (Romans 12:3). This brings me to my next point...

A time when you are most isolated (Luke 22:52, 53). Rather than attack Jesus in public, the chief priests waited for a time of ‘darkness’ (secret) to launch their attack against Christ. Satan will wait until we are isolated and away from others to launch his greatest attack against us!

A time of great success (John 6:14, 15). Satan used success (the miracle of feeding 5000) to launch an attack similar to the one he used against Jesus in the wilderness. If Jesus would not receive the kingdom from the devil, then maybe He would receive it from the people!

A time of great stress (Matthew 27:41, 42). We have another repeat of the temptation brought against Jesus in the wilderness when the devil challenged Jesus to prove His divinity (Son of God) by a miracle. In both cases, Satan chose a time when Jesus was under great physical stress.

We should point out that one of the reasons Satan chooses to attack at different ‘seasons’ is because he is only given a limited amount of time to launch each attack against us (1Peter 5:8-10; Revelation 2:9, 10). Therefore, the ‘seasons’ are not just controlled by Satan. They’re controlled by God as well!

Satan will not only try to utilize the ‘season’ to his advantage, but he will also try to utilize the ‘setting,’ or the location around us, to his advantage. We know that certain places can be a more effective location to launch an attack (2Peter 2:7, 8).

Arena #2: SETTINGS

We need to understand that while we might wrestle with spiritual wickedness in ‘high’ (heavenly) places, we do not engage in these battles in heavenly places. We engage against spiritual entities on earth (Matthew 16:19).

Now, let us also not make the mistake of thinking that because we fight spiritual principalities on Earth, it means that we use earthly weapons or war in an earthly manner. Our warfare is still spiritual and we still utilize spiritual weapons. But, when it comes to the ‘places’ where our battle is fought, it is on the earth, and not in heaven somewhere. This it means, therefore, that the battle can be fought...

IN EVERY PLACE (2Corinthians 11:22, 23, 26)

Paul suffered ‘perils’ (dangers) in every place. Satan will use every arena of our life to launch his attacks. When we understand this (that battle can break out in any place) we’re more likely to stay alert (1Peter 5:8).

The word ‘vigilant’ means to be watchful or ready. ‘Being ready’ is not just about ‘being alert,’ it’s also about remaining active. Sometimes our best defense is to keep doing what we’ve been doing (2Timothy 4:16, 17).

It was Paul’s ‘readiness’ or commitment to continue to preach despite opposition that enabled him to overcome the lion (Satan, persecutors). One of the ‘weapons’ of our warfare is having on ‘the preparation of the gospel of peace’ or having a readiness to fully preach the gospel.

IN OUR FAMILY/AMONGST FRIENDS (Matthew 16:21-23).

This time the devil used a close personal friend (Peter) to launch his attack against Jesus. We often put our guard down around family and friends, but we must remember that Satan can turn our most trusted spaces into a battlefield (Luke 21:16, 17)! Even Job had to rebuke his wife for her foolish speaking.

IN OUR MINDS (2Corinthians 10:4, 5)

You’ve probably heard the expression Battlefield of the Mind. This is because our minds are where some of the most intense battles are waged. The enemy uses false ideas, imaginations and beliefs to destroy us (1Timothy 4:1, 2).

We must see our minds as a potential arena for spiritual conflict. When we do we will stop being so susceptible to false teachings and philosophies! Some of us, out of curiosity, like to investigate different philosophies and doctrines. We want to know what’s going on over there. Little do we know that we’re walking right into a war zone!

IN OUR BODIES (Romans 7:22, 23)

Our bodies, like the places we go and the family and friends we interact with, are upon the Earth (actually of this Earth). Thus, they’re a potential battlefield to engage with the enemy (Colossians 3:5).

I don’t think we realize just how much the enemy uses our bodies to engage with us in spiritual warfare (1Peter 2:11)! It’s possible that things we often identify as mental or emotional disorders might in fact be signs of a battle being waged in our members (emotions).

IN OUR CIRCUMSTANCES (1Peter 5:6-9)

When we consider the entire context of this passage we realize that to ‘resist the devil’ INCLUDES ‘casting our cares’ on God. Moreover, since circumstances are often the source of our care, we must see them as potential battlefields!

Mark 4:18, 19

Here, again, we are reminded that ‘cares’ are an enemy of the soul as much as fleshly lusts. Moreover, ‘cares’ are something that causes anxiety. It also means to be ‘distracted’ or drawn in different directions (double minded). Satan likes to use difficult circumstances to draw us in different directions.