Are you fighting a spiritual battle and don’t realize you are in one? If you are, this is not uncommon because our enemy is deceptive. Jesus gathered His disciples to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane to prepare for a spiritual battle. He knew he would have to suffer and die for the sins of humanity the following day. Humankind had fallen into sin in a garden, and now Jesus would pray in a garden. There, He would accept His Father’s will to die on the cross for our sins.
As Jesus encouraged his sleeping disciples to stay awake and pray, Judas arrived with a mob to capture Him. Judas walked over to Jesus and greeted Him with a kiss. Luke 22:48 But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, “Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!” 50 And one of them struck at the high priest’s slave, slashing off his right ear. [1]
As Peter cut the high priest’s servant’s ear off, he thought he was in a physical battle. He had no clue he was in a spiritual one. We may not be brandishing a sword like Peter, but how many don’t understand our circumstances have a significant spiritual component?
Realize You are in a Spiritual Battle
Soon after Peter cut the ear of the high priest’s servant, Jesus did something that astonished him. Luke 22:51 But Jesus said, “No more of this.” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. [2] Peter’s battle was not physical but spiritual, which surprised him. One of our greatest weapons in spiritual warfare is discernment, which helps us recognize the battle we are in.
Peter is much like us, and we learn the enemy’s tactics through growing in faith and experience. Ephesians 6:11Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.[3] The sword Peter was using was the wrong weapon for the battle.
The Power of Prayer in the Battle
After Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, he took them to the Garden of Gethsemane and urged them to pray. At this time in their faith life, they did not understand how vital their prayers were, but Jesus did.
We must pray against what the enemy tries to do in our lives. Yes, prayer takes time, but it may be your most critical time during the day. God’s word says the Lord will fight for us and has won the victory for us on the cross. But spiritual warfare is part of our reality until the Lord takes us to heaven. Prayer is God’s key to fighting this battle. That is why spiritual victories are won on our knees, not with physical weapons.
Are you fighting a spiritual battle? To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-real-battle
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.
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