Discipling Spiritual Warriors

More often than not, when discipling those in our lives, we turn to Ephesians 6 to point them to how to put-on the armor of God. Or, we look at the temptation of Jesus to see how he effectively used the Scriptures to counter the devil’s attacks. Both very necessary, needed, and really important. However, often our discipling stops about there when we consider how to effectively use spiritual weapons when we find ourselves in spiritual warfare.

In A Discipleship Journey, we highlight ten scriptural weapons that we can use in the midst of spiritual battles. I’d like to highlight three of them here that we often don’t associate with pushing the enemy back and taking territory for Jesus and His Kingdom. All three can be used to armor-up those we are discipling!

Living a Godly Life

I remember as a young 18 year old missionary learning that the first step to functioning as an effective spiritual warrior was to live a life of godly obedience. This meant digging in to the Scriptures and actively applying what I was learning in my life. It also meant practicing humility – when I was wrong, admit it. When I sinned – confess and repent from it. When I discovered unforgiveness in my heart – repent and release whoever had caused me an offense. And, the quicker I responded, the better!

To live godly lives requires that we deal aggressively with sin, running from the slightest hint of temptation. It recognizes that every choice we make either pushes back or provides an opening for the powers of darkness. Spiritual warfare is not just praying a prayer or rebuking the devil—it is actually a lifestyle that we must be committed to and live!

In John 14:30, Jesus said, that the enemy, the devil, “has no claim on me.” He lived His life in such a way that the enemy could not “get his hooks” in Him. That goes for us as well. As you examine your own heart, prayerfully consider:

• Has the Lord been nudging you about any areas of unconfessed sin or attitudes of unforgiveness?
• Are there any relationships that you know are out of sorts and need to be made right?
• Any places in your own soul where integrity is not ruling the day?
• What about steps of obedience that Jesus has asked you to walk in yet you’ve chosen to steer clear or conveniently forget?

If any of these strike a cord within you, make sure you take a little time this week to address these matters. You want to walk in such a way that the enemy has nothing in you or on you either!

This is our starting place in walking as effective spiritual warriors! 2 Peter 1:3-4 reminds us of what Jesus has provided for us to make this a reality in our lives:

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”

The Name & Blood of Jesus

In Luke, chapter ten, we see Jesus sending out the first “outreach teams.” This team, made up of 72 of His disciples, were going out in response to “the harvest being plentiful, but the workers are few.” As they return, we can tell from their response that they had had an incredible time, “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” (vs.17)

A little later, after Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension, we find Peter and John encountering a lame man. Looking at him, Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” The man not only become free and walked, but jumped around for joy, giving great glory to God for what He had done for Him!

In both instances, there was supernatural power when disciples of Jesus exercised The Name of Jesus. The same is true for us today: when we are aligning to the will of God in the place of simply obeying Him in faith, we have authority to exercise His Name to advance His Kingdom on the Earth! It is like wearing the signet ring of a King who has designated YOU to carry out his requests. Delegated authority by God to us carries real weight – and the enemy of our soul recognizes it!

Along with The Name of Jesus, we must recognize the authority that we have because of The Blood of Jesus. Jesus’ death on the cross defeated the enemy of our soul, “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2:15) The cross also positioned us to be reconciled with God, “and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:20) Because we have been made right with God through the blood of Jesus, it means the devil cannot bully you any more (unless you let him)!

In Revelation 12:11, we read, “They triumphed over him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb…”. Telling the devil to “stand down” based on the blood of Jesus reminds him of His defeat by Jesus on the cross and your position as a child of God. It is a very real “spiritual badge of authority” that we wear, just like an officer of the law. Wearing the badge means you have been delegated authority from on High – the key is exercising it when you need to and not forgetting that you have it!

The Name of Jesus and The Blood of Jesus are key weapons of our warfare. Remember, you’re already wearing them! Practice using them this week as you encounter the whispers of the enemy of your soul, as you pray with authority for the people and events in your life, and as you obediently advance His Kingdom on Earth.

Walking in Unity

When conflict arises between people it is important as followers of Jesus to always remember Ephesians 6:12:

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Because of our hurts, injustice, being sinned against, and battles over the years with people, it is easy for all of us to fall prey to the Adam and Eve ,“she did it, he did it blame game.” However, the scriptures teach us that the enemy tries to take advantage of our human condition with the aim of stealing, killing and destroying us and our relationships. (John 10:10)

God has asked us to walk in unity with one another – especially among those who are fellow followers of Jesus! Look at what Paul says a few chapters back in Ephesians 4:1-6:

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

We are exhorted to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” When we are born of the Spirit, we are placed in the Body of Christ where we already have unity. We are instructed to “maintain the unity of the Spirit”. Here’s how:

• Be completely humble: real, teachable, recognizing you desperately need others
• Be gentle: expressing a “softness of heart” towards people; a desire not to harm due to another’s value
• Be patient: endures with unruffled temper; bears insult and injury without complaint
• Bearing with one another in love: graciously putting up with each other’s stuff

These are responses that we need to lean in to the Holy Spirit to help us walk in! It’s our role to yield to and apply these truths in to our lives, and it’s the Holy Spirit’s role to transform us!

Remember this: when enough believers in a particular place (family, church, city, etc.) get right with God and each other, the enemy will be defeated in that place. In reality, unity is simply everyone walking in humility towards each other.

If you would like more information on this topic, check out Dave on the podcast where he gives further explanation! Here is the link.

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Dave Buehring is the Founder and President of Lionshare, the author of A Great Opportunity and A Discipleship Journey. He also is the visionary leader behind The Leadership Games, a catalyst for mobilizing 40s-70s to disciple those in their 20s-30s both spiritually and vocationally. To learn more, visit Lionshare.org.