Spiritual War
// Tim DeTellis
Today, there is a battle raging for souls everywhere. However, the urgency to fight for the saving of those souls is paramount during these times.
“Because God so loves the world He sends us.”
We are watching physical wars, yet the greater fight is spiritual and our role in God’s army is essential to His Gospel being proclaimed. Jesus is still the answer for our world today. How do we become more involved in this spiritual war to help reach those who are lost? Because God so loves the world He sends us.
A few years ago, I began asking God to give me more non-Christian friends. Shocker, right? This began because of an intentionality to know my neighbors better and I knew not all my neighbors would be Christians. The apostle Paul wrote, “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” (I Corinthians 9:22-23) However, it’s harder and harder to connect with non-Christian friends if the only circles I spend time in represent people of the same faith and belief system.
I want to propose a position and posture of proactive urgency for spiritual war to battle for those who are lost. The gap between someone who is far from God is you and me, literally. We do not play the role of the Holy Spirit to change their hearts, but we do play the role of representing Christ and being the ambassadors of Christ into their lives. Yes, war is a strong word. However, spiritually, the war we are potentially ignoring is still being fought…even without our engagement. Let’s step into the fight. How? We arm ourselves with these two weapons: prayer and Scripture.
Prayer matters, and I could share endlessly how the only answers I need are found in Scripture. However, for my non-Christian friends who are not praying or reading God’s Word, we become the salt and light in their lives. We must show them love and truth. “You are the salt of the earth … You are the light of the world … In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16) Right now, the world would prefer we are silent and hidden. Don’t hide your faith!
Recently, I was having lunch with a friend and donor of New Missions. We went to a Mexican restaurant that was owned by someone from his church. Sitting under the table glass so you could easily read it was a card of the ABCs of salvation.
A. Acknowledge that you are a sinner. (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23).
B. Believe that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead. (Romans 10:9; John 3:16)
C. Confess—ask forgiveness with your mouth and verbalize your belief. (Romans 10:9) “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Right now, there is a war going on; either we engage in it or ignore it. Souls are lost and need us to stand in the gap. ~Tim DeTellis
