“Spiritual War” — Anna Gaydarenko’s sermon from July 26, 2020

Introduction and spiritual context

The service begins under the open sky, which is God’s throne, in the midst of changing weather, which symbolizes the reality of our earthly life. We are called to be God’s peacemakers and bearers of His peace – God’s shalom, peace and order. A true Christian brings reconciliation where confrontation and irritation reign. If we feel a lack of peace in ourselves, this is the first signal for fervent prayer and restoration of inner balance.

A special joy for our community is the work in Pustovarivka, where not just a material structure is being laid, but a temple of God. Church building is a supernatural process that is accompanied by great joy that fills the heart every day. Despite the fact that human calculations are often limited, we firmly believe that the Lord will help to finish what he started, because God has enough. This work is a visible evidence of our unity as a mother and daughter church.

The nature of spiritual warfare

The topic of spiritual warfare directly belongs to eternal values. Conventional war brings destruction and change to the lives of countries and families, and people often only dream of “no war at all.” However, humanity underestimates the fact that the spiritual war does not stop for a second. It has no truce, and the statistics of its losses are not kept in a visible way, although it destroys and takes the souls of people.

The object of this war is the human soul — the Lord’s lamp, for which a fierce battle is waged every day. By accepting Christ, we are automatically involved in this conflict of two kingdoms: the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. Without spiritual experience and knowledge of the Word of God, we are doomed to failure. It is not enough for us to simply be a “Christian solyanka” or to try to defeat the spiritual forces by shouting or physical efforts, as is sometimes the case when praying for the possessed. Only long fasting, prayer and wisdom bring true freedom.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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”
Ephesians 6:10-12 KJV

Paul shows us that the weapon must be suited to the nature of the war. Our weapons are spiritual, and we must learn to properly use each piece of God’s armor, with the spiritual sword—the living and active Word of God—taking center stage.

Recognition of enemy attacks

The clash of the two kingdoms is clearly demonstrated in the ministry of Jesus Christ, who freed and healed people, demonstrating the power of God’s Spirit.

“Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
Matthew 12:22-28 KJV

Spiritual warfare is waged through covert attacks on believers. It begins imperceptibly, and its first stages look like this:

• Loss of spiritual hunger: The desire to read the Word of God and pray disappears. This is the first serious attack that paralyzes spiritual immunity.
• Physical weakness and apathy: The flesh begins to dictate its conditions, an inexplicable fatigue appears, which forces one to postpone spiritual practices for later.
• Negativism and irritation: A person begins to see the world around only in dark colors – children, husband, boss at work are annoying, the church and the pastor seem wrong.
• Attack on the mind and memory: The mind becomes a battlefield. The enemy uses memories of past offenses, makes a person excessively wounded and sensitive to criticism, making him doubt his choice and the church.

The Way to Victory: Repentance and Forgiveness

The only way to get out of the spiritual impasse and win this battle is to return to the first steps of faith. The very first tool is sincere repentance, which returns us to the fatherly arms of God, where we receive strength and love again. The second fundamental step is total forgiveness.

“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”
from Luke 23:34 NIV

We must scan our heart and let go of all the resentments that have accumulated during the time of spiritual illness: forgive our parents, children, colleagues and ourselves. Forgiveness is the fulfillment of God’s law that breaks every yoke of the enemy, according to Isaiah’s prophecy.

“In that day their burden will be lifted from your shoulders, their yoke from your neck; the yoke will be broken because you have grown so fat.”
Isaiah 10:27 NIV

Strategy of the warrior of Christ

We must understand that our heart is a fortress and our mind is its door. This door must not be left open to hostile thoughts. The enemy will try to attack us through our eyes and ears, but we cannot artificially close them off from the world. We must have internal filters and willpower to win.

The Lord allows trials and attacks in our lives with a specific purpose — that we learn to fight, strengthen our faith and pass this experience on to future generations, as it was during the time of Israel in the book of Judges. God has given us absolute authority to attack the enemy’s power, but we do not have the right to abuse it or take the victory to ourselves. The war belongs to the Lord, and it is He who goes before us, as it was in the battle of David with Goliath.

“Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.”
1 Samuel 17:45-47 KJV

A powerful weapon on the battlefield is our living testimony. Even in the midst of daily worries and construction, we are to go out and preach the Gospel, setting free those who are on the verge of making a decision. We have no right to give up or fall into a spiritual slumber. Our goal is to empty hell and give others the freedom that we ourselves once received as a gift from Jesus Christ.