WARFARE

This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good WARFARE – 1 Timothy 1:18

There is a distinction between War and WARFARE. The Cambridge dictionary defines War as a state of armed conflict between states, societies and informal groups, such as insurgents and militias, which is generally characterized by extreme aggression, destruction, and mortality, using regular or irregular military forces. Warfare refers to the common activities of fighting a war, and the characteristics of different types of war, such as: biological, chemical, civil, conventional, cyber, guerrilla, nuclear, and total war Warfare is the act, process, or instance of waging a war, conflict or struggle. There are two broad types of warfare with their own individual strategies: defensive and offensive types. Defensive warfare is a means of defending one’s territory, a forced battle launched in response to an attack from an opponent. Offensive warfare is an aggressive, dynamic warfare that doesn’t wait for the enemy to launch his attack but goes to gain rather than lose territory.

The Christian is a soldier; a participant in a war of immense proportions, whose entire life is involved in this conflict (2Tim.2:3-4). The war will continue until Christ returns in victory over His foes. We are in a lifelong spiritual battle being waged against Satan and other unseen enemies (Eph.6:12). Paul referred to Epaphroditus and Archippus as his “fellow-soldiers” (Phil. 2:25; Phile. 2). Defensive warfare is necessary because Satan is continually attacking believers and therefore we should be constantly alert to apply strategies to defend our spiritual territories. This type of warfare is pretty much what most churches stop at, getting satisfied with protecting the believers who are already active in church from going astray; and nurturing and nourishing them spiritually in order to grow into the likeness of Christ. In offensive warfare, the enemy is identified, his strategies recognized, and the attack is a decision the offender makes based on this knowledge. In spiritual offensive warfare, believers attack Satan either to release other believers or to release themselves from his captivity.

Offensive warfare aims to restore and liberate: lost sheep who were once active Christians but had backslidden; and non-believers who had not heard about Christ and His message of salvation, and once reached out and preached to, should be grafted in the body of Christ, the church. We can only reach the world offensively by advancing into Satan's territory to salvage both the lost sheep and non-believers (Jh. 10:16). We cannot afford to sit comfortably in our churches satisfied with defending our territories against Satan's attacks. Many of Satan’s victims do not even know there is a war going on. They make easy prey. Christians should know that we are in the midst of a great spiritual struggle. Some seem not to appreciate this. Even more distressing is the fact that many who consider themselves “in the war” do not understand the nature of Satan’s schemes, the weapons which he employs, or of the weapons which God has provided for our defence and offence.

The Christian is in constant spiritual – not carnal or fleshly – warfare, using both defensive and offensive warfare weapons and strategies: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds” (2Cor.10:3-4). Spiritual warfare is far greater that the carnal wars fought to defend and advance the transitory and imperfect kingdoms of men. Ultimately, the kingdoms of the world shall become “the Kingdom of the Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever!” (Rev.11:15b). Thank God, we are not alone in this constant warfare. Our victory is sure in the Presence and by the Power of the Holy Spirit. With His help and partnership, correct use of the right strategies and weapons, Satan will flee before the Greater One Who is in us! Never forget this: The battle belongs to the Lord; but You are the Soldier!