Excerpts from Next-Level Spiritual Warfare: Advance Strategies for Overcoming the Enemy[1]
Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents] but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. –Ephesians 6:11-12 AMP
In 2017, the Barna Group conducted research concerning how Americans pray. This was their conclusion. “Prayer is not only the most common faith practice among American adults (79% have prayed at least once in the past three months), it is also one of the most complex and multifaceted.”[2] The bible references many types of prayer including devotional, worship and intercession. Spiritual warfare prayer is another type of prayer. While some believers attempt to avoid the realm of spiritual warfare, the reality is that the powers of darkness are committed to hindering your prayers.When this happens, you must engage in a dimension of prayer that forces the enemy to release your provision, health, peace, or anything else he is attempting to steal from you.
What Is Spiritual Warfare Prayer?
Spiritual warfare prayer, or warfare prayer as is it referred to by some, is the dimension of prayer that addresses issues of unanswered prayer. This dimension of prayer brings us face to face in the spiritual realm with demonic hindrances attempting to hold back manifestation of prayers we have prayed. A good example of these types of demonic hindrances can be seen in Daniel 10. In this chapter, Daniel has a supernatural encounter with an angelic messenger sent to him by God. Upon arrival, the angel informs Daniel that on the first day that Daniel prayed, he (the angel) was sent with a response but was hindered by the Prince of Persia. He goes on to tell Daniel that one of God’s war angels, Michael, was sent to help him break through. The dimension of spiritual warfare is a weapon capable of pushing back the powers of darkness attempting to stop the flow of blessings in your life.
Engagement
Our weapons of warfare are designed to overcome the enemy. In a natural war fought on earthly battlefields, strategies and weapons that will defeat the enemy are used. The soldiers on the battlefield are thoroughly trained in the use of their weapons. The same principle applies to your spiritual battles. We have been given spiritual weapons to war against and overcome the powers of darkness. Apostle Paul shares this truth in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. You must learn to use your spiritual weapons of war to defeat the powers of darkness. Effective engagement not only requires knowledge of your weapons, it also requires a commitment to use them. You have been provided with a powerful arsenal of weapons. Some of our weapons are:
- Shield of Faith. Our shield of faith protects us from the fiery darts of hell that come against us daily. Romans 10:17 states: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” As we spend time in the presence of our Father and reading the word of God, our faith increases.
- Truth. We are instructed to wear truth like a belt firmly wrapped around us. We are commanded to walk in personal integrity and moral courage. Jesus declared: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). Truth overcomes every lie of the enemy.
- Righteousness. In ancient wars, soldiers wore breastplates which served as protection for their chest area. The chest is the area where the heart lives. Righteousness is the breastplate which guards our hearts from evil.
- Gospel of Peace. When you wear the shoes of the gospel of peace, you are able to stand firm-footed against the enemy. By having the good news of the Gospel as a firm foundation, you overcome instability.
- Helmet of salvation. Our minds must be delivered from ungodly thoughts and behaviors. As we are delivered, we must develop the mind of Christ, thinking His thoughts, evidenced by a commitment to revealing the Father as Christ did.
- The sword of the Spirit. The Word of God is our weapon that helps us to know God’s will. Knowledge helps us to understand how the kingdom of God operates and overcomes ignorance. Jesus used the Word of God to defeat the enemy in the wilderness. We too must learn to use the Word of God to continue to defeat the enemies of the Kingdom.
You are a heavily-armed soldier equipped to overcome every power of hell that comes against you. With these same weapons, Jesus overcame every assignment of the enemy that came against him. You have been empowered through Holy Spirit to win every battle. As you commit to learning to use your weaponry, stand in faith, you will experience victory after victory, and your life will shift to the next level. Let’s go!
Dr. Venner Alston is the author of Next Level Spiritual Warfare: Advance Strategies for Defeating the Enemy. To purchase your copy or to learn more about VJ Alston International Ministries, contact https://drvjalston.org
[1] Alston,V (2019). Next-Level Spiritual Warfare: Advance Strategies for Overcoming the Enemy. Chosen Books.
[2] The Barna Group. Silent and Solo: How Americans Pray. August 2017. Retrieved from https://www.barna.com/research/silent-solo-americans-pray/
