Christian Behavior: Spiritual Warfare: Exercise and Watching

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

– Romans 6:4

So far, we have talked about being armed (with Scripture memory and meditation) and a little about our armor (Ephesians 6), as well as the overall power of prayer and ten prayer “attack vectors” we might use. Now let’s look at a few other warfare subjects to strengthen and give power to our Warfare Prayer Life.

1. Are You a Watchman?

You accepted Christ as your Savior. You repented of your sins. You are growing in faith and have a growing prayer life. Have you become one of God’s watchmen? Are you looking out for the saints as well as yourself? Consider:

1 Chronicles 12:32: “And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.”

Joshua 5:13-15:

And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? And the captain of the LORD’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

Joshua 11:15: “As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.”

Joshua 24:29: “And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being a hundred and ten years old.”

Psalm 127:1: “A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”

Isaiah 21:5-6: “Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield. For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchmen, let him declare what he seeth.”

Isaiah 21:11-12: “The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: return, come.”

Matthew 24:42: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.“

Matthew 25:13: “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.“

Matthew 26:41: “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.“

1 Corinthians 16:13: “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

1 Peter 4:7: “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”

2. Do You Fear the LORD?

Fear of the Lord is not a bad thing; it is, indeed, the right thing. Today so many preachers and teachers want us to be God’s buddies, friends, partners, etc. and, to some degree, we are – BUT He is still the Holy God of the Universe, Creator, righteous Lord, and King of Kings; and is due all our worship, honor, and praise. Our warfare power is increased when we properly fear Him. We forget that the fallen angels once worked in the very throne room of God, and they fear Him!!! James 2:19: “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

Deuteronomy 6:2 (bold added): “That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.”

1 Samuel 12:14: “If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:”

Psalm 25:14: “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.”

Psalm 111:10: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever.”

Proverbs 1:7: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Proverbs 8:13: “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”

Proverbs 9:10: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

Proverbs 10:27: “The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.”

Proverbs 14:26: “In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.”

Proverbs 14:27: “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.”

Proverbs 19:23: “The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.”

Jeremiah 33:6-9:

Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth. And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me. And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honor before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.

3. Do You Pray God’s Will?

When we abide in Christ (meaning as Christians we seek to do His will), He hears our prayers and answers them in a way that glorifies Him. Our relationship with Christ confirms that we are, indeed, His children. There are many areas that are clear as to what God’s will is. Some of those are listed below. But when we are not sure, the following verses may help us to focus and concentrate on obtaining God’s will for our lives:

Not willing that any should perish
Do not be unequally yoked
No liars in Heaven
No gossiping
Avoid fornication – flee lusts
One man-one women – divorce hated by God
Be conformed into Jesus’ image
Take on the mind of Christ
Abide with Him – bear fruit
Share the gospel and make disciples
Learn of Christ (Matthew 11:29: take His yoke)

John 15:7-8: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.“

Psalm 37:4: “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

James 4:3: “Ye ask, and received not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

Colossians 1:9: “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;”

John 9:31: “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshiper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.”

Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

4. Do You Keep a Clean Slate with God – Confession?

John 14:30: “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.“

Luke 22:31-32: “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.“

John 14:30: “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.“

Psalm 51:1b-2: “Have mercy (2603) upon me, O God, (430) according to thy lovingkindness: (2617) according unto the multitude (7230) of thy tender mercies (7356) blot out (4229) my transgressions. (6588) Wash (3526) me thoroughly (7235) from mine iniquity, (4480, 5771) and cleanse (2891) me from my sin. (4480, 2403).”

(The following definitions are taken from Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionary (E-Sword))

Blot Out: “H4229, mâchâh, maw-khaw’: A primitive root: properly to stroke or rub; but implication to erase; also to smooth (as if with oil), that is, grease or make fat; also to touch, that is, reach to: – abolish, blot out, destroy, full of marrow, put out, reach unto, X utterly, wipe (away, out).”

Wash “H3526, kâbas, kaw-bas’: A primitive root; to trample; hence to wash (properly by stamping with the feet), whether literally (including the fulling process) or figuratively: – fuller, wash (-ing).” A fuller washes the oil and dirt out of wool. He washes it until its been made clean.

Thoroughly: “H7235 râbâh raw-baw’: A primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect): . . .”

Cleanse: “H2891, tâhêr, taw-hare’: A primitive root; properly to be bright; that is, (by implication) to be pure (physically sound, clear, unadulterated; Levitically uncontaminated; morally innocent or holy): – be (make, make self, pronounce) clean, cleanse (self), purge, purify (-ier, self).” Picture of a running stream, as opposed to a bowl of water.

Iniquity: “H5771, ‘âvôn, aw-vone’: From H5753; perversity, that is, (moral) evil: – fault, iniquity, mischief, punishment (of iniquity), sin.” Carpenter’s term: a warped ruler or measurement tool.

Transgression: “H6588, pesha’, peh’-shah: From H6586; a revolt (national, moral or religious): – rebellion, sin, transgression, trespassive”; to knowingly violate the law. Legal term.

Sin: “H2403 chattâ’th khat-taw-aw’: From H2398; an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender: – punishment (of sin), purifying (-fication for sin), sin (-ner, offering).” Archer’s term – to miss the mark.

As we exercise ourselves in praise to the Lord, Scripture memory and meditation, intercessory prayer and other daily ‘spiritual warfare’ activities, we will find that confession (keeping a clean slate with God), learning and then doing God’s will for our lives, and have a proper fear of God will place us in a much better position to be God’s watchmen and to see powerful answers to our prayers.

This concludes this series of articles on Christian Behavior.

Maranatha!

May God bless you all!

Bro. Joe

References

Strong, J. Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. Meyers, R. (2005). e-Sword. [computer software] . Franklin, TN: Equipping Ministries Foundation. (Original work published 1539)

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