Bible Discussion Thread

Futher insights on prayer in regard to spiritual warfare.

INTERCESSORY prayer is something which frankly I haven't really studied in the Old Testament; but is also an important if not necessary act of spiritual warfare as Ephesians 6 in particular emphasizes. Perhaps it could best be compared to the wars of conquest of Israel for several reasons. First of all; it identifies the enemy and in no uncertain terms. The Lord would call for destruction of Israel's neighbors at the time because of their sinful religious practices; which included child sacrifice and in the case of at least one king; killing babies in the womb ( 1 Samuel 15:33 in regard to killing king Agag). The enemy of our souls comes to "steal; kill and destroy". ( John 10:10). We are called to love our enemies in regard to the sinner; but not the sin. Satan and his hordes are unredeemable and constantly coming against God's people and blinding the unregenerate. Just WHY believers seem so tepid in confronting this menacing enemy is a real conundrum in my mind; and sadly I can't help think it is because their walk is so compromised that they dare not face such a foe and find it easier to put it in the back of their minds as a lesser threat for some reason.

Of course there is no reason to hate sin and not the author of confusion; or vice versa. We can't put all the blame on Satan but not using our one offensive weapon the sword of the Spirit is both; well stupid and detrimental to the mutual well being of the saints. This may be the only time I would use such an offensive approach in terms of a general rebuke; and of course I have to face my own myopic prayer life when saying this to others. David had a sling and a stone to use as his armor was untested; a criminal would have only perhaps a file to whittle at his prison cell bars; we have only one offensive weapon in the Ephesians 6 inventory; that of the sword of the Spirit. NEVER go after Satan in your own strength that is also dumb.