Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Christian Podcast Central

Home
Evangelical - Sponsored
School Circle 7: Spiritual Warfare with Josiah Hirsch

School Circle 7: Spiritual Warfare with Josiah Hirsch

Last updated on: August 17, 2016 at 10:25 am by Christian Podcast Central

School Circle 7: Spiritual Warfare with Josiah Hirsch 2016-08-17T10:25:27-08:00 Christian Podcast Central

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

School Circle Slider v1

School Circle 7: Spiritual Warfare with Josiah Hirsch Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Josiah joins the show this week, straight from his new “agricultural job”, harvesting medicinal marijuana. An interesting endeavor, considering he has never partaken of the forbidden herb.

Which leads us to a conversation about the worst jobs we’ve ever had.

For Vince, a gearhead at heart, working customer service was the worst ever. Though, he may have taken things a bit too far when he told an overweight (and annoying) customer to calm down, Hometown Buffet will stay open for her until 10:00pm. But, when you think about it, just as ever Israeli citizen has to do a stint serving in their nation’s military, it should be national policy in the U.S. that every person must serve four years in a customer service job. This alone would cut down on the amount of adult jerks we have walking our streets.

Josiah once worked as a fire sprinkler fitter. Now, it should be common knowledge that fire sprinklers would lead to a flowing water source. What Josiah didn’t realize was that over time, years of black sludge fills the pipes and often flows out before the actual “clean” water sprays out any fire. No one typically cares or notices the sludge, since the only time these liquids should pour forth is in the event of a catastrophic fire. Well, leave it to Josiah to accidentally release the sprinkler, spraying water, sludge, goop, and slime all over a business’ walls, floors and furniture – not to mention all over Josiah.

Which leads us to spiritual warfare.

Like so many of us, to Justin even the words “spiritual warfare” seem daunting and other-worldly… probably because in many ways, it is.

That’s why we have Josiah on board this week.

But first, let’s look at Ephesians 6:10-20,

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

David Guzik, Pastor at Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara wrote that there is a real battle to fight for each of us who call ourselves Christians. That’s spiritual warfare. This is why Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:10 that we need to be strong with God’s might. In addition to being filled with a strength that comes from God, it is up to each of us to put on the full Armor of God. Both of these things are essential, and while many teachers focus on the Armor of God, too many people neglect our need to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might”. If you think about this in non-metaphorical terms, if you take a weak man and load him up with the most sophisticated of armor, he will still be a weak soldier underneath it all, and he will be easily beaten.

Image: The Cracked Door

Now, there is no secret incantation to becoming strong in God’s might. You can’t just repeat the words over and over and it will happen. As in any strength building, this takes training.

And when we are talking about God’s might, we are talking about His power and His force put together. Someone, like Vince, who has bulging muscles, displays his might, even when he doesn’t use them. But, this is the exact opposite of strength. Strength is when someone’s might is actually executed. And, oh… does God have infinite reservoirs of might and power!

But, His might cannot work through us, if we just passively sit on the sidelines of life. We grow strong in His might as we constantly rely on it and step out to do God’s work.

Now, it is possible to rely on it, but do no work. It’s also possible to do work without relying on God’s might.

But both of these fall short.

We must first rely on God’s might to strengthen us, then go out and serve Him by following His commandments and doing His work through His might.

Which brings us to our need to wear God’s Armor… His FULL set of Armor. Because, whether we want to admit it, or believe it, or not, we are in a battle. If you deny this or are unaware of it, you are most likely not winning the war against “principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Did you get that? Our battle is not against other people (flesh and blood). Though, that tends to be the direction too many Christians focus their energies towards (i.e., take down that candidate, boycott that organization, scathingly blog about this person or that).

But, catch this, according to verse 12, it is completely irrelevant whether we are fighting against a principality, a power, or even a ruler of the darkness or wicked spiritual host. Collectively, they are all members of an organized spiritual army – a rank and file under the headship of Satan.

Yet, as Romans 8:38-39 tells us:

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Therefore, all of Satan’s rank and file – even Satan himself – cannot keep us from God’s love and are limited in their power and ability.

In fact, Colossians 2:15 tells us that Jesus has:

“…disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

All this to say, our victory in spiritual warfare is rooted in what Jesus has already done by dying for our sins and being resurrected from the dead, not what we do. This is why it is God’s Armor that we need to gird ourselves up with – not our own abilities or knowledge. THAT is how we can stand firm against our attackers.

But, from a skeptical point of view, what differentiates someone being overcome by the evil principalities and forces and mere, common sleep paralysis? Or even, once upon a time, people who suffered from epilepsy were considered demon possessed. If someone sees the empirical and scientific phenomena that explains certain circumstances, and they read Paul’s words in the New Testament, how should he differentiate and discern between the two?

Josiah recommends going to the basics – read the Biblical blueprint. Start out by reading your Bible, God’s word. Feel free to Google your questions in order to find a starting point in which Scriptures to start with (but find your answers in God’s word… not Wikipedia).

Previous Post

August 16, 2016

WWUTT: Day-Age Creationism?

Next Post

August 18, 2016 Reflections of Grace 128: Do You See Me?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Brad Stine Has Issues Christian Podcast Central Classic Podcast Experience God Life Grounded Ouxano Parent Like You Mean It The Protest Show with Thor Ramsey The Summit Lecture Series Uncategorized What You’ve Been Searching For

Select a Month July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz