In this kingdom, the church seems to be suffering various devastation in the hands of the devil and his agents. Many church members end up being victims and casualties in this spiritual warfare.
One of the reason why this is so is the fact that the church seems not to understand the rules of engagement of our spiritual warfare and that results in being victims and casualties.
The Apostle Paul one of the apostles that understand the rules of engagement of our spiritual warfare said in 2Corinthians 2:11 saying, “lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices”.
According to Paul, he said, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices”. Here Paul mentioned two rules of engagements. First, he said, “lest Satan should get an advantage of us”.
Here, Paul pointed at what can be said to be one of the rule of engagement we should never allow the devil to get advantage over us. Today, many are victims and casualties of our spiritual warfare because they allowed Satan to get an advantage over them.
As long as, either by omission or commission you allow Satan to get advantage over you, you can never succeed in this spiritual warfare. Secondly, another major reasons according to Paul is being ignorant of the devices of Satan.
Not to be ignorant of the devices of Satan is one of the major rule of engagement in our spiritual warfare. Today, ignorance of the devices of Satan is the bane of the church in that Satan gets advantage of many as a result of their ignorance of his devices.
Apostle Paul also mentioned other rules of engagement of our spiritual warfare in 2Corinthians 10:3-6 saying, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
From the above passage, one of the rules of engagement we need to understand is mentioned in 2Corinthians 10:3, saying “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh”.
What Paul was trying to point out is that we can never succeed in our spiritual warfare if we war after the flesh. Many members of the church are today victims and casualties in this spiritual warfare because they are trying to wage the war using their arm of flesh, warring after the flesh.
Another rules of engagement we need to understand is the need to use the correct weapon in this spiritual warfare. According to Paul, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;
One unfortunate thing in this spiritual warfare is that many of the church members are using carnal weapons to fight this warfare while as Paul said that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.
Using a carnal weapon is like using bow and arrow to confront an opponent with a machine gun. That is the reason for heavy casualties in the church.
Apostle Paul equally mentioned another rules of engagement of our spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:10-17 saying, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
In this passage, one of the rules of engagement Paul mentioned that we need to understand is the need to put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Many of the church members are not able to stand against the wiles of the devil because they are not putting on the whole armor of God. Many are equally victims and casualties because of not putting on the whole armor of God.
In all, we need to fully understand these rules of engagement if we don’t want to be a victim and casualty in this spiritual warfare. Rather, our full understanding of the rules of engagement makes us conquerors in this spiritual warfare. Shalom!
