The Merriam Webster dictionary defines a warrior as a person engaged or experienced in warfare. A spiritual warrior is therefore a person who is engaged in spiritual warfare.
Today, Hollywood has made everyone to have an idea of how battles look like through movies. We have seen various kinds of war movies like Black Hawk Down, Platoon, Full Metal Jacket e.t.c., which shows how opposing groups fight for either power or freedom, this event will bring destruction to one and victory to the other.
From the above illustration, the same is applicable in the realm of the spirit (an environment that cannot be seen by an ordinary eye). There is a battle constantly going on which we can’t see physically – a spiritual battle. We have heard this phrase “the spiritual, controls the physical”, this means that, before anything manifest physically is has existed or has been carried out in the spiritual realm – for short, what we see physically is a result of what has happened spiritually.
The ability to gain insight into the spiritual realm needs a supernatural experience that can only be induced by God Almighty. In essence, a spiritual warrior needs to connect the Almighty God to receive the ability to access this spiritual realm
EVIDENCE OF SPIRITUAL BATTLES
One of the mistakes made by someone who claims to be a spiritual warrior is the ignorance of the existence of this spiritual battle. How do you mean? Shouldn’t a person who is called a spiritual warrior know about this battle? True, every believer in Christ both the old and newly converted have automatically become a spiritual warrior. This doesn’t mean that spiritual warfare doesn’t exist outside the body of Christ, it does. So many people after accepting Christ into their lives stop at that point and do less to enlighten themselves on what is ahead of them. 2 Timothy 2:15 says “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” It is through constant study of the word of God and listening to spiritual preachers that help us understand what being a believer (a spiritual warrior) is all about.
Ephesians 6:12
“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”.
Knowing that spiritual battles exist, whether we are aware of it or not, it needs to be fought. A spiritual warrior would continue fighting spiritual warfare until he sleeps in the Lord. The reasons things turn out to be either good or bad for anyone is the outcome of these spiritual battles. For a spiritual warrior to be victorious, he must always be prepared.
Battles are often characterized by bloodshed, injuries, death, destruction, and whatever you can picture as brutal. The blood that stains a person who is involved or has been involved in a battle is either their blood, the blood from a team member, or their enemy. Isaiah 9:5 says, “For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood…”
THE OUTFITS OF A SPIRITUAL WARRIOR
For a spiritual warrior to be prepared means that all training and outfits are in place, A warrior in battle is sometimes hit by bullets which could lead to a major or minor injury or even death. The ability to defend the attacks from opposition depends on the quality and the type of outfits he puts on. The outfits of a spiritual warrior are made effective by God 2Corinthians 10:3-4, “3. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4. (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)”. Paul the Apostle explains the outfits for a spiritual warrior in Ephesians 6:11-17
“11. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12. 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. 13. 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. 14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”
From the above, we can deduce the armor that a spiritual warrior needs to put on to be victorious:
- Belt – Truth
- Breastplate – Righteousness
- Shoes – Ready to preach the good news
- Shield – Faith
- Helmet – Salvation
- Sword – The word of God
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A SPIRITUAL WARRIOR
The outfits of a spiritual warrior include the Belt, Breastplate, Shoes, Shield, Helmet, and Sword. Each of these outfits is the characteristics a spiritual warrior must possess to be victorious in any spiritual warfare.
Truth – A spiritual warrior must be truthful, no matter the outcome or circumstances he finds himself. He is always ready and never afraid of saying the truth whatever the cost may be – he defends the truth.
Righteousness – A spiritual warrior must ensure to always do the right things at all costs and should know that Christ is his righteousness because our righteousness is like a filthy rag before God (2Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 64:6).
Preaching the Gospel – The preaching of the gospel is how the power of God is revealed. The next characteristic of a spiritual warrior, which is faith, comes by listening to the gospel when it is being preached. Always preaching the gospel, puts the spiritual warrior in a position of receiving more spiritual gifts and blessings from God Romans 10:17, Romans 1:16.
Faith – A spiritual warrior needs to possess faith because, without it, there would a limitation. Without faith, we can’t bring the things we hope for alive. Anything we desire to get or whichever result we want to achieve, faith is essential to bring them to manifestation – with faith, it is impossible to please Romans 14:23, Hebrews 11:6, Matthew 17:20.
Salvation – Before anyone can be a victorious spiritual warrior, they must be saved, born again, must have received Jesus Christ as Lord and savior – this is the first step. It acts like a helmet, to protect the most important part of the body – the head. It’s very rare for a soldier who is shot on the head to survive John 3:16, Romans 10:13, 2Corinthians 5:17.
Word of God – The knowledge of the word of God is the main weapon a spiritual warrior must possess after salvation and faith. This is what we can term as a gun, sword, or whatever sophisticated military weapon that is used in battles. A spiritual warrior would come across many situations in life and as such, would need to exercise his knowledge on the word of God to combat and be victorious. For example, when a spiritual warrior is faced with lack, he can challenge it with the word of God by simply saying “the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” or he can say “but my God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. You can preview the following popular scriptures and perhaps, learn them Luke 10:19, Romans 8:31, IJohn 4:4, Isaiah 54:17, Isaiah 43:19, Ephesians 3:20, Exodus 14:13-14, Psalm 91 e.t.c.
As a result of battles, victorious soldiers are always characterized by scars, this is what makes them stronger against internal and external forces, brings discipline, self-control, seriousness and commitment, boldness, and strength because opposition takes anyone who is victorious to an up-position.
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