Watchman: In The Language Of The Holy Writ, There Is A Time For All Things. There Is A Time To Preach And A Time To Fight. And Now Is The Time To Fight

BY SRH

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven, the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1.

“In the language of the Holy Writ, there is a time for all things. There is a time to preach and a time to fight. And now is the time to fight.”

Fighting in the Bible can be physical or spiritual. Either way, the conflict is intended to establish dominance over the opposition. That opposition can be a human army, Satan, or sin. Fighting involves intense effort; it is a struggle that requires maximum exertion, whether physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual. When Jude tells us to “earnestly contend for the faith” (Jude 1:3, KJV), he uses a form of the Greek word agónizomai, from which we get our English word agonize. Eugene Peterson paraphrases Jude 1:3 as “fight with everything you have.”

The spiritual warfare that we are currently engaged in, it is imperative that we recognize that this is not a battle that is being fought passively. It demands us to be active, to be bold, and to meet the enemy head-on. This is not a battle we can win by staying in the shadows or by avoiding confrontation. Our only option is to confront the adversary while armed with the full armor of God and to fight with all of our strength.

The first thing we need to understand is that the enemy we are battling is not a physical one. We are not fighting against people or nations, but against spiritual forces of evil. This is a battle that takes place in the spiritual realm, but its effects are felt in the physical world. The enemy uses lies, deceit, and temptation to try and lead us astray. On the other hand, we must endure these assaults with steadfastness, armed with the truth that is found in the Word of God.

The second point to keep in mind is that we are not alone in this battle. The Lord is with us, and His power surpasses any adversary we may encounter. He has already secured victory through His death and resurrection, providing us with the strength to remain steadfast against the enemy’s assaults. Our fight is not in our own power, but in the power of the Lord.

The third point to remember is that we have been equipped with the necessary tools for this battle. The armor of God, as outlined in Ephesians 6, is not merely symbolic. It represents a genuine, practical set of resources we can utilize to protect ourselves from the enemy’s strikes. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit are all instruments we can wield to stand strong against the enemy.

The fourth point to grasp is that this battle is not a singular occurrence. It is a continuous, persistent struggle. The enemy does not take a break, and we cannot afford to either. We must remain alert, always prepared, and ready to stand firm against the enemy’s onslaughts. We need to be ready to fight, not just once, but every day, every moment of our lives.