Time to get on the offense!

Warfare, warfare, warfare! So many people are afraid of warfare.  I believe this is due to a lack of understanding of what it is, what are the available weapons and how to use them. Persons are also ignorant of who the enemies are, their skillset and weapons. There is also confusion about ranks, roles and responsibilities. If we who name the name of Jesus, really know who God is, we will remember that we are continually fighting from a victory standpoint and so absolutely no fear should be entertained, as victory is a foregone conclusion.

We have three enemies, our flesh (Gal. 5:19-21,Rom. 8:7), the world (1John 2:15-16),  and Satan (Rev. 12:9-10). In this blog, I want to explore a strategy in the Word of God that became more clear to me in recent times. This has helped me in my prayer life, has improved how I fight, uncomplicated some things for me and has brought hope and courage. 1 Timothy 1:18 KJV says,

¹⁸ This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; ¹⁹ Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

The strategy from this scripture is the use of prophecy in warfare. Apostle Paul charged his spiritual son to fight using prophecy. The word charge in the Greek is “paraggelia” which Helps-Word studies says is, “a command, literally “something announced from close-beside” and therefore fully authorized.” Interestingly it further added, “Christ speaks His rhēma-word into the believer – giving a command (3852 /paraggelía) that passes on His preferred-will. Accordingly, 3852 (paraggelía) and faith (4102 /pístis, “God’s inworked persuasions“) are directly connected.” This is to be understood that this charge that Timothy was given was not merely words of wisdom but a Rhema word directly from the Spirit of God to handle the things he was currently experiencing in His life. It is to be noted that this charge to use prophecy in warfare has to be linked with faith which verse 19 posits.

By prophecy he should war a good warfare. Greek word for war from Helps Word studies is, “strateúomai – properly, to contend, fighting like a soldier in war; (figuratively) to engage in spiritual warfare.” So Timothy was to use prophecy and contend, fight like a soldier, engage in spiritual warfare. Now the prophecies that he was told to utilize were those that were spoken over his life. Timothy was being commanded to call to remembrance the words that men and/or women of God spoke, and use them to fight.

What came forcibly to me was that prophecy was being used as an offensive weapon just as the Sword of the spirit in the armor of God. If we look back at the charge according to Helps word studies it mentions a charge being a Rhema word, one that is fully authorized. Let’s actually examine the Greek word for Word as used as in  Ephesians 6:17, pertaining to the Sword of the Spirit. The Greek for that Word is Rhema and not Logos. Helps word studies says rhema is “a spoken word, made “by the living voice” (J. Thayer). 4487 /rhḗma (“spoken-word”) is commonly used in the NT (for the Lord speaking His dynamic, living word in a believer to inbirth faith (“His inwrought persuasion”). Ro 10:17: “So faith proceeds from (spiritual) hearing; moreover this hearing (is consummated) through a rhēma-word (4487 /rhḗma) from Christ” (Gk text).” What this is saying, the command Timothy was given, the instruction was the living word of God that when used would lead to faith. Remember that it is the shield of faith that quenches the fiery darts of the wicked. So the prophesies are to be seen as rhema words, words from the spirit of God spoken by humans to fight a spiritual battle. When we keep declaring what God has released to us whether through prophetic words, prophetic dreams, prophetic visions, or even if the prophecy came from a verse of scripture, it is enough to cause us to fight effectively. Job said that we decree things and they are established. It is always God’s intent that rhema words be established. So when we use prophecy to fight we can expect not only our faith to increase to quench the darts fired at us on a matter, but to cut down and prevent the manifestations of the adversary’s decrees and intents. We have to stand firm with regards to every decree that God has declared over our lives! God’s word, whether Rhema or Logos (embodiment of a concept or idea, written word, speech, Jesus is Logos), WILL Not return to Him void. He honors His words above His name! Notice that when Ezekiel released the prophetic word over the dry bones, the entire valley was filled with a mighty army! This is the power of using prophecy to bring change, deliverance, healing, peace. We have to boldly and confidently declare who God said we are, and what He said we can and will do! It’s time to stop buying the lie of the adversary and be prepared to become all that God has said over our lives, families, ministries, country etc.!