For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction for fortresses (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).
The spiritual warfare is an ongoing process; though they vary in intensity, battles take place every day. The experience of the conflict often increases when believers get serious about walking with the Lord. This is why it is important for us to grow and mature in areas in which we have experienced healing and deliverance. Because our adversary is relentless, Scripture exhorts us to “be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). We need to be prepared for sudden skirmishes by wielding the weapons God has provided for our victory.
This requires both discipline and dependence; the spiritual life is both a three-front battle and a faith rest in God’s promises. On the side of discipline, Jesus tells us to deny ourselves, take up His cross daily, and follow Him (Luke 9:23). We are no longer under the dominion of the flesh; through Christ we can crucify the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24). Yielding to fleshly appetites and becoming comfortable with things God detests (Galatians 5:19-21) leads to spiritual vulnerability.
On the side of dependence, God does not want us to walk in our own strength but in the power of His Spirit. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). Too many Christians regard the Spirit-filled life as an option. The fullness of the Spirit is essential for genuine victory and ministry (Ephesians 5:18). Unconfessed sin grieves and quenches the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19). We must confess our sins of relying on our own effort and yield all areas of our lives to God (Romans 6:13, 19). As we depend upon the Spirit for guidance and empowering, Christ is glorified in our lives.
Taken from Ken Boa’s Handbook to Spiritual Growth
