It’s Not Your Imagination… The Battle Is Real!

Posted on by Jennifer Arimborgo

Sword

“Our fight is not against people on earth but against… the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world” (Eph. 6:12, NCV).

Whether we realize it or not, we are living out our lives in the middle of a fierce combat zone. Many of us have not yet learned to discern the spiritual origins of much of the turbulence that comes into our lives. However, the spiritual battle that rages around us is incredibly real.

When the Scripture refers to us as soldiers, Holy Spirit is not merely speaking metaphorically. We truly, legitimately ARE operating on a violent battle field. The sound of clashing armies resounds all around us.

So much of our Christian life is a training ground for growing in effectiveness as warriors. One of the most vital aspects of this training is learning to ascend. In order to operate from the place of victory that Jesus purchased for us with His blood, it’s absolutely essential that we learn to go up higher in the heavenly realms.

Ascending means locking our focus on the One who is invisible. As we connect into the reality of His matchless, glorious, untouchable rule over everything that exists, we will find ourselves immersed in the atmosphere of heaven.

Fear will have no place in our hearts if our gaze is fixed on the Lord of Angel Armies! He is God Almighty, and the demons tremble at the mere mention of His name on the lips of one who walks closely with Him. With a mere blast of breath from His nostrils, He could slay every last one of His enemies in the blink of any eye.

About three years ago, I was in the midst of some exceptionally intense warfare. It was one of those seasons where nearly every day was a painful struggle. In the middle of everything that was going on, Holy Spirit spoke gently to my heart. “You don’t have to stay down there,” He said. “Come up here with Me.” He was inviting me to ascend.

The battle is real. We are in it. Yet, in Him, we are powerfully elevated above the skirmish even as our bodies are in it. Even as our boots are on the ground, our spirits are united with Christ high above any demonic name that can be named on the earth.

Today, ask Holy Spirit to open your eyes to your breathtaking position seated with Jesus in heavenly realms. When you learn to operate from the place of victory that is yours, it will make all the difference!

*****************************************************

Have you had one of those days where you suddenly realize all of a sudden that the explanation for everything going wrong in that moment… must be spiritual? If so, how do you handle that?

 

 

38 thoughts on “It’s Not Your Imagination… The Battle Is Real!”

  1. Jennifer, your words are part of my quiet time this morning with the Lord. Ephesians 6:10-17 is one of my favorite places to go in the Bible. I feel ready to go into the rest of my day. One of my favorite worship songs is “Whom Shall I Fear” which refers to God and His Angel Armies.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

      2. I just looked it up. I actually have Chris Tomlin’s version on my iPod, I just don’t memorize song names very well sometimes. But I LOVE that song! I have listened to it on repeat quite a number of times. So, so powerful!! 🙂 🙂 Listening to it again now. Thanks my brother, for adding refreshment to my evening!

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Oh yes, more then once and expect there will be more. Jennifer, three key words the Lord has planted in my Spirt are, PAUSE and LOOK AWAY. He has enforced this in so many of my circumstances each day. So, it works like this, when a disturbing event comes into my life, I first Pause and Pray, knowing that all power and strength comes from the Father. I next Look Away and focus on that which Jesus sees. The battle at hand crumbles immediately or the invisible presence of the SPIRIT stands between me and the enemy. It has never failed, if I obey. Trusting in the Lord each moment of the day. Len Wisniewski

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. That is an incredibly powerful, effective strategy, Len. Goes right along with the instruction from Col. 3 to set our eyes on the things that are above, not on what is of the earth. When we can fix our gaze on His reality, that perspective changes everything! Thank you so much for sharing this!

      Like

      Reply

  3. My goodness! How have we posted the same thing on the same day??? Wow! This is exactly what my post was about this morning and I believe that God wants us to know who we are fighting. Thanks for confirming this. God is soo good!

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  4. To answer your questions – yes, I have had those moments of realization. The first thing I do is kick myself for not recognizing the warfare earlier! But since kicking myself is not very helpful, I then face it with faith, prayer, and the Word of God – our sword.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Haha I sure am with you on that! I have so many moments too where I finally realize it and then am asking myself, “Why did it take this long to discern this?” I do realize, though, that the enemy has practiced the art of disguising his presence for 6,000 years, so I receive Daddy’s grace and keep on moving forward. I also love what Bill Johnson teaches: “Fight _from_ the place of victory that is already yours; not _for_ victory.” Faith, prayer, and the Word — right on target, my sister!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. You would probably like a song by Keith Green, if you haven’t heard it already, called “No One Believes in Me Any More.” It’s the devil congratulatuing himself on being so good at hiding his existence from modern “enlightened” people. 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  5. I believe an important thing to remember here is that, while Scripture tells us the good guys win in the end, that doesn’t mean we can just sit back and not do the heavy lifting we have been created to do. So my answer to your question is this– the realization that the war still rages turns into a call to arms. If one single person out there doesn’t know about Jesus, the work of the Body of Christ is not done. And if one person dies that we could have reached, and didn’t get introduced to the Savior, that’s on us.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Amen! The armor of God doesn’t mean we won’t be attacked – it’s to protect us WHEN we are attacked. Having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace doesn’t mean now we can put our feet up! And the shield of faith doesn’t mean the fiery arrows of the evil one won’t come, it quenches them when they do.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    2. I like that expression, “the heavy lifting we have been created to do.” That sums it up perfectly. And He gives us the supernatural strength through His Holy Spirit to do everything He calls us to do in each battle! Thank you, Mike. 🙂

      Like

      Reply

      1. And your response has a Scriptural basis, in I Peter chapter 4 (I think, but definitely I Peter): “Those who serve do so with the strength provided by God.” So we never– ever– have to worry about going into battle alone. I pray that more people realize this! — Mike

        Liked by 1 person

  7. The devil’s stronghold is being destroyed! The Lord is arming His saints and they’re battle tested and battle ready!!!

    And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for [b]them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

    10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”…Revelation 12:7-12

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  8. The battle in these days across the world is definitely the battle of DECEPTIONS and forces of darkness striving to prevent the KINGDOM of our Christ from being established. Forget the politics and the destruction and media lies and distortions and accept it is ALL from the darkness of deception. The Kingdom of Light is rising. Thank God. Church KNOW that the battles is over. Jesus Christ is LORD but we must live and be strong in HIM to stand. Thank God for the POWER in the Spirit of God given so we can overcome. We all need in 2019 not only to connect firmly back to the shed blood of Christ at the Cross but to ask for God the Holy Spirit to fill us again with His Power and authority so the world will KNOW. Christ has risen from the dead. His Kingdom will come and all the demons of hell will not prevail.
    Beloved know you are HIS.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. I quiet my spirit and look at what is going on and begin to bind every contrary spirit that comes against the will and purpose of God ” In the Name of Jesus” ! I step back from the discourse , trust God, and watch Him put the enemy in place!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. That’s powerful, Carol. I can sense from your answer that you walk closely with the Lord and have grown much in the authority He has given you. How wonderful! We praise You, Lord Jesus, for faithfully teaching us these truths!!

      Like

      Reply

  10. Jennifer, so many of my moments, hours, days consume every single breath of sadness and despair. I know I cannot change anything. I can try my hardest forever….and I will. But I undeniably find my strength in my silent time of meditation. I just LISTEN!! It feels so amazing and my heart overflows with gratefulness. Thank you for encouraging me…us!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. My precious sister, Jesus cares so deeply about your sorrow. I have not experienced the same kind of loss as you have, but I my heart has been bloodied in other ways. I want to encourage you that Jesus has beautiful healing to minister to our hearts, this side of Heaven. He has truly healed my wounded, bleeding heart. He wants to do that for you too. I feel Him wanting to let you know that He wants to heal you in tangible ways where you will experience real, lasting relief and new joy, in this lifetime. If you would be interested, I could recommend some wonderful books about the healing of the heart through Jesus.

      Like

      Reply

      1. it is so wonderful to know that we have a very best friend forever! I am so happy your heart is healed. This world is hard and it takes a continual healing doesn’t it? And sure I love reading. Sending you my love as always❤️

        Liked by 1 person

      2. It is indeed wonderful beyond words. And yep, we need so much healing just from living in this fallen world! Here are a couple titles that have blessed me a lot: Prayers that Heal the Heart by Mark and Patti Virkler, and The Healing of Memories by David Seamands. May they be a wonderful blessing to you too!

        Like

Leave a comment