There was a time that my personal “motto” in Spiritual Warfare was simply to be the last one standing. This phrase, “DO NOT QUIT” would replay in my mind over and over again in the most difficult of moments. Although God used this for my good, I didn’t realize at the time how much I still had to learn. Warfare is much more complex then just outlasting the enemy. In fact, that way of thinking still had me on the WRONG SIDE of warfare. We are called to advance and occupy. This means, we’re doing more of the advancing rather then the defending. In discovering the RIGHT SIDE OF WARFRE unpacking the treasures found in Ephesians 1:17 is a must!
The best way for us to understand the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in terms of warfare is to look at TWO PARALLEL passages.
DANIEL 1:17 & EPHESIANS 1:17
Daniel 1:17 and Ephesians 1:17 are parallel passages stating the same promises from different time frames. One is from the Old Covenant outlining God’s dealings during difficult times. The other is expressed in the New Covenant for all generations the heritage of the saints.
These four young men in Daniel provide a prophetic standard for the spiritually strong who know their God and carry out great exploits. Just as they intimately knew God and engaged the world around them from a revelatory realm of Heaven we are called to do the same.
We have access to Holy Spirit, granting acute perception and the understanding to interpret dreams and visions, clarify revelatory experiences and solve difficult and enigmatic problems. We are invited to become a people who apprehend insight from the throne room and respond to the invitation to “come up here”. It’s in the place of intimacy with the Father that we engage in warfare according to the assignments given. You see, warfare is less about survival. The Right side of Warfare is more about REFORMATION!
QUESTIONS/ PRAYER
- Read both passages out loud and discuss.
- Do you often find yourself on the wrong side of Warfare? Explain
- Can anyone give personal examples of the 2 different sides of warfare.
- What can we do it we find ourselves lacking in wisdom and revelation? (James 1:5)
- Pray for each other.
