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WE ARE AT WAR! And it is high time we started acting like it! Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that our battle is not with flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of the darkness, and against evil spiritual forces in the heavens. In order to effect change in the physical we must begin the change in the spiritual. We have been given authority over all(not some) demons ( Luke 9:1). Romans 8:11 tells us that through Jesus Christ we now have the indwelling Holy Spirit. The same power that raised Jesus from the grave lives in you! We don’t pray for victory; we pray from victory! We should live like we have already won! (Hallelujah! I got a little excited there for a moment) At one time I had a t-shirt that read. “Victory Won. Battle Yet to Fight” I would like to drive home this important truth. It is true that the challenges we face in life, especially those of a spiritual or emotional nature, can often feel intangible and overwhelming. The idea of using spiritual "weapons" suggests that we have access to resources such as faith, prayer, love, kindness, and wisdom that can help us navigate these unseen battles. God has already given us the weapons to defeat the enemy. Now we need pull them out of our arsenal and put them to use. I understand it is difficult to fight an enemy that we cannot see, hear, touch and smell. After all, we live by our five senses. But we are so much more than that. So, where does the enemy dwell? What are his boundaries? What power does he truly possess? How do we take the battle to him and prevent the carnage and wreckage of war on our home front? These are topics that I really want to explore.

I think we could take a page from Sun Tzu’s, The Art of War. “Know thy enemy”. So, what do we know about the enemy?  We must go to the Word.  The Bible provides a wealth of verses that remind us of the absence of Satan's power and his ultimate defeat.  I have found at least seventy verses that describe Satan lack of power and his position. His existence is purely spiritual; He cannot manifest in the physical realm. Instead, he works through us to bring about change in the physical world. Let us began with what Ephesians 2:2 tells us. “Satan is the prince of the power of the air. “ (NKJ) The Greek word used here is aeros. Paul was speaking about the air that envelops us — the very atmosphere around us. But how do we engage in battle within this realm? How do we influence the movement of air molecules? Though I am not a scientist, I can think of two key ways: first, through sound — specifically, our voices and the words we speak; and second, through action — the movements we make. These are but two of the means by which we wage spiritual warfare.

Ephesians 6:13-17 provides a set of spiritual weapons at our disposal. To stand firm, we must put on the full armor of God. Five out of the six pieces list are used defensively. We have the breastplate supported by the belt. The helmet for the head. Shoes to protect the feet and allow for quick reaction. And lastly the shield. We are called to stand firm and confront the enemy, for there is no armor protecting our backs. We are not meant to turn and flee. 

Next, let us consider our offensive weapon: the sword, which represents the Word of God. This is where our tongue plays a crucial role. It is through our voice and the words we speak that we engage in spiritual battle. The enemy is well aware of this power. Why else would early Christians endure such brutal persecution, being burned at the stake and even having their tongues pierced with metal bolts to silence their proclamation of the Gospel?  These martyrs were salt and light. And we need to remember them. If the power of the spoken word were not so great, then why would the enemy bother binding such a small muscular organ. I recognize that there is a dichotomy that lies within our speech, but my focus here will be on the powerful weaponization of our tongue.  We must wield our words against the master of deception, for that is truly his only power. Satan has never conceived an original idea; instead, he distorts what God has provided us, creating mere counterfeits.  No matter what the enemy has spoken against you or what obstacles have been placed in your path, the Bible repeatedly emphasizes the power of our voices to bring about change. Take the walls of Jericho, for example—sound brought them down then, and it is still breaking down barriers today.  God has a truth that will crush the lies, heal depression, restore the body and set you free ( Hallelujah! I got excited again). Satan is the only one that should be living in bondage. It is amazing that something in average length of 3 inches can wield such power. We need to start using it! The enemy does not underestimate it, why should we?!

About a year ago I began a quest to find out more about praying in the spirit. After many hours of searching the scripture, and asking others that seem to have a stronger understanding than myself, I discovered that I had been missing out. I really wanted all that God would give me.  Then one morning in my prayer time something dawned on me. All these years my prayers had been silently said in my quiet thoughts. Now, I know that God hears my thoughts, but then I said to myself. “Gena, how can you have a verbal spirit lead pray language when you don’t use your voice?”  Duh. I realized that I had allowed the enemy to bring the attacks to my home front. No more, I am taking the fight to him. And, yes, I received my prayer language. Our words must penetrate the air where Satan and his demons dwell. He may have the authority to be there, but he has no power. 

If our sword is the word of God we need to start swinging it. And not aimlessly. In the words of Zig Ziglar, “If you shoot for nothing, you’ll hit it every time.” Ask God for discernment and identify what type of enemy you are facing. Then, go to the Word and speak it against him. Call the angels down. James 4:7 gives us the answer. Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee—no ifs, ands, or buts about it. This authority does not come from us but from our living, victorious Savior who has already triumphed over the enemy. Declare the Word into the atmosphere. Sing it in worship to our Creator and Redeemer. And yes, at times, even shout it—forcing the enemy to retreat with his tail between his legs.  

We have only begun to uncover the depths of this truth. The more we immerse ourselves in God's Word, the more we realize that He has already equipped us with everything we need for an abundant and victorious life (2 Peter 1:3).

Thank you for taking the time to read these words—I know your time is valuable. I will leave you with this question:

How will you wield the power of your tongue today?