Spiritual warfare and the battle for life

1. We are at war.

We are engaged in a spiritual war. Our battle is in the spiritual realm. Those who promote, participate in, and defend the killing of the unborn are deceived and blinded by our enemy, but they are not our enemy.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

2. The enemy has been identified.

Our enemy is Satan, the devil. His strategy has been exposed: Satan is a killer and a liar. Abortion is his enterprise.

“‘[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies'” (John 8:44b).

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10a).

3. The enemy has been defeated.

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus Christ won a decisive and complete victory over Satan and the spiritual forces of evil behind abortion.

“He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him” (Colossians 2:15).

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8b).

4. We are equipped for victory.

As God’s people, whatever role we play in ending abortion, the Word of God is our weapon, faith in Christ is our shield, and the indwelling Christ is with us.

“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:16, 17).

We live in a culture that opposes the life-affirming message of the Gospel and embraces arguments and opinions contrary to the Word of God. But in Christ our weapons have divine power to demolish the strongholds of deception. We take those thoughts captive to obey Christ by the power of the Gospel.

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. II Corinthians 10:3-5

Our efforts to end abortion place us on the front lines of this spiritual war. Satan has made us his target. We should be prepared for his attack upon our lives, family, and ministry. But remember, the Lord has equipped us for victory.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10, 11).
See also: 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 2:11; James 4:7

5. Our priority is prayer and perseverance.

We should saturate our lives and ministry with prayer. Make prayer and fasting the first work of ministry. Use the Word of God to pray the will of God regarding the sanctity of life, exposing and overcoming the schemes of the enemy, and ministering in humility with Christ’s attitude towards those deceived by the enemy. Don’t give up. Always persevere.

“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert, with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18).