Meaning: “conveying a significance that is not directly expressed . . .”
Today we come to the end of this section of blogs on spiritual warfare. There are several things I wish to say in closing, Gentle Reader. I’ll start with C.S. Lewis.
C.S. Lewis certainly understood the realities of spiritual warfare. The Screwtape Letters (referred to in an earlier blog) makes Kay Arthur’s coursework easy reading comparatively. “Screwtape” as I nervously call it, scared me so much I could not finish reading it—that from one who has read the Narnia Series at least three times and devoured just about everything else Lewis wrote!
Nevertheless, thanks to Scripture, Lewis and Arthur; I am well studied-up in spiritual warfare and counting on every insight, understanding, provision and protection God supplies through all three channels; even as all-the-while remembering, first and foremost, that prayer is the battle, the battlefield is on my knees, entreating and trusting God to fight all my battles of every kind; and my perfect weapon is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17, NKJV).” King Arthur of Camelot with his magical sword Excalibur could not be better equipped for war than the believer wearing the full armor of God, practicing constant open-line prayer with God and engaging evil (as Jesus did) with the words “It is written (Matthew 4:1-11, NKJV).”
Though this brief treatise of mine on spiritual warfare is not by any means exhaustive, Gentle Reader, it is an excellent starting point, a concise orientation and useful grounding to precede any further study on one’s own (I do not recommend studying this subject literally by oneself, group study such as a Precept Ministries Study [http://www.precept.org/site/PageServer] is easily available in most cities and a safe, well-structured situation).
It is also valuable at this point to urge all believers to stay in a strong circle of believers all one’s life (1 Corinthians 15:33, NKJV: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”). There is protection from spiritual warfare in the company of strong believing groups, so it is advisable to respect and cling to the fellow-believers God gives one.
It is also important to say at this point that in severe and painful cases of disturbed thought, emotion and will, both Scriptural Practices and medical attention by Godly physicians, surgeons, priests, pastors, psychologists, etc., are advisable for believers. Jesus Himself said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick (do) (Matthew 9:12, NKJV).”
Remember, Gentle Reader, in leading a meaningful life and navigating meaningful matters, advisories, cautions and warnings from Scripture are profoundly useful. Keeping in mind the sound and sensible information presented from Scripture over the past few blogs, one can now be well-oriented to and protected (if one remembers it) from hysterical or irrational digressions on the subject of Spiritual Warfare.
Rest assured!
I’m now ready to free-float some and pursue more answers to Sweet Spirit’s questions!
To be continued . . .
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