Last week I told you about Pastor Ken Dunkerly’s message, “Beyond the Wardrobe,” which compares the supernatural spirit realm to the world of Narnia that lay “beyond the wardrobe.”  It’s a world that is largely invisible, but very real. I also said that unless we recognize and learn how to fight the spiritual battles, we will not only be ineffective followers of Jesus Christ, we may also become casualties.

These are the searching questions Pastor Ken asked us repeatedly during the course of his message:

 1)  Has your scriptural knowledge been translated into spiritual authority?  Many Christians have a wealth of scriptural knowledge but it has never been translated into spiritual authority and has little value in defeating the powers of darkness.  How are you using the scriptural knowledge that you have?

 2)  Have you been changed from a spectator into a participant in the battle that is raging?  Or have you chosen instead to attempt to “live like ordinary people”? 

         If you find yourself lacking in either of these areas, you may ask, What does it take for our scriptural knowledge to be turned into spiritual authority and for us to be changed from spectators into participants?  I believe step one is to completely surrender our lives to Christ, to “make of our bodies a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1), being willing to do or go or be whatever and wherever we are led by the Holy Spirit. 

It also means turning away from sin, allowing the Lord to do a cleansing work in our life and not harboring any known sin.  While refusing to acknowledge the world “beyond the wardrobe” can bring defeat, trying to become a participant in the spiritual battle while still walking in the ways of the world is also very dangerous. 

So step one is becoming a sold-out follower of Jesus Christ. This doesn’t mean, however, that only “perfect Christians” may step forward to become participants. If that were true, none of us could participate! Paul says in II Corinthians 4:7, “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”  In Zechariah 4:7, the angel told Zerubbabel, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.”  Praise the Lord!  Each of us is a work in progress, and if God calls us to step up to become a front line participant, He will also prepare us and enable us by His power and His grace. 

So where do you stand in the battle that’s raging? Has your scriptural knowledge been translated into spiritual authority? Have you been changed from a spectator into a participant? If not, next week I want to give you some practical tools to help you make the change.

Heavenly Father, forgive us for being so consumed with earthly things that we haven’t prepared ourselves to fight the spiritual battles we encounter. Open our eyes to see the reality of the supernatural battle “beyond the wardrobe,” and courage to defeat the enemy by your grace. Amen.