How Spiritual Warfare Connects To The Mission Of Advancing God’s Kingdom: Spiritual Warfare In Modern Times For Messianic Believers
Introduction: The Divine Mandate to Advance the Kingdom
In the Messianic Jewish faith, the mission of advancing God’s Kingdom is not just a future promise, but a present-day calling. We are living in a time when the Kingdom of God is both a reality that is already present and a hope for what is to come. For Messianic believers, the call to advance God’s Kingdom is deeply tied to spiritual warfare. Understanding how spiritual warfare connects to this mission is crucial for the believer who seeks to fulfill God's purpose on Earth.
This chapter explores how spiritual warfare plays a pivotal role in advancing God's Kingdom, through the lens of Torah law, the power of Yeshua’s blood, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Drawing from Tanakh (the Old Testament), we will explore how God has equipped His people to engage in this cosmic battle, all for the purpose of expanding His reign on Earth.
---
1. The Kingdom of God: A Mission to Restore Dominion
The Kingdom of God is not a concept that is foreign to the Tanakh. From the beginning, God's plan was always to establish His reign on Earth, through His chosen people, Israel. The Kingdom was to be a place where God’s rule was recognized, where His justice and mercy flowed, and where His presence would be made known to all the nations.
Genesis 1:26-28 reveals the original purpose of humanity:
> “Then God said, 'Let Us make mankind in Our image, in Our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'”
This dominion was not just a power to rule, but a divine mandate to steward creation in a way that reflects God’s character. The mission of advancing God’s Kingdom is the restoration of this original mandate, which was marred by sin but is now being redeemed through Yeshua’s sacrifice and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
As Messianic believers, we are called to continue in this mission of dominion, by advancing God's reign in our lives and the world. This includes the spiritual battle to remove the forces of darkness that stand in opposition to God's Kingdom. Spiritual warfare, therefore, is not a fight for individual salvation alone but a battle to restore and expand God’s sovereign rule over all creation.
---
2. Torah Law: The Foundation of Kingdom Expansion
Torah law is central to the establishment of God’s Kingdom on Earth. It is the guiding standard by which the Kingdom of God is lived out in the world. When Israel obeyed God’s commandments, they manifested His Kingdom on Earth, and their obedience was an act of spiritual warfare against the forces of evil that sought to undermine God’s will.
Deuteronomy 11:1-2 highlights the importance of Torah in advancing the Kingdom:
> “Love the Lord your God and keep His requirements, His decrees, His laws and His commands always. Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God: His majesty, His mighty hand, His outstretched arm.”
Torah law establishes the ethical and moral framework by which God's people can engage in spiritual warfare. It teaches the ways of justice, mercy, and holiness, and it equips us to resist the lies of the enemy. When we live according to Torah, we align ourselves with God’s divine will, making us agents of His Kingdom. By following His commands, we fight against the darkness and proclaim God's Kingdom through our lives.
The call to spiritual warfare is, in essence, a call to live in alignment with God’s Torah. As we uphold His laws, we stand against the forces that seek to corrupt and destroy God’s order. It is through the observance of Torah that we bear witness to the Kingdom and combat the spiritual forces that war against it.
---
3. Yeshua’s Blood: The Power to Defeat the Kingdom of Darkness
Yeshua’s blood is the ultimate victory in spiritual warfare. Through His death and resurrection, He broke the power of sin and death, disarming the principalities and powers that sought to oppose God's Kingdom. The blood of Yeshua is what gives Messianic believers the authority to engage in spiritual warfare, not as defeated enemies but as victorious heirs of God's Kingdom.
Isaiah 53:5 speaks of the sacrifice of the Messiah:
> “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”
Yeshua’s blood was shed to cleanse us from sin and to restore our relationship with God. This reconciliation is not just for personal salvation but for the fulfillment of God's plan to bring His Kingdom to Earth. Through the blood of Yeshua, we are empowered to stand against the forces of darkness that seek to thwart the Kingdom of God.
Colossians 2:15 (though from the Pauline epistles) declares that through Yeshua, God “disarmed the powers and authorities” and made a public spectacle of them. This victory is part of the larger Kingdom expansion. Every victory we experience in spiritual warfare is a declaration that God’s reign is advancing on Earth.
In practical terms, believers are called to apply the blood of Yeshua in spiritual warfare by standing firm in the victory He won. When we plead the blood of Yeshua over our lives, our families, and our communities, we invoke the power that defeated the enemy and release that authority into the world to advance the Kingdom.
---
4. The Holy Spirit: Empowering Kingdom Advancement
The Holy Spirit is the key to advancing God’s Kingdom on Earth. It is by the Holy Spirit that we are equipped to engage in spiritual warfare, empowered to proclaim the Gospel, and enabled to live lives that reflect the values of God’s Kingdom. The Spirit is both our guide and our strength, helping us to stand firm against the powers of darkness.
Joel 2:28-29 prophesies the outpouring of the Spirit:
> “And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”
The Holy Spirit empowers us to carry out the work of the Kingdom by giving us gifts for service, boldness to witness, and wisdom to discern the strategies of the enemy. The Spirit also enables us to engage in spiritual warfare by equipping us with the authority to cast out demons, heal the sick, and proclaim the Kingdom of God wherever we go.
In spiritual warfare, it is the Holy Spirit who leads us in battle, giving us the wisdom to fight the right battles and the courage to confront the forces of darkness. Without the Holy Spirit, the mission of advancing God’s Kingdom would be impossible. He is the One who brings about transformation in lives, communities, and nations, turning hearts toward the King.
---
5. The Mission: Advancing God’s Kingdom Through Spiritual Warfare
Advancing the Kingdom of God requires active engagement in spiritual warfare. It is not enough to simply know about God’s Kingdom; we must fight to see it established in our own lives and in the world. Spiritual warfare is the battle to remove the forces of darkness that stand in opposition to God's rule. These forces manifest in sin, injustice, idolatry, and unbelief, and they must be confronted with the power of Torah law, the blood of Yeshua, and the Holy Spirit.
Micah 4:2 prophesies that in the last days, “many nations will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.' The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”
This passage reveals the ultimate purpose of God’s Kingdom: the nations coming to worship the true God and live according to His ways. Messianic believers are called to be a part of this mission, engaging in spiritual warfare to see God’s Kingdom established on Earth. Our battle is for souls, for the salvation of the nations, and for the establishment of God's rule in every corner of the Earth.
---
Conclusion: Engaging in the Battle for the Kingdom
Spiritual warfare is not merely about fighting personal battles but about advancing the Kingdom of God. It is about living according to Torah, applying the victory of Yeshua’s blood, and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit to expand God’s reign on Earth. As Messianic believers, we are called to engage in this spiritual battle, standing firm against the powers of darkness and proclaiming the Kingdom of God to the world. This mission is not optional but is central to our identity and calling in Yeshua. Through spiritual warfare, we partner with God in bringing His Kingdom to fruition.
