Ground vs. Air War Part 1

Nehemiah 8:1 – And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel.

Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church. As we have learned in Nehemiah, gates are defensive protections. Satan has captured people in sin and darkness, locking them behind gates like deception and addiction, so that they are not free. Jesus came to set captives free and has commissioned the church to tear down gates that are strongholds so that people can be free to new life in Christ. All of this is spiritual warfare.

In a military war, there is both an air war and a ground war. Planes, drones, and helicopters fly over the battle to demolish strongholds, and also to distribute supplies to needy soldiers and civilians. Soldiers with boots on the ground do the hard work of fighting off the bad guys so that people who are oppressed can be set free. What is true of military war is also true of spiritual warfare.

Large events where the Bible is preached and God is worshipped, along with things like publishing, social media, and Internet platforms get ministry out to the world broadly like an air war of truth. Local churches and ministries, people meeting together in homes to pray for and support one another, sharing the gospel with family and friends, and doing good by meeting the physical needs of the poor and suffering is the ground war of love.

Of everything God did for, in, and through His people in Nehemiah 8, which is your favorite? Why?

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