We walk in the spiritual world as much as in the physical world. We exist in both. This is necessary to make part of your perception because the battlefield for a Christian has to be seen whole.
We're on the battlefield against the world, the flesh (our fallen nature), and Satan whether we recognize it or not, and whether we like it or not.
When you're a regenerate Christian with the Holy Spirit in you you are now noticeable in the physical and especially spiritual world. You are no longer a tame, sleep-walking slave in Satan's Kingdom. You are no longer mechanically going with the current of that Kingdom. Your head is above the crowd, and you are not moving in unison with that crowd. The world notices you, and Satan and his minions - human and spiritual - notice you; and your fallen nature fights you from within. You'll be persecuted by dark, worldly forces, to one degree or another; tempted, by Satan; and tested (sometimes by God, graciously, for your own development).
Sometimes you'll feel like you've awakened in a vast prison yard filled with violent lunatics. Sometimes you'll feel like you're on a dead landscape, alone, with no communication from God. This is what it feels like when you are separated out - sanctified - and truly developing in the faith. Remember the real analogy for Christians who are pilgrims in this world but not of this world is the experience of the Israelites in the desert between Egypt and the Promise Land.
Theology is a gift from the Holy Spirit. When we have all the raw material of the word of God in us from dedicated, complete readings of the Bible then on the mark theology, or doctrine, becomes armor. Hard truth biblical doctrine that insults our fallen nature becomes real, tempered armor. Parts in relation to the whole doctrine is real understanding. Formulas such as the Five Solas and the Doctrines of Grace (TULIP) become more than just words on a page. Classical Covenant - Federal - Theology gives that parts in relation to the whole understanding.
Once we're in Covenant (the Covenant of Grace in time and the Covenant of Redemption from eternity) by regeneration by the word and the Spirit we are taught by Jesus how to operate in Covenant on the battlefield.
To boil it down Jesus tells us to have gratitude over resentment for everything all the time. That is the Royal Attitude. Warriors on the battlefield without anger or malice towards the enemy knowing that but for the grace of God there go ourselves. Yet battle we must.
Jesus also says, in different ways, be awake and love your enemy. This is the central battle tactic. This defeats the enemy.
Jesus' two great commandments summarizing the Ten Commandments gets at this as well. Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.
Another formula for this - and this is how one is to be in Covenant - is Conscious Labor, Intentional Suffering.
The spiritual, practical meaning of the two sacraments is this as well.
I just lost the pastors and seminary graduates. Most of them anyway. One needs to, though, find the spiritual warfare approach to the faith. The solely academic approach is not the approach of a prophet, priest, and king.
Historically where do you find a gathering of kings? On a battlefield.
Conscious labor, intentional suffering. On a foundation of fearing God alone. When you fear God alone you don't fear the world or man or man's opinions of you. This enables you to pursue wisdom.
Conscious labor. Being awake in the moment. You can't love God and worship God if you're not awake in the moment rather than sleep walking with a mind full of fantasy, imagination, and - usually - resentments of one variety or another.
Intentional suffering. There is a vast assortment of fake suffering we indulge in. There is also real suffering such as sickness and death and disaster, but that type of suffering is not usually a daily experience. The fake suffering is daily. Resentments, making requirements on people and the world. Etc. Yet then there is intentional suffering. Think of Jesus on the cross for the sublime, historic, cosmic, all-encompassing example. "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do." Gratitude over resentment for everything all the time. That intentional suffering is victory on the battlefield.
Short of faith unto death, we are 'in Covenant' when we engage in conscious labor and intentional suffering.
These two acts are conscious shocks (not external, mechanical shocks that just happen, but conscious shocks that are our God enabled effort), and they build our spiritual body.
