14 Dec The Battle is Real Because The Enemy Is Real

I (and others) have said it many times before: Satan’s most brilliant and deadly tactic has been to convince so many people that he’s not real. I preach often about spiritual warfare, but who is going to fight what they believe is an imaginary enemy? The apostle Paul, writing in Ephesians 6, tries to make the battlefield and the enemy crystal clear to us:

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:10-12 (NIV)

Paul then goes on to share God’s weapons at our disposal to fight these battles: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes fitted with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

While we learn in Daniel 10 that there are angels fighting demons for us, we must take up this weaponry daily. First, however, we must understand the tactics that those weapons defend against. What did Paul mean when he said: “…our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms?” First, let’s understand the territory where the battle is fought.

We fight the thoughts the enemy plants in our minds, the broken world, and our own sinful nature. Let’s take these one at a time.

1. Thoughts the enemy plants: Have you ever been reading, walking, or watching TV, and suddenly a sinful thought enters your mind? Maybe it’s lust, anger, envy, or something else. The shield of faith, knowing God’s forces are fighting for you, can protect you against these. So can His Word (see Philippians 4:8).
2. The broken world: Your battle isn’t with flesh and blood, but the enemy sure knows how to use flesh and blood. About three and a half years ago, my church came under attack from within. As someone told me at the time, there were people at church who were being influenced by the enemy, and they were going willingly. Faith in my calling, powered by the helmet of Salvation, remembering who I am in Christ, carried me through that difficult period.
3. My own sinful nature: Satan’s second most effective tactic is connecting my own sinful nature to the evil around me. Our best defense against temptation is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. His Word is our best defense against temptation. Jesus Himself used God’s Word to ward off Satan’s effort to tempt Him in the desert.

If you’re struggling with spiritual attacks, I encourage you to use the Christmas season as we celebrate the arrival of Jesus to remember that you do not fight this battle on your own.

Yes, Jesus came to free you from the grip of sin and to have eternity with Him. What a blessing to know that He’s in the trenches with us now, until He calls us home or He returns!

Pastor Jerry Bader