Proverbs 20.18
“Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.”
The majority of people in our culture are spectators. They are not on the field competing. They are not in the arena fighting. They are sitting in the bleachers watching, or in the press box commenting.
The Christian faith is not for spectators or commentators. The Christian faith is for competitors. It is for warriors and fighters. Jesus did not call us to sit in the bleachers and watch, nor did he call us to pontificate from the press box. Indeed, the moment you trusted in Christ you stepped into the arena of combat. The question now is, are you prepared for the battle?
This is the focus of a vitally important section of Ephesians chapter 6.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore …”. (Ephesians 6.10-14)
Paul uses a military metaphor to describe an important reality that confronts Christians individually and collectively: We are at war. Whether we recognize it or not, we are a spiritual army engaged in a great battle against the forces of evil and powers of darkness. This passage alerts us to the truth that life in Christ is warfare, and we are engaged in a deadly serious struggle.
Paul wrote something similar to the Corinthians: “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Cor 10:3-5)
Spiritual warfare is the battle we fight as agents of the kingdom while living in enemy territory. It is the daily quest to reflect God’s presence and power in the midst of the fallen world. It is a ‘war’ because there are forces working vigorously to oppose what God is seeking to do in and through us.
The great truth is that the forces we face are not flesh and blood enemies, nor are they human agencies. Though it has political, social, and economic implications, the heart of the battle is not in the visible realm. The battle is against the forces of darkness in the spiritual realm. These forces operate under the authority of Satan, who is described in Scripture as the father of lies, the prince of darkness, and the god of this world.
The reference in Ephesians to “rulers … authorities … cosmic powers … world rulers of this present darkness … spiritual hosts of evil in the heavenly places” is a reference to Satan and his host of fallen angels (demons). People and human institutions are not the ultimate source of evil in this world: Satan and his army of fallen angels are. Though invisible to the human eye, these dark forces are committed to our demise. Satan and his demons seek to deceive us, distort the truth, and destroy our lives.
The battle lines are drawn. Christians are agents of life; demons are agents of death. Christians are agents of light; demons are agents of darkness. Christians have their weapons; demons have theirs. In our own strength we are utterly helpless to face such a powerful enemy. However, if our foundation in Christ is strong and we equip ourselves with the full armor of God, we will “be able to resist in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”
Next Monday we will continue with the theme of spiritual warfare.
