At War!

Ephesians 6:12-17 ESV

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 withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

          This is a declaration, a declaration of war! Like a general preparing his troops for battle. He is exhorting who the enemy us and what we have to do to defeat him. The Lord wants us to know and fully understand that WE ARE AT WAR!!! Rulers of darkness, authorities, principalities, and spiritual evil are our enemies. The devil looks to sift us like wheat. These are the very same words Jesus tells Peter and is the same message repeated in Ephesians 6. The devil looks to enslave us and make us captives. He looks to make us prisoners of war. He is our enemy and no one else. Our neighbor is not our enemy, the Muslims are not our enemy, and the people who have wronged us are not our enemy. Our enemy is not made of flesh and blood. No, our enemy is one of a spiritual nature. Therefore, our gracious Lord prepares us with spiritual armaments. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith and His spirit are our armor and weapons.
          Let us look to every occasion, whether a time of trial, whether a time of affliction, whether a time of prosperity as a spiritual battle where the devil wants to consume our soul. Yes even in a time of prosperity we are being attacked. Our independence of God is typically nurtured through times of prosperity. This means we must always be on guard. Our sentry duty will never cease in this life. Our enemy will never relent, he will never grow weary of looking to destroy us.
          However, be bold!!! The Lord tells us that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. He tells us that we are MORE than conquerors. We know through His word that we are victorious in Jesus. We know the final script and Christ will be the victor. Henceforth, we must be in Christ to win. There is no victory for us apart from this.
          We must use the spiritual armor given to us to succeed. We must slay the dragon with the sword of His spirit which is the word of God. Train with it, read it and have it at the ready like any battle tested soldier. Don your helmet of salvation, and raise your shield of faith. Never doff your boots of peace and strap tight your belt of truth. Wear the FULL armor of God! We can not grow apathetic of this fight. As soon as you feel weary, know too that this is another flaming arrow from Baal. Stay resolute!!! If you be knocked down jump to your feet at once! Stand with Christ, and stand with your brothers and sisters in Christ, and know that we are at war.