“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 6:12
A few years ago, I attended a military Christian conference for serving and retired military. I remember listening to a conversation between two retired generals discussing their struggles during their active military service. Both men confronted men trying to destroy their nations. However, as Christ’s followers, they both recognized that they had seen a different, more destructive enemy. The Asian General suggested that although the north and south had significant military forces facing off against each other, the real enemy was the evil one who destroyed nations and the people within them. The African general agreed.
The conversation seemed surreal. The world likes to identify our enemies and assume which people it needs to fight. These combat veterans agreed upon a different, more powerful enemy. Both men had made appropriate combat estimates and decided that the real enemy was not other men but the evil forces that sought to destroy men. One general spoke about how he tried to impart to his men that their goal was not to destroy those men facing them but to save them from the clutches of the evil one who seeks to separate people from God.
Paul’s warning to the Ephesians is a message for all humanity. It emphasizes the need for all to recognize the actual battle. To enter this battle prepared to win requires spiritual preparation rather than physical. He is unequivocal on how we must prepare for the war. It does not involve a part-time faith where we find time in our busy schedules to prepare to serve in God’s army. He suggests we must go full bore and utilize scripture to know and recognize the truth and use it when needed. We must stand on the promise of salvation and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to face an enemy who seeks to undermine our faith. We must understand and tackle the real problem head-on to bring Glory to God’s mighty name.
Understanding and application are solidified and reinforced by prayer, if you have not done so already or have not done it in a while, speak with God about the enemies you are facing and seek His help. The world only understands the enemy they have created and doesn’t want to acknowledge that there is a driving force behind all the unfairness, oppression, greed, and destruction, and it is Satan. The demons of the dark world seek to covertly defeat us by convincing us that our problems are fake, but they are real. Get on your knees so God can stand you toe-to-toe with our true enemy.