Who are we Fighting
Each one of us are in the middle of a battlefield. We watch the news and see all kind of stories of evil in our communities. There are battles going on all around us. We hear every week of how many murders are taking place in our cities. There are reports of human trafficking that go right through the small town where I live. Families are under attack in our communities. Our Christian faith and our Christian values are mocked by the world as being foolishness. It is very disappointing to see our country and faith being attacked. It made me ask the question who are we fighting?
As I turn to scripture, the Bible gives a glimpse of who our enemy is. Paul tells us in Ephesians who our fight is against.
Ephesians 6:12
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wow, the real battlefield is within each one of us. If you are like me and I bet you are, then you have a battle going on within you each day. I know I do; I struggle with sin daily. I know what I should do and I don’t do it. This is a battle daily. Satan has a powerful army whose goal is to defeat the believers of Christ. Paul touched on this in Ephesians and then in Romans, he talks about how effective the enemy is.
Romans 7:15-20
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So, how do we fight this battle against principalities. Well, we can’t do it on our own, we need God’s armor. Paul tells us in Ephesians how to arm ourselves for the spiritual battle each of us face.
Ephesians 6:13-18
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
When we put on the armor of God then we are drawing closer to God. We do this then we can claim victory.
James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
We as Christians can win this battle within each one of us. In return we can influence our families, our small influence of people around us. Not everyone is going to get on board. Our neighborhoods, towns, cities and country are at stake.
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
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