Understanding Spiritual Warfare Ephesians 6:10-12

Introduction

We are at war! No, not war with China, or Korea, or Russia, or even Hamas. No, we are at war with Satan and his minions. This war is not fought in distant battlegrounds, but among our homes and in our midst. This war takes place every day, all around us. Before we break down the Armor of God it is important that Christians understand the spiritual war that we are taking part in. Otherwise we will use our God given armor and weapons against the wrong people.

The Call to be Strong in the Lord Ephesians 6:10

Reliance on God Philippians 4:11-13

In the call to be strong in the Lord we should rely on Him completely, for all things. When Paul wrote the epistle to the Philippians he was in prison; not for the first time, and not for the last. Paul expressed his gratitude toward the Philippians for their help, and assured them that he would persevere through the trials because God is by his side.

God is our stronghold Psalm 28:7-8

God is not only our strength, but our stronghold. Instead of building up our own faulty stronghold of doctrine and tradition, we need only to lean back on God. Indeed, our stronghold is the very salvation offered by God! We need not fear the fiery darts of the devil because this stronghold will never be broken down or destroyed.

The Nature of Our Battle Ephesians 6:11

Satan is always on alert for wavering believers 1 Peter 5:8-9

While Satan is not omnipotent, omniscient, or omnipresent, he is much more cunning, intelligent, and resilient than you or I. He is always on the prowl, looking for the weakest believers to take advantage of.

The Battleground of the Mind 2 Corinthians 11:1-4

The church of Corinth had heard and recieved the gospel from Paul, but had been infiltrated by false prophets and teachers leading them astray. We must remain strong in the Lord, remembering His word because, much as Eve was deceived in the garden, it is the tactic of the enemy to deceive and mislead believers. Just because you are a believer doesn’t mean you can’t be deceived, it just means you have a stronghold to fight from.

Identifying the Enemy Ephesians 6:12

We do not war against flesh 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Paul very clearly states in this passage our battle is not against flesh, because even our weapons are divine in nature. Indeed, Paul even states that we will take all thoughts captive to obey Christ. Nobody will be perfect at all times, but if you would rely on God, and take back the stray thoughts and turn them back to Christ you will be on the right track.

We fight the minions of Satan Luke 10:17-20

Demonic presence is a real thing, and should be recognized as our primary enemy. What I mean is although neither Satan nor his demons are omnipresent, omniscient, or omnipotent; Satan has many servants, and they are all about us. Even though Satan cannot be everywhere at once he sends out these demons and they cause trouble wherever they may. I firmly believe demonic presence and possession is still a very real thing. Never fear, however, because believers cannot become possessed by these demons. We must remain diligent, however, and remember that Satan remains behind the powerful of the world and will continue to lead them astray. We must also remember not to rejoice in our own victories over Satan’s servants, but in the victory offered to us freely in salvation.