Behind Enemy Lines (2)

Know Your Enemy

Bible Passage: Ephesians 6:10-20

Each week as we begin, we’ll read this passage aloud together. Let these words saturate your soul, call out to your spirit, and awaken the warrior within you. Don’t check out—lean in.

Let’s read together.

Ephesians 6:10–20 (ESV)

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 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. 13 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. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Introduction:

You are not on vacation. You are on a battlefield. And your enemies aren’t imaginary—they’re invisible. Relentless. Ruthless. And they hate what God is doing in you.

Just as there is a Trinity of allies—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who strengthen, support, and guide you, so too there is a counterfeit trinity of enemies—the flesh, the devil, and the world system—working together to destroy what God is building in you.

1. My Greatest Enemy - Me (my flesh)

I battle me more than Satan the world or anything else. I battle me!

Like a traitor inside the camp, whispering sabotage.

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, . . .

This is intentional and it is a choice that as a believer I make. Just as I am to “be filled with the Holy Spirit” daily - minute by minute, so I must also daily put on the armor of God.

My flesh—my old nature—resists it at every turn. My flesh desires to be fed, nurtured and coddled. It wants to be told that my sin isn’t that bad, my choices aren’t my own fault and there is someone else to blame.

Being strong in the Lord and putting on the armor of God is deliberate choice that I make daily and it is one that guards me from attacks of my enemies.

The devil gets blamed for battles we lost to ourselves. We say he made us do it—when the truth is, we never put on the armor. We never said ‘no’ to the flesh. We never stepped onto the battlefield.

We don’t trust God’s Word, we haven’t been walking in the Spirit, and we are not living by faith.

Most of us would rather blame the devil for our failures than face the truth: we are often our own worst enemy. But Scripture reminds us, the battle with the flesh is personal. Victory comes not by blaming, but by choosing daily to walk in the Spirit and armor up.

Romans 8:13–14 (ESV)

13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Romans 13:14 (ESV)

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

You must battle your flesh, crucify its cravings, and deny its lies.

2. The Devil: A Real and Ruthless Adversary

We won’t be able to exhaust all that Scripture says about Satan today, but we need to grasp just how real, deceptive, and destructive he is.

He accuses, deceives, intimidates, and seduces.—and he’s on the prowl. Yet take heart—Jesus has overcome him. The war has been won, even if the battles still rage.

I am convinced that we all would love to spend our days awaiting Christ’s return in tranquility and without conflict.

We do indeed act as if nothing is amiss, yet Paul in a shocking and intense way points out that we are in a conflict and must engage those who contend for our souls.

“Put on the whole armor of God. . .”

We could translate it “Take up - clothe yourself” and the purpose is to stand against the enemy.

11 . . .that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 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.

The Devil

He is a lion in the tall grass—silent, calculating, hungry, waiting to spring.

He is the Prince of the Power of the Air.

The title given to him in the Bible is adversary and slanderer. He accuses us, belittles us, attempts to intimidate us, beguile us and if possible frighten us.

The Bible warns us that he can appear as an angel of light. Meaning he looks good, he looks okay but behind the facade of good looks lurks an evil older than creation.

What follows now are the lines of authority within Satan’s kingdom.

Rulers

Authorities

Cosmic Powers

Spiritual Forces of Evil

These are the ranks of our enemy. These are the forces arrayed against us and if you are unprepared you will falter and be overcome.

Here is the good news of this cosmic evil. Jesus has overcome them, carried them into captivity and deposed death - hell and the devil.

Yet they have not admitted defeat.

The implication of Paul’s words are they fight on against all that is Christ’s. We are in a war too often ignoring that we are called to stand - fight - wrestle against these demonic powers.

You must battle your flesh and its desires that are unholy and unrighteous and you must battle Satan and his minions.

But you must also battle the system that the Bible calls the World.

3. The World: A Culture in Rebellion

The world system is like a current pulling you downstream while Scripture calls you to swim against it.

13 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.

When you read the words “evil day” what do you think of? Its culture right? That terrible monstrosity of man made ideas that do not conform us to God’s image but like Nimrod, bring about rebellion towards God and His will.

Isaiah 5:18–23 (ESV) 18  Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, who draw sin as with cart ropes, 19 who say: “Let him be quick, let him speed his work that we may see it; let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near, and let it come, that we may know it!” 20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 

21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! 22  Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right!

We live in such a day. Men today, governments today, courts today and yes too often even churches call evil good and good evil.

When Scripture warns us about “the world,” it isn’t talking about people—it’s talking about a system that is set against God. It’s a way of thinking, living, and believing that says “we know better, we will do as we choose.”

And sadly, our culture reflects Isaiah’s warning: calling evil good and good evil, redefining truth, and mocking God's order. But we are called not to blend in—but to stand firm, clothed in armor, rooted in Christ.

To love the world is to distrust God’s Word and Promises revealed within scripture and to pursue all that is anti-Christ.

1 John 2:15–19 (ESV)

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 

18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

Conclusion:

Your enemies are real. The war is spiritual. But you are not helpless—you are called, equipped, and empowered.

The flesh must be crucified daily. The devil must be resisted steadfastly. And the world must be rejected courageously.

Church—you were born behind enemy lines. But you are not alone. You are not without armor. And you are not without victory—because Christ has overcome.

So put on the full armor. Stand firm. Fight the good fight. And never forget:

So I ask you—where have you let your guard down? Which piece of armor lies unused? Who in this room has stopped fighting—convinced the battle isn’t real, or that defeat is inevitable?

Today is your call to arms.

Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)