We Are At War

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.

There are three things you need to know about the spiritual war we are in the middle of…

1. Spiritual War Requires Strength

Not strength that you are to muster up yourself.

But strength from outside of yourself.

Ephesians 6:10 ESV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

“… be strong…” is in the passive voice indicating that this isn’t something we do ourselves…

Just because it’s “passive” doesn’t mean it doesn’t take an active form in our lives.

It’s a command. To obey a command requires active obedience.

We are pursuing God’s mighty power.

Ephesians 1:19–20 ESV

and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

We must realize the great and mighty power available to us who are commected to Jesus.

This fact makes it utterly important that you…

Be humble - You can’t do this on your own. You need to be humble enough to know you need His help.

This is what makes “be strong…“ a passive thing that we are actively working towards.

Do you know how hard it is to be truly humble?

Our natural inclination is to be “self reliant” and “prideful”

Being humbled by our need for God’s requires daily active mind and heart work.

2. Spiritual War Requires Standing Equipped

Not standing unarmed.

But standing armed with what God has provided you.

Ephesians 6:11 ESV

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

The whole armor of God is what God has provided you for strength…

This statement is essentially a repeat of the principles we learned before…

Put off… Put on…

Ephesians 4:22–24 ESV

to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Let me give you a few examples of what it might look like to put on the Armor Of God, which we will dissect more next week.

Wielding Scripture as a sword

Using Prayer to communicate with your commander

Wearing the Righteousness of Christ as a bullet proof vest

3. Spiritual War Requires We Know Our Enemy

Your enemy isn’t physically standing in front of you.

Even when someone is trying to hurt you.

Even when a government seeks to take away your freedoms.

Even when you are being mocked for you faith.

Your enemy isn’t made of flesh and blood.

Your enemy roams around in the spiritual realm

Ephesians 6:12 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.

Those you encounter who appear to be your enemy are only casualties of war. They are God’s enemies still, but they are being influenced and controlled by satan. There is still the possibility that they might be rescued from his influence and reconciled to God, just like you.

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Three things you need to know about the spiritual war we are in the middle of…

Spiritual War Requires Strength

Spiritual War Requires Standing Equipped

Spiritual War Requires We Know Our Enemy

Reflection Questions

Why do we need more than our own strength?

Where does our strength for Spiritual War come from?

What are some practical ways you are currently “standing equipped”?

What are some ways you can be standing better?

Why should we remember that our enemy isn’t “flesh and blood”?

Have there been times you’ve felt like people are the enemy?

How can you learn to stop treating other people as the enemy?

How can we help people who appear to be enemies of the Church be set free from Satan?