Dressing Up: Who’s Our Enemy?

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12, Nasb

A friend of mine used to talk about the “unseen real”–a place that’s oh-so-real even though we can’t see it with human eyes. But sometimes we can feel it. Whether it’s swirling in motion or still as ice, this reality exists in the heavenly realm…

The Holy Spirit within us easily senses any malevolence, and we will too as we walk in the Spirit.

Now,  I don’t know about you, but the whole battle motif doesn’t overly resonate with me. Armor is for soldiers, and I don’t really think of myself that way on a daily basis.

But it’s imperative we do because the struggle rages on.

So, perhaps we can gain a more impassioned desire to fight if we imagine scenarios worth fighting for:

• What if an evil person attempted to snatch one of our children?
• What if terror threatened our freedom to worship Christ?
• What if wickedness destroyed our loved ones and stole every cherished memory?
• What if apathy slowly sapped our passion for Christ?

The thought of these possibilities causes my interest in battle to rise. Suddenly, I want to know who or what I’m facing so I can protect myself and others. I’m much more willing to dress up in armor when I comprehend the enemy’s nature and smell his acrid breath. Or should I say, their breath?

Scripture describes our struggle as that which involves plural entities: ruler(s), power(s), and force(s). We’re talking evil spirits and evil powers–an entire entourage of demonic darkness. Ephesians 2:2 refers to satan as “the prince of the power of the air.” In other words, he’s the leader of many. And we’re the target.

Often we look at people around us, thinking they’re the enemy. Sometimes we credit ourselves as the enemy. But the Bible identifies our enemy as other-worldly. Like sinister shapes lurking in the shadows, the devil and his cohorts wait patiently to attack. Shrouded in varieties of darkness, they ruthlessly seek to stop us … to demolish us.

Because they seethe in hatred toward our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Are you ridiculed or persecuted for your faith?

Are you insanely tempted?

Are you lulled into an apathetic Christianity?

We need to remain on guard. Our enemy boasts centuries of practice and can inflict intense damage.

Yet he’s a defeated foe. Christ conquered him on the cross. And by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can experience victory too as we put on God’s armor.

Until next time, much love to you in Christ,

Emily