Key Text: Ephesians 6:10-20
Perhaps the most prominent N.T. passage on spiritual warfare is Ephesians 6:10-20 Paul calls on the Ephesians to ‘…pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.’ 18
This call to prayer is set in the context of a spiritual battle For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powersover this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. v.12 In the light of this struggle, we are to equip ourselves with the armour of God.
We are not called to be passive spectators but active participants in the fight against a very real enemy. The good news is that we are not alone in this battle.
Jesus has given us the tools and the authority to overcome the enemy and walk in victory.
We fight under the banner of our Lord Jesus who is; the Lord of hosts, the commander of heaven’s army, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
When we pray, He fights for us; when we speak in tongues, he confounds and distresses our enemies and when we praise Him, He consumes and utterly annihilates the forces of darkness warring against us.
The angels of God are standing by to do His bidding, we only need to do our part, pray and God will do His part… answer.
Put on the Armour of God: Just as a soldier wears his armour to protect himself in battle, we must put on the spiritual armour that God has provided for us.
The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 6:13-18, teaches us about the full armour of God, which includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Each piece of armour has a specific purpose and we must put them on daily through prayer, reading and meditating on God’s Word and living a righteous and obedient life. This armour protects us from the attacks of the enemy and empowers us to stand firm in faith.
Paul throughout exhorts us to ‘stand’ but Paul is not talking about standing in isolation but as a corporate act. The word ‘you’ throughout Ephesians is used in the plural sense. The image is that of a Roman legion, standing with their shields together, shoulder to shoulder to form an impenetrable wall of defence. While they remain disciplined and united they can resist the onslaught of the enemy.
We are called to stand together.
Walk in the Power of Holy Spirit: Jesus promised to send us the Holy Spirit, the Helper, who would empower us to be His witnesses Acts 1:8.
Holy Spirit is not just a passive force, but someone who lives in us, guiding, empowering and equipping us for battle.
In the same way we seek intimacy with the Father, we need to also cultivate a deep relationship with Holy Spirit through prayer, worship, and obedience.
2 Chronicles 20:18, 21-22 Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord…And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,
“Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.” And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.
Declare the Word of God: The Word of God is a powerful weapon in our spiritual arsenal.
Jesus Himself used the Word of God to resist the temptations of the devil during His wilderness experience Matthew 4:1-11.
The Word of God is alive and active Hebrews 4:12 and is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path Psalm 119:105.
We must declare the Word of God boldly, speaking it out loud and using it to combat the ungodly beliefs and deceptions of the enemy.
Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? Jeremiah 23:29
It is through the power of the gospel that people are released from the grip of Satan.
We are in the midst of a spiritual battle. But we do not need to fear, because God has given us the weapons we need to fight and to win. Let us put on the whole armour of God and stand firm in our faith. Let us use the Word of God, prayer, worship and fellowship to overcome the attacks of the enemy. And let us remember that the victory has already been won through Jesus Christ. Amen.