The Believer’s Battle

The Apostle Paul gives the Church very clear instructions in Ephesians 6:10-13 concerning our need for proper preparation as we make ready to engage the enemy in battle. "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 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."

Armor is not worn to wrestle in an athletic contest or exhibition. You wear armor to protect yourself in a battle. As believers and followers of Jesus we will have battles. We are at War! It is time we, as blood bought born-again believers, take our place as front line soldiers. We do not have time to play religious games. It is time for all of God’s army to "report for active duty." It is a fantasy to think any of us can sit by uninvolved and the conflict will just pass us by. There is a real, spiritual battle raging right now! We must never forget why we are fighting: the war is over billions of eternal souls. We do not have the luxury of just sitting back comfortably in our church pews. This is a time to get involved. The Scriptures boldly proclaim "Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power." (Psalms 110:3) Another translation states, "Your troops will be willing on your day of battle."

Who is the Foe?

Not only do we need to acknowledge that we are at war and be willing to engage in the battle, we must properly identify the enemy. One of Satan’s subtle tricks is to deny that he is really our foe. You can find his strategy in many so called Christian teachings that actually deny the existence of a literal devil. Don’t be deceived. Your foe is no flesh and blood. The foe we face is Satan himself. We must not be lulled into a spirit of lethargy, indifference, and deadly stagnation. When we drag our feet and are no reaching souls, the devil begins to win the battle.

Remember, man is not our enemy, the devil is, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12) When we fail to remember this, we run the risk of fighting against those we should be fighting for and those we should be fighting alongside. It is a sad fact of war that in many battles soldiers are killed or wounded by what is called "friendly fire." This simply means they were bombed or shot by their own forces – by their own army. Is it possible that the Church in now guilty of shooting their own? Could it be that we have learned how to take careful, calculated aim at our very own? Many brothers and sisters are shot down by ""friendly fire" when we slander, backbite, or gossip about each other. This must stop! "If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." (Galatians 5:15)

Keep in mind Christ Jesus always hated the sin, but loved the sinner. The real foe is the one behind the sinner, "the evil god of this world." According to II Corinthians 4:4, this foe has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they will not be able to see the light, the revelation of Christ, and be saved. All our efforts and every bit of our energies must be focused on the total defeat and destruction of this our real adversary – Satan.

Clothed For Battle

Once we have acknowledged our need to be involved, and understood that it is Satan – and not men – we are battling against, we must put on our battle attire. The battle we are called to is supernatural. The enemy is beyond the human level. Only by God’s supernatural anointing and power. Can we win the battle against our enemy – not by our human intellect and power. That is why we must be clothed with all the Lord has for us.

Much has been written regarding the armor of God, and I will not duplicate it here except to say that we are instructed to put on the full armor of God – not just our favorite pieces of armor or the parts that seem important for the ensuing battle. We are not just to have the shield of faith, but also the belt of truth. We are not to go to battle with only the sword of the Spirit, but also wearing the helmet of salvation. We are not only to have our feet shod with the gospel of peace, we are to have our heart covered by the breastplate of righteousness. We are protected only as we take up and put on the full armor of God.

Soldiers wearing armor must be strong enough to move about in the armor, otherwise the armor would not be protection for them but merely an entrapment to them. The only place to turn for the empowering we need to ear the armor of God is the Lord, "…be strong in the Lord: and in the power of His might." (Ephesians 6:10) Notice the promise given by Jesus in Luke 10:19"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means just you." The Lord has already given us the "power…over all the power of the enemy." Even though residing within you is the power to accomplish great and marvelous things, if you rely on your own strength, instead of the Lord’s, you may live impotent, lethargic, fruitless life.

God has already put within each and every believer His power to do beyond all we cold ever ask or imagine. "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21) Let us determine to walk in this power and bring victory to the battle – defeating the foe, setting the captives free, and bringing glory to the Lord.

Taking Our Stand

After we have equipped with the armor of God, the Bible tells us we are not to flee from our foe, but stand against him. We are to resist him steadfastly in the true faith. When we stand against the devil and his demons in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, Satan as to flee. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) When Satan looks at a believer clothed in the armor of God what does he see? The very character and attributes of Christ – truth, righteousness, peace, faith, the salvation of the Lord, and the word of God. As we steadfastly resist him, he sees not us but the Lord. It is God in us that overcomes the enemy and causes him to flee from us. "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater that he who is in the world." (I John 4:4)

The Lord Jesus will have a powerful end-time Church, victorious over the enemy. Never forget, "you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this," but even greater is the fact that the kingdom is in you for such times as these. Remember this promise from the Lord, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)