Our Halloween Spiritual Battle Series

Our Halloween Spiritual Battle

Where the Battle Really Is

The Bible says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12)

It is that time of the year when we see an interest in the paranormal, ghost, extraterrestrial life, etc. Horror movies, books, games and Halloween parties capture the attention of many. Most of these activities are just for fun, and for the most part harmless.

However, the Apostle Paul, writer of our key text holds a truth that should frighten us more than any modern-day horror film ever produced. There is a real enemy of our soul and he has a co-host of demons who have one purpose, which is to keep people from having the relationship with the Lord, God wants His creation to enjoy. The Bible describes this warfare as real, powerful and consistent.

Good intelligence is the key for anyone who wants to win a war. This is why the Holy Spirit moved the writers of the Bible to inform us, so we may understand the enemy. God instructs us in many passages of Scripture, so there is no reason for anyone to be caught off guard. Ignorance of God's Word about spiritual warfare is an unwise choice if a person wants to live a life which is pleasing to the Lord. The truth is, there is spiritual warfare going on around us all the time. (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 357). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.; Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Eph 6:11–12). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.; Barclay, W. (Ed.). (1976). The letters to the Galatians and Ephesians (p. 182). Philadelphia, PA: The Westminster John Knox Press.; Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 2319). Peabody: Hendrickson.; Hoehner, H. W. (1985). Ephesians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 643). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

The spiritual forces Paul is writing about has a leader, the Devil. He is the accuser. (Revelation 12: 7-11) Satan is the super-natural enemy of God. (Hebrew-Aramaic Dictionary) The writer of the Book of Matthew calls Satan the tempter. (Matthew 4:3) Jesus said, he is a murder from the beginning and he is the father of all lies. (John 8:44) The Bible compares him to a lion, (1 Peter 5:8) a serpent, (Genesis 3:1; Revelation 12;9) an angel of light, (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) as well as the god of this age. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Note: Our battle foundation is not just with humans who may insult, undermine or attack us in some way. Often those who are against us are unaware that it is Satan who is influencing them in some way. The illnesses, temptations and trials we face come from sources who know our weaknesses and is able to exploit us. (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1997). The Nelson Study Bible: New King James Version (Eph 6:12). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers; Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 57). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.) Our battle is not just against Satan, but against fallen angels, evil spirits who wield tremendous power. Tough we cannot see them, they constantly surrounded us, they cannot indwell Christians, they can only oppress and harass the true children of God.

Our battle and the defeat against powerful constant foes are accomplished by putting on what the Bible calls the armor of God. Twice in the Book of Ephesians we are told, “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God.” (Ephesians 6:10,11,13) The writer of this letter to us says, “so that when the day of evil comes, [we] may be able to stand [our] ground.” (Ephesians 6:13) The phrase “to stand your ground” is an active imperative of never yielding from the truth and not fleeing from our post of living out and proclaiming the truths of God in a sin-stricken world. (Swanson, J. (1997). (Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.; Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 357). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.; Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Eph 6:14). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)

The Christian armor consist of six weapons found it Ephesians 6:10-18:

1.) The Belt of Truth. The Bible says Satan is the father of all lies. (John 8:44) The child of God whose life is controlled by truth will defeat Satan and overcome the attacks of Satan’s demons. The belt of truth is symbolic to the teachings of God’s Word along with the integrity of a Christian’s life which is birthed forth as the Holy Spirit brings illumination of God’s Word into a child of God’s life. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 58). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.; Turner, M. (1994). Ephesians. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 1243). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.) Instructions for Christian living says, “You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:20-24)