Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare

Ephesians 6:10-18

As a Christian, when we have lived a prayerful and faithful life, it becomes pretty clear that life is not a playground. But it is a battleground. We have come to realize that life is not always easy, even though we cherish a lot of fun, lightheartedness, play and excitement. We will be going through times of pain and anguish and struggle. Someone has said that life can be described bittersweet. It has sweet moments that we cherish and embrace, but it also has bitter moments that bring us to tears, hurt and pain.

The Apostle Paul is writing, and he concludes his work to the church at Ephesus about the battleground of life. In Ephesians 6:12 “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.” We call it spiritual warfare, because he is not just talking about a simple kind of battle. He describes this one specifically by calling it the evil day. The evil day is when you are overwhelmed. Yes, life has its normal ups and downs, but that's not what he's talking about. Here he is talking about when you are under a major attack, when your world is being shattered, when your dreams are being destroyed, and when your hopes are being dimmed. Because that evil day is a day when demons are after you and your name will be tested by the Lord. Paul says when that day comes, when that period of time where you are under major assault comes, he wants you to understand how to approach these times. Because on that day you are going to NEED the strength of the Lord. (verse 10) Be strong in the LORD and the power of His might. Normal solutions will not work and coming to church because of simple habits won't work. Paul says on that day, you are going to need the supernatural. You are going to need prayer. This is how we are called to face our Spiritual warfare.

I. The Supernatural Power of God

Remember, everything visible and physical is preceded by that which is invisible and spiritual. So Paul wants us to know that if we want to address our visible and physical struggles and attacks in our life, we need to do it from the perspective point of the invisible and spiritual.

Heavenly Places: He gives us a term which he uses throughout the book of Ephesians; “heavenly places”. Heavenly places mean the spiritual realm. Paul is saying, when you are under assault, when your life is being shattered, and you are trying to be in the will of God, you are trying to walk with God, but you are being attacked. And your wellness is being attacked, your dreams are being attacked, your health is being attacked, your stability is being attacked, your resources are being attacked, your future is being attacked, and you are completely lost. Paul says, during those times, you have to look things from the location of heavenly places or the spiritual realm. If you're going to be strong and walk through these troubling times, he wants to set a plan in place for how you are going to make it through the evil day.

Stand Firm: When you are under assault and your stability is being shaken, Paul states during those times I want you to stand firm, stand firm, stand firm; don't quit, don't quit, don't quit. He states this three times. Because the temptation of the world will make you easily give up for many people.

Paul says the first thing I want you to understand is that you wrestle not against flesh and blood. (v.12) In other words, people aren't the source of your problem. They may be the cause for your problem, but they're not the source of your problems. For we, Christians, wrestle not against flesh and blood, but with the principalities, powers, and forces that are located in heavenly places or the spiritual realm.

When you are under the fire of oppression, when you are under the fire of the evil one, when you are under fire of demonic attack, and when you are under the fire of suffering. Paul says you must take your stand on the ground where Jesus Christ has already been burned for you. Where Jesus Christ has already suffered for you, you only need to grab a hold of the strength that the Lord has. Too often, from fear, may our faith waver and some forget to hold on to God. When you are in the midst of the evil day, you have to run to God. Because you are now engaged in spiritual warfare and your life is being attacked. It is not the time to run from him, but it is the time to run to him. It is not the time to invade him, but it is the time to embrace him. Paul says stand firm and hold onto your faith in the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of the suffering and the pain and in the midst of the struggle.