A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 26

 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil 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 firm. (Ephesians 6:10–13 ESV).

 

The Apostle Paul now comes to the conclusion of his letter to the believers in Ephesus. He says to “stand firm” (v. 13). Of course, he goes on to explain both the weapons and strategy in this conflict we find ourselves engaged in. Our strategy is to rely completely on the Lord. It is in the power of his boundless strength that we will be able to capture the victory. He also tells us we are to “put on God's complete armor so that you can successfully resist all the devil's craftiness.” We will examine these weapons in the next few days more.

 

Today I want to concentrate on the truth that our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organizations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that roams freely in this dark world. It is for this reason we must learn to use the whole armor of God that you may be able to resist evil in its day of power, and that even when you have fought to a standstill you may still stand your ground.

 

We should remember that we are fighting a spiritual war against enemies who are far greater in numbers, intelligence, subtlety, and power than Israel had to wage war against in terms of their contemporary neighboring nations. And, our enemy is invisible.

 

The word Paul uses for "stand" is a military term for holding on to a position. In effect, before one can launch an attack, he must first hold the position he is in. Believers confront something that we simply cannot overcome except that we also have help in this spiritual realm to draw upon as a resource. We should also understand that these enemies should not be underestimated. Our struggle is not merely against human foes, and it is a war to the death. In fact, here in this chapter, this idea is hidden in the Greek. It is a war to the death against supernatural forces. The word "powers" denotes those who aspire to world control, and ancient writers used the term to designate the savior gods of pagan religions. That is who we are fighting against—demons!

 

The great news of the Gospel is that the ultimate war has already been won. These battles we face are those that lead to that final ending God has already planned and promised. They exact serious consequences in our lives and are not to be taken lightly. However, we have this hope of final victory and eternal life to encourage us to persevere! This perseverance is much easier when we put on this full armor!