“Finally, be strong in the Master and in the strength of his might.” ~Apostle Paul

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Devil, Ephesians, Ephesians 6, Ephesians 6:10-12, Fight, Jesus, Spiritual Weapons, Summary

Men of God. This is for you. I have spent a lot of time focused on this scripture. We must know that we are at war with the Devil. We would like to think that is not true, but it is. It is a fact.

Our Master Jesus has given us everything we need. We have the best weapons possible. There is nothing shoddy about them at all. All we must do is put them to use. It is a big mistake to think we don’t need them.

We do need GOD. We need to prepare daily for the war. We are at war. This is for keeps.

Finally, be strong in the Master and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² 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. ^[1]

 ~Apostle Paul | Ephesians 6:10-12 (ESV)

One of the most powerful verses in the Bible is Ephesians 6:12, where the apostle Paul tells us that we are not fighting against human enemies, but against spiritual forces that oppose God and his people. In this article, I want to explore what this verse means and how it applies to our lives today.

First, let’s look at the context of this verse. Paul is writing to the Christians in Ephesus, a city that was known for its idolatry and occult practices. He warns them to put on the whole armor of God, so that they can stand against the schemes of the devil. He then lists the different parts of the armor: 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. He also urges them to pray at all times in the Spirit, with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

Paul’s point is that we are engaged in a spiritual war, whether we realize it or not. Our enemy is not flesh and blood, meaning not other people, but the devil and his agents. Paul uses four different terms to describe them: rulers, authorities, cosmic powers, and spiritual forces of evil. These terms indicate that there are different levels and ranks of demonic beings that operate in this world and in the heavenly places, which is another way of saying the spiritual realm. They have a certain degree of power and influence over this present darkness, which is the state of sin and rebellion against God that characterizes this age.

These spiritual forces are opposed to God and his purposes. They seek to deceive, tempt, accuse, oppress, and destroy God’s people and his work. They also seek to blind the minds of unbelievers, so that they do not see the light of the gospel of the glory of the Messiah. They are behind every false religion, every false doctrine, every false teacher, every false miracle, every false prophecy, every false sign and wonder. They are behind every sin, every evil, every injustice, every suffering, every oppression, every violence, every war.

How do we fight against such enemies? Not with physical weapons or human strategies, but with spiritual weapons and divine power. Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God, which is a metaphor for applying the truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and word of God to our lives. These are not things that we produce by ourselves, but things that God gives us by his grace. We also need to pray at all times in the Spirit, which means to rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance and intercession for ourselves and others. We also need to be alert and watchful, knowing that our enemy is like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

We also need to remember that we do not fight alone. We fight together with all the saints, meaning all the believers in the Messiah who are part of his body. We also fight together with Christ himself, who is our head and our leader. He has already defeated the devil and his forces on the cross and in his resurrection. He has already disarmed them and triumphed over them. He has already given us authority over them in his name. He has already promised us victory over them in his return.

Therefore, let us not be afraid or discouraged by our spiritual enemies. Let us not be ignorant or indifferent to their schemes. Let us not be deceived or seduced by their lies. Let us not be complacent or careless in our walk with God. Let us not be divided or isolated from our fellow soldiers in the Messiah.

Let us instead be strong in the Master Jesus and in his mighty power. Let us put on the whole armor of God and stand firm against the devil’s attacks. Let us pray at all times in the Spirit and with all kinds of prayers. Let us fight the good fight of faith and finish the race with joy.

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.

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eph 6:10–12.