Discerning the Real Enemy

 One of the teachings from Scripture that has challenged me over the years relative to my own struggle with temptation and my relationships with others is Eph. 6:10-18.  This passage has many rich truths in it that orient my thinking as to the identity of the real enemy and to how to effectively navigate the spiritual battle that we are all in.  Paul begins by saying, 

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." (Eph. 6:10)

Right off the bat it is a reminder to me that my strength does not come from a strong will or a disciplined mind, my strength comes from the Lord.  I am strong in Him and in His mighty strength.  How often do we attempt to overcome temptations in our own strength?  We attempt to overcome the temptation to worry by trying to control everything around us.  We press on to overcome lust by just trying harder next time not to look or give our desires a foothold.  We attempt to overcome the temptation to gossip or slander someone by trying to keep our mouth shut, which rarely works.  We try and we try, but somehow we seem to fail at our attempts.  If you can relate to what I am talking about, take heart because there is a reason why these attempts do not accomplish the results you want.  Only God can deliver you... He is the One who fights for you.  We have this command to be strong, but the qualifier is that our strength in the Lord and in His might.  

Why do we need to be strong in the Lord?  This is the question we should be asking ourselves.  This passage helps clarify the answer to this question.  Paul continues by saying,

"Put on the whole armor of God, so 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."  (Eph. 6:11-12)

Did you catch what Paul is pointing out?  The real battle is a spiritual battle.  These rulers and authorities that he talks about are not flesh and blood, or human.  They are spiritual in natural and are summed up nicely as the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  In other words, the real battle exists because Satan and the fallen angels with him are scheming and plotting to bring chaos to this word and to undermine what is good and holy.  To top it off, as fallen image bearers ourselves, we have a natural propensity to gratify the evil desires of the flesh, and Satan knows this.  He pounces on us like a hungry Lion seeking to devour his prey.  He drags us away and entices us so that death and chaos will reign in our lives.  You and I cannot defeat such an enemy in our own strength.  We cannot win by trying harder on our own.  We need to stand in the strength of the Lord.

How do we do that?  Paul answers this through imagery.  He tells us to take up the armor of God.

"Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil days, and having done all, to stand firm.  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and as for shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.  To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints."  (Eph. 6:13-18)

There has been many attempts to understand the armor of God.  Some will go into great detail about each armor piece and relate it to how it can help you be strong in the Lord, but I look at it in a bit more simplistic terms.  I believe what Paul is doing is essentially encouraging the believer to focus three major things to be strong in the Lord.

1. Prepare your mind for action.  He encourages them remember the instruction of Christ (belt of truth), to remember your identity in Christ (breastplate of righteousness), and to remember the mission of Christ (gospel shoes).
2. Surrender your will for the battle.  He encourages you to entrust yourself to the Lord and His ways (shield of faith).  The decision of the will is not to try harder but to trust deeper.  
3. Pray, Pray, Pray!  Yes, prayer is our expression of dependence and where we discover our true source of strength.  Our failure to pray in times of temptation leads to us falling into the same pit over and over again, further hardening our heart, thus making it that much harder to pray.  Pray reminds us that we fall short and need a deliverer.  Prayer reminds us that God is merciful and can sympathize with our weaknesses.  Prayer reminds us that sin is unbecoming of a new creation in Christ.  Prayer reminds us that the Lord will fight for us.  

These three things are what we can do to stand in the mighty strength of the Lord.  Our failure to do these things lead us right back to the same mucky pit.  I would encourage you to stand in the Lord and in His mighty strength, so that you might claim, "The battle belongs to the Lord."  This is how you fight a spiritual battle... not in your own strength, but His.