The Unseen War

If asked to name a great battle of the Bible, a frequent answer is David versus Goliath. It was a favorite story to reenact in the children's Bible classes I taught. Most wanted to play David and wave around a pretend sling, while only a few wanted to be Goliath. (Although several proved good at dramatic dying)

In Ephesians 6, the Apostle Paul gives us a fuller picture. He pulls back the veil between this realm and Heaven to warn Christians that a cosmic conflict lies behind our struggles. A supernatural clash between good versus evil, righteousness versus sin. 

It’s not simplistic to think in those terms, because as Paul points out, this unseen war is real. 

The Devil cheats. In 2 Corinthians 2:11, his “schemes” or “devices” mean combat strategies to attack you personally. He knows your weaknesses and will use them against you. He can amplify the inherent evil in your heart. 

The Devil lies. He slanders. He accuses.

This spiritual crusade is so powerful, the term Paul uses for struggle in Ephesians 6:12 means hand-to-hand combat. To wrestle the enemy down barehanded and strangle him to death. 

Great wars are won by multiple assaults. Once we become Christians, our lives are part of God’s spiritual warfare against Satan and his forces. Jesus already claimed victory on our behalf by His death, burial, and resurrection, but we’re enlisted to fight on three fronts: 

1.     The World (morality vs. social cultural/values)

2.     The Flesh (our personal physical/psychological desires vs. sin) 

3.     The Supernatural (Satanic/demonic)

To win, you need the right weapons. A full suit of armor helps. King Saul put his on David, but David hadn't tested it, so he took it off. Against Goliath, David chose to use a sling, his daily defense against bears or lions who might harm his sheep. 

With a woven rope sling spun by an expert like David, a golf-ball-sized rock will exit at 62 mph. It can hit a target up to 656 feet away. Accurate and deadly. 

David needed distance from Goliath’s size and sword. He used the right weapon to defeat his foe, and the only armor he wore was faith in God. Our armor is faith and the Gospel.

The Devil and his demons are powerful. Fighting them with worry, common sense arguments, willpower, pop psychology, and self-help books will fail. Instead, visualize donning each piece of the Gospel Armor. As noted theologian Tim Keller aptly pointed out, “You put armor on before going into battle, not while you’re fighting.”

Remember: 

* Keep your eyes on the prize—your salvation.

* Keep your eyes on our leader, Jesus Christ, who already claimed the crown of victory.

* Read Scripture—the Sword of the Spirit. 

* Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin you need to repent of.

* Establish a regular prayer practice.

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
--Ephesians 6:14-17

Questions for Reflection:

Find and read all five verses to the lyrics of “Soldiers of Christ Arise” by Charles Wesley, 1749. Wesley wrote the hymn in response to actual beatings he and his brother John suffered for their faith.

1. What does each verse mean?

2. What changes can I make in my life to prepare for my battles ahead?