Our Warfare

I was reading Ephesians 6 earlier today. In younger years, I was very familiar with verses 10-18, having been in a local assembly involved in much spiritual warfare. Yet, as I read verse 12 this morning, I thought to myself, 'So, we need to be praying that our God will SHAKE the spiritual forces of wickedness OUT OF the heavenly places!' Yes, I'll 'look up' the verse for you: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
 Now, you may have one of two reactions to my statement. You might think, 'YEAH! Let's pray against those suckers and be tough in the Lord!' My response to your response would be, 'Hold on! You don't pray things like that by yourself! This isn't an action movie where the good guys immediately recover from the hits they take. Our enemy is REAL...AND POWERFUL. If you're going to pray things like this, you need to be praying with a group of dedicated believers. If you 'go solo,' you'll be struck down by the forces you're praying against. And, if you read Ephesians 6:1-9, Paul is not speaking to them as 'an individual,' he is speaking to them as a group. Therefore, Ephesians 6:10-19 is also written as a corporate admonishment, not as to an individual. In other words, even though I've heard 6:10-19 taught as to us as individuals, I believe it's to be read and applied to GROUPS of believers. Let me apply it this way: Our nation doesn't send one man, or even a bunch of men individually, to fight a war, do they? No. They send an ARMY, a GROUP of men, who are trained to fight as a group, not as lone rangers fighting a foe. Even David, warrior that he was, didn't go out and fight the enemy all by himself. (The nine-foot giant was an exception). He fought with a group of 'mighty men.'

The other reaction you might have is, 'Ooohhh...I'd NEVER do that!' (because you don't know your standing in Christ). As with so many facets of the spiritual life, balance is needed. We can be either 'too brave' or 'too afraid' of our enemy. If you're in the group who are afraid of the enemy, let's look at Revelation 21:8. "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Now, truly, this verse is not referring to believers, BUT...notice that God lists the cowardly FIRST! If God lists this trait as that despicable to Him in those headed for the lake of fire, do you think He likes it any better in those who have His Spirit living in them?

I'm not encouraging you to start 'attacking' the enemy. But, if he assaults you, as Paul said in verse 13, stand firm! Again, balance is needed. There is a measure of 'standing alone' we need to do, yet not really alone, as we must stand 'in Him' or failure is certain. But, God has designed us as the army described above. As Paul stated in verse 12, 'our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.' Do you really think you can battle against this vast array of foes alone and not suffer deadly blows? Please don't! Let's couple these verses in Ephesians 6 with John 17:20 & 21: "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You." Even if you're not being assaulted by our enemy, please always remember that, as members of His Body, we are members one of another. We can't make it alone. And He designed it that way!