You may have heard it said, “The Christian life is not a
playground; it’s a battleground.” For we are not
fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers
and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness
who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians
6:12 NLT) It is clear that our warfare is not against physical forces, but
against evil invisible powers who have clearly defined levels of authority.
Evil forces strategically
tempt us to oppose God’s will and His authority. For example, the other day
I was driving home from work, minding my own business. Suddenly, I became aware
of a thought that was opposing God’s will. It lingered until I prayed,
commanding it to leave. The devil also works through people. How many times has
someone deflated you with a cutting, critical remark? Demonic assaults come
unprovoked, unannounced and are relentless!
I’m not saying all adversity is bad. God permits some to
strengthen our faith. Yet, Satan uses it to entice us to do and think that
which brings harm and destruction. Consider the epidemic of broken families and
marriages. “Where
do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they
just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and
fight for it deep inside yourselves.” (James 4:1 MSG) Wicked spirits tempt us
to give into selfish desires.
How are we to overcome and be victorious in the battle? God’s
word tells us to “stand against” such attacks. It’s significant to know this
verb’s meaning: to command bravery and great vigor, not passivity. (Ephesians
6:11)
