Spiritual Warfare

Chaplain Michael Written
Captain Columbia Flying Artillery
Abbeville, South Carolina
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:12

Introduction

"I’m just having a string of bad luck." "I’m just going through some rough times." "Things just aren’t going my way right now." "Lady Luck just isn’t with me right now." Have you ever heard any of these phrases – or used them yourself? Well, maybe "luck" has nothing to do with it. Maybe it’s forces that we can’t see which are influencing our lives. The greatest deception ever accomplished was when Satan convinced the world that he doesn’t exist. Brothers and sisters, I am here today to tell you the truth. Satan is alive; he does exist; and he and his evil angels are the ones who are really to blame for a lot of the problems in this world.

Many scholars believe that Satan was the anointed cherub whom God placed in charge of the newly created earth. This is based on Ezekiel 28:11 – 19. It was because of pride that Satan was thrown out of heaven. When he left he took with him a host of angelic beings. Some scholars believe that it was approximately 1/3 of the angelic population that was also cast out of heaven with Satan. This is the group who is referred to as "the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" in our text. This group is referred to as "principalities" in the King James Version. Principalities is defined as "an order of angels; one of the nine orders of angels in the traditional Christian hierarchy."

His Power

Satan has been given a certain amount of power over human beings. He also has access to heaven and speaks with God. These facts are recorded in Job chapters 1 – 3. Now if Satan could inflict pain and suffering on Job in the ancient world, what makes you think that he can’t – or doesn’t – do the same thing in our present age?

The Warnings

Paul warns us that we are to prepare for battle – for combat – that this spiritual warfare is a nasty war. The combat for which we are to be prepared is not against ordinary human enemies, not against men of "flesh and blood" – nor is this battle against our own corrupt nature. No, this battle is against the several ranks of devils that have a government, which they exercise, in this world.

We are dealing with a subtle enemy, an enemy who uses trickery and cleaver schemes of deception. Satan has a thousand ways of beguiling – that is enticing – unstable souls: hence he is called a serpent for subtleness, an old serpent, experienced in the art and trade of tempting.

He is a powerful enemy. Satan and his demons are numerous, they are strong; and they are at work in those heathen nations, which are yet in darkness. The dark parts of the world are the seat of Satan’s empire. Yea, they are rulers who seize things without any right to do so; they are rulers over all men who are yet in a state of sin and ignorance. Satan’s is a kingdom of darkness; whereas Christ’s is a kingdom of light.

They are spiritual enemies. The devil is a spirit, a wicked spirit; and our greatest danger is the fact that these evil angels cannot be seen and they assault us before we are even aware of them. These evil angels are wicked spirits, and they annoy us by using such spiritual wickedness as pride, envy, malice, etc.

These enemies are said to be "in high places", or in heavenly places – meaning that this battle is taking place in heaven. These evil angels strive to prevent our access to heaven, to deprive us of heavenly blessings and to obstruct our communion – that is – our spiritual union with heaven. They assault and distort the very image of heaven that we hold near and dear in our hearts. This is why we can never let our guard down. They are constantly on the prowl looking for souls to devour and destroy.

Satan is a strong enemy, so Paul tells us in verse 10 that we also must be strong. Paul knows that the flesh is weak. We can only overcome this weakness through the power of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We have the strength to overcome when we realize that we are seated with Christ in the heavens far above all of Satan’s principalities and powers, and that the very power of God is available to us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

We can protect ourselves. How you ask? The answer is by putting on armor – the armor of God. Paul describes God’s armor in verses 14–17. But that’s another whole sermon.

In his sermon on this verse Wesley gives us the following advise: To his [Satan’s] "fiery darts," – his evil suggestions of every kind, blasphemous or unclean, though numberless as the stars of heaven – oppose "the shield of faith." A consciousness of the love of Christ Jesus will effectually quench them all. Jesus hath died for you! What can your faith withstand? Believe, hold fast your shield! And who shall pluck you from His hand?

If he [Satan] injects doubt whether you are a child of God, or fears lest you should not endure to the end; "take to you for a helmet the hope of salvation." Hold fast that glad word, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to His abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a living hope of an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." You will never be overthrown, you will never be staggered by your adversary, if you "hold fast the beginning of" this "confidence steadfast unto the end."

Whenever the "roaring lion, walking about and seeking whom he may devour" assaults you with all his malice, and rage, and strength, resist him by being "steadfast in the faith." Then is the time, having cried to the Strong for strength, to "stir up the gift of God that is in you;" to summon all your faith, and hope, and love; to turn the attack in the name of the Lord, and in the power of His might; and he [Satan] will soon "flee from you."

Conclusion

We Christians need to realize that this war, this fight is not against flesh and blood but is against the "spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience" (Eph. 2:2, NKJV). Just as the Spirit of God works in believers to make them holy, so the spirit of disobedience – Satan and his demons – works in the lives of unbelievers. How foolish to fight flesh and blood when the real enemy is merely using that flesh and blood to obstruct the Lord’s work. This is the mistake Peter made in the Garden of Gethsemane when he tried to overcome the devil with the sword as recorded in Matthew 26:51. Moses made the same mistake when he killed the Egyptian as recorded in Acts 7:23–29. The only way to fight spiritual enemies is with spiritual weapons – the Word of God, prayer, and faith in Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Our heavenly Father: We are weak. We often succumb the ways of this world. Too often we have bought into the world’s view of "if it feels good – do it" and thus we fall. We give You thanks Father for giving us a Helper-the Holy Spirit–who is there to help us up after we stumble. Lord Jesus, be for us our Deliverer and Protector when Satan and his evil angels come calling. You have already defeated him at his own game. In You we can find our refuge, our strength, and our victory. Guide us. Help us keep our feet on that narrow, difficult path that leads to eternal life in heaven. For we ask this in Christ’s Holy and Sacred name. Amen.