THE FIGHT

PART THREE

When I gave my life to Christ, I honestly believed that from that day forward, it would be nothing but sunshine, roses, and lollipops. I didn’t understand spiritual warfare or the enemy’s plan to destroy me. However, it wasn’t long after I began following Jesus that the devil and his minions started to attack. I quickly realized I was in the midst of a battle, facing unexpected blows in nearly every aspect of my life.

It's easy to let fear take hold when you realize the enemy is trying to steal, kill, and destroy your destiny. Yet the truth is that he has already been defeated, and this knowledge helps me maintain my faith. I began to pray even when I lacked the words or the strength. God heard my cry and He answered. During my daily Bible study time, the Holy Spirit guided me to not only the verses that equipped me to fight back but also to scripture that revealed the enemy’s strategies.

In Ephesians 6:10, we are encouraged to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. It’s easy to feel discouraged when the enemy attacks our health, finances, minds, loved ones, or anything we cherish or need. However, it is vital that we place our faith and trust in our Almighty God. This doesn’t mean we sit back and do nothing; we are empowered to fight back. What’s really encouraging is that we are given instructions on how to engage in this battle. Ephesians 6:11 (KJV) states, “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

Although our armor may not be physical, the concept remains the same. The armor of God is designed to protect us from spiritual weapons, projectiles, and injuries during combat. Here’s where many of us fall short: we fail to put on the armor. Often, we don't recognize when we are in the midst of a battle, leaving ourselves defenseless and taking hit after hit. The enemy thrives on our ignorance of his schemes, especially since many don’t read the Bible for themselves.

I love what Joanna Weaver reveals in her book "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World." She writes, “From the Garden of Eden to Martha’s Bethany kitchen to our own everyday world, Satan still plans his attacks around what I call the 'Three Deadly Ds of Destruction.' They are Distraction, Discouragement, and Doubt. Throughout time, Satan has resorted to these tactics to bring down God’s best and brightest.” 

This statement is so true! Satan keeps us distracted. For many of us, our days are filled with endless to-do lists, our minds are consumed with worry, our hearts are burdened with anxiety, and we often spend hours scrolling through social media to numb our pain. We find ourselves caught in an endless cycle of distraction, discouragement, and doubt about God’s love and presence in our lives.

It’s time to wake up to the truth and prepare for battle, as we are dealing with an enemy who is crafty, strategic, and watchful. Satan has his own kingdom, as revealed in Ephesians 6:12, which states, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Since we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, we understand that our struggle is not with other people. Although it may seem that way—such as during an argument with a spouse, dealing with a disobedient child, managing an upset customer, encountering an angry driver on the road, or having a disagreement with a friend—we must remember who the real enemy is. Once we shift our focus, we see that we are fighting a battle we cannot win if we do not understand the true nature of the conflict.

Let’s define the terms used in Ephesians 6:12: principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness. While I encourage you to conduct your own research, I will share my limited understanding as I continue to learn.

- Principalities refer to high-ranking demons that heavily influence a territory. When demonic activity dominates a region, it is often due to a principality. For example, if drug addiction is prevalent in a community, it may be linked to a principality.

- Rulers of darkness are the devil and his demons. These spiritual beings possess significant power.

- Spiritual wickedness in high places refers to high-ranking demons and the influential people in positions of power who are affected by these demons.

We cannot hope to win a battle if we do not understand what or whom we are fighting against. I encourage you to seek the Lord to reveal these mysteries to you, and to pray for guidance on how to wear the full armor of God. The good news is that we already know how the story ends. Those of us in Jesus Christ have the victory.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,  

Thank you for revealing the lies, tactics, and strategies of the enemy. Please teach us how to put on the full armor of God, how to pray against attacks, and how to stay protected. You said in Hosea 4:6 that “My people perish for lack of knowledge.” Grant us wisdom and discernment as we move forward, in Jesus' name, Amen.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert in theology. I’m just sharing what I’ve learned during my personal bible study time. I encourage you to take everything back to the Lord in prayer. If you have any questions regarding accuracy, please conduct your own research or seek wise counsel from the leaders in your church or a respected figure within your community.