'For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. '
Ephesians 6:12 NIV
Recognize the Fight
Complacency is a valuable tool of Satan against people. As we dive into this series, “Armor of God,” one of the main takeaways is that you are in a fight. This is not a conflict that you can opt out of or avoid, and ignoring it is not going to make it go away. So recognize the fight that you are in, and get active. Ephesians tells us that this battle isn’t against flesh and blood, but rather against spiritual forces of evil. This should let us know the kind of fight that we are in. Satan wants you unaware, unfocused, and apathetic to this fight. It’s time for you to fight back. How do you know where and how to fight?
Fight Back for your Relationships
This battle described in Ephesians 6 is not against flesh and blood. This teaches us that our struggles against other people is actually evidence that we are fighting the wrong way. The Lord God is the God of reconciliation. He teaches us to forgive like He forgives, and to love and pray for even our “enemies.” Because we have an actual enemy fighting against us. The devil delights in fractured relationships and seemingly irreconcilable issues. You can fight back for your relationships with forgiveness and grace. Just as you are forgiven by Jesus, forgive others, following His example. When you do this, you fight back against the real battle.
'All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:'
2 Corinthians 5:18 NIV
God has entrusted you and me with His work - the ministry of reconciliation. Fight on the right side of the line. Err on the side of forgiveness. Struggle to make amends, and don’t get blinded by the “need” for things to be made right. If someone wrongs you, forgive. Be active in the right struggle.
Fight Back for your Thoughts
Where the devil works hardest to defeat you is in your thoughts. Truth being drowned out by lies. Peace drowned out by anxiety and worry. Affirmation drowned out by doubt. As followers of Jesus, even our thoughts should be surrendered to Jesus - committed to follow Him.
'We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. '
2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
Taking every thought captive is how you fight back against the liar, Satan. Hold up the things you believe against the Word of God. Pull on the threads of your thoughts to reveal their source and whether or not they are true. The verse tells us to take “every” thought captive. Obedience to Christ is the goal. Fight back for your thoughts so that you find yourself closer and closer to Jesus.
Fight Back
Satan cares about only one thing in your life; he has a singular goal: to stop you from following Jesus. He doesn’t care if you are rich or poor, healthy or sick, popular or lonely. None of these things matter to your enemy. He works for the singular purpose of stopping you from knowing and following Jesus. To distract you from Christ’s love and calling. To confuse you about what is important in your life. How do you fight back? Seek Jesus daily. Hourly. Constantly. Don’t let your pursuit of Jesus be an afterthought or a box to check. Christ is not a part of your life - Christ is your life, because we are only alive in Him. So fight back against the lies and strategies that would pull you in any other direction.
'Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. '
