(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better…and if you listen AND follow along below, you’ll see why)
Focus Question:
How do I make a difference in spiritual warfare?
Intro:
Imagine you look out at room full of people. Over one person’s shoulder you see an angel, sword in hand. But right next to her is a another person with this ugly little creature clinging tightly to another gal, and across that little demon’s forehead is written the word “foolishness.” Across the way you see another man, and he’s got a couple of these little creatures hanging on him, one with it’s teeth sunk into his leg bearing the words “drunkeness” and another whispering in his hear labeled “deception.”
The scene is one of my own making, of course, but here’s one that really happened from 2 Kings 6
When the servant of the man of God got up early and went out, he discovered an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?” Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, please open his eyes and let him see.” So the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Ki 6:15–17, CSB
Today we wrap up the very little we have left to read in the book of Ephesians, and in one sense it’s a famous passage about spiritual warfare, and it’s our jumping off point for today’s focus question, “How do I make a difference in spiritual warfare?”
But I want to draw your attention to it from a little different angle…the context of the whole book of Ephesians.
Growth in our relationship with Jesus requires both knowledge and practice. The first half of Ephesians is the knowledge part, and the second half has to do with practice. And when we get to that second half, Paul begins talking about God’s purposes in the church in light of His desire for unity of believers, including our different spiritual gifts. Then he launches into what holy living looks like in areas like how we think, how we deal with anger, how we deal with sexuality, and how we related to truth versus falsehood. And all of this is under the umbrella of relationship and closes out with what we talked about yesterday…that our own submission to the Lord is the act of worship that we demonstrate by how we submit to others, three contexts of which were wives and husbands, children and parents, servants and masters.
The he says, “Finally…” and launches into what we’ll read right now.
NEW TESTAMENT SEGMENT:
Passage: Ephesians 6:10-24
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 14
Words: ~272
So how do I make a difference in spiritual warfare? It has to do with where it even comes from…and I’ll point out two final points after our OT segment.
OLD TESTAMENT SEGMENT:
Passage: Esther 7-9:19
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 46
Words: ~1509
Wisdom SEGMENT:
Passage: Proverbs 11:23
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: x
Words: ~xx
The bottom line:
Spiritual warfare has its origin in a rebellion of many angels against God. Satan is seen as the prince of this world, leading an array of forces opposed to God. Although disarmed by Jesus Christ on the cross, they remain a powerful threat to the church and to individual believers. (1)
In his introduction, he writes, “Before it is the warfare of God’s people, however, spiritual warfare is the warfare of God himself” (p. 2). He then continues, “Satan, sin, and the world are all expressions of cosmic rebellion against the Creator and his will and purposes, and God himself addresses that opposition and brings it to nothing” (p. 2). (2) (emphasis mine)
So here’s the thing. What can we do?
From that passage in Ephesians, note two things. One, most of the things in the armor imagery are defensive, not offensive. A big chunk of what Paul just talked about in all that preceding section were postures of the heart…being wise, not foolish, not quenching the Spirit, being on guard for false teaching. And the two offensive weapons were the sword of the Spirit — which is the word of God, and prayer.
How can you be most effective in Spiritual warfare? It’s not by learning to do exorcisms or binding demons or that kind of stuff (which, BTW, has questionable Scriptural support). It’s by your own vigilance in your own role in your own place in history, being filled with the Word and in communion with God. The temptation of all of us is what? Rebellion? Not loving our neighbor? Rebelling against the authority or situation we’ve been placed in. Giving in to that little demon across the room whose got the words “discontent” written across his chest. How do we fight back? Being on guard by being in communion, and actively pursuing Word and prayer.
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources:
(1) Martin H. Manser, Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies (London: Martin Manser, 2009).
(2) Will Brooks, “Mission and Culture. Review of The Message of Spiritual Warfare by Keith Ferdinando,” Themelios 42, no. 1 (2017): 236.