Ephesians 6
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
As Christians, we believe that we are living in the last days, a time of spiritual warfare and conflict. The Bible tells us that in these times, there will be increased demonic activity and deception, as the enemy seeks to deceive and destroy the people of God. But as believers, we have been equipped with the power of Christ to stand firm in the face of this spiritual opposition.
The apostle Paul reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of darkness in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). In other words, our battle is not against other people, but against spiritual forces that seek to oppose and hinder the work of God.
To stand firm in the power of Christ in the midst of spiritual warfare, we must first recognize our need for Him. We cannot fight this battle in our own strength, but only through the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. We must daily surrender our lives to God and allow Him to fill us with His Spirit.
Next, we must put on the armor of God, as described in Ephesians 6:13-18. This includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. This armor protects us from the attacks of the enemy and gives us the strength to stand firm in the face of opposition.
We must also be vigilant and alert, watching for the schemes and tactics of the enemy. Satan is a master deceiver and will use any means necessary to lead us astray from God’s purposes. We must be discerning and wise, testing every spirit to see if it is from God.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
Finally, we must pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer is our greatest weapon in spiritual warfare, as it allows us to connect with the power and presence of God. We must pray for ourselves and for others, asking God to protect us from the evil one and to strengthen us in our faith.
In conclusion, spiritual warfare in the last days is a reality that we must face as believers. But we need not be afraid or discouraged, for we have been equipped with the power of Christ to stand firm against the enemy. May we daily put on the armor of God, be vigilant and alert, and pray without ceasing, as we stand firm in the power and presence of Christ.
