“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
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During football season, teams go week after week preparing for the next opponent on their schedule. They will prepare to counter their opponent’s strengths while building in plays and strategies to take advantage of their foe’s weaknesses. Different opponents necessitate sometimes very different preparation. The key for success each week, therefore, is to truly know your opponent.
I fear that many believers in the United States have been sidetracked regarding who our true opponents are. God’s Word tells us that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood.” In other words, our true opponents are not other people. It’s not people of other political persuasions, or people of other countries, or even people of other belief systems. We may sometimes be tempted to think those people are our opponents, especially if they revile us. But it’s not the case. Don’t fear them.
Ultimately, our true opponents are the devil and his legion of demons — the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms — which Ephesians 6:12 talks about. Remember, the devil has always been about deceit. He’s the father of lies. He wants to confuse believers and cause them to question what they know clearly from Scripture. He’s always been prowling around like a lion seeking prey. Don’t fall into his trap. Satan and his demons are the real opponents.
So how do we prepare for battle against them? We put on the whole armor of God. We buckle on the belt of truth — the Bible — and we wield the shield of faith — the free gift of a relationship with our Heavenly Father. Most of all, we put on the helmet of salvation as we look to the Person of Christ and His work on our behalf.
That’s it. We read the Bible, we pray, and we rest in the knowledge that God will protect us from the schemes of our opponents. You must know your opponents, certainly. But to prepare for them, you must know your infinitely greater God.
— Kevin Mercer
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