The Jesus Bible Reading PlanSample

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Ephesians offers a window into the spiritual realities that underlie the struggles and difficulties of life many people face. Sins that people commit against God, themselves and others spring from a deeper well than simple bad choices or mere circumstances. Believers are engaged in spiritual warfare.

Second Corinthians 10:1 – 6 (particularly vv. 4 – 5) offers a helpful addition to Paul’s teachings here concerning spiritual warfare. These passages combined offer a picture of the spiritual battle taking place behind the scenes of many human experiences. Arguments against the gospel, failures of biblical morality and lines of unbiblical thinking are not merely the skewed actions and beliefs of humans. According to Paul’s teachings, these issues come from the intentional activity of an enemy who influences people each and every day. When a Christian faces overwhelming trials and oppressive circumstances, the evil one may be intimately involved.

Yet, believers must not despair. The Christian has every reason to be confident as he takes up the approach to spiritual warfare prescribed by God. The means of success are the spiritual disciplines commanded by God in Ephesians 6. Using the familiar image of Roman armor, this passage reveals how to do battle against spiritual enemies and outlines the rules of engagement for this specific fight. The end goal of spiritual warfare is to make every thought captive to Christ (2Co 10:5).

Jesus, help me to always be clothed with the armor of God, and help me to take every thought captive to you. Amen.