Paul throughout his letter to the Ephesians has admonished them in what their walk with God should look like. Perhaps by this time in the letter, a keen awareness of their own reflection in the light of his words has left them feeling like they don’t, or worse, can’t measure up. Paul comforts them by returning their thoughts to the place of their strength. He encourages them by informing them and us we are not fighting flesh and blood; we have a formidable foe, but also the provision of Christ.
We Are Not Fighting Flesh and Blood
Paul writes, “We do not wrestle with flesh and blood.” Our fight is not with our spouse or our children. Our fight is not with your neighbours or the government. The natural eye does not see the plain on which we fight our battles. Something far more sinister and destructive wages war against the people of God.
We Have A Formidable Foe
Our fight is against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age and against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. From Rev. 12, we understand further. We see the Devil and Satan, who deceives the entire world. It is he who stands before the Father and accuses us. But now, they have cast him down to the earth. Therefore, he is angry. He knows he has only a little time. As a result, he is making war with those who have the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. It is he that we hear about in John 10 who comes to steal, kill and destroy. He and his angels are the enemy we fight.
The Provision of Christ in the Fight
“Be strong in the Lord.” “For now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ have come.” Christ reigns as victor. He has disarmed principalities and powers. He made a spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. If God is for us, who can be against us? We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. God always leads us in triumph in Christ. In 1 John 5:4 we read, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world? It is he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? Revelations tells us, “They overcame him.” How did they do so? It was by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony.
He encourages them by informing them and us we are not fighting flesh and blood; we have a formidable foe, but also the provision of Christ.
