24.05 | Prepare for Battle

Ephesians 6:10-24

‘Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.’

Ephesians 6:10-11

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“The problem with you Westerners,” said one African bishop, “is that you think all the demons have gone to Africa.”

In 1972, answering the question “What are the greatest needs of the Church today?,” Pope John Paul VI answered: “Do not let our answer surprise you as being oversimple or even superstitious and unreal: one of the greatest needs is defence from that evil which is called the Devil.”¹

C.S. Lewis, in his extraordinary book The Screwtape Letters, wrote: “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”²

Materialists and magicians. Even a quick google search about the demonic demonstrates both polarities are live and kicking.

And yet, many of us feel a discomfort in talking about the devil. We’re keen, as we say in our prayer meetings, not to overspiritualise things. Rationalism has done its work on us. We try and fit Scriptural passages about spiritual warfare into our existing paradigms, and thus reduce conversation about the demonic to a sidelined, eccentric, or extreme ‘kind’ of Christianity. One for the fanatics. We’re happier when demons are more of a metaphor. 

But here’s the thing: the Bible is actually really clear about the demonic. 

There are around 300 references to demons or the demonic in the Scriptures, all of which assume them to be a real, spiritual, interfering part of life in this world.³ Indeed, the advance of the Kingdom is viewed as a direct attack on hell and all its forces.

And yet, the New Testament gives us no cause for hype or hysteria. The devil is dealt with with plain language. It was simply a part of the normal worldview and conversation of the Early Church. 

Today’s passage brings this conversation into the very warp and woof of our lives. So what can we draw from it?

Firstly, expect spiritual opposition if you are spiritually advancing. Your spiritual growth and ministry is an affront to the powers of darkness, and thus will be opposed. This should not surprise us. In Paul’s words, we should not be ‘unaware of [the devil’s] schemes.’⁴

Secondly, recognise your enemy. It is not ‘against flesh and blood’. This is a radical reorientation. It means that we are to shift our view of all people, from adversaries to those in need of saving. Our true enemies are the oppressive ideologies, power structures, and the forces of hell that animate all such human brokenness. 

Thirdly, we recognise both the schemes of attack, and the ensuing defence. Look at what Paul identifies.

Truth. Righteousness. Readiness. Faith. Salvation.

This means that the enemy will contend you with lies, temptation, apathy, unbelief, and doubting the fullness of your salvation and belovedness. To put on this armour is to daily, intentionally, take every step we can in the direction of knowing truth, choosing righteousness, stepping out in courage, making choices in accord with faith, and reminding our doubting souls of the surety of our salvation. We do this for ourselves, and we can help each other. And, as we do the little things we can, we continually invite the Spirit of God to come and set our little offerings of choice and habit before Him, that He may turn these little offerings into the fire of transformation.

Fourthly, we take up the sword. The sword Paul identifies is ‘the word of God’ — the weapon used by the Spirit of God to cleave through the works of darkness and supplant it with the Kingdom of Light. Simply telling the truth — clearly and lovingly and confidently — when partnered with prayer in the Spirit, is of extraordinary power in the advance of His cause. 

Friends, this isn’t hype. It’s normal Christianity. It’s the worldview of the Scriptures. It was the worldview of Jesus. Keep calm. But, to advance and to advance with strength and purpose, hear the wisdom of Paul.

Because Jesus picked a fight with all hell, and you are in the process of enacting this invading victory from now until His return.

So, with eyes on the Lord and the strength of His might, we strap on our armour, and we prepare for battle.

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Reflect:

Spend some time with those places of spiritual attack: lies, temptation, apathy, unbelief, and doubting the fullness of your salvation.

Where do you particularly need to strap on armour today?

Is there anything you can choose to do to enact this?

What do you want the Spirit do do for you?

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Pray:

Loving Father,

I don’t want to be a crazy fanatic,

Filled with anxiety, and speaking more of demons

Than of you.

I want to be wise, 

In the things of emotional health, and physical wellbeing, and strong community,

In the things of balance and rest and beauty and love.

But Father,

I also see that your Scriptures present me with a real and personal enemy of my soul:

The devil, the satan, the enemy.

And so, today,

I buckle up in your armour:

Hold my mind in the strength of unshifting truth;

Transform my heart in the things of dazzling righteousness;

Dispel my apathy and restore me in the courage of my true calling;

Guard me with the joyful perspective of faith;

And declare in the depths of my every thought that I am utterly, perfectly, and eternally beloved.

Father, I take up your word today:

Help me to speak truth,

And set these words ablaze in the power of your Spirit,

That your Kingdom may advance through the forces of darkness,

Unto the beauty of the reign of my Lord,

In this place, and at this time,

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen

Old Testament: 

For those also reading the Old Testament this year, your additional readings are here:

1 Kings 5:1-7:12 | Proverbs 15:13-18

1. Pope Paul VI, statement made 15th November 1972 called ‘Deliver Us From Evil’, quoted in Francis MacNutt: Healing, p.192-193. NB MacNutt notes that he was much criticised for this statement.

2. C.S. Lewis: The Screwtape Letters, p.ix

3. Jon Thompson: Deliverance, p.17

4. 2 Corinthians 2:11