John Fischer The Catch

I’m ending our series on spiritual warfare where we started, with the same woodcut print by the 15th century German artist, Albrecht Durer. I’m using it again so that you have it firmly planted in your mind, because what you see pictured here is an everyday reality for all of us, everywhere in the world. The placid, idyllic scene at the bottom of the picture is our reality, and the violent warfare going on above is in another dimension, but no less real. “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

Continue reading →

I don’t think anyone would disagree with me if I said these were the last days. And I also think most people would agree that in the last days there will be increased activity coming from the devil and his minions. That makes it all the more important that we take seriously spiritual warfare and do whatever is necessary to prepare ourselves for it.

So let’s review what we’ve gone through concerning the amor of God in that regard. So far we have:

Continue reading →

… and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17

After all of this armor — belt, body armor, shoes, shield, helmet — we take up the sword. The sword is the only offensive weapon in our arsenal; everything else is armor for protection. That’s because it’s all we need. They had knives, spears, and clubs, too, but the word of God is all we need to fight our battles.

The word of God is what we use to fight off the enemy when he gets too close.

Continue reading →

Put on salvation as your helmet … Ephesians 6:21

Our body armor is Christ’s righteousness; our helmet is our hope of salvation. Righteousness protects our heart; salvation protects our mind.

Renowned Bible teacher, Ray C. Stedman, points out that the salvation Paul is talking about here is not the salvation we already received as result of the gospel — the salvation from our sins — but the future salvation we know will come when confusion and doubt will be forever dispelled. “Paul is talking about the day of resurrection, the day of the coming again of Christ, the day when creation will be delivered from its bondage, when Christ returns to establish his kingdom” (Stedman).

Continue reading →

In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Ephesians 6:16

Well this is the first time we get to do something besides ”put on” our armor. We get to “hold up” the shield of faith. Now this is important because this is an indication that we are in battle. We don’t just put on our armor and go on our way forgetting about it; we hold up our shield because there is incoming traffic in the form of fiery arrows that the devil is shooting at us.

Continue reading →

For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. Ephesians 6:15

Does it seem strange that an important piece of the armor of God we are called to put on so we will be ready for battle against the unseen forces and rulers of this dark world would be the shoes of the gospel (or good news) of peace?  We’re wearing shoes of peace to go to war? It should be pretty clear by now that God’s strategies are often at odds with what we might naturally think of.

Continue reading →