City Life Starter

Written by Aisha Darwesh

The Word

¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² 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.

¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

Ephesians 6:10-13 NLT

Aisha’s Analysis

Today’s text shifts from the highly practical instructions for daily living to the somewhat mysterious, yet very real battle taking place in an unseen heavenly realm. 

First, Ephesians 6:10 advises us to be strong in the Lord. That should make it very clear where our strength comes from in every battle we face. If we are in the Lord, therein lies our strength. Protecting our relationship and fellowship with God is key when facing the battles of life. 

Next, verse 11 above instructs us to put on all of God’s armor. This involves preparation, foresight, and strength. Armor isn’t necessarily lightweight or comfortable, but it’s absolutely necessary to protect ourselves so that we can stay alive and fight. (Spoiler alert: we’ll go into the armor of God later in this series, stay tuned.)

Verse 12 provides a key insight we often miss if we’re not careful: people are not our enemy. When you find yourself irritated, hurt, or bothered by a particular person in your life, it’s tempting to think of that person as an enemy. However, Ephesians 6:12 makes it clear: we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against the demonic, spiritual forces in the unseen world.  This is a key component of the fight: knowing who your enemy really is. The devil would love nothing more than for you to get distracted with fighting people instead of him. However, once you realize that people are not your problem, you’ll be able to focus your energies on the Lord, following His orders, and winning the fight at hand. 

Finally, verse 13 exhorts us once again to put on the whole armor of God and stand firm. Keeping the armor of God on and standing firm requires a commitment to stay in the fight. It would be all too easy to simply throw in the towel and give up. However, this is a fight we can actually win if we stay with God and follow His commands, and nothing scares the devil more than that. 

Application

Unless you are walking in obedience to God, you are not safe! You are opening yourself to unnecessarily harmful attacks from the enemy. However, if you obey God and do as He commands, you will be impervious to every attack. 

If you don’t feel like you’re in a battle, you are giving the enemy an opportunity to wreak havoc in your life. Hosea 4:6 says “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (KJV). In order to win the battle, we must first realize that we are in a battle, know who to fight, and know how to fight. 

Ask God to open your eyes to the battle, and ask Him for wisdom and strength in the fight. Listen for His instructions and obey quickly. 

Prayer

Dear Father God, thank You for equipping me with everything I need to win the fight. As long as You’re with me, I have nothing to fear. Lord, give me courage and strength. In Jesus’ name, amen.