This Is How We Fight Our Battles! (Ephesians 6:10-18)

However, there is hope and I don’t mean the Election. Do you know that we’re in the middle of a spiritual war? We’re not helpless in this war and we do get to participate in it and affect changes in this country.

I would like to invite you on a journey; as I share my thoughts on Ephesians 6:10-18

Let’s begin with a simple disclosure. I have an eclectic background that is rooted in the charismatic wing of Christianity. I am aware that you’re likely to have a different background. So, let’s begin with the Word of God. Here’s what Paul says in Ephesians 6:12:

¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12 [NASB]

As I pointed out in the intro, we are indeed in the midst of a spiritual battle and we’re by no means helpless. As children of God, we get to participate in this ongoing warfare. What does this have to do with all the protests and conflicts?

When it comes to Western Christianity, we made the tragic error of compartmentalizing the spiritual realm from the natural. I am not opposed to rational thoughts; however, we’re not robots programmed to think logically.

As I listen to my friends on Facebook, the cries of injustice come out loud and clear. As it’s pointed out in Micah 6:8 and elsewhere, God is a God of justice and mercy. Here’s what Micah says:

He has told you, O man, what is good;

And what does the Lord require of you

But to do justice, to love kindness,

And to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8 [NASB]

God does hear the cries of those people and my Father does care about the problem of racial injustice. Do you know that God loves working changes through believers and people, whose hearts are open? Here’s where the problem comes in! My Father is not the only one on the spiritual battlefield.

⁸ Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹ But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

1 Peter 5:8-9 [NASB]

The Enemy has a variety of demonic spirits that seek to influence people to operate in one fashion or another. Is it done through demonic possession? There’s no need for it. Their weapons are lies and deceptions. They simply need to plant a thought in the person’s mind to keep peppering their victims with destructive thoughts.

I will give you a helpful hint. All it takes is for a destructive lie to be rooted in facts and distort the person’s perspective. In other words, they play on a Black person’s fear of the police. When you have intense fear driving the show, it’s very difficult to distinguish the good cops from the bad ones.

It also does not help that the Media seems to have an unhealthy habit of pushing this toxic narrative. The conservative media are not innocent, either. They appear to have a very bad habit of minimizing the problem. Police brutality is a serious problem and it does need to be dealt with; even if itis a small # of cops.

As per Ephesians 6:12, our battle is not with flesh blood. the Church needs to rise up and speak out and say, “This is not okay!” We need to combine warfare style prayers with real action.

Here is something that you may not have heard. Some time ago, I was told of a vision of two stone golems clashing with each other. As the two giant golems fought, fragments of stones would break off and hit parts of this nation. As the two stone golems fought, a small figure appeared and came between the two giants. That figure bound the two giants.

The two stone golems have names: FEAR and HATRED The two golems represents the negative atmosphere that’s filling this country. You don’t need to be a prophet to see the evidence. You simply need to look at a timeline on Facebook or Twitter.

What about the figure who stepped in? It’s Jesus working through the Church. Do you know that the Bible says we have an amazing authority and an ability to effect change? It begins with Matthew 18:18

¹⁸ I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth shall have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth shall have [already] been loosed in heaven.

Matthew 18:18 [AMP]

This authority isn’t just given to Peter or the original disciples. It’s for the Church in today’s world. Otherwise, Peter, Paul, and John would not have mentioned it in their letters.

It’s not done in our strength; rather it is through the Holy Spirit and in the Name of Jesus. Do you know that the Holy Spirit dwells in you and the Spirit cares about what’s happening and can help? Do you know we’re called to co-labor with God? Here’s 1 Cor 3:9-17

⁹ For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

¹⁰ According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. ¹¹ For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. ¹⁴ If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. ¹⁶ Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? ¹⁷ If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

1 Corinthians 3:9-17 [NASB]

Clearly, we are not powerless in this ongoing warfare! Yes, the battle belongs to the LORD; however, we are to participate. There is just one question, “How?” The first step is in Ephesians 6:10

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

Ephesians 6:10-11

I did some research on the first verse. The underlying Greek reveals an important component that is easily missed. We’re to draw close to God and be empowered by His Spirit that dwells in us. We draw near Jesus by spending time in the Word of God, resting in the presence of God, the Father, praise, and worship.

I am probably scratching the surface. However, I do want to challenge you to spend time with God, alone. Reading Scriptures and playing worship music is great; however, it is also important that we take the time to listen to what God is saying directly. Yes, God wants to talk directly with you. Take the time to be still and listen!

It is this important step that will help in fighting against the agents of spiritual darkness. The more time that we spend with God; the easier it is to see what God’s Spirit is doing in this country. It is important that we seek Heaven’s perspective. Here’s what Paul says in Colossians 3:1-3

3 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. ³ For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Colossians 3:1-3 [NASB]

Because we can’t see into the spiritual realm, it’s important to ask Holy SPirit, “What is the Father’s perspective? What is Jesus seeking to do?” Don’t jump the gun and assume! We can be fooled, too. “What is God’s way?” is the key.

The next step for preparing for battle is to put on the full armor of God and I don’t mean one or two pieces. Keep in mind, the armor is not yours. They represent God’s covering over us. That’s Jesus’ righteousness that is protecting us. It’s God’s strength and power that is helping us. Hee’s what Paul says in Ephesians 6:13-17

¹³ Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:13-17 [NASB]

So, you got the armor on. Now what? How about a little motivation to get you involved in the fight and it’s a fight! Do you think that I like the idea of my BLack friends living with an unhealthy fear of the police? No, I don’t like seeing my friends suffer!

I know something about this fear; as I had a similar fear operating in my own life. As a disabled person, I struggled with the nagging fear telling me, “You won’t be accepted, as a person! They won’t believe you’re able to do anything! Oh, he just wants to stick you in a group home!” The list goes on!

This internal fear drove how I responded to the world around me. My reaction ranged from hopelessness to an overwhelming need to prove. Would you like to guess the impact that it had on the people, around me? With my Father’s help, I slowly broke out of that toxic narrative. I am thankful for Jesus, who healed my heart. He can do the same thing for you.

Of course, I would want the same thing for my friends, too. How about you? Are you okay with your Black friends suffering from this crippling fear? Are you okay with the status quo of being in bondage to past racial injustice, and cultural bondage?

Are you agitated by those questions? Good! Then, you’re not okay with it! Otherwise, you need to reexamine your heart. Because you should not be okay. Here’s what I suggest doing. The spiritual atmosphere is a reflection of what we see in the natural.

In the Name of Jesus, let’s bind the two warring spirits represented by the two stone golems: FEAR and HATRED. Can we agree that these two are not good and need to be stopped? That’s the point of binding them!

Here’s the next step. It’s not enough to bind these two warring golems. We need to ask Jesus to release the polar opposite! Let’s ask God, the Father to release LOVE, MERCY, FORGIVENESS, COMPASSION, and TRUE JUSTICE! Let’s invite the Kingdom of God to come and reign! We truly need Jesus’ help because we can’t do it, alone.

Let’s make use of the Sword of the Spirit. What kind of sword is that? It’s the Word of God, both spoken and read. Let’s incorporate the Word of God into our prayers and declarations! Ask the Holy Spirit for help, if needed! Declare the Word of Truth over your friends and this nation!

The Word of God is powerful and it does have the power to expose lies and deceptions. Here’s what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. He’s talking about a combination of prayer and the Word of God.

³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, ⁴ for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. ⁵ We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 [NASB]

Yes, our prayers are that powerful and it can accomplish much good. Here’s the best part. You don’t have to be a Bible Scholar! You have one living inside you and the Spirit can dance circles around others! Do you know what else? You don’t need to pray for two hours. Just 10 minutes. Ask Jesus for help.

I hope this article proves to be of help and a blessing. Let’s go after these creeps that are hurting our friends, family, and our country! Remember, it’s a spiritual battle! Target the Kingdom of Darkness; not the humans.