We live in a world at war.
But it is not the kind of war that you see online, or worse, what you are experiencing right now. It is not a conflict between tribes, religions, races, or nations. It is fundamentally spiritual in nature.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. (Ephesians 6:12)
The Bible gives us the reality of spiritual conflict in our lives.
Spiritual Reality
There are spiritual beings that are superior in power to human beings. In the Bible, they are called “sons of God”, “host of heaven”, or “gods”.
Some spiritual beings rebelled against God. The Apostle Paul describes them as thrones, dominions, principalities, powers, rulers, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens (see Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 1:15). The chief among these evil spirits is known as the devil or Satan.
The word, devil, comes from diabolos, a Greek word that means a slanderer or a false accuser. Satan is a Hebrew word that means an adversary.
The spiritual war is not between God and the devil. It is between humans and the evil spiritual beings, and more specifically, between God’s people and the adversary (the satan) and his demonic army.
Their cruel hatred of human beings is partly rooted in the fact that we all bear the image of God. The evil spirits will stop at nothing and is bent on the complete destruction of humankind.
Before we came to know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we were under the control of the evil one, and willingly or unknowingly, we participated in our own destruction.
Now that we have been rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred to the Kingdom of God, we have become the enemy of the evil ones.
Unfortunately, you have no choice in this matter. The open war is upon you whether you acknowledge it or not.
The good news is that good will always triumph over evil in the end. God Himself has made sure of that.
Death has been the weapon of the devil and his army. But Jesus has already neutralized the power of death with His resurrection. The adversary (the satan) is a defeated foe.
Your Mission
God has a mission for you.
You are to live a life worthy of the Lord in partnership with the Holy Spirit so that you shine brightly as the light of the world to show everyone around you the reality of God and His love and truth.
When you live like Jesus in radical obedience to the Holy Spirit, His manifest presence will accompany you and bring healing, peace, and hope to the people under the bondage of the evil ones. Jesus will rescue them from the power of darkness.
You are called to be the agent of good, representing Jesus the Price of peace to the world of chaos and destruction.
For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)
To stand up for truth and love your neighbor as yourself, you are commanded to take up the full armor of God daily (Ephesians 6:14–18).
- Fasten the belt of truth around your waist.
- Put on the breastplate of righteousness.
- Ftt your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace.
- Take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
- Take the helmet of salvation.
- Take the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God).
- With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit.
When you engage in the world with the proper mindset and preparation, the true significance and meaning of your everyday living will become apparent.
Learn more about your unique place in this world. Select an article series from the list below.