Ephesians: Tear Down These WallsSample

For the last 12 months, we’ve been living through a global pandemic. Some people have described the COVID-19 virus as “an invisible enemy”. 

One experiment focused on how often we touch our faces using an invisible ink and UV lights. It showed just how easily this invisible enemy could be spread. 

We were vastly unaware of how exposed we are to infection. Our lives have been radically altered in order to fight this virus!

The predominant worldview of the secular West is that there is no supernatural, no gods, no demons, no forces, or powers. We live in a natural world with scientific explanations to everything we experience. 

Paul would argue otherwise. There are real spiritual powers of evil. 

He says that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the principalities and powers of darkness. A real enemy that while unseen and invisible, is nonetheless active. 

When we understand that we have a real but unseen enemy it changes the way we think. The Christian life is a battle. We ought to adopt a wartime mentality not a peacetime mentality in order to stand our ground.

Thankfully God provides us the resources to take our stand. Part of the new clothing that we put on (Ephesians 4:22–24) is the armour of God. 

This is God’s armour not only because he is the one who gives it to us, but because he wears it himself (Isaiah 59:15–19)! The various items of clothing and armour are different aspects of the gospel. It’s about living from the victory won for us in Christ.

It’s important to remember that the ultimate battle has already been won. Jesus is victorious. But on his way down, the devil wants to take some casualties with him. This means we don’t fight to win, we fight to stand firm. 

I don’t know about you, but this reality changes the way I think about life, my gospel identity, God’s word, and prayer. I want the same vigilance to fight spiritual battles as I have adopted to fighting the invisible enemy of COVID-19. 

We have been resourced for the fight. Let us hold our ground and stand firm!