Can I be honest with you? 

These days have me feeling worn thin and ragged. It often seems as if I’m constantly on the defense, other days it’s like I’m on the offense. Regardless of whether it’s defense or offense, most days I feel as if I’m in battle mode, and I’m weary.  

Can you relate? Do you sense you’re in the midst of some kind of a battle and it’s wearing you out?

Do you read a social media post, or watch the news about any of the many difficult & divisive issues facing our world today and become instantly filled with negative emotions: fear, anger, anxiety, or impatience? Maybe you visit with someone who does agree with your own beliefs and mindsets and suddenly you’re more fired up toward those who disagree with you. Maybe it’s increased conflict with your spouse, children, or other family members that makes you feel as if you’re constantly fighting one battle or another.  

And the constant second-guessing of how we’re supposed to respond or react to these conflicts has many of us exhausted. Do you question whether to engage in the battle or just keep your thoughts and opinions to yourself? Do you wonder which is better, to speak out or to keep silent? Do you agonize whether you should respond and boldly stand up for what you believe in or do you retreat and resist any kind of skirmish?

I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this; we’re battle-weary and worn out from the growing amount of contention, division, and sometimes outright hatred seen in humankind today, across the globe, in our own country and communities, and even within our families & close circles of friends.

I’ve said multiple times that this virus isn’t what concerns me the most, the vaccine and whether a person chooses to get it or not does not worry me much; the thing that is terrifying to me is the amount of emotion and discord it’s all created. There’s an underlying virus of the heart that is a lot more concerning to me than the Covid-19 virus.

I’ve watched how others are handling their thoughts, feelings, and attitudes surrounding all that’s been happening in the past couple of years, how many battle lines have been drawn, fences built, and bridges burned. I have spent entirely too much time trying to figure out who’s right and who’s wrong, whose side of the fence I’m on, and what bridges need to be burnt; I’ve been calling those who disagree with my own thoughts and opinions on several cultural issues my “enemy”. . . And I’ve been wrong.

Make no mistake, there is a battle happening, and we absolutely do have an enemy to fight. But where I believe I’ve been wrong is in identifying who the real enemy is and recognizing what the battle is truly all about. 

We might feel like we’re in a battle against those who disagree with us on any number of dividing social issues of our day. I know I’ve often fallen for the idea that my enemy is the person on the other side of the tv or computer screen, or that I’m fighting against those who are of a different political affiliation, or who have negative attitudes toward those of us who follow Christ. There are even some days when I feel the growing contention within my own family about hot button topics.

But dear friends please hear my heart. . . these are not the enemy! SATAN IS THE REAL ENEMY!! 

He is the enemy of those of us who love God and follow His Son. He’s the enemy of anything that glorifies the Lord or builds His Kingdom. Satan is the one intent on destroying lives, marriages, families, churches, nations, and communities. Ultimately Satan is responsible for all of the division, contention, discord, and hatred. And the real battle isn’t here on earth with flesh and blood people, it’s in the heavenly realms.

So what’s a Christian to do? What is our part in this battle that is otherworldly but affects us in real and tangible ways? And how do we take part in this battle without growing discouraged and weary? 

Our responsibility is not just to stand firm on whatever the World stands on or whatever it is that makes sense in today’s culture, but to make sure we are standing firm where it counts, to stand strong in the Lord:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:10-12 ESV

The entire book of Ephesians is a lesson in a letter from Paul. He is establishing who we are in Jesus, what the role of Christian Believers is, and how we are to faithfully walk this path of faithful obedience to the Lord. One of the keywords in these last several verses in Ephesians is the word “finally”.

Paul tells us that “FINALLY”:

• Because of all that God has done for us
• Because of who we are in Him
• Because of the amazing plan He has for the Kingdom and the role He wants us to take in that plan
• Because of how He wants us to grow in Christian maturity and strength 
• Because of the way He desires us to walk as believers and followers of His Son
• Because of how He has filled us with His Spirit
• Because of the fact that there is A BATTLE WE HAVE TO FIGHT IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Because of all of this we can finally be strong in the Lord when we are facing opposition and conflict. 

The question I have to ask myself is how do I go to battle and yet make sure I am battling for the Lord and not for my own sense of righteousness? How am I to handle all of the increasing conflict and division that I face?  Do I just sit by silently and wait for Jesus to return and all to be made right? Or do I go ahead and battle it out with those I disagree with? I think the answer lies in what God tells us in Ephesians.

His Word says in order to fight this battle we need courage to stand strong, but make sure we are standing in the right place. This means we strengthen ourselves in Him because this is where we find the courage and endurance needed to be battle-ready. We rely on Him and we trust in the promises He has given us. 

Then we armor ourselves with the armor He gives us. We don’t depend on the things of this world to be our defense and protection. His armor is readily at our disposal if we would just put it on. Because no matter how small, weak, and seemingly ineffectual we might feel, when wearing God’s armor we are warriors ready for battle. 

It’s vital as we fight this battle that we know we don’t just rely on part of the armor that God provides while also depending on the weapons of the world. . .we put on the whole armor of God. We can be confident in the complete set of armor He has given us; everything we need to be equipped for battle is at our disposal. 

No wonder we’re told in Romans 8:37 that we are more than conquerors! “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” When we rely on His strength, power, and armor, we don’t need to fear who or what we are fighting against, and we can already claim victory over our enemies. 

Lastly, we need to be real clear on who that is! This is not a war here on earth with other human beings but is a spiritual war. We have to remember we aren’t wrestling against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, and the cosmic powers that rule the darkness. Our enemy is a spiritual enemy, not one of flesh and blood.

When we waste our time fighting the wrong enemy, believing the lie that our enemies are those who disagree with us or fight us here on earth, we play right into Satan’s hands. And Satan is cunning, skillful, and deliberate in the devices and schemes he uses. 

The devil is strategic in how he makes us believe the battles lines are with one another. When he does that he gains a foothold as it distracts us from actually doing the work God has called us to – building His Kingdom here on earth. Ultimately the devil’s scheme is to destroy the Church and stop God’s intended purpose for it. The key is not just in remembering that truth, but also realizing the power we have at our disposal to fight the enemy. 

For the next six weeks I’m  going to go through the six pieces of armor the Lord has provided us with; the armor Paul talks about in Ephesians 6:

• The Belt of Truth
• The Breastplate of Righteousness
• The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
• The Shield of Faith
• The Helmet of Salvation
• The Sword of the Spirit

Because these days do feel like a constant battle. I’m weary & I’m sure you are as well; yet I can’t help but wonder if we’re weary because we’re fighting the wrong enemy with an armor that is useless, leaving us defenseless and vulnerable. 

What if we were to fight this battle with the full knowledge of who the enemy is and became God’s warriors armored and ready for spiritual battle? What if we took seriously God’s command to ARMOR UP?! After all, we are conquerors and the victory is already ours.

**Check back next week for the next installment on the “Armor Up” Series**