In introducing this series last week, we emphasized that we are battling for our eternal existence. Satan will not allow us to easily gain heaven. Therefore, we know we will always be fighting this battle as long as we serve the Lord.
This article will focus on the nature of the conflict. When one reads of wars today, he reads accounts of massive build-ups of bombs, planes, and warships. Technologically, even the poorest of nations today have more advanced war machines than did countries of yesteryear. Obviously, the nation with the largest stockpile or most advanced weapons systems is more likely to win the war. Battles are fought on the grand scale. Warships and planes can launch missiles from miles away, hitting and destroying their targets with pinpoint precision. With such battle plans, individual soldiers "get lost" in the battle. One could never see any action and still be on the winning side.
Such "military strategy" is absolutely foreign to the Biblical concept of battle. The battle of Eph. 6 is totally different to what one reads in the papers today.
Paul states that our battle is "not against flesh and blood" (v. 12). We do not fight human war machines; therefore, we must not devise human war strategies. We battle "spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (v. 12). Paul is not discussing human kings or generals. He is cataloging evil spiritual foes that possess great power...power that should frighten us deeply and impress upon us the need to "put on the full armor of God" (v. 11).
The real nature of the battle is given in v. 12. It is to "struggle" or "wrestle." This again emphasizes the fight is not on the grand scale; it is hand-to-hand combat. This means "to vibrate, shake." It is to throw another down and keep him down with your hands upon his neck. In ancient Greek wrestling matches, the loser was slaughtered or had his eyes gouged out. Can you imagine the desparation with which they fought? Our "struggle" is no less desparate. Satan wills to "throw you down." Every soldier must get ready to fight, using what God gives for this great battle for the soul.
