“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
When someone is writing a letter to you and they say, “A final word…” it’s time to pay attention to something very important. It is no accident that Paul has saved one of his most important points for last so that it will stick with the Ephesian Christians. His message? Stay strong. Fight on a supernatural level. There is a whole lot more to this Jesus-thing than meets the eye.
So how do we fight supernatural battles we can’t see or fully understand? Supernaturally, of course. We can’t rely on our own earthly senses. The Holy Spirit has to open our eyes so that we can see into deeper spiritual places than we ever have before. Paul will list some specific tips in tomorrow’s post, but for now start with prayer. Ask God to open your spiritual eyes and give you spiritual tools to fight the demons that stalk you.
Here’s your freedom for today: we don’t have to be afraid of the dark. The Holy Spirit is like a giant flashlight, shining into dark places. Since he dwells within us when we accept the forgiveness and leadership of Jesus, everywhere we go is an opportunity to shine a light. As Jesus followers we can act differently than the world around us and we can walk around free. That freedom is all by itself quite a light to a dark world without you having to do or say a thing. What would it mean for you to live a free life? What darkness lurks around you that needs a light to shine on it?