KNOW YOUR ENEMY
Ephesians 6:10-12
Introduction: When I was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1963, the basic training every soldier must undergo involved a great deal of essential skills that are crucial for a soldier. We learned about our “weapon” (an M-1), our physical abilities, our endurance in complex combat-type training, and a host of other matters. There was one activity we were exposed to, and it typically occurred when the weather was not conducive to outdoor activities. That was titled “Know Your Enemy.” The training involved learning about the enemy’s types of weapons, uniforms, vehicles, aircraft, and a range of other essential combat details. Although there were no active combat activities the military of the U. S. was involved in at the time, it was just over a year before Vietnam began. Our platoon sergeant served during World War II and the Korean War. He was serious about our training and preparedness for combat.
The Vietnam War historically began in 1954, but there were, supposedly, no active troops in Vietnam until 1964 when the Tonkin Gulf incident occurred, and the USS Maddox was attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats. There were MAAG there prior to the action in the Tonkin Gulf. I was serving in South Korea, and our compound was approximately 8 miles from the North Korean border. All troops in Korea were placed on alert because the North Korean Army began to mass armour and troops along the border between North and South Korea. Our mode of operation changed dramatically, and we expected some form of combat, which never developed. There were raids by North Korean soldiers, which caused some casualties, but never total combat. We had been trained for events like these. We thought our training would be put to the test, yet never developed.
As Christians, Paul warns us and every Christian that a battle is currently underway. In some places, it is open combat with groups who want Christians eliminated, such as India, the Middle East, and other areas. We in the U. S. do not see this, although it could change quickly. Persecution of Christians globally has increased in the past decade. One source states,
“Globally, Christian persecution is a significant issue with an estimated 365 million Christians facing high levels of persecution or discrimination. This represents roughly 1 in 7 Christians worldwide, with the situation particularly acute in Africa and Asia. Several factors contribute to this including religious extremism, political instability, and systemic discrimination. Nations like North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan are also listed where Christian persecution is occurring.”
There are physical attacks on Christians and Christian facilities, such as churches, etc. The battle Paul is addressing is the “spiritual” battle that believers go through sometimes daily. The enemy, Satan does not want people to know Jesus Christ as Saviour. Paul calls him in 2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. This identifies the tactic of Satan, blinding the minds of people who “believe not.” According to this verse, the focus of Satan is not just believers, but “unbelievers.” The text under consideration demonstrates the desire of Satan to attack the Christian. This is the focus of the study of Ephesians 6:10-18.
- The Strength for the Battle, vs. 10. When Paul says “finally,” it does not mean it is to be coming to a quick ending. In other words, Paul may not be finished, as in this case, fourteen verses follow. It helps to note a word in vs. 13, “Wherefore.” The content from verse 13 provides insight into Paul’s burden for the people of Ephesus. This subject highlights the enduring relevance of scripture. It does not apply to just the first century, but to every century that follows, and even to the one we live in. God’s word is eternal and has application to any period of history where people exist who have received Christ as their personal Saviour and are motivated to live the Christian life. Note the phrase “in the Lord.” Strength in the Lord would have a spiritual application. John Phillips makes a statement that gives an analysis of the stature of Christians in any century. He says:
“People who have been Christians a long time are not always strong Christians. Some remain weak in faith throughout their lives. And new Christians are not necessarily weak Christians. They may be uninformed Christians for a while, but they do not have to be weak. Being strong in the Lord has nothing to do with how long we have been saved. Our strength is derived from God, not from ourselves. We are to be strong ‘in the power of his might.’ We are to be strong in His mighty power, as in Ephesians 1:19 where Paul was referring to the mighty strength that God exhibited when He raised Christ from the dead. God makes that strength available to us.”
His reference to Ephesians 1:19 is worth reading: “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.” What does it mean “his mighty power?” It would be “power” beyond the ordinary. To this “Paul adds two other adjectives in this verse, “exceeding,” and “greatness.” Hoehner observes: It is almost like saying that Paul cannot have enough adjectives to express the “power” Jesus Christ gives to us.
- Standing in the Battle, vs. 11. Christians are commanded to “put on the whole armour of God. . .” A soldier would never go into combat without the equipment needed for conflict. The phrase “put on” implies “to clothe oneself with something.” Paul uses this phrase other times in Ephesians 4:24; 6:1. It is used in the sense we would “put on” something. The believer is to “put on the new man” (Eph. 4:24) and “put on the whole armour of God” (Eph. 6:11). The Bible indicates the things needed for the spiritual battle are to be used and they cannot be used unless they are “put on.” As stated above, this is a command. A soldier will wear the clothes he needs to be effective as a military participant. These statements about the “armour” are to be expected, not suggested. There are too many casualties in the spiritual warfare Christians are engaged in. The major problem is that many Christians know nothing about spiritual warfare. We are to take this passage seriously. The rest of Ephesians 6:11 explains why this armour is to be “put on.” The four-letter word “that” should be remembered. It means purpose or result. In this verse it means purpose. That “ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (vs. 11). The word “wiles” is a vital part of understanding why a Christian needs the armour listed in the following six verses (vss. 13-18). The word “wiles” has the meaning “cunning acts, deceit, craft, trickery” esp.” 6
- III.Study of the Spiritual Nature of the Battle, Ephesians 6:12. This verse points out that the nature of the battle is not “flesh and blood,” people, but Satan, the enemy (1 Cor. 7:5; 2 Cor. 2:11; 11:14; 1 Thess. 2:18, et al)! Your enemy is not the person sitting beside you in the pew. Your enemy is not the person you live with or the children in your house. Your enemy is not the people you work with, nor your banker, et al. It is against four foes described in Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against (1) principalities, (2) powers, (3) the rulers of the darkness of this world, (4) against spiritual wickedness in high places.“ These enemies are “spiritual in nature” and from the minions of Satan. It is enough to note the battle is difficult, but God has provided the necessary strength to “stand.” The subject at hand is the “strength” of a spiritual nature coming from the Godhead. This is the “armour of God” provided by Him and it is of the spiritual nature. Satan has a long history of using many devices and deceptions. Look at what is said in 2 Corinthians 11:3 (KJV) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. There are two places where the motive and rebellion of Satan are described, Ezekiel 28:11-19 and Isaiah 14:12-17.
- IV.The Study of Spiritual Equipment for the Battle, Ephesians 6:13-18. This section begins with the word “wherefore.” This word serves as a reference to what has already been stated about the battle. The “enemy” has been identified; now the Christian is to know the “equipment” available for the battle. Up to this point Paul has encouraged the believer to “be strong.” Look at Ephesians 6:10 (KJV) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. He encouraged Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1 (KJV) Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Here he calls them to “stand.” There is a difference in “being strong” and “standing.” With these two verses the call to “be strong” appears to be a call to living the Christian life and believers are to foster their relationship with Christ and develop their faith. As Ephesians 6:10 states, the Christian is to “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” The idea is that Christians should seek to have a “strong” relationship with Christ. The phrase “in the power of his might” suggests one should have a relationship with Christ in which they learn the strength of Christ to live the Christian life and engage the battle. The Old Testament believer was told in Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV) Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. They were told to depend on the Lord for He will be with them. That is the same today, with one different aspect: the Christian today has the indwelling Holy Spirit to face the difficulties and oppositions in living the Christian life. The believer is told to “stand.” The difference in this passage and the present is Israel was facing “physical” enemies motivated by Satan. Today, Christians face “spiritual” enemies, minions of Satan, and we have the spiritual equipment to fight the enemy. It is not just “physical” warfare but “spiritual.”