"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12)
Billy Graham tells a story of a boxer who was engaged in a boxing match and was being badly beaten. Battered and bruised, he leaned over the ropes and said to his trainer, "Please throw in the towel! This guy is killing me!" The trainer said, "Oh no, he's not. He's not even hitting you. He hasn't laid a glove on you!" And the boxer looked at him through swollen eyes and said, "Well then, I wish you'd watch that referee - somebody is sure hitting me!"
The danger in Spiritual Warfare is not when you are being beat up. You know you're in a battle when you're battered. You may not know exactly who or where the blows are coming from; but you know you're in a fight. No, the danger in Spiritual Warfare is when the devil is leaving you alone; when you are not having struggles, temptations are few. It's then, when life seems to be going good, that devil has you where he wants you. Either you are spiritually dull and living for the devil's cause or you are being set up for a big fall.
Just ask David about it. After years of running from Saul and struggling to form a new nation, it was when things seemed to be good that David saw another man's wife bathing on the roof. In a matter of days, the devil had David just were he wanted him, knee deep in sin and sliding down quickly.
Never remove your armor. Never let down your guard. We're in a war that will last a lifetime. Stand firm and be ever vigilant and ever ready to fight.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:10-18)
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