Ephesians 6:12
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.
Recognizing the Enemy
If we don’t recognize the enemy and the spiritual battles that are going on all around us, then the enemy has the advantage. We must be alert because our natural enemy, the devil, is prowling about seeking whom he can devour (1 Pet. 5:8). To be forewarned is to be forearmed. The unsuspecting believer is more vulnerable than the believer who has put on the armor of God (Eph. 6:10-17). No wonder Paul mentions that we must be praying at all times and in the Spirit because we are not strong enough to take on the devil ourselves (Eph. 6:18).
Seeing the Enemy
It’s pretty easy to recognize the enemy because he will constantly be challenging the Word of God. He started doing this in the Garden of Eden by saying, “Has God said…” (Gen. 3:1). We can also see how the world wants us to compromise with sin, and like Satan enticed Eve to take of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, he will tempt us to take and eat of the sinful things in this world. That’s where our conscience is so helpful to us. The Holy Spirit can convict us and make our conscience be more sensitive to things that might seem to be in so-called grey areas, but if you are not sure or it troubles your conscience, then it is best to avoid it altogether because you don’t want to risk having a seared conscience (1 Tim. 4:2).
Battling the Enemy
I touched on this a bit in the first paragraph. Prayer is vital to recognizing the spiritual battles that are going on around us. We should ask for the Spirit’s help in identifying things that are happening close to us. Sometimes the enemy tries to wreck marriages, ruin relationships, and divide the church. Anything that is contrary to the Word of God comes from an evil source, you can be sure of that. If you have recently overcome a sin, started a new ministry, had a recent success, or became more of an active witness for Christ, then you have a bull’s-eye on your back and you must be diligently watching for the enemy to try and infiltrate into your life, your family, your friendships, your church, and your mind. Do you recognize the spiritual battles that are going on around you? The more you are in prayer and in the Word of God, the more you will recognize when demonic battles come close.
A Closing Prayer
Great Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Spirit and His aid in helping me to discern the enemy more easily because he is subtle and very clever. Please help me guard against and be aware of the many spiritual battles that are going on around me, probably even as I write this, and in Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen
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