The Christian's Enemies

by G. Jarvie | Category: The Christian's Enemies | Aug 1952

Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places"

(Ephesians 6.12).

In a previous article we considered the conflict of the believer against "The flesh," the old nature within himself. It is probably more correct to say that this conflict is one of the Spirit against the flesh (Galatians 5.17). If the believer walks by the Spirit, " the flesh" will be overcome, and the fruit of the Spirit will be manifest in his life. It is not so much a question of warring against the flesh, as of yielding to the Spirit. "Walk by the Spirit," says the apostle, " and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5.16). Victory is assured to us if the Spirit of God controls our lives. Defeat is the result of self-will. Praise God for the possibility of continual victory in this continual conflict.

The conflict against the unseen principalities and powers in the heavenly places seems to be related to our service for God, as the conflict against the flesh seems related to our walk with God.

"Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood." It is thus evident that the Christian's warfare is not a warfare against men. This Scripture is very helpful to younger brethren, in any land, who are called upon to join the Armed Forces. "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal," wrote the apostle (2 Corinthians 10.4). The Lord's warriors do not use guns or bombs, these are carnal weapons. However, let us be quite clear about it, that we do have a very real warfare to engage in. Young brother, you are not called upon to take men's lives, but to save them, as your Master did. Neither the Lord nor any of His apostles ever put any man to death. We must know our real enemies, if we are to take part in the good warfare. We cannot fight on two "fronts."

"Against the world rulers of this darkness." Do we wonder why we preach the Word, and men do not immediately respond to the glad tidings ? It is because there are world rulers whose aim it is to keep men in darkness. This is obviously something with which we must reckon, if we are to be effective servants of Christ. It is a sobering thing for us to think of how few souls are being turned from darkness to light through our ministry. We realize, as we think about it, how little we really know about this conflict with the world rulers of this darkness. Our first impression-and it is a right one !-is to drop upon our knees and confess before God our utter inability to do anything in this conflict in our own strength. As We kneel before God we feel that our pride and self-sufficiency leaves us, and we realize that but for divine grace we could never wage this warfare, and but for divine power we could never bring a soul to Christ.

When we are on our knees, we are in the right place to be victors in this conflict. Until we learn to pray "with all prayer and supplication " we shall know little of victory against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenlies. Let us read and re-read Ephesians 6.10-20, if we would be more than conquerors against these unseen foes. Although we are weak and insignificant of ourselves, we can be led in triumph in Christ (2 Corinthians 2.14), so that the savour of the knowledge of Him, may be manifest through us. Think of it, young disciple! it is possible that through you, if you will engage in this good warfare, the knowledge of Christ may come to others, so that they will be turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God. "Jesus I know, and Paul I know," said a demon-possessed man (Acts 19.15). How did the demons come to know Paul? Because he waged constant victorious warfare against them in the power of Christ!

It is interesting that there are five items mentioned for defence

in this equipment and one item for offence. No item can be dispensed with. Let us take note of them all carefully.

First:The girdle of truth-all the will of God for us. Let us value the truth, and buy it. Do not let us merely " go with the crowd." Let us know the truth, and stand for it with many or with few.

Second:The breastplate of righteousness. Let us do what is right in God's sight, in every department of our lives. It is never

necessary to do wrong, to lie or to deceive-never! To tell a lie or to deceive may sometimes seem to be an easy way to avoid trouble, but in the end it will bring more trouble than it will save. Satan knows when w~ do wrong, even in secret, and a breastplate which is damaged will not save us in the day of battle. If we do sin, let us be quick to repent and to confess our sin. Let us also remember that if we sin against other persons, then we must first confess our wrong to God and to them. Only then it is forgiven and put away (Matthew 5.23-24). There is no short-cut to cleansing from sin, and we cannot be safe from Satan's attacks while there is unforgiven sin in our lives. How thankful we should be that "we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2. 1)! How thankful we should be for that precious word in 1 John i. 7-8, "The blood of Jesus His Son cleanseth us from all sin," and, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"! We need the work of our Advocate continually, if we are to wage the good warfare. Keep the breastplate in good condition, young disciple, your life depends upon it!

Third:The preparation of the gospel of peace. Notice, that it is "the preparation." The powers of darkness will never need to fear us, if only we keep quiet, or say little about Christ. But dare we do so, when so many are sitting in darkness or rather dying in darkness without a hope to cheer the tomb ? There are many ways in which we can be prepared in this part of the conflict, for there are many souls in the darkness. Every one of the Lord's warriors should be prepared to take part in this warfare, if he is to take part in the victory. All who can should take part in speaking the word as they have opportunity. There is a door open to everyone. It may be in giving gospel leaflets. These should be chosen to meet the need of those to whom we give them. We should think of men in their darkness, and ponder by what way we can bring the light to them. As we pray about it, God will show us how to reach them. This is "the preparation." Remember the word.

How beautiful are the feet of them

that bring glad tidings of good things !" (Romans 10. 15).

G. Jarvie | Aug 1952
The Christian's Enemies