History bears out that it didn’t take us very long to find one—albeit a way more elusive one—in global terrorism. What do you think about that? Do people, organizations, nations need an enemy, something to oppose, to strive against?  Does having a foe keep us focused? Hmm.

Here’s the deal: this is an irrelevant question. We don’t get to chose whether or not to have an enemy or even go out to look for one. We’ve got one, and the Bible says this enemy goes about like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 

In the sixth chapter of Ephesians, Paul talks about this enemy and our posture toward him. He says: 
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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.  Ephesians 6:11-12.

Taken in the context of the entire book of Ephesians, the fight that Paul is talking about at the end of the letter makes a remarkable kind of sense. He’s just finished talking about God making peace between people—people who would normally be hostile toward each other—and making them into one new humanity (see chapter 2:11-22). In the section right before this, he talks about the kind of life that leads to peace and well-being in the family and the work place (see 5:21-6:9). Now, after all this peace talk, he turns our attention to our real enemy; “our struggle is not against flesh and blood.” 

In our conflicted world, and in the middle of the anxiety and short tempers that have become the norm in our economically hard times, this message is crucial and timely. As some of the government’s leaders have recently reminded us by their moral failings, this enemy is not just on the outside of us. He infiltrates our hearts and our judgment, and can rob us of our relationships, and the contribution for the kingdom our lives could have.
We need to learn to take our stand—taking up the the armour and the weapons that Paul says in  have divine power to destroy strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4) and ward of the devils attack. That’s where we’re going this Sunday. Hope to see you there, and ready to suit up in the armor of God.
Yours for the Journey,
Pastor Tom