Fighting the Good Fight

Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus lays out several very important things for believer's to grasp and hold on to. In brief summary...

• Believers have been chosen by the Father…
• Redeemed by the Son…
• Sealed by the Spirit…
• Before rebirth everyone was dead to God, but rebirth makes one alive in Christ…
• God through Christ has reconciled Jew and Gentile into one…
• God has now made known the mystery of the church that was hidden to those in the OT…
• When Jesus ascended to the Father He gave gifts to equip the church…
• How to put off the old nature and put on the new nature created according to God…
• How not to grieve the Holy Spirit but be being filled with the Holy Spirit…
• Directions for a successful marriage and family and how to be good servants on the job…

Paul concludes his letter to the church with a strategy and not an after thought because he knows that Satan will do his best to oppose the things that he had written. So he reveals what believers are up against and also reveals a combative approach to withstand demonic attacks. 

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:10-18)

There are several things that Paul brings out that believers must understand. First believers are to have strong faith in Christ and know that it is His power at work in the believer, His name given to the believer and through His victory for the believer at the cross that repels the enemy. Believers are to put on the "whole armor" not a portion. The enemy ranks are numerous and mighty and unless the believer is clothed with the divine armor, victory will be impossible. The idea here is that Satan does not carry on an open warfare. He does not meet the believer face to face. He advances covertly; he attacks in darkness; he uses deception rather than power, hence, the necessity of being constantly armed to meet him whenever an attack is made.

Next we see that a believers fight is not in the natural but in the spiritual against the various ranks of Satan’s demonic army. Believers are to make war on all these forms of evil, and never to yield in the conflict. We contend with these fallen spirits for the exceedingly great and precious promises that God through Christ has made available to every believer. Paul tells of of an "evil day", that is, the day of temptation; any day when you are assaulted. He continues in saying, "Having done all to stand” which

He shows us the various aspects of the pieces of armor and their position. However, there are some very important keys to fighting this fight as well as standing firm to destroy every foe and the receiving of all of the promises of God. “Take up…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”…Praying always…The believer’s battle is fought in prayer standing firm on Christ and Gods Word. Unfortunately too few believers realize the importance of standing in faith on the Word of God in prayer. If believers would just put down teaching that builds doubt instead of faith, there would be fewer causalities in the church and more victories.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12)
If believers did not face opposition to their faith there would be no reason for God’s Word to have this verse. In order to fight the “Good fight of faith” believers must learn how to use the sword of the Spirit. Fighting the good fight of faith is confessing the word of God with your mouth and believing it in your heart. This is why it is so important to meditate on Gods word daily. So take up the sword of the Spirit daily and fight the good fight of faith!!!