Ephesians 6:10-12

The Christian's Battle

At the conclusion of this letter, Paul wanted to remind the brethren of the battle they were fighting. He also stressed the importance of being prepared for it. A Christian's true strength is in the Lord. His power comes from the Lord's great might (6:10; 1 Peter 4:13). Again, to win this battle, Christians are told by Paul to put on the Lord's armor, not some of our own making. The devil, like any enemy commander, has a strategy for victory. He seeks out areas of weakness and tries to exploit them to the destruction of the Lord's followers (6:11; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Corinthians 11:14; 2 Corinthians 11:11-15).

Of the term translated "wrestle," Summers says, "was the word for 'hand-to-hand encounter.' It might be used of two wrestlers in hand-to-hand struggle or of two soldiers who in the midst of battle faced off one against the other for a very personal hand-to-hand combat." In either case, Paul is stressing the very personal nature of this battle for every Christian. The gravity of the battle should be seen in the nature of the opponent, who is not a man. Christians are fighting the devil and his whole organization of darkness (John 12:31; John 14:30; John 16:11; 2 Corinthians 4:34). Wickedness is organized in its fight to overthrow Christ's army. The "heavenly places" would describe things beyond the ordinary or natural battlegrounds of which we might think.

Satan and his forces cannot challenge God in heaven because they have been cast down but they will fight in every other place including the church (2 Peter 2:4; Judges 1:6; Acts 20:29-31). It is vital that Christians take all of this personally since it is hand-to-hand combat. The devil is trying to capture anyone he can, including the individual Christian (6:12; 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Timothy 2:23-26; 2 Timothy 2:16-18; 2 Peter 2:17-22).