For our struggle is not against flesh and blood. (Eph. 6:12)
Expanded Passage: Ephesians 6:12
In The Art of War, Sun Tzu observed, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” Sun Tzu understood the importance of knowing your enemy and yourself. If you only focus on training yourself and you know nothing about your enemy, defeat is inevitable. True warriors know who they are facing in a battle. This grants them the ability to train for the fight and gives them an upper hand against the enemy.
Paul was a strong spiritual warrior, and he knew the enemy. In this passage, Paul is training us to be Christian warriors who are properly equipped for spiritual battles. He instructed us to be strong in the Lord and put on the whole armor of God because the enemy does not come in flesh and blood, but in spiritual forces. To be victorious in a spiritual battle, we must know our enemy, and we must be properly equipped with the armor of God. Do not fear our enemy, but instead, be strong in the Lord because our God has already won the battle. We must trust in him and rely on his strength and power.
Become properly equipped with the armor of God.
Andrew Christman is a proud veteran of the US Army and serves as a hospital chaplain in Columbia, South Carolina. He is a graduate of Wesley Seminary (IN) and an ordained Wesleyan pastor.
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
