Around The Word Theology for the Curious Christian
  • Home
  • Columns
    • The Straight Path- Brian Flamme
    • Lifted Voice- Brian Hamer
    • The Double Edged Sword- Sean Kilgo
    • Master Metaphors of Philosophy
    • Public Square- Warren Graff
    • Top 5- Bob Hiller
    • Christ in the Old Testament- Brian Kachelmeier
    • Who Knows What- Bryan Wolfmueller
    • Neglected Theological Topics- Jared Melius
    • The Cross- Andrew Preus
    • The Science Corner
    • Theological Miscellany >
      • The Conscience
      • Miscellany
  • Devotions
    • Christ and the Church 30-Day Marriage eDevotion
  • Bible Studies
    • Special Bible Studies
    • Bible Study Archive
  • Support

A Body Under Attack: Spiritual Warfare and the Church

12/11/2014

5 Comments

 
Picture
The Church: The Body of Christ

In his letter to the saints in Ephesus, St. Paul paints the picture of the church as a body, a very unique and special body. In fact, the church is the body of Christ. “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23).

There is “one body, one Spirit,” says Paul, referring to the church, “the body of Christ,” (Ephesians 4:4, 12). Jesus, ascended to the right hand of the Father, gives gifts to His body.

…until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:13-16, emphasis mine).

Get the picture? It’s beautiful. Just as our bodies have different parts, a hand here, an eye there, a foot down there, so too does the Body of Christ, the Church. All of us are bound up into Christ, into one body, walking and working and rejoicing together.

But now, at the end of the epistle, Paul gets to something he’s been hinting at all along; this body is under attack. This body, in fact, is a soldier, and it’s at war.

This is a bit of a surprise. It could be that this body of Christ is a dancer, or a construction worker, or a king. Nope, not this body, not the Lord’s Church. You are a soldier. And we are under attack.

So Paul will answer a number of questions. We’ll consider five. Who is the enemy? Where is the battle? What is our role? What is our protection? And what weapons are we given for the battle?

 

Our Enemy

First, who is our enemy? Who is your enemy? Who is trying to destroy your society, your family, your church?

The devil loves it when we think our enemy is flesh and blood, that our real enemy is in Washington, or our real enemy lives next door, or is in our family, or whatever. But Paul is emphatic: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). 

This attack is not from people, no matter how wicked; the real attack is from the devil and the demons. The war is a spiritual one. The battle is unseen. Our enemy is the devil. He is the one who attacks the church. This has to do with the second question.

 

Our Battlefield

Where is the battle? Is it in the media? In Afghanistan? Is it down the street in the shady parts of town?

The devil comes raging against the Church. His attack is on the Lord’s Body. There are two theaters of this cosmic war: the Church and your conscience. And the two are related. Jesus came and still comes to save you, to forgive your sins and hand you over to a good conscience to stand before Him, in this life, and on the Day of Judgment, and forever. The devil comes to undo this work, to unravel the kingdom of God. He does it by attacking God’s order, the order in society, the order in our families, the good order of the church, and God’s ordering of your conscience in the forgiveness of your sins.

 

Our Role

This also means that we don’t have to go looking for the fight, but that the fight will come to us. We are not given the command “Charge!” but the command, “Stand!”

“Stand,” says St. Paul to the Ephesians. Four times in four verses.

 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. … 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 firm. Stand therefore… (Ephesians 6:10-11, 12-14a)

 

This is the third question: What is our role?

Paul is giving the saints of Ephesus (and the saints in the church today: you) a new duty, dressing them like soldiers, and stationing them as sentries.

As the Roman Empire expanded, one of the most important jobs was that of the sentry, guarding the borders, staying at a post watching and listening for the enemy to attack. There were two offences for which a sentry could be immediately killed with no trial and no court, just a sword: abandoning his post (and this was either to retreat or to charge because he was not supposed to attack, but to call for reinforcements), or falling asleep.[1]

We are to stay awake. This doesn’t mean that we don’t sleep at night; it doesn’t mean that you’re put to death if you fall asleep during the sermon. We are to be spiritually awake, which means we are watchful in our prayers. The sleeping Christian is the Christian who does not pray. We are on the front of the devil’s attacks, and we are stationed as sentries to watch and pray so that the devil would not find a way in.

 

Our Protection

This is dangerous work, so we ask, fourth, what is our protection? Paul gives an inventory of five things, five pieces of armor that give us the confidence to stand.

 

… having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation… (Ephesians 6:14b-17a)

 

This is our protection. Not your strength. Not your power. Not your works or awesome goodness. You are clothed in Christ. Your armor is Him. His truth wrapped around your waist like a belt. A mind readied with His Gospel on your feet. His righteousness protecting your heart like a breastplate. His salvation protecting your head, your mind, as a helmet. And the shield of faith, doused by baptism, to extinguish all the fiery darts. This faith is not that you believe, but what you believe, the Creed, the mighty fortress of the Lord’s Name.

The Armor of God, it turns out, is God Himself! The blood and righteousness of Jesus are like a bullet-proof vest to the devil’s onslaught. His attack on your conscience is to condemn you, but Jesus has been condemned already. You are acquitted. So the devil brings you all your sins, and uses them to condemn you, but the accusations won’t stick.

“You did this!” The devil shoots an arrow. “Died for by Jesus,” we say, and it bounces off the helmet of salvation. “You thought that!” The devil shoots again. “Forgiven!” Ping, it bounces off the breastplate of righteousness. “You are wicked, miserable, godless.” The devil looses a whole quiver. “My Jesus suffered for me, was buried for me, rose for me,” and all the arrows are extinguished in the shield of faith. God be praised.

We could never endure this attack on our own, but there is one who fights for us, who holds the field. Ask ye who is this? Jesus Christ it is, of Sabbaoth Lord, and there’s none other God. He holds the field forever.

 

Our Weapons

And this brings us to the fifth and final question: What weapons are we given for the fight? There is only one.

Take up … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17b)

Our reading ended there, but the sentence doesn’t. Here it is:

… and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:17-20, emphasis mine)

 

This is a surprise. The Lord gives us this spiritual sword; in fact the Sword of the Holy Spirit Himself, which is the Lord’s Word, and how are we to yield it? Thrash away at the enemy? Stab the demons? Nope. Pray. We use the Lord’s Word to pray, to ask Jesus for help.

The Roman sentry, when he heard the enemy approaching, would sound the alarm and call in the troops. We sound the alarm and call for the Champion, for Jesus, to come and fight for us, to protect and keep us.

Jesus, after all, has won the battle.

The devil knocked Him down into the grave, but He stood up. In victory and grace He stands. And, dear saints, we stand with Him. He is our Hope. Jesus is our Victory.



[1] Many thanks to Dr. John Kleinig for this insight, as well as many of the insights in this article. His Grace Upon Grace: Spirituality for Today is full of many helpful insights on the attacks of the demons and spiritual warfare. 


5 Comments
Karen Lininger
12/26/2014 01:08:24 pm

This was so comforting to read after watching the news these past few days.

Reply
Blake Brown
2/10/2015 02:56:14 am

Hi Pastor Wolfmueller, I'm a member of the WE ninja clan and I love the devotionals on Around the Word. I've tried to sign up for the emails a couple of times but am not recieving the devotionals. Can you help with that? Thanks for your articles!

Reply
Barbara
2/23/2018 09:54:26 pm

I am a prayer partner, at the end of church service after the invitation has been given all pray partners go down front for who ever wants to pray.
I had a women come to me for prayer, she was concerned about demons in her home. So I prayed, the power is in the Blood of Jesus the authority of Jesus. This women seem like she was about to pass out, she seemed to be loosing her balance, I looked at her but she did not look at me, i continued praying repeating Jesus name and calling for his protection. This article is very helpful to me, I am equipping myself with the Armor of God for this Sunday. Thank you
and prayers appreciated.

Reply
JERRY GRANGER link
10/17/2018 09:37:51 pm

HELLO!!!
MY NAME IS JERRY GRANGER OF TOMAH WISCONSIN.
SINCE LAST YEAR NOVEMBER, AND UNTIL THIS MOMENT!, I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THESE UNCLEAN SPIRITS AND IN FACT, THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO INSIDE OF MY BODY AND I KNOW ONE IS A LARGE DEMON THAT HAS BEEN SITTING IN SILENCE, UNTIL THE LAST 5 MONTHS.
NOW, EVEN IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, AND HIS MIGHTY BLOOD GO UNHEEDED!!!
I HAVE SENT FOR PRAYERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD!!!, AND TO
MY JOY!!!, MANY ARE PRAYERS ARE PRAYING FOR GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT FIRE!!! TO COME DOWN AND UTTERLY CONSUME!!!, EVERY ONE OF THESE PROUD BETRAYERS!!! , OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER!!!, IN HEAVEN AND ON THE EARTH!!!, EVEN TO MURDERING THE LORD OF GLORY!!!, JESUS CHRIST!!!
SO FAR I HAVE TRAVELED OVER TWO HUNDRED MILES TO CHICAGO HOPING TO FIND GOD'S ANOINTED MAN, WHO IS HIS MIGHTY MINISTER OF FULL DELIVERANCE AND COMPLETE HEALING AND BREAKING INTO PIECES!!!, EVERY HIDDEN DEVICE AGAINST MY LIFE!!!
I LIVE IN THE SMALL TOWN OF TOMAH WISCONSIN.
AND THE BODY OF CHRIST JESUS IS WITHOUT THE MIGHTY, AND VITAL!!!, MINISTRY OF THE COMMISSION JESUS GAVE HIS FIRST DISCIPLES,,,"YOU SHALL HEAL THE SICK AND CAST OUT DEMONS!!!"!!! IN MY EFFORTS TO FIND THE MIGHTY MAN OF GOD, HAS SEEN ME BEING ACCUSED!!! , EVEN THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS GIVEN ME OVER TO WILL OF HIS, AND MY ENEMIES!!!
I CLAIM HIS MIGHTY PROMISE TO ME IN PSALM (41; I WILL NOT GIVE HIS LIFE TO THE WILL OF HIS ENEMIES!!!, HE LIVE!!!, AND I WILL HEAL HIM ON HIS BED OF SICKNESS AND BLESS HIM ON THE EARTH!!! I WILL LET HIM SEE
MY DESTRUCTION UPON ALL THE HEADS OF HIS ENEMIES!!!
NOW THAT IS HIS PROMISE OF LIFE!!!...NOT DEATH!!!
I HAVE MET WITH SOME COLD SPIRITS IN THE MEN OF GOD!!!
NOW, I FIND OUT THAT EVEN PENTECOSTAL MINISTERS HAVE NO MINISTRY OF FULL DELIVERANCE!!! I WAS TURNED AWAY BY GOD'S MEN!!!
AND THE DEMONS INSIDE ME REJOICE!!!, KNOWING LONG AGO ,SATAN CREPT IN AND STOLE THE MOST DANGEROUS WEAPON GIVEN BY JESUS CHRIST!!! THE MIGHTY FULL DELIVERANCE AND HEALING MINISTRY THAT TRULY SETS HIS CHILDREN FREE INDEED!!! AS I FEEL THEM DRAINED BLOOD FROM MY PRIVATE AREAS DAY AND NIGHT!!!, I HAVE FOUND NO MAN WHO WILL SEND THEM ON HOLY GHOST FIRE!!! INTO THE PIT OF TARSUS TO BE HELD IN CHAINS AND TORMENT UNTIL THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT SEAT OF JESUS CHRIST!!!
UNTIL GOD SENDS HIS MIGHTY MAN OF FIRE!!!, I SIT HERE WITH THESE DEMONS UNDER MY RECLINER MOVING ON MY BODY AND IN MY ANUS AND MY PENIS DRAINING MY LIFE BLOOD ,AND I CAN FIND NO MAN TO BURN ALL OF THESE FILTY BETRAYERS OF JESUS CHRIST AND THAT IS MORE THAN SAD!!! MANY HAVE DIED PERHAPS WHO WOULD STILL BE HERE LIVING FULL LIVES!!!, SERVING GOD'S HOLY PURPOSE AND TRULY SETTING HIS CHILDREN FREE INDEED!!!
THE MINISTER DEREK PRINCE SAID IT BEST!, WHEN HE SAID " UNTIL THE DEMONS IN THE MAN
ARE TRULY CAST DOWN INTO THE PLACE OF TARSUS!!!, WHERE THEY WILL NEVER ATTACK ANOTHER HUMAN BEING IS UTTERLY DESTROYED!!!, YES , YOU PRAYED FOR THE OUTSIDE OF THE MAN, BUT HE/SHE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE NO TRUE FREEDOM AND EVEN WILL BE ACUSSED!!!, OF BEING LAZY, AND NOT SINCERE!!!
THAT'S THE DEVIL'S ATTACK!!! TO GO BEFORE GOD TO ACCUSE THE
CHILDREN OF GOD!!!
ANY WONDER WHY SO MANY IN THE BODY OF CHRIST JESUS, HAVE NOT THE TRUE FREEDOM PROMISED THEM!!!... UNTIL THE MAN OF GOD DEALS WITH THE UNSEEN EVIL INSIDE THE MAN, HE
/SHE WILL BE A SAVED SPIRITUAL CRIPPLE!!!, AND SATAN CANNOT CONTAIN HIS JOY!!!,HAVING CREPT IN AND THROUGH THE CHURCH COUNSILS OF MEN, STOLE WHAT HE FESRS THE MOST!!! A TRUE ANOINTED MAN/WOMAN THAT CAST THE DEMONS OUT!AND DOWN TO THE PIT!!!
I AM STILL PRAYING FOR THE MAN OF GOD THAT WILL STRIKE MORTAL FEAR!!! IN THE EVIL WORKERS OF DARKNESS THAT FILL THE PULPITS, AND CHURCH PEWS OF THE CHURCHES IN AMERICA!!!
SATAN AND HIS DEMONS AVOID THE LIVING SPIRIT FILLED BODY OF CHRIST!!!
THEY KNOW THAT THE CHURCHES ARE A NEUTERED AND
POWERLESS IMAGE OF BEWITCHED BELIEVERS AND MINISTERS, WHO HAVEN'T BEEN TAUGHT!!!, TO HAVE THE MIGHTY POWERS ONCE DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS!!!(JUDE).
I'M SO SICK!!!,AND FILLED WITH
THIRSTY INDIGNATION!!!, READY AND WILLING!!!, TO BE RELEASED FROM THESE UNCLEAN, FILTY FALLEN ANGELS!!!, AND THE UNSEEN DAMAGE BEING DONE TO ME, EVEN AS I WRITE THIS MESSAGE!!!
I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO SEE THEM!!!, AND I SENSE AND SMELL THAT UNIQUE ROTTEN ODOR OF DEATH AND FILTH!!!
AND WHAT LOOKS BACK AT ME IN THE MIRROR?!! DEMON EYES THAT ARE CAUSING ME TO NOT SEE AS MY NEW GLASSES WERE DOING!!! I HATE THEM WITH GOD'S HATE!!!
IF YOU KNOW OF THE MAN ANOINTED FOR THIS VITAL WEAPON AGAINST SATAN AND HIS DEMONS, PLEASE!!!, PUT HIM IN TOUCH WITH ME!!!
MY CELLPHONE;.608-567-8270.
THEY STARE AT ME EVEN FROM MY CELLPHONE!!!
AND THEY TRY TO BLOCK MY CALLS FOR HELP!!!
I LOOK IN THE FACES OF EVIL!!!, BUT I'M NOT SHAKEN!!! I STAND UPON MY ROCK!!!..JESUS CHRIST!!!
MY GMAIL...jerrygranger9@gmail.com. and grangerj8054@gmail.com.
I'M ON FB MESSENGER AS WELL.
MY ADDRESS IS 704 SUPERIOR AVE.
TOMAH WISCONSIN, 54660.
I'M NOT AFRAID!!!...MY DEFENSE IS OF JESUS CHRIST!!!
I'M A 64YR BLACK MAN, AND I WAS BAPTIZED IN

Reply
Waymond
8/20/2021 12:11:09 am

Greetings this is what the church needs to hear amen

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller

    Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller and his wife Keri have four wonderful children, Hannah, Andrew, Daniel and Isaac. He received his Masters of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft Wayne, IN in the spring of 2005. He received the divine call to serve as the pastor of Hope Lutheran Church, and began his service in June, 2005.

    Archives

    September 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    January 2014

    Categories

    All
    Bad Conscience
    Clean Conscience
    Conscience
    Devil
    Good Conscience
    Heavenly Court
    Jesus
    Law And Gospel

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.