Fighting the Invisible War

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).

Whether I like it or not, as a Christian, I'm fighting a war as a spiritual soldier. It's an invisible war. The forces of good versus the forces of darkness. Angels against demons. Followers of God against followers of Satan. Scripture is very clear about the reality of this unseen spiritual warfare for those who follow Christ.

The latter part of last year and onwards, several times I endured some severe demon attacks. I'm not up against a human being. Not against flesh and blood. It's against spiritual forces of wickedness, which are unseen demonic beings behind what's happening. Satan is a liar, so are they. Satan is a deceiver, so are they. Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), so do they. Indeed, my choice is between becoming a victorious solider of Christ or becoming a defeated casualty.

I'm reminded of this by my Indian friend-pastor Sam in a deeper way when he shared about this during one Sunday worship before a congregation of Korean-Americans. As I listened to him, there welled up within me a longing to be much closer to Jesus and a wiser spiritual soldier. It brings a very special call for prayer and vigilance on my part.

Insofar as attack against Christians is concerned, Scripture reveals the demons' primary place of assault -- the mind. That's why the Apostle Paul urges the "renewing of our minds" (Romans 12) for he knows this is where the demons will attack. "For as he thinks within himself, so he is" (Proverbs 23:7). So, if Satan and his demons can make our minds believe a lie, if he can deceive us, he can then make us live our lives on the basis of that lie.

How God came in proportion to my needs during those months of demonic attacks was amazing! Looking back, I realize that I could had been a permanent casualty by fighting a human being. The enemy is not flesh and blood! Somebody has been behind the scenes. God came in and saved me. He made me realize again and again that the battle is His, not mine. He taught me again how to put on His armor to fight this deadly invisible war. "Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil" (Ephesians 6: 11).