ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (DECEMBE 19, 2011)

The King's Battle is Spiritual
Ephesians 6:10-18

"We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of the world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
(Ephesians 6:12, KJV)
The devil was so real for Martin Luther that he threw his inkwell at him. The ink stain can still be seen on the wall of his study!
We need to know that our struggles against sin and wickedness are a battle against demonic forces. "The battle is not yours, but God's" (2 Chronicles 20:15). If we think the struggle is solely our responsibility, we may become introspective and despairing.
Knowing that the battle is spiritual is a challenge to harness God's power in our lives through prayer. Put on the armor of God. As the foot soldiers of the King, trust Him and do the next thing. Paul urges us to behave like men (1 Corinthinas16:13), reminding us that God works in us to will and to act... Someone else once said, "Pray as if it is all God's responsibility, and act as if it is up to you alone."
David, facing Goliath, was strengthened knowing that "You came against me with sword and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty"
(1 Samuel 17:45).
INSIGHT
We look forward to that last day when "The strife is o'er, the battle done; Now is the Victor's triumph won." (Author unknown, 1695) HAVEN Music
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Hosea 9-10
Proverbs 14
1 Peter 2-3
Ephesians 6:10-18
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.