The Power of Understanding the Fight: Know What You Are Fighting Part 2- The Armor of God
When we think about war in the natural, we understand that preparation matters.
Our country has several branches of the military, each created with specific responsibilities and missions. There are forces prepared to operate on land, in the air, at sea, in space, and along our coastlines. There are systems designed to detect threats, gather intelligence, protect our people and resources, and respond when danger arises.
Why?
Because you cannot effectively defend what you do not understand, and you cannot effectively fight an enemy you have not identified.
The military doesn't simply wait until an attack happens to figure out what to do. There are systems of detection, training, strategy, weapons, intelligence, and preparation already in place.
There is something we can learn from this.
As Christians, we are also engaged in a fight—but our fight is different.
Our enemy is not always visible. Our weapons are not physical. And our strategy cannot be based on the methods of the world.
The Bible tells us exactly what we are up against, how our enemy operates, and how we are equipped to stand.
Understanding the fight is part of learning how to win it.
1. We Have to Understand That There Is a Fight
The Apostle Paul doesn't leave us wondering whether spiritual warfare exists.
Ephesians 6:10–13 tells us:
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against... the spiritual forces of evil..."
Paul says, "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood."
That's important.
Because sometimes we spend all of our energy fighting the wrong thing.
We fight people.
We fight circumstances.
We fight what was said about us.
We fight what happened to us.
We fight the situation in front of us.
But Scripture tells us that there is a spiritual dimension to the battle.
That doesn't mean people aren't responsible for their actions. It means that as believers, we have to understand that our response cannot be limited to what we see with our natural eyes.
If we misidentify the fight, we can use the wrong weapons.
And that's exactly why understanding spiritual warfare matters.
2. Know Who the Enemy Is
One of the most powerful things about Scripture is that God doesn't leave us guessing about our enemy.
Ephesians 6:12 says:
"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."
Our enemy is spiritual.
Peter gives us another warning:
"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
—1 Peter 5:8
Notice the language Peter uses:
Be alert.
Be sober-minded.
Your enemy is prowling.
In other words, don't live spiritually unaware.
The enemy doesn't need us to understand everything about spiritual warfare. He benefits when we don't understand it at all.
When we don't recognize the enemy's tactics, we may mistake a spiritual attack for simply having a bad day.
We may interpret discouragement as failure.
We may interpret confusion as a sign that God has abandoned us.
We may allow fear to make decisions for us.
We may become offended by people when we should be responding with wisdom and prayer.
Understanding the fight doesn't mean becoming obsessed with the enemy.
It means becoming more aware of God, His Word, and the strategies He has given us to stand.
3. Know What the Enemy Is Trying to Do
Jesus gives us a clear description of the enemy's objective.
John 10:10 says:
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
There is a contrast here.
The thief comes to:
Steal.
Kill.
Destroy.
But Jesus came to give:
Life.
Abundant life.
Purpose.
Hope.
This is why we have to know the Word of God.
If we don't know what God has promised, how will we recognize when something is trying to make us doubt it?
If we don't know what God says about us, how will we recognize the lies that tell us we're worthless?
If we don't know God's character, how will we recognize the thoughts that tell us He has forgotten us?
The Word of God gives us truth against which we can measure what we're hearing, thinking, and experiencing.
4. God Has Provided a Place of Safety
When our country thinks about defense, safety is one of the primary objectives.
God also gives His people a place of safety.
Proverbs 18:10 says:
"The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the righteous run to it and are safe."
What a powerful picture.
A fortress is a place of protection.
But notice that the Scripture doesn't say we never face trouble.
It says there is somewhere we can run to when trouble comes.
There will be difficult days.
There will be disappointment.
There will be seasons when you don't understand what God is doing.
There will be moments when fear tries to take over.
But the presence of a battle does not mean the absence of God.
God is our refuge in the middle of the battle.
5. Knowing God's Word Gives Us Access to His Promises
This is one of the reasons studying God's Word is so important.
God's promises are available to us, but we cannot confidently stand on promises we don't know.
Imagine having access to something that could help you but never learning how to use it.
The problem isn't that the resource isn't available.
The problem is that you don't know how to access or apply it.
The same can happen spiritually.
God has given us His Word.
He has given us promises.
He has given us instruction.
He has given us wisdom.
He has given us His armor.
But we have to know what He has given us.
Romans 10:17 tells us:
"Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ."
The more we know God's Word, the more we learn God's character.
The more we learn God's character, the more we learn to trust Him.
And the more we trust Him, the better equipped we become to stand when circumstances challenge our faith.
6. We Have to Stay Alert
Peter's warning bears repeating:
"Be alert and of sober mind."
—1 Peter 5:8
Our enemy does not take days off.
That means we cannot afford to live spiritually asleep.
Being spiritually alert doesn't mean walking around afraid.
It means paying attention.
Pay attention to what you're allowing into your mind.
Pay attention to what is influencing your decisions.
Pay attention to patterns that pull you away from God.
Pay attention when discouragement begins turning into hopelessness.
Pay attention when offense begins turning into bitterness.
Pay attention when fear begins controlling your choices.
Pay attention when you begin believing something that contradicts God's Word.
Alert doesn't mean afraid. Alert means aware.
And awareness gives us an opportunity to respond instead of simply reacting.
7. We Don't Win by Fighting Like the World
One of the biggest mistakes we can make is trying to fight a spiritual battle with natural weapons.
We cannot overcome hatred with more hatred.
We cannot overcome anger with uncontrolled anger.
We cannot overcome lies by becoming dishonest ourselves.
We cannot overcome bitterness by holding onto bitterness.
We cannot overcome darkness by becoming part of the darkness.
Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 10:3–4:
"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world."
God has given us a different way to fight.
Prayer.
Faith.
Truth.
The Word of God.
Righteousness.
Peace.
Salvation.
The power of the Holy Spirit.
And the full armor of God described in Ephesians 6.
Our strategy must match the battle.
8. Falling Doesn't Mean You're Finished
There is another important truth we need to understand.
Winning the fight doesn't mean we never fall.
Sometimes we stumble.
Sometimes we make wrong decisions.
Sometimes we become discouraged.
Sometimes we allow fear to get the best of us.
But falling is not the same as staying down.
Proverbs 24:16 says:
"For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again."
The righteous person isn't identified by never falling.
The righteous person gets back up.
So if you've stumbled, get back up.
If you've been discouraged, get back up.
If you've gotten distracted, get back up.
If you've allowed fear to take over, get back up.
If you've been spiritually exhausted, get back up.
Go back to the Word.
Go back to prayer.
Go back to God's presence.
Put the armor back on.
And stand.
9. Remember Who Has Already Won
Ultimately, our confidence doesn't come from our own strength.
It comes from Jesus Christ.
The battle may be real, but so is our victory through Christ.
Romans 8:37 reminds us:
"In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
Notice the words:
Through Him.
Our victory isn't because we're strong enough.
It isn't because we understand everything. It isn't because we never struggle. It is because of Jesus Christ. That changes the way we approach every battle.
We don't fight for victory as though everything depends on us.
We fight from the victory Christ has already secured.
Reflection: Do You Understand the Fight?
Take a moment and ask yourself:
1. What battle am I facing right now?
2. Am I fighting the right battle, or am I fighting against people and circumstances?
3. What has God already said about my situation in His Word?
4. Am I spiritually alert, or have I become spiritually distracted?
5. Which piece of the armor of God do I need to intentionally put on?
6. Have I been trying to fight a spiritual battle with natural weapons?
7. What do I need to surrender to God today?
Remember, understanding the fight doesn't mean we become consumed by the enemy.
It means we become more intentional about knowing God, knowing His Word, recognizing the battle, and standing in what He has provided.
Closing: Know Your Enemy. Know Your Weapons. Know Your God.
The military prepares because threats exist. They study. They train.
They watch. They prepare. They understand their mission.
And as believers, we must also understand our spiritual assignment.
We have an enemy. But we also have an Advocate. We have battles. But we also have weapons. We have challenges.
But we also have promises. We may fall. But we can get back up.
And most importantly, we belong to the One who has already overcome the world.
So don't walk through life spiritually unaware.
Know the fight. Know the enemy.
Know your weapons. Know the Word.
Know your authority in Christ. And above all, know your God.
Because when you understand the fight, you stop fighting blindly.
You begin fighting with wisdom, faith, prayer, truth, and confidence in God.
And when the battle comes, you can stand.
"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground." —Ephesians 6:13