Dear Christian friends:

The popularity of military personnel varies a great deal from time to time. At the present time in our country's history military men are not highly respected by many of our citizens. Much of it is due to the unpopular war in Viet Nam. Also, many members of the counter-culture seem to think that all problems of the state can be solved without resorting to the use of military power.

Certainly it would be great if we did not ever have to use military force, but this is largely a pipe dream, unrelated to the actualities of real life. Any nation that down-grades and disregards its military force is asking for trouble. Nations do have enemies.

Likewise, any Christian who down-grades and disregards spiritual weapons and armor is courting spiritual disaster. Christians do have spiritual enemies. Distasteful as war and warfare may seem to us, we nevertheless must come to grips with it, whether we act as a citizen of the state or as citizens of God's Kingdom.

Our text urges us to face up to our spiritual warfare. St. Paul reminds us of the important truth that we are:


St. Paul tells us about our enemies since the Christian's enemies are for the most part unseen or disguised he may be lulled into thinking that he really has none. St. Paul says we don't contend against flesh and blood, humans. He speaks of, "the devil, principalities and powers, world rulers of this present darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (verses 11-12)

These, he says, are our mighty and dreadful enemies. Our enemies are tricky and deceitful. They may come disguised as friends. They rise up in the absolute murderous power of a Hitler or Mao. They come to us in the hierarchy of a Christ denying church body or in the sheep's clothing of an apostate parish pastor. They invade the minds, textbooks and philosophies of our teachers and professors at schools and colleges.

They try to twist, turn and demoralize our legislature and law enforcement agents at every level of government. They creep into our homes and hearts and tempt the members of our families and ourselves and they are not without victories as we very well know. The devils victory is when he leads us to despair of God's mercy.

Our daily newspapers, weekly magazines and church periodicals catalog their most notable victories, while myriads of them are never recorded for they take place in darkness in the hidden recesses of men's minds and in the secret chambers of the great and the small, in the great city and the little town. So formidable are they that no power on earth may repel them.

So St. Paul exhorts us to "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." Martin Luther in his great Reformation Hymn enlarges on this a bit when he writes:

"1. A mighty fortress is our God,
a trusty shield and weapon;
he helps us free from ev'ry need
that has us now o'ertaken.
The old evil foe
now means deadly woe;
deep guile and great might
are his dread arms in fight;
on earth is not his equal."

Hymn-A mighty Fortress is our God, A trusty Shield and Weapon

Paul does not merely say, "Be strong!" He knows better! He knows better than to dredge the empty depths of human helplessness in search of what isn't there. Paul knows that every person is "a cry for help." Therefore, he says, "Be strong in the Lord!" Turn to your true resources in Christ. Claim your Christian birthright, and stand firm.

The age of the astronaut hasn't really changed a thing although many foolishly think it has. It hasn't made the battle less real. There are no atomic weapons for the warfare of the spirit. In this war of wars only the armor of God prevails.

In all warfare weapons must match weapons if one is to win; therefore in the war against spiritual darkness, we need spiritual armor, the armor of light.

Paul here lists our spiritual weapons: For defense, Truth, Righteousness, the Gospel of Peace, Faith, Salvation; and for offense, The Word of God. This is heaven's arsenal. This is the equipment of the saints. None of these weapons is forged on earth! Our strength is from above!

Let us storm God's arsenal and receive the tremendous weapons which Christ our Lord and Savior has won for us by His death and resurrection. Then we will have done all to stand and we will stand in the evil day, even in the day of our death when Satan makes a last ditch stand to lead us to despair. In the face of all adversity we will sing with Martin Luther:

Hymn: A mighty Fortress is our God, A trusty Shield and Weapon

"3 Though devils all the world should fill,
all eager to devour us,
we tremble not, we fear no ill:
they shall not overpow'r us.
This world's prince may still
scowl fierce as he will,
he can harm us none.
He's judged; the deed is done;
one little word can fell him.

4 The Word they still shall let remain
nor any thanks have for it;
he's by our side upon the plain
with his good gifts and Spirit.
And take they our life,
goods, fame, child, and wife,
though all may be gone,
our victory is won;
the kingdom's ours forever!"

Amen.