Roaring Adversaries

Spiritual battles are real with roaring adversaries and dark forces—and we must stand firm, fully equipped with God’s armor.

“Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your meeting place … It seems like one bringing up his axe into a forest of trees. And now they break down all its carved work with axe and hammers.”—Psalm 74:4–6 NASB

The enemies of God often carve a reckless path of destruction. They’re described in this psalm as men equipped with axes, swinging freely, causing damage and even death. They want to undermine our faith and hinder the work of the Gospel.

This is why the apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 6:10–17 that we must be “strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” We must realize we’re engaged in a spiritual battle, and “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.”

We need to “stand firm therefore, having belted [our] waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on [our] feet the preparation of the gospel of peace.” We must take up “the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Don’t be surprised if you experience spiritual attacks. Your enemy, “the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Be armed and ready, strong in the Spirit.

Reflection Question: How are you preparing to stand firm against spiritual attacks?