Worlds In Conflict

Ephesians 6:12
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.

Was watching my sheep playing the World in Conflict game during a gaming session. As he was frantically battling the innumerable enemy forces, he forgot to deploy the artillery support available to him. So of course, his forces got soundly whacked since they were inferior in quantity and quality. But when he finally called in the artillery, the enemy forces were immediately decimated.

From that game, I realised that the Bible reminds us that God offers us the power of prayer. "Call on Me in the day of trouble - I will deliver you..." Just like how the World in Conflict game allows you to call for various tactical aids (e.g. heavy artillery, airstrikes or even a thermonuclear bomb), so likewise, we can pray to God to help us stand firm and resist the devil. And the weapons for the spiritual realms (e.g. the Word of God and prayer) are no less powerful than the weapons of the world.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

We Christians mustn't forget that we are in the midst of a daily battle for our souls. Spiritual warfare is very real - for us Christians in Singapore, not so much in the sense of demonic possession or black magic, but in the invisible, but equally insidious sense of taking God for granted, not being committed to a local church, doubting the Word of God, not bothering to pray, overwork, unforgiveness, bitterness and so on. Worlds in conflict.

How we often forget to pray for all the little things that overwhelm us e.g. work, ministry, conflicts, problems and so on. And when we forget to pray for help from on high, we are often soundly suppressed or defeated or even routed by the countless and powerful forces of darkness. And they ARE powerful indeed.

But when we pray...

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For 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. 13Therefore 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. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And 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 saints.