Offense and Defense

College football is in full swing and there is much discussion about the relative strengths and weaknesses of various teams’ offensive and defensive programs. A good defense  is important to stopping the opposing team’s efforts. Without a good offense, the team won’t gain any ground toward their goal line. 

“Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace, and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can 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. With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints.”

Ephesians 6:10-18 NET

This familiar passage is a beautiful picture of the full protection we have in spiritual warfare. We have the full armor—a full defense. However, we are given in this passage a single weapon for the offensive: the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. This sword is the weaponry of the Holy Spirit. It’s how He does battle and therefore it is also how we do battle through His Spirit living in us. This sword is used on our own hearts to cut out sin. And it is what we use in enemy territory to drive back the darkness. We put our armor on so that we can maintain the ground we have gained, and that is a battle for sure. But we take up the sword to gain new ground for the Kingdom, both in our hearts and in the world. 

As God’s representatives and wielding His Truth, we fight back the enemies of darkness in the world: despair, unbelief, and all manner of evil. We slash through lies, we deal a death blow to discouragement, we fatally wound pride. We press forward and push back the enemy, taking on new territory and finding victory in the Word.