There has always been a battle between light and darkness.

Satan hates God and fights against his work.

It is vital that God's people recognize their place in this conflict

and are equipped for spiritual warfare in our day. Let's join Scott Pauli now as we

open God's Word and prepare for the front lines.

Welcome to the battlefield. That's encouraging, isn't it? In the last few days, we have been looking in 2nd Timothy at what it means to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

I have enjoyed our time in 2 Timothy, but I want to back up now in our study to what the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus in Ephesians chapter number 6.

Because the old warrior, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gave us one of the greatest

summary passages on spiritual warfare you're ever going to find.

In just a handful of verses, he describes for us what this battle looks like and how we can be ready for it. I find it

interesting that this passage is found in the book of Ephesians because you remember

Ephesians is a book of fullness. That's the theme of the book. The fullness of God, the fullness of

Christ, the fullness of the Holy Spirit. And isn't it interesting that this book of fullness ends with a fight?

We want the fullness without the fight.

We want the blessing without the battle.

It doesn't work that way.

We all hate war.

Don't we hate war?

My grandfather was in World War II.

He was actually at Pearl Harbor after the attack and helped with the cleanup.

And before he went to heaven, I had the privilege of visiting the USS Arizona Memorial there in Pearl Harbor with him, standing there where the oil still rises from the depths below and looking at the names of all of those who gave their life there on the wall.

My grandfather was a tough man, a tough man.

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