The Battle Is Intensifying

Hello and welcome to Van Life Devotions. Today we are in the ancient city of Ephesus in modern day Turkey. Where I am standing was the Ephesus Stadium.

There was an immense entrance gate to the Stadium where the seating went around in a u-shape. It was enlarged during the Roman Emperor Nero’s reign in the 1st century A.D. It was mainly used for ceremonies and sports events. It was also here that many Christians were slaughtered under Nero’s evil reign.

Gladiator games were also held in this stadium. The rich people of Ephesus had gladiators. These people would bet that their gladiators would win the fight, and they would organize games for it. They could sell their gladiators to each other.

Gladiator fights would last for at least 2 and at most 12 days, and the warriors who entered the arena in the gladiator games would fight to the death. Gladiators were chosen from among slaves or mercenaries, and they were specially trained at schools which were down this road. They wore helmets, sandals, had shields, but were bare chested.

Similarly, the Roman soldiers were well protected, ready for any conflict. By the time of the church, Ephesus was under Rome’s control and so it was normal to see Roman soldiers everywhere around here keeping the peace, upholding the law, and executing punishment to criminals.

With the Roman soldiers roaming this city and gladiators frequenting this stadium, Paul reminds the church here about another type of battle to be aware of and therefore another type of armour to wear.  In chapter 6 of Ephesians Paul reminds the church about the devil’s schemes. And then he expanded on this in verse 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” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV). Paganism and idolatry were prevalent in Ephesus, full of demonic forces and oracles. There was a real spiritual battle going against the powers of this dark world against God’s holy people. Paul told Timothy that many have fallen into the devil’s trap. With that in mind, he tells the Christians in chapter 6 verses 13 to 18: “Therefore 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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And 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 Lord's people” (Ephesians 6:13-18 NIV).

The devil and his schemes are just as much active today as they were when this city was thriving and so Paul’s call to take our stand and put on the full armour of God is to be heeded to. Faith, the Word of God, Truth, the Holy Spirit, and Prayer are our weapons. Be on guard, for the spiritual battle is real.

Let’s Pray.

Merciful God. We acknowledge that often our struggle is against the devil and his schemes. Help up to be prepared by wearing Your spiritual armour.

O God, preserve us who travel; surround us with your loving care; protect us from every danger; and bring us in safety to our journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

David Moyes