貝牧師的新朋友向他講述了自己被虐待與成癮的經歷。雖然這個年輕人是基督徒，但由於他在年少時曾遭受性虐待，再加上長期受到色情影片和書刊的影響，使他深陷其中，一直無法擺脫這些困擾他的問題。於是，他在絕望中請求幫助。

身為基督徒，我們會與那看不見的邪惡力量爭戰（哥林多後書10章3-6節）。然而，我們已得到兵器去打這場屬靈的戰爭，只不過並非用這世界的兵器，而「是在上帝面前有能力，可以攻破堅固的營壘」（4節）。這是什麼意思呢？「堅固的營壘」是指有如銅牆鐵壁的地方。上帝所賜的兵器，是讓我們「以公義為武器，右手進攻，左手防禦」（6章7節，新普及譯本）。以弗所書6章13-18節進一步擴展了這清單，提到有助於保護我們的軍裝，包括聖經真理、信心、救恩、禱告，以及信徒的彼此代禱。在面對比我們更強大的邪惡力量時，我們使用這些武器，就能翻轉局勢、不致跌倒。

上帝也會使用輔導員與其他專業人士，幫助那些面臨艱鉅的屬靈戰爭、難以孤軍奮戰的人。好消息是，我們這些在耶穌裡的人可以倚靠祂，在面對邪惡力量時不必屈服，我們擁有上帝所賜的軍裝！

Pastor Bailey’s newfound friend shared with him the story of his abuse and addiction. Though the young man was a believer in Jesus, because of his exposure to sexual abuse and pornography at an early age, he was plagued with a problem that was bigger than he was. And in his desperation, he reached out for help.

As believers in Christ, we wage war with unseen forces of evil (2 Corinthians 10:3-6). But we’ve been given weapons to fight our spiritual battles. They aren’t the weapons of the world, however. On the contrary, we’ve been given “divine power to demolish strongholds” (v. 4). What does that mean? “Strongholds” are well-built, secure places. Our God-given arms include “weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense” (6:7 nlt). Ephesians 6:13-18 expands the list of things that help protect us, including the Scriptures, faith, salvation, prayer, and the support of other believers. When faced with forces bigger and stronger than us, appropriating these munitions can make the difference between standing and stumbling.

God also uses counselors and other professionals to help those who struggle with forces too big to tackle alone. The good news is that in and through Jesus, we needn’t surrender when we struggle. We have the armor of God!