Facing the Spiritual Battle

Thank you for joining me for Part Two in my Spiritual Warfare Series on Milk & Honey Faith.  In Part One we discussed how we can identify when we are under spiritual attack and what tactics the enemy uses.  Today we will be going over the ways we can fight back by having a battle plan in place.

The devil himself is banking on you being ill prepared.  He believes that if he hits you from all angles and keeps the punches rolling in that you will eventually give up and forfeit your faith.  And guess what?  Many people do.

“The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.  But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long.  They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.”
Mark 4: 16-17  NLT (emphasis added)

The Christian Life Isn’t Easy

Many people probably think that once they are saved that they will be on easy street.  I’m afraid that is just not the case.  Living your life for Jesus and declaring him as your Lord and Savior puts a huge target on your back.  You are now entered into a life-long battle.  If our Lord was persecuted and attacked then it is naive of us to believe that we can live as Christians and be without troubles.

As I mentioned in Part One, the word says Job was a blameless man who was of complete integrity.  He was one who feared God and stayed away from evil, yet God allowed Satan to have access to him.  As believers we are not exempt from the trials and attacks from Satan.  Even if we somehow lived completely blameless lives, hard times fall on us all.  Satan is real, and his main objective is to destroy.

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33  NLT

But see, our God says not to fear for He has given us many ways to stand tall against the attacks of the enemy, and they are all discovered in the word of God.  The battle is real but so are our weapons.  We have a mighty and powerful God who has graciously given us a battle plan to utilize.  Let’s get started shall we?   Chances are you are in the midst of combat now.

“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.  Instead, be very glad–for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.”
1 Peter 4:12-13  NLT

The Spiritual Armor

In Ephesians 6:13-17 we learn some invaluable lessons from Paul on how engage in combat with the enemy without fear of being taken out.  We are already equipped, we simply have to remember that every piece of armor needs to be put on.  Not just pieces of it.

Stand Your Ground – Stand on the rock, your solid foundation (which is Christ), that way you do not sway or falter.

Belt of Truth – Keep your mind dwelling on the truth and refuse to believe any lies.  Maintain your integrity and walk in it.  It will make it hard for the enemy to accuse you.

Breastplate of Righteousness – We have the Holy Spirit living inside of us and the promise of salvation.  Those promises seal our hearts and guard them from the doubts the devil lays on us.

Feet Fitted with Readiness – The feet are ready with the Good News so we are fully prepared to set out and preach the Gospel to the ends of the Earth.  It is our marching order.

Shield of Faith –  We have a shield to hold up to stop the fiery arrows of the devil and that is our faith.  A faith in God, whom we cannot see, and yet we still believe.

Helmet of Salvation – May we keep our minds focused on the fact that we are saved and redeemed by our Father.  Whenever the bad thoughts start to creep in, shut them down with the assurance of your salvation that Christ gives.

Sword of the Spirit – Our ultimate weapon is the word of God.  It exposes any falsehood and reveals the truth.  The word of God is the ultimate standard of truth.

Stay In Prayer

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.  Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”
Ephesians 6:18

Please take notice that this verse says to pray in the Spirit at ALL times and on EVERY occasion.  Constant prayers should be flowing from both you and I to our Heavenly Father.  Not only that, but it says we should be alert and persistent in our prayers, not just for ourselves, but for all believers everywhere.  That way we are help carry each other’s burdens and expose the tactics of the enemy for what they are.

Bring the power of God down through your praise! Share on X

Praise His Name

Job had lost everything, he lost his family, prosperity, and even his health.  However, when Job was at his lowest point and at a total loss, he tore his robe in grief, shaved his head, and then fell to the ground to worship (Job 1:20).  This is so profound to me.  While others like his wife told him to curse God, he worshiped Him instead.  I can picture him crying out in anguish, not understanding why this happened, and yet glorifying God’s name.  What a beautiful picture of faith.

When Paul and Silas were imprisoned in the book of Acts, their prayers and singing unto the Lord were heard by other prisoners and brought down the power of God in a form of a great earthquake.  This caused the jail doors to open and all the prisoner’s chains to fall off freeing them.

Worship and praise during hardship calls on the Holy Spirit in powerful ways because it shifts your focus from your problems to your power source…God.

“You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.  You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!”
Psalms 30: 11-12  NLT

Praise and worship shifts your focus from your problems to your power source...God. Share on X

A Final Word

Our success in defeating the Devil does not come by our own doing, but by relying on God as the source of our strength.  He is there waiting for you to call on the His Spirit to come to your aid.  His armor will protect you from the evil spirits and demonic forces looking to consume you.  We need only to put it on.

“A final word:  Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.”
Ephesians 6:10-11  NLT

Make sure you read Part One of the Spiritual Warfare Series called “When you are Under Spiritual Attack” and finish up with Part Three “The Victory is His“.

Be blessed,