Growing up in the church, I was exposed to my sinful nature and need for a Savior from an early age. Much is said about our need for the forgiveness of sins, and the gospel message is made clear week after week until we can confidently proclaim, “Yes! I believe, I confess, I am now a child of God.” I am not advocating the urgency and importance of sharing the message of salvation with children (all non-believers) from the pulpit, ministry, home, and community. But while we are zealous in our desire that “all men should know the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4), we lose our spiritual zeal when it comes to preparing these new souls for the battles they will face. The Bible is clear; it is not a question of whether we will encounter a spiritual attack, but whether we will be prepared when we do.
For many, coming to Jesus, waving the white flag of surrender, was the “easy” part. They were happily preparing God to rule their lives as kings, blissfully unaware that the real battle had just begun. The first effect of giving your life to Christ—breaking the bondage of sin and experiencing the weight of grace, mercy, peace, hope, and love from your Creator, Savior, and Sustainer—is truly a mountaintop experience.
By coming to Christ, we become new creations. The old has passed away and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). Those of us who were once separated from God have been reconciled through the work of Christ on the cross and are becoming sanctified (becoming more like Christ) every day. And someday (wow!) when we get to heaven, we will be glorified (experiencing the absence of sin). Everything about being made alive in Christ is great news. Angels rejoice over sinners who come to God (Luke 15:10), but not everyone throws a party. Christians have enemies. Our salvation is kept safe from the hands of the evil one, but it does not preclude all the actions of the evil one. He can kill, steal and destroy our faith (John 10:10).
But there’s good news. First, although we are active participants in the battle, we know God as the ultimate victor of the war (Revelation 19). Second, we have the power to fight the devil’s plans with the armor of God. Ephesians 6:10-17).
Finally, be strong in the Lord and His mighty power. Please wear whole You can put on the full armor of God and stand against the devil’s plans. 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. therefore, whole It is so that when the evil day comes, you can hold your ground and stand up after all is said and done. Stand firm, then, with the belt of truth fastened around your waist, the breastplate of righteousness on, and your feet equipped 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 quench 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.. Ephesians 6:10-17 NIV
Rest in the power of God (v10)
A friend told me, “Praying is not the only thing we can do, but we pray as much as we can.” We are fighting a battle beyond our capabilities. We have no means of stopping the enemy on our own. However, in Christ, we have an advocate in the form of the Holy Spirit who helps us in our weaknesses, and we can rely on His strength. To stand firm against the devil’s machinations. When we feel under attack, the first thing we should do is come before the Lord and acknowledge that it is not in our power but in His power and that we can cast out the evil one. We know that demons tremble when they hear the name of the Lord (James 2:19). May we be completely entrusted to God’s power to fight the devil’s plans.
Recognize the struggle (v11-12)
Paul explains that this battle is bigger than us. Spiritual warfare is happening all around us. The forces of good and evil are always at war, and although Satan and his demons may try to disarm, disperse, and drive God’s children to despair, they cannot separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35-39). When we feel persuaded by darkness, let us be encouraged by Paul’s words: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is beautiful, whatever is admirable, whatever is excellent, whatever is worthy of praise, think about such things. (Philippians 4:8).
Stand firm in God’s truth (v13-14)
The Bible is God’s love letter to His children. it gives us everything we need Living a life worthy of the gospel (Philippians 1:27)). We are surrounded by the Word of God, and the Word supports our lives and gives us the support we need. When Paul wrote this letter to the Ephesians, they would have been familiar with the armor of Roman soldiers. The breastplate covered his entire body and protected his vital organs. lungs, chest, stomach. Therefore, we should use the righteousness that is in Christ to protect us and help us fight spiritual battles.
Let’s take on the battle with firm faith (v16)
We want to be able to quickly recognize the enemy’s attacks and move quickly while being firmly rooted in the Bible. We are “light on our feet,” which allows us to slip out of dodge and flee quickly when surrounded by sanctuaries. We are under attack, but we have a sense of security because we know who will be the winner in the end. Rather than fighting aimlessly, we will arm ourselves with God’s truth. We take up the shield of faith, the soldier’s most important weapon against the onslaught of harmful influences. The shield of Christian faith helps protect Christians from the fire of the evil one. While the enemy seeks to destroy us, our shield of faith can counteract his tactics.
Fill your heart with God’s word (v17)
Finally, we must be diligent in putting on the helmet of salvation. The best defense against lies that cause us to doubt God is the good news of the gospel. Paul also urges us to take up the sword of the Spirit. All of the other armor Paul mentions is defensive. Yet the Bible is our weapon of attack, sharper than any two-edged sword. It can penetrate and divide (Hebrews 4:12). We must remember to arm ourselves with the sword of truth every day and take time to meditate and memorize the Bible so that we can remember it in times of trouble.
There are battles being fought all around us every day, and we are thankful that we are not alone in that battle. As Christians, we have the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is alive and active.The lives of believers. Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us put on the full armor of God, be rooted in the Word of God, be strengthened by the power of the Lord, and stand firm in the faith. Although it may feel like the darkness is winning, may we cling to the truth that God is on the throne and He will prevail.He’s the ultimate winner!
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Laura Bailey is an author and Bible teacher who encourages women to understand what they believe, why it matters, and how to apply Biblical truth to their lives. Her recent book, Embracing Eternity in the Here and Now, explores how the timeless truths of Ecclesiastes can help us live more peaceful, purposeful, and abundant lives today.
She lives in upstate South Carolina with her husband and three girls and is the director of women’s ministry at her church. Her passion is teaching women the Bible and empowering them to live with an eternal perspective. Invite Laura to speak at your next event or learn more: www.LauraRBailey.com Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.
