Part 3 Spiritual Warfare — Prepared

But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matt 6:6 NKJV.

Our Father in heaven, hollowed by Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matt 6:9-10 & 13

Introduction

I’ve spent days and days trying to understand the ins and outs of spiritual warfare. I’ve defined it, identified the opposing forces, and how our relationship with God strengthens or weakens our ability to withstand it. I’ve written Scriptures on Satan’s power, works, weapons, forces, and defeat. I’ve discovered battle examples, spiritual weapons, and protection in the battle.

I filled an entire notebook with my research!

Gratefully to the Lord, I was not overwhelmed, fearful, or anxious because my time in the secret place prepared me for the truth. Many authors have written books on spiritual warfare—some good and some not so good. Honestly, have so much research, I could have written a book.

Then, this morning, it hit me. It’s not about doing all this research; it’s about knowing the truth. Spiritual warfare is spiritual, period.

If we are ever to be prepared to face the enemy’s attack, we remember that it is spiritual. Preparation does not require that we run around rebuking every “so-called” demon or filling our houses with every kind of cross imaginable. We’re not even asked to set up an altar in our homes and light candles to ward off the enemy.

We need to enter the secret place daily to pray — with the Lord, we will be prepared to face any spiritual attack.

Trust in God’s ability to work in your soul, equip you with His armor, and saturate you with the Spirit. Trust the armor of God that He will give you as you continue to fellowship with Him and allow the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and help you along the way. Have faith in your most gracious heavenly Father, who will rescue you from evil.

Spiritual warfare is spiritual.

This is the truth: From the moment Satan set up a kingdom of his own, he has been busy recruiting and mobilizing his forces for warfare. The demons or evil spirits employed by Satan are under his rule and follow him into rebellion against God. Under the power of the evil one are people who choose to live in “self-will” as sons and daughters of disobedience. They are unwittingly under the evil one’s power.

The fall of humanity resulted from the contamination of God’s good creation. God did not make Satan evil. Satan made himself evil, not by creation, but by his desire to become God, and he tried to claim God’s authority.

Trust me, I’ve read the last chapter, and the devil will not win in the end!

God is Spirit and Truth

God does not watch the evil one passively and accomplish nothing. In Spirit and truth, Christ is victorious. Jesus came, walked on this earth, felt our pains and sorrows, died a tragic death, and rose from the dead. From that day until today, people have responded to the preaching of the gospel and renounced their citizenship in the kingdom of Satan.

As citizens of the kingdom of God, God delivers us from evil.

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Col 1:13

We face the surrounding forces of Satan, but they do not overpower us. The Kingdom of God is at hand. This is not a fairy tale of good and evil. People are incapable of seeing how real spiritual warfare is because the darkness blinds them. We are children of light and live in the light of God’s love.

Satan may attack, and if unprepared, you may feel some of his fiery darts. Preparation for the battle begins in the Secret Place. The struggle is real and grounded in the truth. Scripture warns us that there is an enemy. He is the foe we must fight on the spiritual battlefield, but the Lord our God is with us.

The Holy Spirit and the spirit of the evil one cannot live in the same place.

Stand Strong in the Holy Spirit

And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and He wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Ephesians 6:10-13, The Message.

To stand firm against the enemy, who is out to destroy us, requires the Holy Spirit, not fear. We need the armor of the Lord.

We obtain the armor from the Holy Spirit through prayer and supplication. The empowering Holy Spirit is just what we need. There is no other way to withstand the devil’s wiles and schemes.

No soldier goes into battle alone. He is guided, directed, and ordered by the Commander. The orders are God’s Word, and the Holy Spirit of truth ensures we know the truth and nothing but the truth.

Christ is our Commander-in-Chief, and He arms us for battle; we stand in the power of His might because He sent the Holy Spirit and the whole armor of God.

If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14: 15-17, NKJV.

Do not be afraid. No matter what happens in spiritual warfare, the Lord your God is with you. The peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Survival is not to the fittest but to the faithful.

The “With God” Life

Growing in the Lord means learning to live a life that honors God and follows Christ’s example. We gain leverage in spiritual warfare when we live in such a way that our life will be a fragrant offering, pleasing to God—it means putting on the full armor of God every day.

As we walk with the Lord, we are prepared for the battlefield. To walk in the Spirit is to walk with God. He never leaves us unprotected or unprepared. It is He who places His armor on the willing soul.

The estranged are naked and bare, and the long-distance takes only a few armor pieces into the battle. Yet, the battle wages on in their weak souls. The intimate, however, finds strength by walking with God in full armor.

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting, you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spiritus up so that no one falls behind or drops out. Ephesians 6:14-18, The Message.

The Armor of God

Imagine a soldier in the heat of battle without protection or a weapon. Should he run, go AWOL, or run to the commander?

If he or she knows and understands the commander, they will run back to headquarters for supplies and provisions. The commander knows the battleground, the objective, and the enemy. He also knows what success requires.

Without the commander, there remains nothing but a defeated life.

So, before the battle ever begins, yield to the Sovereign, remain in the center of His will, and put on God’s full and complete armor.

The Belt of Truth

Jesus is the foundation for the spiritual battle. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He stands against the lies and deception of Satan. Furthermore, He has sent you the indwelling Holy Spirit — the Spirit of truth to lead, guide, counsel, direct, and help you.

Remember, the Holy Spirit is with you in and out of the battlefield.

The Breastplate of Righteousness

Jesus is in the heart business, and He protects our hearts. The Helper, the Holy Spirit sent from the Father, teaches us all things and reminds us of all that Jesus has taught us.

So, do not let your heart be troubled, but allow the breastplate of righteousness to safeguard you.

The Lord has established you and made you “in right standing” with God. Even amid a storm or the fog of battle, the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

The breastplate protects our vital organs. Nothing is more vital than your love relationship with your Creator God — our Father. Satan’s objective is to separate us from God and break God’s heart.

In life and the spiritual battle, keep your eyes off yourself and on Christ. Your heartfelt, eternal relationship with Christ is of great value.

Shoes of Readiness and Peace

Wherever we go, our feet take us. Where we walk — the path we take, matters. Satan’s strategy is to lead you off the path of life and keep you there.

Readiness takes hard work. Strength takes endurance. An untrained soldier will always fail.

Our marching orders may take us to the lowest valley, the loftiest heights, or the emptiness of a desert. But when you’re on the path God’s set for you, you’re in the center of His will and will remain unshakable.

Of all things, remember this: you must stand your ground in the gospel of peace. Why? Because the Lord your God is with you. He will never fail you nor forsake you.

He is the Victor!

The Shield of Faith

Faith is not something we muster up or even conjure in our efforts. No, it’s a gift from God. Even a little faith can be as effective as a four-foot-tall and two-foot-wide shield. Our faith is in Victor.

The flaming arrows are going to come. Accept it without fear. Fear is always the opposite of faith. The enemy of our soul wants to instill fear in us — he would like to tempt us to let down our shield.

Trust me, the Lord will deliver you from evil.

We can trust Him. Faith upon faith builds a shield a mountain high. Who can separate you from the love of God? Self will face the enemy defeated, but the one who trusts the Lord will always rise victorious.

Helmet of Salvation

The helmet covers the head — the mind, eyes, ears, and face. We’re vulnerable around the head and shoulders.

The enemy attacks our naked mind, and he’s set out to damage our assurance of salvation. If we think we’re lost, and Christ is playing games with us, then Satan has won that skirmish. If our eyes look around us in fear, frustration, and anxiety, then the battle is not in God’s favor. What if our tongue is let loose with slander, cursing, lies, and complaints?

The helmet is essential in the battle for survival. Remember, God’s deliverance is sure. We must devote our minds, eyes, ears, and mouths to Him. Christ Jesus guards your mind and heart, so putting on that helmet is up to you.

In Jesus, we can be sure of our deliverance in every situation—spiritual, emotional, and physical. He is your source, guide, and “way out.” You can trust Him.

What soldier would be stupid enough to enter the waging battle without his or her helmet? To the foolish goes the one who thinks deliverance depends on self.

Sword of the Spirit

This sword fits perfectly in your hand. It is not too heavy or cumbersome. It is more like a dagger, a double-edged sword effective for thrusting and cutting into the enemy.

The battle-hardened soldier would never be without it in battle or at peace. The sword was meant to be carried and cared for at all times. Satan uses surprise attacks to catch us off guard. When you least expect it, the enemy will attack. The piercing sword in your hand will always send him running.

The sword you carry at the ready is the Word of God. Jesus has entrusted “the Word” to you. Trust the Spirit of truth to illuminate the Word. Do you know it, memorize it, and meditate on it?

All effort must be taken to know and care for the sword. If it is put aside and unused, then danger lurks at every turn. Is your sword rusty from disuse or dull for not being sharpened?

When you use the Word of God effectively under the power and direction of the Holy Spirit, it becomes a powerful weapon against the enemy. When you engage in the battle, the word of truth will destroy every lie of the enemy.

A soldier foolish enough to face the enemy without a weapon is always cut down with little or no effort by the enemy.

Prayer

Every soldier carries their marching orders, which are only as good as the last message. They can change for any reason, so communication must be clear, specific, and timely.

The enemy makes every effort to prevent you from receiving the orders. He does everything he can to make the communication static or untrue. Disinformation can cause great harm. The only way to get the correct orders from the commander himself is through daily prayer and God’s word.

Prayer is of vital importance in the battle.

The enemy will communicate lies and deception if we’re not in daily prayer with the Lord. Discernment comes in prayer—direction, counsel, correction, and even rebuke come in the clear and sound communication from Scripture.

Prayer and the Word go hand-in-hand.

When you quickly survey the history of battles, you find that communication played a crucial role in whether battles were lost or won. Decoding the enemy’s orders keeps the battle-worn soldier aware of the enemy’s schemes, intent, and plans.

Remember, nothing escapes the Lord — even the enemy’s battle plans are known to the Lord.

Pray and listen. When you pray, the Commander hears you. He understands your situation and gives you what you need to face any problem, battle, or fiery darts of deception. As you pray for your fellow soldiers, the Lord your God will strengthen them and you. The strength is not in the numbers, but in the times you trust the Lord.

Victory

The spiritual battle is real, and so is the enemy. Satan is a terrorist prepared to take out as many as he can before the Great Judgement Day.

Undoubtedly, the victory has been confirmed. The enemy is a defeated foe. The Lord, your God, is with you. So, with the end in mind, prayerfully put on the whole armor of God. Seriously, make it your daily exercise of faith.

In Conclusion

This is the last article of a three-part series and concludes our study of Ephesians. We’ve learned about spiritual warfare, the enemy, and how our relationship with Christ affects us on the battlefield, and we’ve finally seen the value of putting on the full armor of God.

Let me reinforce this truth: daily, enter the Secret Place, and as you put on the whole armor of God, remember this Pauline prayer. Be strengthened with might through the Holy Spirit:

For this reason, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask for or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever Amen. Ephesians 3:14-20, ESV.

Let God arise and His enemies be scattered - let God, let God arise!