We are in a battle, but not just any battle, it’s a spiritual battle. A battle that is waged in the heart and in the head. And who is winning this war will determine your future reality. Remember what Paul reminded us in Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
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.
The spiritual forces we fight against are real and relentless. They are the tactics of our enemy, who is trying to kill, steal, and destroy your potential. We must understand that every challenge we face has a spiritual component to it. There is a root cause lurking behind every circumstance. Once we realize this truth we can adjust our battle response accordingly. But adjusting our battle response happens on the front end before the fight begins. We win the war by being prepared, not by our power. We have to fight smarter, not just harder. When we enter the fight with focus we can exit with victory.
The Apostle Paul tells us how to win the fight. We have the fight plan spelled out for us in his letter to the church of Ephesus. Check this out…
Ephesians 6:10-16 (NIV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.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. 13 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
If we are going to win the war we have to be equipped with the armor of God. And not just some of it…but the FULL armor of God. We have to be prepared for the fight before the fight begins.
What is the full armor of God? Let’s look at the pieces:
The Belt of Truth
This is the central point of our armor; the belt that balances us and holds it all together. We must ground ourselves in the truth of God’s promises and His sovereignty. Every day we have to wrap the belt of truth around our lives by believing in His provision, purpose, and power in our lives.
The Breastplate of Righteousness
We are to protect ourselves with righteousness. But not our righteousness, Christs’ righteousness. The only way we are righteous before God is because of Jesus; He is our righteousness. So, when we surrender our lives to Christ and abide in Him, He makes us in right standing with God. This is a daily act of aligning our hearts with His truth.
The Shoes of Peace
Wherever your feet take you, be ready to live in peace. Whatever circumstance you face in life, allow the peace of God, which transcends all knowledge, to guard you. When we are fitted with the right shoes we can walk on the hardest terrain, and yet, still walk in God’s ultimate peace that He is in control and will never leave us or forsake us.
The Shield of Faith
The spiritual forces we battle against will shoot arrows of every kind at us. We have to use our faith to ward off the flaming arrows that are trying to destroy our wellbeing. Faith is a protector against fear. No matter how many arrows get shot at us, or how fiery they are, faith fortifies our position in Christ. We hold the shield of faith up as we walk towards our future.
The Helmet of Salvation
The mind is a battlefield where spiritual forces attack the most. If the enemy can get you thinking wrong, he can get you living wrong. The mind is powerful. Our thoughts always take us somewhere, but we have to make sure it’s where we need to go. Always ask yourself, “Am I thinking the way God wants me to think?” When you keep your mind on Godly thoughts you barricade sin’s entry point.
The Sword of the Spirit
The sword of the Spirit is God’s Word. It is His promises and truths that we can use on the offensive. His Word says the demons flee at the mention of His name. We can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and speak the Word of God as it lights our way. Know God’s Word and speak His truths over your life at all times. Use His Word every day in every situation.
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