PART II-WHAT CAN YOU DO TO THE DEVIL AND HIS DEMONS?
FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. When it comes to fighting the supernatural spiritual warfare against the devil and his demons, you are going to need the strength and power of the Lord. You will also need to put on the appropriate armor that can only come from God, so that you will be able to stand against the many methods and tricks of the devil. (More on this later.) Next Paul says: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. The term "struggle" used here literally means our "personal wrestling match" or hand-to-hand combat. This indicates that the spiritual warfare is a personal thing. It's when you are being attacked by the devil and his demons. You must remember that your struggle is not against flesh and blood. Your enemy is not a person or group of people. Your real enemy is against the rulers, the powers, the world forces of darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. It's too easy to see another person or group of people as your enemy, but that isn't true. Your real enemy is a spiritual enemy. I have a friend who says if you are facing a foe that has flesh and blood, then don't fight against him. He or she is not your enemy! So, instead of fighting against them, fight for them. Your real enemy is a spiritual one! Paul repeats his remarks about putting on the armor of God as he continues: Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day. THEREFORE, since your battle is against spiritual forces of darkness, you are going to need the full spiritual armor of God to fight it. Paul uses the same word James and Peter used in their teachings-RESIST. You must take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to RESIST in the evil day. The "evil day" seems to be the day you are personally attacked by evil. He repeats it again and says and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm is the same word as RESIST. Again Paul uses the term for RESIST when he says: Stand firm therefore, It's at this point Paul lists what the full armor of God actually is. Each one of the pieces of the armor has to do with the message of Jesus in the Word of God-both written and spoken. Let's take a brief look at each one. The first piece of the armor is HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH. I see this as girding your loins with the truth of the Word of God. Secondly, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. This is acting out the truth in your life-right and wise living. Thirdly, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. This piece of the armor is a readiness to share the good news of peace with everyone everywhere. Fourthly, in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith. This is believing the truth we have learned through the written and spoken Word of God-acting on faith-acting as if it is true, because it is. Note this shield of faith is the armor with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Fifthly, And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION. This is the experience of being freed and unconditionally loved by God. And note where this armor is placed. It's a helmet to guard your hearts and minds-your thinking. Finally, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. All of the other pieces of armor are to protect you as you stand firm or resist the evil one. There is no armor for your backside; it's all for standing against the evil one head on. All of the armor is defensive! Only one piece of armor is offensive-the sword of the Spirit. The sword or dagger of the Spirit is the word of God. This is not the written Word of God-your Bible. This is the spoken Word of God. It's just like how Jesus resisted the devil in the wilderness. He spoke the truth right back at him and he was defeated. The spoken Word of God is the truth of Jesus you have embraced to the point of being able to speak forth the truth against the forces of darkness. So, the logical flow is like this. FIRST-COUNT ON YOUR STRENGTH COMING FROM THE LORD, HIMSELF. SECOND-PUT ON YOUR SPIRITUAL ARMOR BY IMMERSING YOURSELF IN THE WORD OF GOD-BOTH WRITTEN AND SPOKEN. THIRD-NOW YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RESIST THE DEVIL AND HIS DEMONS. One of the things that is so important to consider here is that the spiritual warfare is not something rare or spooky that only happens to some, but not to many. The truth is the spiritual warfare is being waged over your life each and every day. As soon as you declare your allegiance to Jesus, you can count on being thrust into battle. This is why it is not always a "bed of roses" to be walking with and following Jesus. We are in a battle and we must prepare ourselves, put on the armor and plan on having to resist the evil that rises up against us. Note the last part of this passage: With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. Why are we to pay attention and pray for all of the other followers of Jesus? It's because we are all in this war-the battle for the souls of men and women. So, the devil and his demons are constantly waging war against you. If that was the end of the story, then you would be gripped with fear and be living without hope. BUT GOD, has made it possible for us to resist the devil and his pesky followers. Resisting is all about walking in the power of the Lord Jesus, putting on the full armor which is the Lord Jesus and then you can stand against the evil one in His name-the matchless name of Jesus.
