Our Pastor spoke yesterday about putting on the armor of God so that you are ready to engage in a war with the devil. This post contains some things I’ve thought about since that sermon.
John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
The thief in this verse is understood to be the devil. Never forget that the devil has unending desire to steal, kill, and destroy anything he can in your life and he will destroy you if he can. He is not going away. He is going to continued to hammer at you.
1 Peter 5:8-9 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
Be alert – Be aware. Be awake. The devil wants to catch you off-guard. Be ready. Be prepared.
Never forget the devil’s intentions – to steal, kill, and destroy
He will steal your reputation, your peace, your good judgment
standing firm in the faith – How do you do this? I think this is accomplished through being in the Scriptures on a daily basis. You need to know the Word of God. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, he rebuked Satan by quoting Scripture.
James 4:6-8 “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
To resist the devil, you need to live a life of humility. The proud and arrogant are easy targets for the devil.
Submit yourself to God. Keep seeking God’s will for your life. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
Come near to God. The nearer you live to God in your daily life, the more difficult it will be for the devil to attack you. How do you live near to God? Get together with other believers and encourage one another. (Hebrews 10:25) Have a thankful heart. Be in prayer. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Be in the Word.
Have a repenting heart. Confess your sin regularly. Keep short accounts with God. Don’t let anything interfere with your fellowship. (1 John 1:9)
Ephesians 6:13 “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.”
Remember that you are not fighting flesh and blood but your are in a spiritual battle. You are fighting the spiritual forces of evil. Jesus has already won this fight. We need to stay close to him. Incorporate as much Scripture as you can into every facet of your life – into your thoughts, words, and actions.
You can only do that if you know the Word. Start today. Pick a verse and start memorizing. You can’t learn the whole Bible over night. Give yourself time but get started.
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