Don’t live a defeated life when you have been equipped to live an Overcoming life!
God put tools in your hands, they are only as good as to how you put them to use.
“God’s truth is the best protection against Satan’s lies.”
The Key is: Fill yourself with God’s word!
Ephesians 6:16 (Ampl) – 16 Above all, lift up the [protective] [a]shield of faith* with which you can extinguish* all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
*Faith – How do we get faith? – Romans 10:17 (NIV) – Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
*Extinguish – Put out / Nullify
He cannot deceive us with God’s word in our hearts
2 Corinthians 2:11 (Ampl) – To keep Satan from taking advantage of us*; for we are not ignorant of his schemes
*Advantage of us – NIV says “outwit us”
What Paul is saying to encourage us is that we can know his – Methods
Schemes
Plans
Peter gives us this sound godly advice:
1 Peter 5:7-9 (KJV) – 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring* lion, walkth about , seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
*Roaring – He has the same effect as the lions had on Daniel in the Lion’s Den.
When we read this verse carefully it indicates that there is little room for carelessness.
We are being called upon to be thoroughly self-controlled and to be alert.
Why? Because Satan aims to undermine our confidence to sow discord, to discourage us and get us to stop trusting and go back to carnality.
Not one of us is exempted from his onslaught – note verse 9.
Here is a WARNING to consider very carefully!
Whatever spiritual level you may imagine you’re on: Remember Adam was in paradise when he fell.
Before your increased knowledge / courses on Spiritual warfare make you overly confident: Recall Solomon wrote 3 books of scripture – He gazed on the glory of God, yet he fell.
Matthew 10:16 (NIV) – I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
Notice Peter writes: “Whom he may devour” – “May” indicates permission is given.
He has the ability to devour us spiritually but it does not have to happen.
Putting verse 8 in understandable language: Instead of saying “Be sober” we might say “Keep cool” or “Keep your head screwed on right.” “Don’t lose your presence of mind,” “Try keep calm about this” or “Don’t be fearful” or “Don’t lose your temper.”
He also says: “Be vigilant” which means “To watch” or be “Alert.”
This phraseology is used in reference to prayer. Our responsibility is to pray that “enter not into temptation.”
All of these things: The roaring lion, the resisting the afflictions, suffering, persecution, perfection and strength; are related as parts of operations that fulfill God’s purpose for us.
We have to being by understanding that Satan despite his incredible intelligence, cleverness and power; is still yet on unwitting dupe* in God’s hands to bring about His purpose.
*Dupe – Fool
Jesus won the Victory we need to enforce it.
Colossians 2:15 (NIV) – And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
God is far more powerful than Satan. In Christ we are equipped to overcome the enemy.
2 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV) – But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) – 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.”
We have been given the Authority and must enforce the defeat of the devil. God supports us as we go until the end of the age.
Two things in the Kingdom of God go hand in hand:
Building
Battling
